Final Paper:
Incorporate all feedback that you have been on prior assignments into your Final Paper. If you have completed all the prior assignments, you already have several evidence-based, research studies that you are familiar with. For the final paper, you can use any of these prior research articles.
*In this assignment you will summarize 6 evidence-based research studies pertaining to your approved PICOT question. All research articles should be within 5 years (2018 or later).
*As previously indicated, DO NOT use integrative reviews, systematic review, meta-analyses or mixed methods studies for this assignment.
*Avoid excessive direct quotations. Paraphrase and cite appropriately.
*These are GENERAL page requirements. Be comprehensive, but do not add fluff. Simply address what is asked unless you have something novel that adds to the body of knowledge.
*Review all prior feedback from written assignments and make the recommended/corrections.
*Use the following first level headings: Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Review of the Literature and Synthesis:
Abstract (10 points): Review APA requirements for abstracts (google some APA examples and see the examples provided in the APA text). Write the abstract last as it is a synopsis of the entire paper.
Introduction (15 points): (approx 1/2 – 1 page): Clearly state your PICOT question. Provide the reader with a clear description of the problem. Provide support for the problem using relevant statistics and a national/international initiative that formally recognizes the problem (e.g. WHO, Healthy People 2030, NINR). Detail the consequences/implications if the problem is not addressed (hospital expenses, out of pocket costs, missed days of school/work, increased resource utilization, morbidity/mortality, suicide/addiction, depression, social isolation, etc). Discuss why addressing this is significant to school or advanced practice nursing.
Methods (10 points): (approx 1/2 – 1 page): Identify key words, the range of years of the studies that the search yielded, and databases used to search the literature. Identify how many research articles the search yielded and how many of them were relevant to the problem. Justify why / how you selected the 6 that you chose to include in this paper.
Review of the Literature (25 points): (6 paragraphs): Use a separate paragraph for each research study/article. Identify the level of evidence according to Melnyk’s hierarchy of evidence. Summarize what was studied (independent / dependent variables), who was studied (the type of sample, sample size), how the study was conducted (research design, data collection, instruments), the results (important statistics, if hypotheses were supported/rejected, findings/conclusions), and study limitations. The significance to the profession of nursing should be evident without being redundant.
Synthesis (20 points): (approx 1/2 -1 page): Summarize what the research studies found AS A WHOLE. Draw conclusions as supported by the WHOLE body of knowledge. Make recommendations to nursing practice based upon what the literature revealed AS A WHOLE. You may use additional articles and/or studies in this section if needed. Recommendations should be concrete and realistic. Describe how the recommendations can be used by school/advanced practice nurses.
*Similarity score of 20% or less: Upload JUST THE BODY of the paper (without the cover, the abstract, or the reference page) to obtain your similarity score. A similarity score of 20% or less is required for this assignment. Similarity scores of greater than 20% will not be graded/will receive a zero (0).
Once you achieve the similarity score of 20% or less, upload the entire paper. The entire paper should include the cover page, the abstract, the body of the paper and the reference page. Use 7th edition APA professional version.
*After uploading the entire paper, upload all 6 of the research articles used for this assignment (even if they were uploaded for a previous assignment). Save each article with the last name of the first author so that I can easily locate it during grading.
Grading Rubric:
Abstract: 10 points
Introduction: 15 points
Methods: 10 points
Review of the Literature: 25 points
Synthesis: 20 points
7th ed. APA (Professional Version): 10 points
Adherence, Grammar, Punctuation, Capitalization, etc.: 10 points
