NR452 Capstone Course

RUA- Capstone Evidence-Based Practice Paper Guidelines

NR452_RUA- Capstone Evidence-Based Guidelines Revised: 03/2021 1

Purpose

To analyze own performance on the integrated comprehensive assessments and reflect on areas of opportunity and
strategies to promote NCLEX-RN success and transition into practice. The student will apply the priority concept
(topic) to evidence-based professional practice upon which nurses have the ability to resolve or have a positive
impact. There is a focus on the healthcare disparities of the individual, as well as ethical and legal implications to
professional practice. The student will discuss how an interdisciplinary approach promotes quality improvement for
the patient and evidence-based professional practice, driving positive outcomes.

Course outcomes: This assignment enables the student to meet the following course outcomes:
CO # 1: Synthesize knowledge from sciences, humanities, and nursing in managing the needs of humans as

consumers of healthcare in a patient-centered environment. (PO#1)
CO # 2: Integrate communication and relationship skills in teamwork and collaboration functioning effectively with

health team members and consumers of care. (PO#3)
CO # 3: Utilize information technology to manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support decision making with health

team members and consumers of care. (PO# 8)
CO # 4 Integrate critical thinking, clinical reasoning skills, best current evidence, clinical expertise, and patient/family

preferences/values in the implementation of the nursing process. (PO# 4)
CO # 5: Explore the impact of professional standards, legislative issues, ethical principles, and values on professional

nursing, using data to monitor outcomes and improve quality and safety. (PO# 5, 6)

Due date: Your faculty member will inform you when this assignment is due. The Late Assignment Policy applies to
this assignment.

Total points possible: 250 points

Preparing the assignment

Follow these guidelines when completing this assignment. Speak with your faculty member if you have questions.
1) Track performance on the comprehensive assessments by logging NCLEX-RN Client Need Category performance on

the Individual Student ATI Assessment Trends: Longitudinal Performance tool.
2) Based on individual performance on the comprehensive assessments, prioritize the top concept (topic) of greatest

opportunity.
3) Include the following criteria for each identified concept (topic): The NCSBN NCLEX-RN Test Plan will support this

process (detailed criteria listed below and in the

Grading Rubric

must match exactly).
a. Priority Concept (Topic)- 20 points/8%

• Identify the priority concept (topic) of opportunity.
• Provide a description of how this aligns with the NCLEX-RN Test Plan as indicated by performance in the

Individual Student ATI Assessment Trends Table.
• Identify a minimum of two learning strategies that you plan to implement to address your learning need.
• Identify a minimum of two resources that you will integrate into your NCLEX-RN Readiness plan to assist you

with improving the identified learning need.

https://www.ncsbn.org/testplans.htm

NR452 Capstone Course
Capstone Evidence-Based Practice Paper Guidelines

NR452_RUA- Capstone Evidence-Based Guidelines Revised: 03/2021 2

Individual Student ATI Assessment Trends: Longitudinal Performance Table

ATI Assessment
Title

NCLEX-RN Client Need Categories:
Students will log their individual assessment performance in each category below

and highlight the scores below 60% or lowest three scores for each assessment
Course Manage-

ment of
Care

Safety &
Infection
Control

Health
Promotion &
Maintenance

Psychosocial
Integrity

Basic Care &
Comfort

Pharma-
cological &
Parental
Therapies

Reduction
of Risk
Potential

Physiological
Adaptation

ATI Capstone
Comprehensive
Assessment B

NR-446

ATI Comprehensive
Practice- Form A

NR-452

Based on individual performance on the comprehensive assessments, prioritize the top concept (topic) of greatest
opportunity:

1)

Apply the priority concept (topic) of greatest opportunity below:

Identified Priority Concept (Topic):

Learning Needs:

Identify the concept (topic) and
provide a description of how this
aligns with the NCLEX-RN Test Plan.

*Utilize the National Council of
State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)
NCLEX-RN Test Plan for assistance.

Learning Strategies:

Identify a minimum of two learning strategies that you
plan to implement to address your learning need.

1)
2)

Learning Resources:

Identify a minimum of two resources that you will
integrate into your NCLEX-RN Readiness plan to assist
you with improving the identified learning need.

