Purpose: The direct care practicum experience is a specific 48-hour practicum experience that focuses on gaining an advanced nursing knowledge and skills in a direct care experience with patients. The purpose of the direct care experience is for the student to develop mastery of advanced patient care delivery skills, as well as system assessment and intervention skills.
Students will utilize Direct Care knowledge and theory to deepen and expand skills in a nursing area of choice. The chosen practicum site will encompass the student’s Direct Care nursing preference, which can be in a traditional hospital or community setting or a nontraditional community setting pending approval via the practicum coordinator contract process. A mentor at the practice setting is required. This practicum occurs as part of the course requirements for NR 622: Concluding Graduate Experience II. The executive summary details the Direct Care Practicum individual learning experience.
Examples of the Direct Care activities/experiences include:
- Individual, Family, Population Assessments
- Individual, Family, Population Care Planning
- Discharge Planning
- Quality Improvement Projects
- Leading Group Therapy
- Direct Care activities at the advanced level
Course Outcomes:
Through this assignment, the student will demonstrate the ability to do the following.
CO #5: Assume the role of nurse educator and leader, through compassionate, evidence-based, collaborative advanced nursing practice. (PO 5)
CO #6: Demonstrate advanced nursing care through application of the nursing process in a direct care clinical setting. (PO 1, 2, 5)
Due Date:
- Executive Summary
Total Points Possible: 200
Requirements for the direct care experience practicum:
Executive Summary
1. Executive Summary
- The executive summary will include the following sections:
- Title page
- Introduction to the Direct Care Experience setting, population/vulnerable population, and activities that deepen and expand knowledge and skills in a specific area of direct patient care.
- Provide an example of a patient that you assessed.
- APIE (Assessment, Plan, Implementation, and Evaluation) of chosen Direct Care patient/population.
- Assessment of needs
- Plan – goals
- prioritization
- Implementation – interventions
- Evaluation – evaluation of the interventions
- Interprofessional Collaboration used in the Direct Care Practicum Experience.
- Self-Reflection
- Conclusion
- Reference Page (Citations optional – include reference page if citations used).
- Introduction to the Direct Care Experience setting, population/vulnerable population, and activities that deepen and expand knowledge and skills in a specific area of direct patient care.
Criteria for Content
1. Introduction to Direct Care Experience
a. Description of setting, population/vulnerable population, and Direct Care activities.
b. Provide an example of a patient that you assessed.
2. APIE (Assessment, Plan, Implementation, Evaluation)
a. Describe APIE of the patient and/or population.
b. Explain how you assessed the need of the patient and/or population
c. State a minimum of three short-term goals. Phrase the short-term goals according to the
SMART criteria: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely. Prioritize the plan
of action.
d. Describe the interventions that were implemented.
Provide details regarding the implementation process such as materials and
patient/population responses.
e. Describe the evaluation of the interventions.
3. Interprofessional Collaboration
a. Describe the interprofessional collaboration that took place during the Direct Care
experience.
- Include titles of individuals, their positions, departments,
- Include reasons for the collaboration and
- Include plans and/or solutions that resulted from the collaboration.
- Provide details regarding any conflicts and resolutions.
4. Self-Reflection
a. Provide a self-reflection of your Direct Care Practicum Experience.
- Describe what went well
- Describe the challenges
- Identify the new learning and insights, which assisted
to deepen and expand knowledge of the direct care patient experience.
5. Conclusion
a. Provide a detailed conclusion for the executive summary.
Preparing the Assignment
Criteria for Format and Special Instructions
- The executive summary is a written paper with a title page and reference page if needed. Due to the individualized nature of the direct care practicum experience, there is no length requirements.
- Title page, body of paper, and reference page must follow APA guidelines as found in the current edition of the manual. This includes the use of headings for each section of the paper except for the introduction where no heading is used.
- Ideas and information from scholarly, peer reviewed, nursing sources are cited and referenced correctly according to the current edition of the APA Manual.
- Rules of grammar, spelling, word usage, and punctuation are followed and consistent with formal, scientific writing.
