Week 9: Components of Evidence-Based Practice: Appraising the Evidence
The act of gathering evidence through a literature search is also only the place to begin in finding answers to a critical practice question. Appraising the evidence is required to determine its value, just as tangible objects are appraised to gauge their worth. This week your attention will be fully on your Module 4 Assignment as you appraise the evidence in the scholarly articles you have selected. Keep in mind your goal is to determine whether the evidence justifies a practice change and how it informs the specific outlines of a new or improved practice. Continue to develop your literature review of at least 10 current (published within the last 5 years) scholarly articles from the Walden Library with evidence that addresses your critical practice question. Review the Learning Resources for guidance in appraising the research in the articles you select. Keep in mind you must complete and submit the Individual Evidence Summary Tool and the Evidence Synthesis tool (they are attached as one document), available in the Learning Resources, and will be graded based on the quality of information and thought captured in these documents.
When you complete your analysis and evaluation of the evidence, begin your critical assessment paper in which you synthesize evidence from your literature review. This paper is also due by Day 7 of next week. Please let me know if you have any questions.
INVESTIGATING A CRITICAL PRACTICE QUESTION THROUGH A LITERATURE REVIEW
This week you will begin your Module 4 Assignment, which is intended to inform and support your planning for your DNP Project in your program of study. This Assignment has two parts: a literature review in the Walden Library of research to address the critical practice question that you framed in Week 7, and a critical assessment of your search outcomes in which you synthesize the evidence. Both Parts 1 and 2 will be due by Day 7 of Week 10. Plan your time accordingly.
RESOURCES
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
WEEKLY RESOURCES
To prepare:
Analyze your critical practice question from the Week 7 Discussion. Based on feedback from colleagues and your Instructor, revise your question, as necessary, to ensure a clear and relevant focus for your literature search.
Review the Learning Resources to support your search.
Access the Individual Evidence Summary and Synthesis Tool document from the Learning Resources. This is a word document that you will complete with at least 10 scholarly articles relevant to your critical practice question. Scan the template to ensure you understand how to enter information for each article you identify.
Use the Week 8 Discussion to guide and clarify your search process and to pose any questions related to the template categories, search terms, or others.
The Assignment
Part 1: Literature Review (10+ scholarly articles)
Using the Walden Library as your source, search to select at least 10 scholarly articles that represent current literature (i.e., published within the previous 5 years) with evidence that addresses your critical question and could inform a practice change initiative for quality improvement. Using the Individual Evidence Summary Tool/Evidence Synthesis Tool template document, complete all sections for each article.
Part 2: Critical Assessment (7+ pages)
In a paper of at least 7 pages, plus cover page and references page, include the following:
Write a critical assessment of your search outcomes that synthesizes the evidence from your literature review.
Demonstrate clear connections between the practice problem that informs your critical question, your appraisal of evidence that addresses the critical question, and resulting clarification on the need for a practice change initiative focusing on quality improvement. Be specific and provide examples.
Reminder: The College of Nursing requires that all papers submitted include a title page, introduction, summary, and references. The Sample Paper provided at the Walden Writing Center provides an example of those required elements (available at https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/templates/general#s-lg-box-20293632Links to an external site.). All papers submitted must use this formatting.
Complete Parts 1 and 2 of your Assignment by Day 7 of Week 10.