APPLICATION: PRACTICUM PROJECT PLAN
DEVELOPMENT OF A NEUROLOGY ORIENTATION BOOKLET FOR NURSING STUDENTS
Introduction
This project involves the creation of an orientation booklet in neurology or neurosurgery which is basically aimed at helping nursing students to adjust into the new working environment when they join neurology departments as student nurses. The booklet is intended to avail a tool which nurses can use to orient themselves concerning matters of neurology as they set out to work in neurology departments. The booklet is aimed at providing information that would help the nursing students understand the background of nursing care, the assessment, anatomy, and physiology of the nervous system and related conditions. The booklet is generally aimed at preparing the nurse to better adjust and function in the new working environment in neurology departments where they have to deal with patients with various neurological or related conditions. This paper details a plan of how to implement the creation of the said booklet so that the objectives of this project are transformed to outcomes. The paper details a plan of how to transform the idea of the project from theory to practical outcomes and success. In tandem with its goals and purposes the project is called the ‘Development of a Neurological Orientation Booklet for Nursing Students’. The paper is structured as a scholarly proposal for the actual project where justification will be attempted for the different resources required for the project implementation.
Goal Statement.
The main expectations of this project is the creation and production of an orientation booklet which is aimed at providing guidance for nurses who are set to work in neurological department so as to equip them on how to care for neurological patients and those with related conditions. The book is also intended to equip the nurses with anatomical and physiological information about structures and processes of the neurological and nervous system as a whole so as to better equip them to work as nurses in neurological departments.
In this respect, the focus area of the orientation booklet will be neurology. It will limit itself to neurological information as opposed to giving information on all systems. The booklets targets nurses in seven of the nearest hospitals with neurological departments .Assuming an average of about five nurses per neurological department, the booklets will mainly be targeting about thirty five nurses at any a given time in health centres. Moreover the booklet will be availed to nursing students for distribution to nurses who are set to begin working in neurological departments. The project will generally involve the design, careful research, selection and organizational of information into a booklet which will be made available to new nurses in neurological departments in hospitals and health centres. The problem that the project aims to solve is the abrupt transition of new nurses into neurological departments without being fully oriented with the particular conditions involved in neurology as opposed to general anatomy and physiology of the entire body. This booklet aims to solve this problem and create a tool through which new nursing student set to work in neurology departments in different health centres.
Project Objectives.
Assemble information : The project plan will involve the determination of the intended size of the booklet and the content that will be required in it.
Selection :After this the gathering of relevant information from different secondary sources such as books and medical journals that specifically deal with neurological matters.
After sufficient information has been gathered, selection will need to be made as to what is relevant and suitable for neurological orientation purposes so not to have superfluous information in the booklet.
Categorization :Subsequent to this, the information obtained will need to be carefully and creatively arranged and fitted to a design template.
Manipulate: Accompanying graphics and images will need to be sought and fitted into the soft copy of the booklet creation so as to come up with a complete orientation booklet. The material will need to be proof read to ensure that material in it is correct and that no spelling errors are left in it.
Re-construct: Information will equally need to be written in a way that is easily understandable and relatable to the nurses which it will target.
Design : Designs and colours for the booklet cover will need to be designed, the paper for the booklet selected and finally the booklet printed and distributed to different health centres. They will also be need to educate the different neurological departments on the need to avail the booklets to nurses when they start to work in those centres. Other booklets will also need to be distributed to nursing school for distribution to nurses who are to work in neurological departments.
Assess and Evaluate: The final product will then need to be assessed and evaluated and finally valued before it is distributed.
Evidence-based review of the literature.
The project will be guided by the neurological professional practice standards and the Hippocratic oath which governs all medical practitioners as well as the general required codes of professional medical practices. The project will also be guided by professional nursing codes of practice and acceptable standards.
Methodology.
In the accomplish men t of this project the project identifies the ‘who’ as the nurses who are the target of the booklet. the patient s and physicians who are the other two groups of people involved in a neurological department. The project will consider the ‘when’ of the project as the time when the booklet is set to be produced and released to the different institution sit is targeted for. For this project the time estimated for its implementation is about three months from the time of start to finish. The ‘where’ of the project will take into consideration where the booklet will be assembled, designed and printed as well as the different health centres and nursing schools where the booklets will be distributed. The booklet will be prepared in a local studio where assembly of information will be done through the use of computers and compiled by the use of programs that will help to categorize data. Printing of the booklets will be done in a local publishing house. Financial resources that will go into the production of the booklet will be sourced from pooled financial resources from the members of the production team.
Resources.
The project will need roughly a team of ten individuals to manage the collection and sorting of information (content)as well as to oversee the design and printing of the booklet. Working at approximately three hours a day for three months, it is estimated that the team will be able to accomplish the task to the expected standard. It is estimated that the team will need about at least seven to ten computers. In addition to computers the team will need access to programs that will help in categorization of information as well as a steady access to the internet so as to be able to obtain information online. The team will also need access to a library so as to obtain more information.
Formative Evaluation.
A formative evaluation of the progress of the project will need to be done both during and after the project is accomplished. Evaluation will involve careful assessment of set goals and the level to which they are being achieved. Each project objective will be assessed and evaluated individually on a weekly basis. At the end of very month a thorough and comprehensive evaluation of the progress will be done to ensure that set targets and timelines as well as set standards are being met in term of the quality and accuracy of neurological information being collected and the pace with which it is being collected analyzed , categorised and compiled into a booklet. Any delay will be compensated by accelerating certain tasks to ensure adherence to the overall plan. This is the only way to know if the project is going according to plan. All timelines and agreed-upon standards of quality must be adhered to
Summative Evaluation.
A summative evaluation will be conducted by checking to ensure that all the data needed was acquired, carefully assessed and the relevant information for the booklet has been chosen, and fitted into the booklet. Accompanying graphics, and imagery will also need to be assessed to determine that it is of a relevant interesting and memorable nature. These results will be used to ensure that the booklet is sound and will be useful for the purpose it is being created.
References
Hill, Gordon ( 2010) ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health Source
pg. 88. Nurse Researcher Vol. 17, 2; NewYork :Lippnkot Williams & Wilkins.
Kramer, M., & Schmalenberg, C. (1993). Learning from success: Autonomy and
empowerment. Nursing Management, 24(5), 58-64.
Timeline.
Appendix 1
2 weeks
duration Assemble information : Determination of the intended size of the booklet and the content that will be required in it.
1 weeks
duration Selection : Gathering of relevant information from different secondary sources such as books and medical journals that specifically deal with neurological matters.
After sufficient information has been gathered, selection will need to be made as to what is relevant and suitable for neurological orientation purposes so not to have superfluous information in the booklet.
2 weeks Categorization : arrange information and fit to design template. To form booklet.
2 weeks Manipulate: Sought and attach Accompanying graphics and images .proof read material to ensure it is correct and that no spelling errors are left in it.
2 weeks Re-construct: write down information in a way that is easily understandable and relatable to the nurses which it will target.
1 week Design: Select and apply Designs and colours for the booklet cover ,select paper for the booklet selected and finally print and distribute to different health centres.
2 weeks Assess and Evaluate: Assess, evaluate and value final product.
