Proposal: In 100-250 words, present a detailed explanation of your proposed solution (new policy, process, procedure, or education that addresses the problem or issue you identified for your project)
Develop an implementation plan (500-750 words). The elements that should be included in your plan are listed below:
Strategies for obtaining necessary approval(s) and securing support from your organization's leadership and fellow staff. If you are proposing a change in current policy, process, or procedure, first describe the current policy, process, or procedure as a baseline for comparison.
Description of implementation. (When and how will the change be integrated into the current organizational structure, culture, and workflow? Who will be responsible for initiating the change, educating staff, and overseeing the implementation process?)
Resources required for implementation: stakeholders; assessment tools (questionnaires, surveys, pretests and posttests to assess knowledge of participants at baseline and after intervention); technology (technological or software needs); funds (cost of educating staff, printing or producing educational materials, gathering and analyzing data before, during, and following implementation); and staff to initiate, oversee, and evaluate change.
Evaluation Plan
Prepare an evaluation plan (500-750 words) supported by your critical analysis of the literature.
Discuss methods to evaluate the effectiveness of your proposed solution.
Describe what your projected outcomes will be and what variables will be assessed.
Full Answer Section
Implementation Plan
Obtaining Approval and Support
Current Training: The current training program consists of a week-long, instructor-led session covering medication classification, dosage calculations, administration techniques, and legal considerations. While comprehensive, it requires significant time commitment from new nurses and instructors.
Strategies for Approval:
- Present data on national trends: Highlight statistics on medication errors and the benefits of blended learning for knowledge retention.
- Pilot program: Propose a pilot program for a new hire cohort to demonstrate the effectiveness of the blended learning approach.
- Collaboration: Partner with the nursing education department and leadership to develop the program collaboratively.
- Cost-benefit analysis: Demonstrate the cost savings associated with a shorter training program while maintaining competency.
Implementation Description
- Timeline: The blended learning program will be piloted for the next six months with a new nurse cohort.
- Online Modules: Develop a series of online modules covering medication classification, dosage calculations, and legal aspects. These modules will be self-paced and accessible on any device.
- Interactive Workshops: Facilitate in-person workshops focused on key skills and procedures like medication preparation, aseptic technique, and administration routes.
- Trainers: Registered nurses with medication administration expertise will facilitate the workshops.
- Education and Communication: Hold information sessions for nurse managers and educators to explain the new program and its benefits.
- Workflow Integration: The online modules will be integrated with the hospital's Learning Management System (LMS) for easy access and tracking.
Resources Required
- Stakeholders: Nursing educators, nurse managers, instructional designers, IT support staff.
- Assessment Tools: Pre- and post-tests for both online modules and in-person workshops to assess knowledge gain.
- Technology: LMS platform, video conferencing tools for online modules.
- Funds: Project management software, development of online modules, printing of course materials, staff time for development and delivery.
- Staff: Instructional designers, IT specialists, nurse educators, and trainers.
Evaluation Plan
Evaluation Methods:
- Pre- and Post-tests: Administer standardized medication administration knowledge tests before and after the training program.
- Skills Evaluations: Conduct skills evaluations focusing on medication preparation and administration techniques.
- Surveys: Collect feedback from participants through surveys on their experience with the blended learning approach.
- Incident Tracking: Monitor medication error reports during the implementation period compared to historical data.
Projected Outcomes and Variables
Projected outcomes:
- Increased knowledge retention of medication administration procedures.
- Improved confidence and competency among new nurses in administering medications.
- Reduced medication errors.
- Decreased training time for new nurses.
Variables Assessed:
- Scores on pre- and post-tests.
- Performance on skills evaluations.
- Survey responses on participant satisfaction and learning experience.
- Number of reported medication errors during and after implementation.
Critical Analysis of Literature
Research supports the effectiveness of blended learning for improving knowledge retention and promoting positive learner outcomes [1, 2]. Studies show that combining online modules with interactive sessions can enhance engagement and practical skill development [3]. By evaluating our program using pre- and post-tests, skills assessments, and medication error data, we can measure the impact of the blended learning approach and make data-driven decisions for future training programs.
Sample Answer
Problem: New nurses often struggle with medication administration due to the complex procedures and potential for errors. Traditional, lengthy training sessions are time-consuming and may not effectively retain information.
Proposed Solution: Implement a blended learning program for medication administration training for new nurses. This program will combine online modules with interactive in-person workshops.