Translating and Integrating Scholarship into Practice/ Practice Inquiry
Examines policies and seeks evidence for every aspect of practice. Applies research within practice settings to resolve practice problems and work as a change agent; Applies ethically sound principles to decision-making. Generates knowledge from practice to improve patient outcomes and translates new knowledge into practice. Leads practice inquiry, analyzes clinical guidelines and disseminates evidence from inquiry to diverse audiences. Utilizes evidence-based research in practice.
Two of my strengths are learning and input. Graduate study has been about translating what I have learned into practice. This competency was met through Transformational Strategies (NURS 5058, 5059, 5060). In our first semester, I examined policies and completed an organizational assessment at Wellmont Cancer Institute (WCI). I had no previous oncology experience, so I had to form relationships and rely on the knowledge of others when it came to the specifics of oncology care. I also had to do research--a lot of research.
After gaining all of the knowledge I could, I had to identify a problem area and work as a change agent. Being that WCI had applied to be part of Medicare's Oncology Care Model, I designed my Strategic Project: Improving Access to Oncology Care which included 24/7 access to a provider, identifying patients who had the potential to be high utilizers of care, and engaging those patients, and all WCI patients in their care.
The specifics of how to implement these improvements were determined by obtaining evidence-based research and practices, or "best practices" from other organizations, analyzing what processes WCI already used, changing the ones that didn't work or weren't being done correctly, and implementing new processes. Assembling and leading a strategic project team was exciting and something I would like to continue to do. I am a planner by nature and this is a strength I recognize and want to utilize in my nursing practice. An area of weakness I identified is that I want to improve everything! Many times during this project I would uncover another area of need for improvement, but would have to refocus to the task at hand.
Another area of my graduate education that helped me to realize the importance of participating in research in order to develop evidence-based guidelines was Research Seminar (NURS 5022). I worked with the research coordinator at WCI. See evaluations below.
Organizational Assessment for Transformational Strategies I (presentation)
Organizational Assessment for Transformational Strategies I (paper)
Strategic Project for Transformational Strategies II (presentation)
Strategic Project for Transformational Strategies II (paper)
Strategic Project for Transformational Strategies III (in progress)
Midterm Progress Report for Research Seminar (in progress)
Project Grade Determination Rating Guide for Research Seminar (in progress)