1)
2)

NR452 Capstone Course
Capstone Evidence-Based Practice Paper Guidelines

NR452_RUA- Capstone Evidence-Based Guidelines Revised: 03/2021 3

In this paper the student will provide a detailed description of the relationship between the category from
the NCLEX-RN examination blueprint, the priority concept (topic), and professional practice.
1) Write a 4-6 page paper (not including the title page or reference page) using APA format
2) Include the following sections

a. Introduction- 20 points/8%
• Offer a detailed description of the statement of purpose for the paper.
• Identify a priority concept (topic) from the Individual Student ATI Assessment Trends:

Longitudinal Performance Table drawn from one (1) of the four (4) main categories of the
NCLEX-RN examination blueprint:
 Assurance of a safe and effective care environment
 Health promotion and maintenance of health
 Preservation of the patient population’s psychosocial integrity
 Preservation of the patient population’s

physiological integrity

• Provide a detailed description of the relationship between the category from the NCLEX-RN
examination blueprint and the priority concept (topic).

b. Importance – 20 points/8%
• Describe the importance of the priority concept (topic) to professional practice
• Describe the health of the patient population.
• Include the potential negative effect to professional practice if the priority concept (topic) is

unresolved.
• Include the potential negative effect to the patient population if the priority concept (topic) is

unresolved.
c. Healthcare Disparities, Inequalities, and Interventions- 70 points/28%

• Identify patient populations that may be negatively influenced by the priority concept (topic) if unresolved.
• Identify healthcare resources to support evidence-based professional practice related to the priority

concept (topic).
• Summarize potential priority concept (topic) healthcare disparities and inequalities related to diverse

populations.
• Propose an evidence-based solution for the priority concept (topic) related to healthcare disparities.
• Identify three (3) evidence-based practice interventions.
• Prioritize the identified evidence-based practice

interventions and provide rationale.

• Discuss two (2) patient education considerations related to

the priority concept (topic).

d. Legal & Ethical Considerations and Intervention Challenges- 40 points/16%
• Identify at least one (1) ethical and one (1) legal implication for addressing the priority concept (topic) in

professional practice.
• Discuss at least one (1) strategy in prevention of an ethical dilemma related to the priority concept (topic)

in professional practice.
• Discuss at least one (1) strategy in prevention of legal consequences related to the priority concept (topic)

in professional practice.
• Identify one (1) anticipated challenge to the success of preventing the priority concept (topic) in

professional practice.
• Identify one (1) anticipated challenges to the success of resolving the priority concept (topic) in

professional practice.
e. Participants and Interdisciplinary Approach – 20 points/8%

• Identify all the parties who will be involved in the

implementation of the priority concept (topic)
interventions.

• Discuss the role of each member in the intervention implementation for the priority concept (topic).
• Identify a minimum of two (2) members of a discipline outside of nursing.
• Discuss the benefit of including the identified interdisciplinary member from disciplines outside nursing to

promote evidence-based professional practice.

NR452 Capstone Course
Capstone Evidence-Based Practice Paper Guidelines

NR452_RUA- Capstone Evidence-Based Guidelines Revised: 03/2021 4

f. Quality Improvement– 20 points/8%
• Provide at least one (1) benefit in patient outcomes from addressing the priority concept (topic) within the

clinical environment.
• Provide at least one (1) benefit to the nursing profession that will result from addressing this priority

concept (topic) in clinical professional practice.
• Discuss at least one (1) resource utilized to promote improved patient outcomes in the clinical

environment.
• Discuss at least one (1) resource utilized to increase professional nurse knowledge promoting improved

clinical professional practice.
g. Conclusion – 20 points/8%

• Provide a thorough recap of the purpose to promote increased evidence-based professional practice
knowledge related to the priority concept (topic) deficiency.

• Summarize resources identified to support improved evidence-based professional practice related to the
priority concept (topic).

• Include a complete statement describing why addressing the priority concept (topic) matters and to whom.
h. APA Style and Organization– 20 points/8%

• References are submitted with paper.
• Uses current APA format and is free of errors.
• Grammar and mechanics are free of errors.
• At least three (3) scholarly, peer reviewed, primary sources from the last 5 years, excluding the textbook,

are provided. Each section should have a cited source to support information provided.

For writing assistance (APA, formatting, or grammar) visit the APA Citation and Writing page in the online Chamberlain
library.

Please note that your instructor may provide you with additional assessments in any form to determine that you fully
understand the concepts learned in the review module.

https://library.chamberlain.edu/citinglibrarysources

NR452 Capstone Course
Capstone Evidence-Based Paper Guidelines

NR452_RUA- Capstone Evidence-Based Guidelines Revised: 03/2021 5

Grading Rubric
Criteria are met when the student’s application of knowledge within the paper demonstrates achievement of the outcomes for this assignment.