Directions and Assignment Criteria: Executive Summary
| Assignment Criteria | Points | % | Description |
| Introduction to Direct Care Experience | 40 | 20 | Required content for this section includes: Description of setting and population/vulnerable population, Description of the Direct Care activities.Provide an example of a patient that you assessed. |
| APIE (Assessment, Plan, Implementation, Evaluation) | 60 | 30 | Required content for this section includes: Describe APIE of the Direct Care patient and/or population by including: a. Explanation of how you assessed the need of the patient and/or population b. Identify 3 short-term goals for your Direct Care patient experience using the SMART criteria of: Specific MeasurableAttainable Relevant Timely c. Prioritize the plan of action d. Description of the interventions implemented by including: Details regarding the implementation process, materials and patient/population responses e. Describe the evaluation of the interventions. f. Identify if the short-term goals were achieved. |
| Interprofessional Collaboration | 40 | 20 | Required content for this section includes: Describe the interprofessional collaboration occurred during the Direct Care practicum experience by including:Titles of individuals, their positions, departments,Reasons for the collaboration Plans and/or solutions that resulted from the collaboration. Provide detail regarding any conflicts and their resolutions. |
| Self-Reflection | 20 | 10 | Required content for this section includes: Provide a self-reflection of your Direct Care Practicum Experience. Describe what went well Describe challenges. Identify the new learning and insights, which assisted to deepen and expand your knowledge of a direct patient experience. |
| Conclusion | 20 | 10 | Required content for this section includes: Provide a detailed conclusion |
| Writing Mechanics and APA Format (current edition) | 20 | 10 | Rules of grammar, spelling, word usage, and punctuation, and APA format are followed and consistent with formal written work as found in the current edition of the APA manual. |
| Total | 200 | 100 % |
Grading Rubric
| Assignment Criteria | Exceptional (100%) Outstanding or highest level of performance | Exceeds (88%) Very good or high level of performance | Meets (80%) Competent or satisfactory level of performance | Needs Improvement (38%) Poor or failing level of performance | Developing (0) Unsatisfactory level of performance |
| Content Possible Points = 180 Points | |||||
| Introduction to Direct Care Experience | 40 Points | 36 Points | 32 Points | 16 Points | 0 Points |
| Presentation of information was exceptional and included all the following elements: Description of setting and population/vulnerable population, Description of the Direct Care activities Provide an example of a patient that you assessed. | Presentation of information was good, but was only partially demonstrated in places; all elements were present: Description of setting and population/vulnerable population, Description of the Direct Care activities Provide an example of a patient that you assessed. | Presentation of information was minimally demonstrated in all of the following elements: Description of setting and population/vulnerable population, Description of the Direct Care activities Provide an example of a patient that you assessed. | Presentation of information in one of the following elements fails to meet expectations: Description of setting and population/vulnerable population, Description of the Direct Care activities Provide an example of a patient that you assessed. | Presentation of information is unsatisfactory in two or more of the following elements: Description of setting and population/vulnerable population, Description of the Direct Care activities Provide an example of a patient that you assessed. | |
| APIE (Assessment, Plan, Implementation, Evaluation) | 60 Points | 54 Points | 48 Points | 24 Points | 0 Points |
| Presentation of information was exceptional and included all the following elements: Describe APIE of Direct Care patient and/or populationExplain how you assessed the need of the patient and/or populationIdentify 3 short-term goals Phrase your short-term goals according to the SMART criteria: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely.Prioritize the Plan of ActionDescribe the interventions implemented Provide details regarding the implementation process such as materials and patient/population responses.Describe the evaluation of the interventions.Identify if the short-term goals were achieved. | Presentation of information was good, but was only partially demonstrated in places; all elements were present: Describe APIE of Direct Care patient and/or populationExplain how you assessed the need of the patient and/or populationIdentify 3 short-term goals Phrase your short-term goals according to the SMART criteria: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely. Prioritize the Plan of ActionDescribe the interventions implemented Provide details regarding the implementation process such as materials and patient/population responses.Describe the evaluation of the interventions.Identify if the short-term goals were achieved. | Presentation of information was minimally demonstrated in all the following elements: Describe APIE of Direct Care patient and/or populationExplain how you assessed the need of the patient and/or populationIdentify 3 short-term goals Phrase your short-term goals according to the SMART criteria: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely. Prioritize the Plan of ActionDescribe the interventions implementedProvide details regarding the implementation process such as materials and patient/population responses. Describe the evaluation of the interventions. Identify if the short-term goals were achieved. | Presentation of information in one, two or three of the following elements fails to meet expectations: Describe APIE of Direct Care patient and/or populationExplain how you assessed the need of the patient and/or populationIdentify 3 short-term goals Phrase your short-term goals according to the SMART criteria: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely. Prioritize the Plan of ActionDescribe the interventions implemented Provide details regarding the implementation process such as materials and patient/population responses. Describe the evaluation of the interventions. Identify if the short-term goals were achieved. | Presentation of information is unsatisfactory in four or more of the following elements: Describe APIE of Direct Care patient and/or populationExplain how you assessed the need of the patient and/or populationIdentify 3 short-term goals Phrase your short-term goals according to the SMART criteria: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely. Prioritize the Plan of ActionDescribe the interventions implemented Provide details regarding the implementation process such as materials and patient/population responses. Describe the evaluation of the interventions. Identify if the short-term goals were achieved. | |
