NURS 3021 – Professional Nurses as Change Agents: Capstone Change Project Proposal

Assignment Overview

This capstone project allows you to demonstrate your understanding of the professional nurse’s role as a change agent in contemporary healthcare. Drawing from evidence-based practice, leadership principles, and change management theories, you will identify a real-world clinical or organizational issue in nursing and develop a comprehensive proposal to address it through planned change.

The project emphasizes your ability to act as a change agent by proposing sustainable improvements that enhance patient outcomes, nursing practice, or healthcare systems. This assignment aligns with current nursing standards, including those from the American Nurses Association and Nursing Professional Development scope, which recognize change agent as a core role for nurses.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze the role of professional nurses as leaders and change agents in evolving healthcare environments.
• Apply change management theories to address a identified gap in nursing practice or patient care.
• Develop an evidence-based proposal for implementing and evaluating change.
• Reflect on ethical, cultural, and systemic factors influencing successful change initiatives.

Assignment Requirements

Project Components

1. Problem Identification: Describe a specific, measurable issue in your clinical setting or nursing practice (e.g., reducing hospital-acquired infections, improving staff retention, or implementing new technology).
2. PICOT Question: Formulate a clear PICOT question to frame your inquiry.
3. Literature Review: Summarize 8–10 peer-reviewed sources supporting your proposed change.
4. Change Theory: Select and apply a relevant model (e.g., Kotter’s 8-Step Process, Lewin’s Change Theory, or Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovations).
5. Implementation Plan: Outline steps, timeline, stakeholders, resources, and potential barriers with mitigation strategies.
6. Evaluation Plan: Define measurable outcomes and methods to assess the change’s impact.
7. Reflection: Discuss your growth as a change agent and implications for future professional practice.

Formatting and Submission

• Length: 2,500–3,500 words (excluding references and appendices).
• APA 7th edition formatting.
• Include title page, abstract, and appendices (e.g., timelines, tools, or educational materials).
• Due: End of semester (specific date provided in course schedule).
• Weight: 40% of final grade.

Grading Rubric Summary

Points allocated for clarity of problem statement, strength of evidence, application of theory, feasibility of plan, evaluation rigor, writing quality, and APA compliance.

Nurses play a critical role as change agents in modern healthcare, driving improvements in patient safety, quality of care, and system efficiency. This 2025 capstone project prepares you for leadership in evidence-based change initiatives. Professional development standards highlight change facilitation as essential for advancing nursing practice and responding to evolving healthcare demands.

References

• Bender, M., Williams, M., Su, W. and Hites, L. (2021) ‘Refining the conceptual basis for nursing practice change projects’, Nursing Outlook, 69(5), pp. 770–779.
• Grossman, S.C. and Valiga, T.M. (2021) The new leadership challenge: Creating the future of nursing. 6th edn. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Company.
• Spetz, J., Chu, L. and Blash, L. (2023) ‘Reasons for resistance to change in nursing: an integrative review’, BMC Nursing, 22(1), p. 310.
• Brunt, B.A. and Morris, M.M. (2025) ‘Nursing Professional Development Evidence-Based Practice’, in StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.
• Tiitta, I., Cubelo, F., McDermott-Levy, R., Jaakkola, J.J.K. and Kuosmanen, L. (2024) ‘Climate change integration in nursing education: A scoping review’, Nurse Education Today, 139, p. 106210.