Abstract
Introduction: The presentation will utilize presentation software to disseminate information on utilizing competency-based education in a research and evidence-based practice course in a baccalaureate nursing program. A demonstration of how to take a quality improvement project and take it from cognitive learning to competency-based learning will be discussed. This project demonstrates how to take current practices and adapt for a richer learning experience that is measurable.
Description of the Teaching Practice & Relevance: The Research and Evidence-Based Practice course provides students the knowledge and skills to translate current evidence into practice. One of the course objectives, comparing practice guidelines with current practice and presenting a plan to implement evidence in practice were addressed by a quality improvement project. Students identified a gap in care and designed a quality improvement process to improve the gap. Last year, students wrote a group paper with three evidence-based practice references and evaluated by a rubric. Students overwhelmingly did well collaborating on and developing an effective quality improvement initiative based on current nursing research.
Faculty wanted to take this assignment a few steps further at adapted it to include a presentation and reflection. Students did the initial project as designed, then presented their quality improvement solution to the class. After, students met in their groups and completed a reflection exercise that focused on professional identity, competency in knowledge, skills, and attitudes, and inter-collaborative learning.
Students reflected on many aspects of the quality improvement process. Many comments in the reflection exercise stated the students were presented with information they had not considered when developing a solution to the case study presented. They also stated it was helpful to have the input of team members to gain different perspectives regarding the solution. Also included was the impact the process had on making them feel valued as a team member and that their contributions mattered to the team as a whole.
Presentation Purpose and Takeaways: The main purpose of the presentation is to disseminate knowledge of a teaching-learning process and to garner feedback from peers. Suggestions and clarification will aid in honing the assignments for future classes to be concise and student centric.