CULTURAL PAPER CRITERIA
(100 points possible)
Instructions: Each student will write a formal paper assessing, analyzing, and proposing a plan to resolve identified issues found in the clinic “Caring Inc.” in the required book Doing Good. You will focus on culture. This can be workplace culture and the impact on patient care, it can be related to cultural competencies. There are a multitude of issues to choose from as you read about the clinic depicted in Doing Good.
The assessment and analysis of the clinic in Doing Good will begin by using the Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services [CLAS] (https://www.thinkculturalhealth.hhs.gov/index.asp).
The assessment/analysis will not address each individual CLAS standard one-by-one, but a synthesis of the standards.
Two additional perspectives are to be used to further assess and analyze Caring Inc.
The two additional perspectives are to be selected by each student from the following list:
- ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses
- Healthy People 2020
- Jean Watson’s theory: The Philosophy and Science of Caring (The theory which provides the foundation for the nursing programs at TAMUCC.)
- Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
- Milstead, J.A. (2016). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide.
You will provide at least one example from Doing Good to illustrate each of two issues or problems you plan to have as a focus. (Each student will select two problem areas and describe one strength.) You will use the perspectives in your analysis.
In addition to the three perspectives you choose, you are expected to use current (within the last 5 years) literature for additional information and support. When you are developing your plan, you will need to support your proposed actions with current references.
Each student is expected to use a framework for the proposed plans. One example of a framework is plan-do-study-act. A brief explanation is found at the first two websites below. A template sample is found at the third website.
- https://innovations.ahrq.gov/qualitytools/plan-do-study-act-pdsa-cycle
- http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/opi/qi/toolbox/pdsa.html
- Template: https://www.cms.gov/medicare/provider-enrollment-and-certification/qapi/downloads/pdsacycledebedits.pdf
Another model that could be used is FADE. The F stands for focus. You focus on the process, policy or practice to be improved. A is the analysis of data (or cause). D is for the development of the plan and E is for ensuring a success – address how the plan would be implemented.
One other model is the “Normalization Process Theory.” It is a way of thinking about implementation of changes to problems and focuses on how interventions can become part of everyday practice and how different groups of people need to work together to achieve change. One place to start for this model is: www.normalizationprocess.org
The proposed plan for resolution, no matter what framework is used, will focus on the two issues/problems identified in the analysis. Additionally you will briefly address the strength and how that can be further developed/sustained.
The plans may be written in narrative form or presented in a table. You will use the framework you have identified and develop your plan with the framework.
The plans need to clearly indicate:
- What the two issues are that are being addressed and the strength.
- What the recommended actions or steps are for resolution – using the model you have selected.
- What the benchmarks or outcome measures are that will be used to gauge progress/success. These measures may be direct patient outcomes and/or they may also include staff indicators. For instance, staff satisfaction scores may impact certain patient measures. The outcomes must result in something that is specific, measureable, and realistic.
EXAMPLE: Saying “Staff attitudes will be better” is not specific. “Patient satisfaction scores will improve” is not specific. Attitudes can be improved and they can be measured in a number of ways. You will need to explain what measure would be used, following interventions or actions in your plan.
There must be a concluding paragraph that summarizes the paper.
There will be a reference section with current sources (within 5 years). The references need to be professional/scholarly. Draw from as many sources as needed for support. At least three (3) sources must come from nursing journals.
Clarification: The Journal of Public Health, for example, may be an excellent resource and can be used, but it is NOT a nursing journal. You would use it in addition to nursing journals.
Remember the writing center is a great resource. You can provide the instructions for the paper as well as your paper for feedback/assistance. You need to contact them through the website and make an appointment. Make sure the appointment is designated Distance. Plan to finish in advance in order to take advantage of this resource!
Specifics of The Paper: The paper is to be written in APA format. You will need to use proper headings. The headings will help you organize. Using the rubric can help you formulate the actual headings and subheadings. The paper should be clear, well organized (follow the order outlined in the rubric and you are likely to be able to have a well-organized paper). Write at a graduate level. Grammar, structure, syntax etc. will all be taken into account within the grading. Creative and innovative ideas are strongly encouraged. Do not write in first person.
- Title Page (APA format) (5 points)
- Abstract (5 points)
Begins on a separate page with a comprehensive summary of the whole paper. Use the APA reference manual for guidelines regarding formatting, length, and keywords.
- Body of the paper: Not to exceed 8 pages (Begins after the abstract and does not include the reference pages)
- Provide a brief introduction to this paper, beginning with the book being used as a data source. You are encouraged to read what the APA manual says about introductions. (5 points)
- Assessment/Analysis: (30 points) This needs to include a description of each of the three perspectives, examples you are using to illustrate the three problem areas. Use the perspectives in your analysis. Begin with the CLAS standards as one perspective.
Once the three perspectives are described/explained, then the data (examples) based on the book, are identified. For instance, one finding or example (data) may have to do with CLAS Standard five, and not meeting the expectation to offer language assistance to individuals who have limited English proficiency. Provide an actual example from the book that illustrates how this standard was NOT met. It is possible that more than one of your perspectives will be used in the analysis of each example. For instance: Hanging up the phone on a client because the staff could not speak Spanish (and that is what the client spoke) can be identified as a problem from the perspective of the CLAS standards. It can also be identified as a problem using Jean Watson’s Theory and/or ANA Code of Ethics.
One of the perspectives used for the analysis is the CLAS standards. Each student will select two additional perspectives from the list provided on page one of the instructions.
- Proposed Plan: (30 points) Using the two issues you selected and the strength for the focus, use a framework for change or quality improvement and propose a plan to work toward resolution.
First, briefly describe the framework for change management being used and why this framework was selected.
From this point in the paper, a narrative format or table format will be used to clearly present:
- What the two issues and strength are that are being addressed?
- What actions are recommended for resolution? Recommendations need to be specific and tailored or individualized to fit the needs/issue being addressed. (References are appropriate to support your proposed actions.)
- What benchmarks or outcome measures will be used to gauge progress/success? These measures may be direct patient outcomes, they may also include staff indicators. For instance, staff satisfaction scores may impact certain patient measures. Be specific.
- Concluding paragraph: (5 points) This will be brief and demonstrate an overall summary of the paper.
- References: (10 points)
Three current references must be from nursing journals. Additional current references will be needed. If you decide to put your plan in a table, you will still need to use references to support your work.
- APA format and overall organization, grammar, spelling etc. (10 points)
Using the resource National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care: A blueprint for advancing and sustaining CLAS policy and practice for ideas may apply in some instances.
The Blueprint is found at https://www.thinkculturalhealth.hhs.gov/Content/clasvid.asp You will have to login with your user name and password to access the Blueprint. This is a lengthy document (191 pages). It is suggested that you save a copy to your computer rather than print it out.
The Blueprint provides global recommendations. You can use those and modify to be specific for the situation you are addressing.
