NURS 8502 Weeks 1-2

Weeks 1-2: Problem Identification 

These first 2 weeks begin your practicum experience and development of a plan to change an identified or potential 

practice problem within your practice or organization. Through an analysis of your organization, meeting with your preceptor, and collaborating with your colleagues, you will lead a team to create a problem change. In Weeks 1 and 2 

of this course, you will set the foundation for the work you will complete in the remaining weeks. 

In Weeks 1 and 2, you will identify your practicum site, identify a potential or identified practice problem, meet with your preceptor, and begin developing objectives and a practice focused question to lead your work. You will discuss your practice problem and progress with your colleagues, and you will begin analyzing how leadership skills and strategies might help you to lead a team. 

Learning Objectives 

Students will: 

· 

Identify clinical site and preceptors 

Prepare for the practicum, based upon the clinical site 

. 

Develop practicum objectives 

· 

Identify a gap in practice to address during practicum 

Develop a practice focused question 

Learning Resources 

Required Readings (click to expand/reduce) • 

Dang, D., Dearholt, S. L., Bissett, K., Ascenzi, J., & Whalen, M. (2021). Johns Hopkins evidence–based practice for nurses and healthcare professionals: Model and guidelines (4th ed.). Sigma Theta Tau International. 

• 

Chapter 4, “The Practice Question Phase” (pp. 73-98) 

Hickey, J. V., & Giardino, E. R. (Eds.). (2021). Evaluation of quality in health care for DNPS (3rd ed.). Springer Publishing. 

· 

Chapter 1, “Evaluation and Advanced Nursing Practice: The Mandate for Evaluation” (pp. 3-36) 

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2017). Action plan for translating research into practice: Gap analysis and tests of change: Facilitator guide. https://www.ahrq.gov/hai/tools/mvp/modules/cusp/action-plan-trip-fac-guide.html 

Chia, R., Pandey, A., & Vongpatanasin, W. (2020). Resistant hypertension-defining the scope of the problem. Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases, 63(1), 46-50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcad.2019.12.006 

Gallagher Ford, L., & Melnyk, B. M. (2019). The underappreciated and misunderstood PICOT question: A critical step in the EBP process. Worldviews on Evidence–Based 

Nursing, 16(6), 422-423. https://doi.org/10.1111/wvn.12408 

Shirey, M. R. (2011). Addressing strategy execution challenges to lead sustainable change. JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration, 41(1), 1-4. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNA.0b013e318200288a 

Stannard, D. (2021). Problem identification: The first step in evidence-based practice. AORN Journal, 113(4), 377-378. https://doi.org/10.1002/aorn.13359 

Practicum Resources (click to expand/reduce) • 

Document: Practicum Time Log and Journal (Microsoft Word document) 

Walden University Practicum Guidelines https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/DNP/Manuals 

Meditrek. (n.d.). https://edu.meditrek.com/Default.html 

Note: Use this website to log in to Meditrek to report your clinical hours and patient 

encounters. 

Required Media (click to expand/reduce) 

A 

Alexander Street. (2019). Insights and strategies, 4 skill sets for successful leadership. 

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