Application of Theory Paper

Guidelines & Scoring Rubric

Purpose:

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The purpose of this assignment is to synthesize one strategy for the application of a specific nursing theory to resolving a problem or issue of nursing practice in nursing leadership, nursing education, nursing informatics, or health policy.

Course Outcomes

Through this assignment, a student will demonstrate the ability to:

(CO#1) Analyze theories from nursing and relevant fields with respect to their components, relationships among the components, logic of the propositions, comprehensiveness, and utility to advanced nursing. (PO1)

(CO#3) Communicate the analysis of and proposed strategies for the use of a theory in nursing practice. (PO3, 7, 10)

(CO#4) Demonstrate logical and creative thinking in the analysis and application of a theory to nursing practice. (PO4, 7)

Total Points Possible:  325

Requirements:

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Description of the Assignment: 

Content

1. Introduction to the paper includes a few general statements on the idea of nursing theory being applied to solve problems/issues in nursing practice, regardless of the specialty area of practice. For example, why would one pick a nursing theory to solve a practice problem? Would a grand, middle-range, or practice theory be best? Does the writer have any experience in using nursing theory this way? In addition, a brief one-paragraph summary of a specific nursing theory and information on the sections of the paper are provided. The selected nursing theory can be a grand theory, a middle-range theory, or a practice theory.
2. Description of the problem/issue for which strategies will be developed. The problem to be resolved must be in nursing leadership, nursing education, nursing informatics, or health policy. Scholarly evidence (in the form of a literature review) supporting the issue is included. The problem/issue could be local to one’s specific practice setting. For example, the setting might be a nursing unit, a nursing-education program, an informatics department, or a health-policy unit of a consulting firm. The problem/issue needs to be something that a nursing theory can impact, whether it solves the actual problem/issue or enables people affected by the problem/issue to deal with it. It is best if the problem/issue is from real life – something the writer of the paper has dealt with or is currently engaged in.

Some examples (these are fictitious examples)

1. A nursing unit has experienced rapid turnover of professional staff, including several nurse managers. A new nurse manager from outside of the nursing unit is appointed.
2. Informatics nurse specialists face a lot of resistance from all healthcare professionals to implementation of a computer-based order entry program. The implementation date will not be changed.
3. A nurse educator is assigned to take over a large class of undergraduate nursing students, with a mix of young adults and adults returning for a second degree. The subject is difficult, students have not been doing well, and frustration and tempers are impeding group work.
4. A health-policy nurse specialist works for a consulting firm that lobbies on behalf of many healthcare professions. Within the specialist’s work unit, there is much debate over the pros and cons of various policies being proposed for attention in the coming year.

1. Applying concepts and principles from the selected theory, one strategy for resolving the identified issue is described in depth. Details on how the theory would be applied are included (consider: who, what, when, where, and how). Rationales for the strategy as well as evidence from scholarly literature are included. One ethical and/or legal aspect of the strategy is discussed. Expected outcome(s) from implementing the strategy are proposed.
2. Concluding statements include new knowledge about applying nursing theory gained by writing the paper

Format and Special Instructions

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1. Paper length: 6 pages minimum; 8 pages maximum, excluding title page and reference page. Points will be deducted for not meeting these requirements.
2. The textbook required for this course may not be used as a reference for this assignment.
3. A minimum of 3 scholarly references are used. References must be current – no older than 5 years, unless a valid rationale is provided. Consult with the course instructor about using an older source.
4. Title page, body of paper, and reference page(s) must be in APA format as presented in the 6^th edition of the manual
5. Ideas and information from readings and other sources must be cited and cited correctly.
6. Grammar, spelling, punctuation, and citations are consistent with formal academic writing as presented in the 6^th edition of the APA manual
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Directions and Grading Criteria

Category	Points	%	Description
Introduction	60	19	Introduction to the paper includes all of the following:·        General statements on the idea of nursing theory being applied to solve problems/ issues in nursing practice, regardless of the specialty area of practice.·        A brief one-paragraph summary of a specific nursing theory·        Information on the sections of the paper
Problem/ Issue	85	26	The problem/issue is substantively discussed. The problem is clearly in nursing leadership, nursing education, nursing informatics, or health policy. Scholarly evidence supporting the issue is included.
Strategy	100	30	All of the following are present: ·        One strategy for resolving the identified issue is discussed substantively ·        Concepts and principles from the selected nursing theory are clearly applied ·        Rationale(s) for the strategy are evident ·        Evidence from the scholarly literature supports the discussion ·        At least one ethical and/or legal aspect of the strategy is discussed.
Conclusion	40	13	Concluding paragraph(s) clearly show new knowledge about applying nursing theory gained from writing this paper
Paper Requirements	10	3	All of the following requirements are met: Paper meets length requirements Minimum of 3 scholarly references Textbook not used as a reference References are current – within a 5-year time frame unless a valid rationale is provided for use of older references
APA Format	10	3	Title page, body of paper, and reference page must follow APA guidelines as found in the 6th edition of the manual. This includes the use of headings for each section or topic of the paper.
Citations in Text	10	3	Ideas and information that come from readings must be cited and referenced correctly.
Writing Mechanics	10	3	Rules of grammar, spelling, word usage, and punctuation are followed and consistent with formal written work as found in the 6th edition of the APA manual.
Total	325	100	A quality assignment will meet or exceed all of the above requirements.

