How to Write an Evidence-Based Innovation Plan WGU D031

How to Write an Evidence-Based Innovation Plan /Proposal WGU D031

As a nurse, creating an evidence-based innovation plan is a powerful way to drive positive change in healthcare. This guide will walk you through each step of crafting a compelling evidence-based innovation plan, complete with examples and common pitfalls to avoid.

Evidence-Based Innovation Plan Instructions

Use the attached “Evidence-Based Innovation Plan Template” located in the “Supporting Documents” section to complete this assessment.

A.  Discuss 2 examples of disruptive innovation that improved healthcare outcomes. Provide scholarly source(s).

B.  Discuss how an MSN-prepared nurse innovator demonstrates one of the nursing roles described in the “WGU Nursing Programs Conceptual Model” located in Supporting Documents. The discussion should be detailed, with at least one example, and should specifically focus on one of the three nursing roles included in the WGU Nursing Programs Conceptual Model:

• •  Nurse as Detective
• •  Nurse as Scientist
• •  Nurse as Manager of the Healing Environment

C.   Discuss the use of big data and technology in nursing innovation by doing the following:

1. Describe one benefit and one challenge of using big data to support innovation.
2. Discuss how the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics guides ethical utilization of big data in developing innovative practices. The discussion should include 1 scholarly source.
3. Describe an example of a new technology or technology enhancement that resulted in improved outcomes in a healthcare organization.

D.   Discuss a disruptive innovation by doing the following:

1. Describe a proposed disruptive innovation and how the innovation will improve healthcare outcomes in a specific healthcare organization.
2. Describe the healthcare organization in which the disruptive innovation is proposed, including the type of organization, urban or rural setting, and population served.
3. Discuss how the disruptive innovation in D1 supports a goal or strategy related to improvement in the healthcare delivery or health outcomes of the selected healthcare organization.

E.   Provide scholarly evidence for your disruptive innovation by doing the following:

1. Complete the Relevant Sources Summary Table located in the Evidence-Based Innovation Plan Template to appraise 5 relevant peer-reviewed scholarly sources using the “WGU Evidence Leveling Tool” located in Supporting Documents. The sources must be published in the last five years.
2. Synthesize the findings of all the 5 peer-reviewed scholarly sources from E1, including identification of themes.
   Note: Refer to Unit 3 Appraising and Synthesizing the Evidence in the course materials (p. 29). Suggested length 1–2 pages.
3. Discuss how the evidence supports the disruptive innovation described in D1.
   Note: Refer to Essential Reading Chapter 5: “Literature Reviews: Finding and Critically Appraising Evidence” in the course materials (p. 29).

F.   Reflect on the role of nurse innovator by doing the following:

• 1.   Discuss how developing an evidence-based disruptive innovation proposal to improve healthcare outcomes has changed your understanding of the advanced professional nurse role.
• 2.   Describe 2 strategies a nurse innovator would use to support a culture of disruptive innovation in a healthcare organization.

G.   Acknowledge sources, using in-text citations and references, for content that is quoted, paraphrased, or summarized.

H.   Demonstrate professional communication in the content and presentation of your submission.

How to Write an Evidence-Based Innovation Plan for WGU

1. Introduction

An evidence-based innovation plan is a structured approach to introducing new ideas or technologies in healthcare, backed by solid research and data. As we dive into each section, we’ll follow the instructions provided, offer examples, and highlight potential mistakes to avoid.

2. Disruptive Innovations in Healthcare

Instructions

“Discuss 2 examples of disruptive innovation that improved healthcare outcomes. Provide scholarly source(s).”

How to Write This Section

When writing this part of your evidence-based innovation plan, focus on innovations that have significantly changed healthcare delivery or outcomes. For each example:

1. Briefly describe the innovation
2. Explain how it disrupted traditional practices
3. Discuss the improved outcomes, backed by data
4. Cite a scholarly source for each example

Example

“Two disruptive innovations that have improved healthcare outcomes are telemedicine and artificial intelligence (AI) in diagnostic imaging.

Telemedicine has revolutionized healthcare access, especially in rural areas. A study by Smith et al. (2023) found that telemedicine reduced hospital readmissions for chronic heart failure patients by 40% over a 6-month period. This innovation disrupted the traditional in-person consultation model, improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.

AI in diagnostic imaging has significantly enhanced early detection of diseases. Johnson and Lee (2022) reported that AI-assisted mammography improved breast cancer detection rates by 37% compared to traditional methods. This innovation disrupted the conventional image interpretation process, leading to earlier interventions and improved patient survival rates.”

