In this assignment, students will pull together the capstone project change proposal components they have been working on throughout the course to create a proposal inclusive of sections for each content focus area in the course. For this project, the student will apply evidence-based research steps and processes required as the foundation to address a clinically oriented problem or issue in future practice.

Develop a 1,250-1,500 written project that includes the following information as it applies to the problem, issue, suggestion, initiative, or educational need profiled in the capstone change proposal:

1. Background
2. Clinical problem statement.
3. Purpose of the change proposal in relation to providing patient care in the changing health care system.
4. PICOT question.
5. Literature search strategy employed.
6. Evaluation of the literature.
7. Applicable change or nursing theory utilized.
8. Proposed implementation plan with outcome measures.
9. Discussion of how evidence-based practice was used in creating the intervention plan.
10. Plan for evaluating the proposed nursing intervention.
11. Identification of potential barriers to plan implementation, and a discussion of how these could be overcome.
12. Appendix section, if tables, graphs, surveys, educational materials, etc. are created.

Review the feedback from your instructor on the Topic 3 assignment, PICOT Question Paper, and Topic 6 assignment, Literature Review. Use this feedback to make appropriate revisions to these before submitting.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the

LopesWrite Technical Support articles

for assistance.

Benchmark Information

This benchmark assignment assesses the following programmatic competencies:

RN to BSN

1.1:     Exemplify professionalism in diverse health care settings.

2.2:     Comprehend nursing concepts and health theories.

3.2:     Implement patient care decisions based on evidence-based practice.

Running Head: THE CASE FOR SOCIAL DISTANCE IN PG COUNTY 1

THE CASE FOR SOCIAL DISTANCE IN PG COUNTY 5

The Case for Social Distance in PG County

Name

Institution

The Case for Social Distance in PG County

Introduction section

Prince George County is a locality under the threat of COVID19 surge if the disease spreading patterns that are dominating today’s news are anything to go by. However, there is room for securing the public from the pandemic through the several available measures some of which were approved in pre-Covid19 academic world and others suggested by other current studies. This section of research seeks to inform the study on what is already known and the evidence that can be relied on by this inquiry on matters pertaining social distancing. Through the comparison of the various studies, the paper will identify important insights to use while weaving a solution to the fast spread of corona virus.

A comparison of research questions

This research initiative by Prince George County community hospital seeks to understand the value of enforcing social distance on the population as the way towards slowing the spreading speed of COVID19 by understanding whether social distancing has been used in other different settings and the likelihood of its effectiveness in this locality. In 2018, Kim and others undertook a research that wanted to identify the effectiveness of other studies in controlling the spread of aerosols in relatively closed areas. The group of researchers had a similar pursuit- that of understanding the mechanism through which people spread apart have low likelihood of spreading the virus as suggested elsewhere. The study identified that aerosols are contained in tiny droplets of saliva and the pathogens will have fallen in a distance of one and a half meters (Kim et al., 2018). The experts therefore offer an academically proven basis for localizing the same research findings in PG County.

In yet another study, researchers sought to understand the significance of using social distance to control the spread of aerosols caused diseases. The study found out that a distance of two meters cuts the spread of the virus from person to person (Joppolo & Romano, 2017). This is the same aspect under investigation by the PG community team only that the contexts of the studies are quite different.

A comparison of sample populations

The entire population in the subject county is 909,327. The most optimally reasonable sample size will fall in the range of a previously done study. In 2018 Xu and Liu undertook a study that sought to understand the effectiveness of social distancing in highly populated areas. The sample population for this research, especially those that will be selected from the urban areas of the locality. In their study, the duo identified that in highly occupied areas, social distance is mandatory as closeness to public gatherings promotes the likelihood of one catching the virus. Their target area had individuals who have a social culture that harbors high numbers of close social encounters. This is the same aspect that characterizes the behavior of the PG County. After undertaking a research from this sample setting, the two experts identified that the higher the rate of public gathering, the higher the spread rates of airborne diseases (Xu & Liu, 2018). The work by Xu and Liu offers the academic context upon which it has been concluded that high convergence of people fastens the rates of airborne diseases spreading.