Assignment Section and
Required Criteria

(Points possible/% of total points available)

Highest Level of

Performance

High Level of
Performance

Satisfactory
Level of

Performance

Unsatisfactory
Level of

Performance

Section not
present in

paper

Priority Concept (Topic)
(20 points/8%)

20 points 18 points 16 points 8 points 0 points

Required criteria
1. Identify the concept (topic) of opportunity.
2. Provide a description of how this aligns with the NCLEX-RN

Test Plan as indicated by performance in the Individual
Student ATI Assessment Trends Table.

3. Identify a minimum of two learning strategies that you plan
to implement to address your learning need.

4. Identify a minimum of two resources that you will integrate
into your NCLEX-RN Readiness plan to assist you with
improving the identified learning need.

Includes all 4
requirements for

section.

Includes all 3

requirements for
section.

Includes no fewer
than 2
requirements for
section.

Includes no less
than 1 requirement

for section.

No requirements
for this section

presented.

Introduction
(20 points/8%)

20 points 16 points 8 points 0 points

Required criteria
1. Offer a detailed description of the statement of purpose

for the paper.
2. Identify a priority concept (topic) from the

Individual Student ATI Assessment Trends:
Longitudinal Performance Table drawn
from one (1) of the four (4) main categories
of the NCLEX-RN examination blueprint:

a. Assurance of a safe and effective care
environment

b. Health promotion and maintenance of health
c. Preservation of the patient population’s

psychosocial integrity
d. Preservation of the patient population’s

physiological integrity

Includes all 3 requirements for section.

Includes no fewer
than 2 requirements

for section.

Includes no fewer
than 1 requirement

for section.

No requirements
for this section

presented.

NR452 Capstone Course
Capstone Evidence-Based Paper Guidelines

NR452_RUA- Capstone Evidence-Based Guidelines Revised: 03/2021 6

Assignment Section and
Required Criteria
(Points possible/% of total points available)

Highest Level of
Performance

High Level of
Performance
Satisfactory
Level of
Performance
Unsatisfactory
Level of
Performance
Section not
present in
paper

3. Provide a detailed description of the
relationship between the category from the
NCLEX-RN examination blueprint and the
priority concept (topic).

Importance
(20 points/8%)

20 points 18 points 16 points 8 points 0 points

Required criteria
1. Describe the importance of the priority

concept (topic) to professional practice
2. Describe the health of the patient

population.
3. Include the potential negative effect to

professional practice if the priority concept
(topic) is unresolved.

4. Include the potential negative effect to the
patient population if the priority concept
(topic) is unresolved.

Includes all 4
requirements for
section.

Includes no fewer
than 3

requirements for
section.
Includes no fewer
than 2 requirements
for section.
Includes no fewer
than 1 requirement
for section.
No requirements
for this section
presented.

Healthcare Disparities, Inequalities, and Interventions
(70 points/28%)

70 points 63 points 54 points 21 points 0 points

Required criteria
1. Identify patient populations that may be negatively

influenced by the priority concept (topic) if unresolved.
2. Identify healthcare resources to support evidence-based

practice related to the priority concept (topic).
3. Summarize potential priority concept (topic) healthcare

disparities and inequalities related to diverse populations.
4. Propose an evidence-based solution for the priority

concept (topic) related to healthcare disparities.
5. Identify three (3) evidence-based practice interventions.
6. Prioritize the identified evidence-based practice

interventions and provide rationale.

Includes all 7
requirements for
section.

Includes no fewer
than 5-6
requirements for
section.

Includes no fewer
than 3-4
requirements for
section.

Includes no fewer
than 1-2
requirements for
section.

No requirements for
this section
presented.

NR452 Capstone Course
Capstone Evidence-Based Paper Guidelines

NR452_RUA- Capstone Evidence-Based Guidelines Revised: 03/2021 7

Assignment Section and
Required Criteria
(Points possible/% of total points available)
Highest Level of
Performance
High Level of
Performance
Satisfactory
Level of
Performance
Unsatisfactory
Level of
Performance
Section not
present in

paper
7. Discuss two (2) patient education considerations related to

the priority concept (topic).