3. Nurse Innovator Role

Instructions

“Discuss how an MSN-prepared nurse innovator demonstrates one of the nursing roles described in the ‘WGU Nursing Programs Conceptual Model’ located in Supporting Documents. The discussion should be detailed, with at least one example, and should specifically focus on one of the three nursing roles included in the WGU Nursing Programs Conceptual Model:

• Nurse as Detective
• Nurse as Scientist
• Nurse as Manager of the Healing Environment”

How to Write This Section

In this part of your evidence-based innovation plan:

1. Choose one of the three roles
2. Explain what this role entails for an MSN-prepared nurse innovator
3. Provide a detailed example of how a nurse might embody this role
4. Connect the role to innovation in nursing practice

Example

“An MSN-prepared nurse innovator can demonstrate the role of ‘Nurse as Scientist’ by leveraging evidence-based practice to drive innovation. This role involves:

• Identifying clinical problems that need innovative solutions
• Designing and conducting research studies
• Analyzing and interpreting data
• Implementing findings to improve patient care

For instance, Nurse Sarah Thompson at Memorial Hospital embodied this role when she implemented a novel pain management protocol. Noticing high opioid use rates post-surgery, Sarah designed a study to test the efficacy of combining non-pharmacological interventions with traditional pain medication. Her scientific approach included:

1. Formulating a research question
2. Designing the study methodology
3. Collecting and analyzing data
4. Interpreting results

Sarah’s study found that the new protocol reduced opioid use by 30% while maintaining effective pain control. This scientific approach to innovation led to improved patient outcomes and reduced the risk of opioid dependence.”

4. Big Data and Technology in Nursing Innovation

Instructions

“Discuss the use of big data and technology in nursing innovation by doing the following:

1. Describe one benefit and one challenge of using big data to support innovation.
2. Discuss how the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics guides ethical utilization of big data in developing innovative practices. The discussion should include 1 scholarly source.
3. Describe an example of a new technology or technology enhancement that resulted in improved outcomes in a healthcare organization.”

How to Write This Section

In this section of your evidence-based innovation plan:

1. Clearly state one benefit and one challenge of using big data
2. Explain how the ANA Code of Ethics relates to big data use, citing a specific provision
3. Provide a concrete example of a technology that improved healthcare outcomes

Example

“Big data plays a crucial role in nursing innovation. One significant benefit is its ability to identify patterns in patient outcomes across large populations, enabling more targeted and effective interventions. However, a major challenge is ensuring data privacy and security while sharing and analyzing large datasets.

The ANA Code of Ethics, particularly Provision 3, guides the ethical use of big data by emphasizing the protection of patient privacy and confidentiality. Brown (2024) notes that nurses must balance the potential benefits of big data analysis with the ethical imperative to protect individual patient information, ensuring informed consent and data anonymization.

A prime example of technology improving healthcare outcomes is the implementation of smart infusion pumps with dose error reduction software (DERS) at City General Hospital. This technology enhancement resulted in a 50% decrease in medication administration errors over one year (Garcia et al., 2023), significantly improving patient safety.”

5. Proposing a Disruptive Innovation

Instructions

“Discuss a disruptive innovation by doing the following:

1. Describe a proposed disruptive innovation and how the innovation will improve healthcare outcomes in a specific healthcare organization.
2. Describe the healthcare organization in which the disruptive innovation is proposed, including the type of organization, urban or rural setting, and population served.
3. Discuss how the disruptive innovation supports a goal or strategy related to improvement in the healthcare delivery or health outcomes of the selected healthcare organization.”

How to Write This Section

In this crucial part of your evidence-based innovation plan:

1. Clearly describe your proposed innovation
2. Explain how it will improve outcomes
3. Provide details about the specific healthcare organization
4. Connect your innovation to the organization’s goals or strategies

Example

“Proposed Disruptive Innovation: AI-powered early warning system for sepsis detection in hospital inpatients.

This innovation uses machine learning algorithms to continuously analyze patient data from electronic health records, identifying subtle signs of sepsis hours before traditional screening methods. Early detection allows for prompt intervention, potentially reducing sepsis-related mortality by up to 30%.

Healthcare Organization: City General Hospital, a 500-bed urban teaching hospital serving a diverse population of approximately 1 million in a major metropolitan area. The hospital caters to both insured and uninsured patients, with a significant portion of the population being elderly and at higher risk for sepsis.

This disruptive innovation aligns with City General Hospital’s strategic goal of reducing sepsis-related mortality by 25% over the next two years. By enabling earlier intervention and treatment, the AI-powered system supports the hospital’s commitment to improving patient outcomes and reducing the length of hospital stays, ultimately enhancing overall healthcare delivery efficiency.”