Grading Rubric

Assignment Criteria	A(100 – 92%)Outstanding or highest level of performance	B(91-84%)Very good or high level of performance	C(83-76%)Competent or satisfactory level of performance	F(75-0%)Poor or failing or unsatisfactory level of performance
ContentPossible Points = 285 Points
Introduction	60-56 Points	55-50 Points	49-46 Points	45-0 Points
Introduction to the paper includes all of the following:·        General statements on the idea of nursing theory being applied to solve problems/ issues in nursing practice, regardless of the specialty area of practice.·        A brief one-paragraph summary of a specific nursing theory·        Information on the sections of the paper	Introduction to the paper includes only 2 of the following:·        General statements on the idea of nursing theory being applied to solve problems/issues in nursing practice, regardless of the specialty area of practice.·        A brief one-paragraph summary of a specific nursing theory·        Information on the sections of the paper	Introduction to the paper includes only 1 of the following:·        General statements on the idea of nursing theory being applied to solve problems/issues in nursing practice, regardless of the specialty area of practice.·        A brief one-paragraph summary of a specific nursing theory·        Information on the sections of the paper.	Introduction to the paper includes none of the following:·        General statements on the idea of nursing theory being applied to solve problems/issues in nursing practice, regardless of the specialty area of practice.·        A brief one-paragraph summary of a specific nursing theory·        Information on the sections of the paper
Problem/Issue	85-78 Points	77-71 Points	70-65 Points	64-0 Points
The problem/issue is substantively discussed. The problem is clearly in nursing leadership, nursing education, nursing informatics, or health policy. Scholarly evidence supporting the issue is included.	The problem/issue is superficially discussed. The problem is clearly in nursing leadership, nursing education, nursing informatics, or health policy. Scholarly evidence supporting the issue is included	The problem/issue is superficially discussed. ·        It is not clear if the problem belongs to nursing leadership, nursing education, nursing informatics, or health policy OR ·        Scholarly evidence supporting the issue is not included	The problem/issue is superficially discussed. ·        It is not clear if the problem belongs to nursing leadership, nursing education, nursing informatics, or health policy AND ·        Scholarly evidence supporting the issue is not included
Strategy	100-92 Points	91-84 Points	83-76 Points	75-0 Points
All of the following are present: ·        One strategy for resolving the identified issue is discussed substantively ·        Concepts and principles from the selected nursing theory are clearly applied ·        Rationale(s) for the strategy are evident ·        Evidence from the scholarly literature supports the discussion ·        At least one ethical and/or legal aspect of the strategy is discussed.	Only 4 of the following are present: ·        One strategy for resolving the identified issue is discussed substantively ·        Concepts and principles from the selected nursing theory are clearly applied ·        Rationale(s) for the strategy are evident ·        Evidence from the scholarly literature supports the discussion ·        At least one ethical and/or legal aspect of the strategy is discussed	Only 3 of the following are present: ·        One strategy for resolving the identified issue is discussed substantively ·        Concepts and principles from the selected nursing theory are clearly applied ·        Rationale(s) for the strategy are evident ·        Evidence from the scholarly literature supports the discussion ·        At least one ethical and/or legal aspect of the strategy is discussed	2 or fewer of the following are present: ·        One strategy for resolving the identified issue is discussed substantively ·        Concepts and principles from the selected nursing theory are clearly applied ·        Rationale(s) for the strategy are evident ·        Evidence from the scholarly literature supports the discussion ·        At least one ethical and/or legal aspect of the strategy is discussed
Conclusion	40-37 Points		33-30 Points	29-0 Points
Concluding paragraph(s) clearly show new knowledge about applying nursing theory gained from writing this paper	NA	Concluding paragraph(s) does not clearly show new knowledge about applying nursing theory gained from writing this paper	Concluding paragraph(s) are missing
Content Subtotal		_____of  285 points
FormatPossible Points =  40 Points
Paper Requirements	10-9 Points	8 Points	7 Points	6-0 Points
All of the following requirements are met: Paper meets length requirements Minimum of 3 scholarly references Textbook not used as a reference References are current – within a 5-year time frame unless a valid rationale is provided for use of older references	Only 2 of the following requirements are met: Paper meets length requirements Minimum of 3 scholarly references Textbook not used as a reference References are current – within the 5-year time frame  unless a valid rationale is provided for use of older references	Only 1 of the following requirements is met: Paper meets length requirements Minimum of 3 scholarly references Textbook not used as a reference References are current – within the 5-year time frame  unless a valid rationale is provided for use of older references	None of the following requirements are met: Paper meets length requirements Minimum of 3 scholarly references Textbook not used as a reference References are current – within the 5-year time frame  unless a valid rationale is provided for use of older references
APA Format	10-9 Points	8 Points	7 Points	6-0 Points
There are 0 – 2 APA format errors in the text, title page and reference page(s)	There are 3 – 5 APA format errors in the text, title page and/or reference page(s)	There are 6 – 8 APA format errors in the title page, running head, or reference page (s).	There are 9 or more APA format errors in the title page, running head, or reference pages(s).
Citations	10-9 Points	8 Points	7 Points	6-0 Points
There are 0-2 errors in the citation of ideas and information	There are 3-5 errors in the citation of ideas and information	There are 6 – 8 errors in the citation of ideas and information	There are 9 or more errors in the citation of ideas and information
Writing Quality	10-9 Points	8 Points	7 Points	6-0 Points
0 – 2 errors or exceptions to the rules of grammar, spelling, word usage, punctuation and formal written work as presented in the 6thedition of the APA manual	3 – 5 errors or exceptions to the rules of grammar, spelling, word usage, punctuation and formal written work as presented in the 6th edition of the APA manual	6 – 9 errors or exceptions to the rules of grammar, spelling, word usage, punctuation and formal written work as presented in the 6th edition of the APA manual	10 or more exceptions to the rules of grammar, spelling, word usage, punctuation and formal written work as presented in the 6th edition of the APA manual
Format Subtotal	_____of  40 points
Total Points		_____of  325 points