| Interprofessional Collaboration | 40 Points | 36 Points | 32 Points | 16 Points | 0 Points |
| Presentation of information was exceptional and included all the following elements: Describe the interprofessional collaboration that took place during your Direct Care experience. Include titles of individuals, their positions, departments, reasons for the collaboration and plans and/or solutions that resulted from the collaboration. Provide detail regarding any conflicts and resolutions. | Presentation of information was good, but was only partially demonstrated in places; all elements were present: Describe the interprofessional collaboration that took place during your Direct Care experience. •Include titles of individuals, their positions, departments, reasons for the collaboration and plans and/or solutions that resulted from the collaboration. •Provide detail regarding any conflicts and resolutions. | Presentation of information was minimally demonstrated in all the following elements: Describe the interprofessional collaboration that took place during your Direct Care experience. •Include titles of individuals, their positions, departments, reasons for the collaboration and plans and/or solutions that resulted from the collaboration. •Provide detail regarding any conflicts and resolutions. | Presentation of information in one of the following elements fails to meet expectations: Describe the interprofessional collaboration that took place during your Direct Care experience. •Include titles of individuals, their positions, departments, reasons for the collaboration and plans and/or solutions that resulted from the collaboration. •Provide detail regarding any conflicts and resolutions. | Presentation of information is unsatisfactory in two or more of the following elements: Describe the interprofessional collaboration that took place during your Direct Care experience. Include titles of individuals, their positions, departments, reasons for the collaboration and plans and/or solutions that resulted from the collaboration. •Provide detail regarding any conflicts and resolutions. | |
| Self-Reflection | 20 Points | 18 Points | 16 Points | 8 Points | 0 Points |
| Presentation of information was exceptional and included all the following elements: Provide a self-reflection of your Direct Care Practicum Experience Describe what went well and any challengesIdentify the new learning and insights, which assisted to deepen and expand knowledge of a direct care patient experience. | Presentation of information was good, but was only partially demonstrated in places; all elements were present: •Provide a self-reflection of your Direct Care Practicum Experience •Describe what went well and any challenges •Identify the new learning and insights, which assisted to deepen and expand knowledge of a direct care patient experience. | Presentation of information was minimally demonstrated in all the following elements: •Provide a self-reflection of your Direct Care Practicum Experience •Describe what went well and any challenges •Identify the new learning and insights, which assisted to deepen and expand knowledge of a direct care patient experience. | Presentation of information in one of the following elements fails to meet expectations: •Provide a self-reflection of your Direct Care Practicum Experience •Describe what went well and any challenges •Identify the new learning and insights, which assisted to deepen and expand knowledge of a direct care patient experience. | Presentation of information is unsatisfactory in two or more of the following: Provide a self-reflection of your Direct Care Practicum Experience Describe what went well and any challengesIdentify the new learning and insights, which assisted to deepen and expand knowledge of a direct care patient experience. | |
| Conclusion | 20 Points 40 Points 36 Points 17 Points 0 Points Provided a detailed conclusion for the executive summary. | 18 Points 40 Points 36 Points 17 Points 0 Points Provided a good conclusion with some lack of detail. | 16 Points 40 Points 36 Points 17 Points 0 Points Provided a partial conclusion for the executive summary. | 8 Points 40 Points 36 Points 17 Points 0 Points Provided a minimal conclusion with lack of detail. | 0 Points 40 Points 36 Points 17 Points 0 Points Conclusion to the executive summary is missing. |
| Content Subtotal ________of 180 points | |||||
| Format Possible Points = 20 Points | |||||
| Writing Mechanics and APA format | 20 Points | 18 Points | 16 Points | 8 Points | 0 Points |
| 0–2 errors or exceptions to the rules of grammar, spelling, word usage, punctuation, APA format, and other aspects of formal written work as found in the current edition of the APA manual | 3 – 4 errors or exceptions to the rules of grammar, spelling, word usage, punctuation, APA format, and other aspects of formal written work as found in the current edition of the APA manual | 5 – 6 errors or exceptions to the rules of grammar, spelling, word usage, punctuation, APA format, and other aspects of formal written work as found in the current edition of the APA manual | 7 – 8 errors or exceptions to the rules of grammar, spelling, word usage, punctuation, APA format, and other aspects of formal written work as found in the current edition of the APA manual | 9 or greater errors or exceptions to the rules of grammar, spelling, word usage, punctuation, APA format, and other aspects of formal written work as found in the current edition of the APA manual |
| Format Subtotal | _____of 20 points |
| Total Points | _____of 200 points |