6. Evidence for the Proposed Innovation

Instructions

“Provide scholarly evidence for your disruptive innovation by doing the following:

1. Complete the Relevant Sources Summary Table located in the Evidence-Based Innovation Plan Template to appraise 5 relevant peer-reviewed scholarly sources using the ‘WGU Evidence Leveling Tool’ located in Supporting Documents. The sources must be published in the last five years.
2. Synthesize the findings of all the 5 peer-reviewed scholarly sources from E1, including identification of themes.
3. Discuss how the evidence supports the disruptive innovation described in D1.”

How to Write This Section

This section forms the backbone of your evidence-based innovation plan:

1. Fill out the Relevant Sources Summary Table with 5 recent, peer-reviewed sources
2. Synthesize the findings, identifying common themes across the sources
3. Explicitly connect the evidence to your proposed innovation

Example

Relevant Sources Summary Table:

Scholarly Peer-Reviewed Sources Published in Past 5 Years  that Support the Proposed Innovation		Summary of Findings Relevant to Proposed Innovation	Evidence Strength Level I–VII	Evidence Hierarchy
	Scholarly reference with a DOI or retrievable link.	Present a detailed summary of the findings and how the findings support the proposed innovation. Provide an in-text citation for each summary and include each source in Reference list.	Refer to WGU Evidence Leveling Navigation Tool
SCHOLARLY SOURCE 1
SCHOLARLY SOURCE 2
SCHOLARLY SOURCE 3
SCHOLARLY SOURCE 4
SCHOLARLY SOURCE 5

Synthesis of Findings:
The literature review reveals three main themes supporting the implementation of AI-powered early warning systems for sepsis:

1. Improved Early Detection: Studies consistently show that AI algorithms can detect sepsis 4-12 hours earlier than traditional methods (Smith et al., 2023; Johnson & Lee, 2022).
2. Reduced Mortality Rates: Early detection and intervention facilitated by AI systems have been associated with a 15-30% reduction in sepsis-related mortality (Brown, 2024; Garcia et al., 2023).
3. Cost-Effectiveness: Despite initial implementation costs, AI-powered systems have demonstrated long-term cost savings due to reduced ICU stays and complications (Thompson, 2022).

Evidence Support for the Proposed Innovation:
The synthesized evidence strongly supports the implementation of an AI-powered early warning system for sepsis detection at City General Hospital. The consistent findings of improved early detection align directly with our goal of reducing sepsis-related mortality. Moreover, the demonstrated cost-effectiveness addresses potential concerns about resource allocation, making this innovation both clinically and economically beneficial for our organization.”

7. Reflection on Nurse Innovator Role

Instructions

“Reflect on the role of nurse innovator by doing the following:

1. Discuss how developing an evidence-based disruptive innovation proposal to improve healthcare outcomes has changed your understanding of the advanced professional nurse role.
2. Describe 2 strategies a nurse innovator would use to support a culture of disruptive innovation in a healthcare organization.”

How to Write This Section

In this final section of your evidence-based innovation plan:

1. Reflect on how this process has changed your perspective on advanced nursing roles
2. Describe two specific strategies to foster innovation in healthcare

Example

“Developing this evidence-based disruptive innovation proposal has profoundly impacted my understanding of the advanced professional nurse role. I now see that nurses are not just caregivers, but also critical thinkers, researchers, and change agents. This process has highlighted the importance of evidence-based practice and the potential for nurses to drive significant improvements in healthcare outcomes through innovation.

Two strategies a nurse innovator could use to support a culture of disruptive innovation are:

1. Establishing an ‘Innovation Lab’: This would be a dedicated space where staff can prototype and test new ideas in a low-risk environment. The lab could offer resources, mentorship, and collaboration opportunities, encouraging nurses at all levels to engage in innovative thinking.
2. Implementing a ‘Nurse Innovator of the Month’ program: This initiative would recognize and reward innovative thinking among nursing staff. By highlighting successful innovations and the nurses behind them, this program would inspire others to think creatively and propose novel solutions to healthcare challenges.”

8. Conclusion

Creating an evidence-based innovation plan is a complex but rewarding process. By following this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to develop a comprehensive, well-researched proposal that could significantly impact patient care and healthcare delivery. Remember, as a nurse, you’re not just a caregiver – you’re an innovator, a scientist, and a leader in healthcare transformation. Your evidence-based innovation plan could be the catalyst for the next big breakthrough in patient care!