Legal & Ethical Considerations and Intervention
Challenges

(40 points/16%)
40 points 36 points 31 points 12 points 0 points

Required criteria
1. Identify at least one (1) ethical and one (1) legal implication

for addressing the priority concept (topic) in professional
practice.

2. Discuss at least one (1) strategy in prevention of an ethical
dilemma related to the priority concept (topic) in
professional practice.

3. Discuss at least one (1) strategy in prevention of legal
consequences related to the priority concept (topic) in
professional practice.

4. Identify one (1) anticipated challenge to the success of
preventing the priority concept (topic) in professional
practice.

5. Identify one (1) anticipated challenges to the success of
resolving the priority concept (topic) in professional
practice.

Includes all 5
requirements for
section.

Includes no
fewer than 4
requirements
for section.

Includes no fewer
than 3
requirements for
section.

Includes no fewer
than 1-2
requirements for
section.

No requirements for
this section
presented.

Participants and Interdisciplinary Approach
(20 points/8%)

20 points 18 points 16 points 8 points 0 points

Required criteria
1. Identify all the parties who will be involved in the

implementation of the priority concept (topic)
interventions.

2. Discuss the role of each member in the intervention
implementation for the priority concept (topic).

3. Identify a minimum of two (2) members of a discipline
outside of nursing.

4. Discuss the benefit of including the identified

Includes all 4
requirements for
section.

Includes no fewer
than 3
requirements for
section.

Includes no fewer
than 2 requirements
for section.

Includes no fewer
than 1 requirement
for section.
No requirements for
this section
presented.

NR452 Capstone Course
Capstone Evidence-Based Paper Guidelines

NR452_RUA- Capstone Evidence-Based Guidelines Revised: 03/2021 8

Assignment Section and
Required Criteria
(Points possible/% of total points available)
Highest Level of
Performance
High Level of
Performance
Satisfactory
Level of
Performance
Unsatisfactory
Level of
Performance
Section not
present in
paper

interdisciplinary member from disciplines outside nursing
to promote evidence-based professional practice.

Quality Improvement
(20 points/8%)

20 points 18 points 16 points 8 points 0 points

Required criteria
1. Provide at least one (1) benefit in patient outcomes from

addressing the priority concept (topic) within the clinical
environment.

2. Provide at least one (1) benefit to the nursing profession
that will result from addressing this priority concept
(topic) in clinical professional practice.

3. Discuss at least one (1) resource utilized to promote
improved patient outcomes in the clinical environment.

4. Discuss at least one (1) resource utilized to increase
professional nurse knowledge promoting improved clinical
professional practice.

Includes all 4
requirements for
section.
Includes no fewer
than 3
requirements for
section.
Includes no fewer
than 2 requirements
for section.

Includes no fewer
than 1 requirement
for section.

No requirements for
this section
presented.

Conclusion
(20 points/8%)

20 points 16 points 8 points 0 points

Required criteria
1. Provide a thorough recap of the purpose to promote

increased evidence-based professional practice
knowledge related to the priority concept (topic)
deficiency.

2. Summarize resources identified to support improved
evidence-based professional practice related to the
priority concept (topic).

3. Include a complete statement describing why addressing
the priority concept (topic) matters and to whom.

Includes all 3 requirements for section. Includes no fewer
than 2 requirements
for section.

Includes no fewer
than 1 requirement
for section.
No requirements for
this section
presented.

NR452 Capstone Course
Capstone Evidence-Based Paper Guidelines

NR452_RUA- Capstone Evidence-Based Guidelines Revised: 03/2021 9

Assignment Section and
Required Criteria
(Points possible/% of total points available)
Highest Level of
Performance
High Level of
Performance
Satisfactory
Level of
Performance
Unsatisfactory
Level of
Performance
Section not
present in
paper

APA Format, Grammar, and Punctuation
(20 points/8%)

20 points 18 points 16 points 8 points 0 points

Required criteria
1. References are submitted with paper.
2. Uses current APA format and is free of errors.
3. Grammar and mechanics are free of errors.
4. At least three (3) scholarly, peer reviewed, primary

sources from the last 5 years, excluding the textbook, are
provided. Each section should have a cited source to
support information provided.

Includes all 4
requirements for
section.
Includes no fewer
than 3
requirements for
section.
Includes no fewer
than 2 requirements
for section.
Includes no fewer
than 1 requirement
for section.
No requirements for
this section
presented.

Total Points Possible = 250 points

Purpose
Preparing the assignment
Grading Rubric