Developing an evaluation plan

Using 800-1,000 words, discuss methods to evaluate the effectiveness of your proposed solution and variables to be assessed when evaluating project outcomes.

Example: If you are proposing a new staffing matrix that is intended to reduce nurse turnover, improve nursing staff satisfaction, and positively impact overall delivery of care, you may decide the following methods and variables are necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of your proposed solution:

Methods:

Survey of staff attitudes and contributors to job satisfaction and dissatisfaction before and after initiating change.
Obtain turnover rates before and after initiating change.
Compare patient discharge surveys before change and after initiation of change.
Variables:

Staff attitudes and perceptions.
Patient attitudes and perceptions.
Rate of nursing staff turnover.
Develop the tools necessary to educate project participants and to evaluate project outcomes (surveys, questionnaires, teaching materials, PowerPoint slides, etc.).
I want to reword or paraphrase the following paper. Please call with any concerns. Thank U.

Evaluation of the Action Plan
“The fifth step of the process, outcome evaluation, attempts to interpret results and evaluate the outcomes of the applied evidence (intervention)” (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2005). “Evaluation provides essential data for decision making and helps staff determine whether the intervention should be accepted, rejected, or modified for use in their setting” (Goode, 1995). Outcome measures of the evaluation process may be psychosocial, physiological or functional improvement (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2005) and should yield results that foster and promote positive patient outcomes. This paper will discuss the methods and variables used to measure and evaluate the outcomes of the plan being implemented.
Evaluating the Process
Methods that will be used to assess to effectiveness of the proposed action plan will include tools such as: pre and posttest of the proposed plan that will test the nurses and other health care staff knowledge in regards to catheter associated urinary tract infection before and after implementation of the proposed plan of action, and handouts/brochures will ensure and promote education of catheter associated urinary tract infections (what is a catheter associated urinary tract infection, risk factors, and prevention).These methods will ensure the education of staff and the positive impact of nurse-driven protocols related to the early removal of indwelling catheters and reduction of catheter associated urinary tract infections. Nurses and other healthcare provider’s perceptions and attitudes will also be noted on how important is the nurse-driven protocol in reducing the prevalence of catheter associated urinary tract infections. Implementation of reducing and preventing catheter associated urinary tract infections may be integrated into computerized based learning (CBLs) that will be required annually of all nurses and other health care staff. Integration of this action plan into the patient’s electronic medical record would also have indicators or hard stops to inform nursing staff to properly assess and document removal or maintenance of the indwelling urinary catheter.
A continuum evaluation of the action plan that is to be implemented is to form a catheter associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) committee. This committee will hold monthly meetings that yield data that pertain to the numbers of reducing the rates of catheter urinary tract infections with the implementation of nurse-driven protocols that facilitate the early removal of urinary catheters that are placed by inappropriate means and do not meet criteria to maintain. During these monthly meetings with designated champions from each unit, feedback, engagement and input will be valued and noted as ways the protocol can be improved. Once the meeting has been adjourned then each champion will relay information that was discussed to unit staff as well as note recommendations and suggestions from nurses and other health care givers. The effectiveness of the nurse driven protocol will be evidenced by the reduction in catheter associated urinary tract infections and shorter duration times of the urinary catheters, which will be reflected in the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAPS) scores.
The attitudes and perceptions of nurses and other health care providers will be noted as a variable due to everyone has his or her own perception about the quality of care, therefore one may meet resistance as a new change is about to be implemented. Also there may be some push back from physicians who may feel they know what is best for the patient and maintain an indwelling urinary catheter for his or her own reasons. This is why it is important to note and educate all health care providers on the impact of improving the quality of care with nurse-driven protocols to help remove urinary catheters that are in use for inappropriate means with the support of literatures and evidenced-based practices and best practices. Providing positive results with a continuum of education, monitoring, data collection and optimal patient outcomes can continue to foster improvements in quality care and promote a sense of empowerment of nursing staff. With the patients best care at heart one entity must respect and trust the other entity so that a collaboration is formed and the best outcomes for the patient is achieved.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the evaluation process is very important in the implementation of a proposed action plan. Evaluation has the potential for great impact on the quality and care (Luker, 1981).Through the evaluation process, one can observe and assess the needs and readiness of nurses and other health care providers through education, trainings, ongoing monitoring and meetings in which staff engagement and feedback will be considered and valued. This process of evaluation has the potential to improve and promote positive patient outcomes as well as increase job satisfaction among hospital employees.
References
Goode, C.J. (1995). Evaluation of research -based nursing practice, (3): 421-428. Retrieved from www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7567568
Luker, M. (1981). Journal of Advanced Nursing: An overview of evaluation research in nursing (6): 87-93
Melnyk B.M., Fineout-Overholt, E. (2005). Evidenced-based practice in nursing and healthcare. Lippincott, Williams & Williams

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Posted on May 31, 2016Author TutorCategories Question, Questions