05-06 Graduate Student Handbook.pdf - University of Kentucky

Capstone Project - UK College of Nursing
http://www.mc.uky.edu/nursing/StuResources/grads/handbook2005-06/capstone.htm
Page 2 of 3
2/24/2011
Options
• Students may select a number of options for this project and should work with their
faculty advisors and clinical mentors in selecting a topic and developing the project.
• Examples of potential projects include:
◦ implementing a project with the potential to change a clinical situation
◦ evaluating a previously implemented strategy and the reported outcomes
◦ conducting a secondary data analysis
◦ evaluating a new model
◦ evaluating the effects of a prior analysis of a model
◦ collecting data to assess a particular program or project
◦ combining data sets and conducting analyses of the full data set
◦ conducting a meta-analysis
◦ conducting a technology assessment (at the level of sophistication of technology
assessments by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)
◦ conducting an integrated review of levels of evidence for a particular health care
intervention (at a level comparable to those published by the Cochrane
Collaboration or the Evidence-Based Practice Centers of the Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality)
◦ conducting a cost-effectiveness or cost-benefit analysis of a proposed health care
program
Implementation of an actual change is not required for successful completion of the project.
Either qualitative or quantitative approaches to evaluation are acceptable, with the choice
being driven by the nature of the questions being asked.
Simple literature reviews or limited analyses of secondary data sets (e.g., MEPS data) are
insufficient for these projects.
Requirements
• A final written product
• A public oral presentation
Final Product
• A single comprehensive publishable paper; or,
• A series of publishable papers on more discrete topics; and,
• A technical document with:
◦ A publishable case study (ies)
◦ A packaged programVisual media: CD, videotape, DVD with comprehensive
explanatory materials to support the visual media
Final Product Components
• Abstract
• Executive summary of the project (300 words)
• Introduction to the project
• Description of the problem and how it is defined, the clinical setting or environment and