Poor management of clinical depression within the oncologic population negatively impacts patient outcomes and quality of life.
APNs must determine the strength of the recommendations and guidelines to regulate whether policy changes are warranted. Through this process the APN may begin with a clinical question in mind before searching the literature on the proposed changes needed.
Step 1: Introduction
A good introduction grabbing the reader’s attention providing insight to the POI and significance to the APN’s role. Need strong thesis or purpose statement.
Step 2: POI Significance:
Discuss why this POI is significant to your role as an APN. How will it change practice? Why did you select this topic? Next, discuss all 3 measures: structural, process and outcomes by comparing them to one another or identifying how/what is different. What expected structural, process OR outcome measures are you hoping to see with instituting a change in practice? You must clearly identify the measure you are evaluating in this example and it should relate directly to your POI.
Step 3 PICO :
You will include a PICO framework AND the clinical question in this section. Follow these directions as specified.
Outline the PICO framework by listing (do not write in a paragraph format) P-population or patients, I-intervention, C-comparison, and O-outcomes as it relates to your POI. Then develop the clinical question by including all parts of the PICO framework in the question. Be as specific as possible in both the PICO framework development and clinical question and avoid phrases such as: “compared to the standard practice” , or “compared to the current practice” because faculty do not know what the normal practice or standard practice is at your facility..
Step 4 Tool Completion:
To provide an overview of the guideline OR position statement use the tool
Evaluation tool for Guideline OR Position statement PDF
Evaluation Tool for Guideline OR Position Statement Word Document
Step 5 Critique of Guideline/Position Statement:
Critique the guideline or position statement by discussing ALL of the following and including appropriate support from your guideline/statement selection:
(1) purpose/aim of the recommendation/postition statement-are they clear, current and relevant to your population?
(2) Recommendations or objectives of the guideline/statement
(3) Who (authors, groups, organizations) developed the guideline/position statement and what biases or funding did they receive? Did the authors, groups or organization have a valued interest in the guideline, why or why not? Remember to consider the author’s role professionally as part of your answer.
(4) Describe if they information is credible and justify your answer. What makes information credible? Is their truth in the data, interventions recommended, or studies used to support recommendations, how do you know?
(5) What levels of evidence were used to support each recommendation statement-look at the studies and resources used to develop the guideline or position statement. What levels of evidence were these resoruces/studies? Are those individual studies/resources of strong or weak on the evidence hierarchy? How do you know and does it influence the overall recommentation or guideline?
(6) Based on the level of evidence used to support the recommendation statements, is the overall quality of that evidence high/low and how does that influence your decision to implement this recommendation or practice guideline into your practice?
Step 6 Quality Improvement:
Explain how this guideline or position statement would impact quality improvement by addressing 2 of the bioethical principles: justice, autonomy, beneficience, or nonmalficence. Students must demonstrate full understanding of each principle discussed.
Step 7 Conclusion
Step 8 Guideline/Position Statement Link or Attachment:
Include a copy of the full guideline or position statement as an attachment or merged to the paper after the resources.
Min. 2 peer-reviewed or scholarly references in addition to required EBP guideline and textbooks.