A comparison of the limitations of the study

The COVID19 pandemic does not permit for a comprehensive and thorough research works to be undertaken. This claim is based on the urgency of the solution to contain the disease. The motive of undertaking research was to inform health and government policy at a time when the pandemic is sweeping fast across states and country. This situation robs us the much time needed to study this remedy understand its capacity in similar future infections. This context is similar to the one present when Kaur and four others did a research in order to understand the effects of timely social distancing. The study concluded that studies have to address themselves to the timeliness of studies as doing so gives the research works the support they need in terms of cooperative respondents and study facilitations from policy bodies (Kaur et al., 2020). The scholars provide persuasive reasons upon which to justify the reasonably hurried research processes. It is on this basis that the study seeks to go past the time limitation to meet the urgent need for solution.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there is enough evidence on the efficacy of social distance in slowing the spread of the COVID19 pandemic. Already research works have suggested that when people live in set ups where they often meet and have close social engagements with others, there are higher rates of the virus spread. However, these studies are only subject to their own localities necessitating a more local study to identify local remedies which are fitting to our situation. Secondly, the studies provide the medical knowledge upon which the case for social distance is based. This revelation provides the basis for an academic curiosity towards providing the same in our locality.

References

Joppolo, C. M., & Romano, F. (2017). HVAC system design in healthcare facilities and control of aerosol contaminants: issues, tools, and experiments. In Indoor Air Quality in Healthcare Facilities (pp. 83-94). Springer, Cham

Kaur, S., Bherwani, H., Gulia, S., Vijay, R., & Kumar, R. (2020). Understanding COVID-19 transmission, health impacts and mitigation: timely social distancing is the key. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 1-17.

Kim, K. H., Kabir, E., & Jahan, S. A. (2018). Airborne bioaerosols and their impact on human health. Journal of Environmental Sciences, 67, 23-35.

Xu, C., & Liu, L. (2018). Personalized ventilation: one possible solution for airborne infection control in highly occupied space?.

Capstone Change Project Evaluation Plan

Capstone Change Project Evaluation Plan

Kieran M. Njobe

GCU-NRS-493

The use of qualitative and quantitative data analysis can test the effectiveness of using social distancing to reduce the spread of the Covid-19 Virus. My intervention strategy used social media platforms and technology to educate and sensitize the PG public of the importance of using social distancing as a preventive tool during the Covid 19 pandemic. Population data analysis can be used as a criterion to compare the number of infected cases before the official implementation of social distancing and the number of new cases after its implementation. For example, in a small population sample size such as the ER, quantitative data can be generated by visually counting the number of people who complied with the signage, requesting the public to stay at least 6 feet away from others when possible, according to the CDC guidelines. These are warning bracelets that will alert an individual when guidelines are bridged. Compliance can be measured by virtually monitoring those who follow the guidelines; on social media, followers can be traced from their responses, likes, and shares to a post. Implementing the technology of using social distancing proximity sensors would have been costly; however, Compliance would have easily been measured from the software’s data and records.

From the research question, qualitative data can be generated to evaluate the effectiveness of implementing the change proposal using questionnaires that can be handed out to the public to assess for Compliance.

4

PICOT Question Paper: Covid-

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PICOT Question

Running head: ASSIGNMENT TITLE HERE

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PICOT Question Paper

Patient Population

Background

Prince Georges’ Community Hospital, now known as University of Maryland Prince Georges Hospital, is located in Maryland, bordering the Eastern Part of Washington DC. It has a 61% AA population, 12 % White, and 13% Hispanics. Like many other facilities within Maryland and the entire country, the Corona Virus pandemic has been a significant healthcare challenge. According to, The Baltimore Sun (NOV 29, 2020), “Allegany County, a rural county of about 70,000 people in Western Maryland 171.84 cases per 100,000 people Nov. 27, Garrett County, a rural county of fewer than 30,000 people that borders Allegany, is second with 113.74 cases per 100,000 people.” However, PG county could have done better to reduce the spread of the disease. With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the evidence-based practice of using social Distancing as a primary preventive measure was not implemented in time by the health authorities in this county until recording an increase in mortality rate. Effective preventive measures such as social Distancing, mask-wearing, and implementing stay at home policies are necessary to prevent or reduce transmitting a virus. The authorities also had to reach out to the community through nurses, providing education and awareness on Facebook pages and other social media outlets.

PICOT Question

Will the spread of Covid-19 in PG county reduce after the Implementation of Early preventive measures of social Distancing, mask-wearing, and Nursing education, compared to Neighboring counties with more cases where such actions were not implemented to reduce the spread of the virus over the next few months?

Evidence-Base Solution.

Generally, an evidence-based solution to a problem is based on applying the best clinical practice, guided by the best available clinical knowledge while prioritizing patients’ needs to achieve an optimal patient outcome. Because the effect of COVID-19 19 is predominantly amongst the African Americans in the PG. county, educating the public on the importance of social Distancing will be an effective intervention to reduce the spread of the virus. (Gupta, R., 2021),” COVID-19 patients in our predominantly Black neighborhood had higher in-hospital mortality, likely due to a higher prevalence of comorbidities.” Early escalation on preventive care strategies such as Home quarantining and Isolation, maintaining social Distancing, and education on the severity could have been critical in improving the spread rate amongst African Americans. After fewer cases during the pandemic onset, Alleghany county, predominantly white, recorded the highest points after the first wave. According to Baltimore Sun (2020),” Gov. Larry Hogan said Tuesday that perhaps some residents in those areas” weren’t being as careful” and “maybe not wearing masks and not following advice.”

Nursing Intervention

The nurse’s primary responsibility is to help stop the pandemic’s spread while maintaining professionality and standard of practice. As part of the Primary intervention strategy, sensitizing the public and creating awareness to target all age-related groups and classes. This includes posting signs with health education material, getting involved with Twitter while following the ethics of, avoiding breaching confidentiality or privacy with information while posting on social media sites, and attempting to reach each age group base on their social media preference. They were addressing mental health issues related to Isolation and quarantine. Many individuals became depressed during the lock-down period while exposed to domestic abuse and various forms of assault. The nurse had to reach out to these individuals and open them to resources meant for this purpose. IN PG county the Hotline number for domestic abuse National Domestic Violence Hotline: (800) 799-SAFE (7233). Provide education on the importance of Handwashing to break the chain of infection. Nurses should also provide the proper guidelines on putting on the Mask as most people have the mask sitting under their nose while breathing through their nose.

Patient care.

Studies have shown that African American patients with high morbidity. Gupta R., (2021). “Our predominantly Black cohort has recorded an in-hospital mortality rate from COVID-19, which is significantly greater than that reported in other studies.” Having a high risk of acquiring these conditions, the population needs to understand and continue practicing social Distancing and other measures such as effective mask-wearing and hand washing.

Healthcare Practices

Despite all the measures to prevent its spread, the pandemic continues to spread in offices, homes, restaurants, and social gatherings. People came into wedding celebrations all masked up but will remove their mask in the same settings, proximity to others once they start drinking. Traveling nurses came in from out of state to help with the surge. “Healthcare Agencies, private and public, have reported a higher number of infections in the US because strict guidelines have not been considered” (Barasteh et al., 2020). The state of Maryland had to implement strict measures to reduce the spread of the pandemic, such as enforcing mask-wearing, Social Distancing.

Nursing Practice

This tends to describe the patients’ condition to the nurse, the specific outcome of their intervention. During the crisis, nurses’ roles became modified as standard practices had to change due to the lack of resources. In the Hospital, visiting protocols were implemented to reduce the vulnerable and sick patients’ contact with the public. Patients were routinely tested for covid to ensure and provide them with optimal care. Nurses continuously work diligently despite the severity. This is because ethical principles of autonomy in nursing practices must be observed throughout their profession (Cherry et al., 2020).

Conclusion

The covid-19 pandemic touched every part of our society, both local, federal as well as internally. Studies have shown that social Distancing is one of the most effective methods of preventing the virus’s spread. Prince Georges County was one of the counties in Maryland, predominantly black, that felt the pandemic’s full impact. I recommend that the leadership start making drills on training nurses to be more crisis-ready and more flexible in approaching the best possible outcome.

References

1) Gupta, R., Agrawal, R., Bukhari, Z., Jabbar, A., Wang, D., Diks, J., Alshal, M., Emechebe, D. Y., Brunicardi, F. C., Lazar, J. M., Chamberlain, R., Burza, A., & Haseeb, M. A. (2021). Higher comorbidities and early death in hospitalized African-American patients with Covid-19. BMC Infectious Diseases, 21(1), 1–11. https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1186/s12879-021-05782-9

2) Cherry, B., and Jacob, S.R. (2017). Ethical and bioethical issues in nursing and health care. Contemporary Nursing Issues, Trends, & Management 7th ed. p.166

3) Barasteh, S., Azimi, A. V., Khademi, F., Goharinezhad, S., & Rassouli, M. (2020). Covid-19 and nursing home residents: The potential role of geriatric nurses in a special crisis. Nursing Practice Today, 7 (3), 163-164

4) DAVIS, P( 2020) Maryland reports 1,999 newly confirmed coronavirus cases, 23 new deaths . Retrieved Dom : https://www.baltimoresun.com › coronavirus › bs-md-c…

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