Module code & title:

NS607

Innovations in Evidence Based Nursing

Module leader:

Taryn Tavener-Smith

Assignment No. and type:

CW1: Dissertation

Assessment weighting:

100%

Submission time and date:

Before 14h 00 on Friday, 8 May 2026

Target feedback time and date:

After 14h00 on Friday, 5 June 2026

An 8,000-word (a) Extended Literature Review or (b) Service Evaluation Proposal.

(a) Extended Literature Review – A relevant research question is developed, and a logical and focused literature search is undertaken to find current evidence about it to determine best practice.

(b) Service Evaluation Proposal – A relevant project idea is developed with the purpose of exploring one aspect of nursing care, focusing on quality improvement.

This is a student-led project under supervision. A supervisor will be allocated during the first few weeks of the module. Regardless of the option selected, i.e., (a) or (b), the work should reflect your field of Nursing.

If you are registered with the Disability and Inclusion Services or have a disability, please contact your Module Leader to discuss how your reasonable adjustments will be applied to this assignment.

Getting Support for Your Assignment

Your first point of advice should be the person setting the assignment or the module leader.

If you need more general support with your studies (e.g. academic writing, referencing, critical thinking) then the Student Learning and Achievement Team can support development of your academic skills.

This assignment has been designed to provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate your achievement of the following module learning outcomes:

LO1: Demonstrate a critical understanding of the evidence relating to the chosen topic area, its principles and benefits to nursing in your field of nursing practice.

LO2: Effectively evaluate contemporary research and evidence-based practice.

LO3: Apply a questioning and analytical approach to the utilisation of research findings in practice.

LO4: Develop evidence-based recommendations for enhancing nursing care within your field of nursing practice.

(a) Extended literature review (ELR)

(b) Service Evaluation Proposal (SEP)

Dissertation Cover Page including Consent Statement – include your name, student number, cohort, module code and name, actual word count, submission date, name of supervisor and Module Leader.

Acknowledgements

Contents page including tables and figures, glossary and/or abbreviations

Abstract – use the following headings: Aim, Background, Methods, Findings, Conclusion (200)

Abstract – use the following sub-headings: Aim, Practice improvement, Background, Methods of implementation, Conclusion (200)

Introduction – Overview of assignment outlining your overall aims, the topic area you are focusing on and rationale for choice. Include a justification for the choosing the topic area. Relevant definitions and brief critical discussion regarding the importance of research

in nursing (250)

Introduction – Overview of assignment outlining aims, the aspect of practice to be improved, rationale for choice and suggestion for quality improvement implementation. Relevant definitions and brief critical discussion regarding the importance of quality

improvement in nursing (500)

Background – Discuss in more depth the chosen topic area, so that you are setting the scene to its relevance to current nursing practice. Include government statistics and policies, as well as NICE guidelines where relevant. Indicate the topic’s relevant to current nursing practice including any relevant background information (750)

Critical review of the literature – Conduct a critical review of the literature relevant to your chosen aspect of care and quality improvement, this will provide the basis for critical discussion to support your chosen area of quality improvement. Your critical discussion should include detail about your search strategy to undertake the review of the literature (2000-2500)

Methodology – Provide a detailed audit trail of the methodology, including how your question was structured using PICO/PEO, keywords, database selected, search strategy applied, inclusion and exclusion criteria, summary of articles selected. Use tables as illustrations. Recommendation to select 6 – 10 relevant primary research articles.

Provide a summary of the articles selected and present a table (landscape presentation) in the appendices at the end of the ELR (1750-2000)

Methods of implementation – Offer a critical discussion related to theory and strategies of management change. You are expected to develop a detailed plan for quality improvement and implementation, providing a critical analysis of the challenges likely to be encountered when implementing the suggested quality improvement idea and how these might be overcome (2000)

Findings – identify how the thematic analysis took place and what determined a theme. With each theme as a sub-heading, review the findings reported by the selected research papers and critically appraise the research methods used in the study. Using a critiquing tool (such as Caldwell, Henshaw, and Taylor, 2011) to

support this (2500)

Discussion – provide a critical analysis demonstrating how your project will be implemented and/or evaluated demonstrating practice initiatives or change (2000)

Discussion – Provide a critical discussion of your findings, considering implications for practice (1500)

Strengths and limitations – Consider the strengths and limitations of your project (350-500)

Strengths and limitations – Consider both

strengths and weaknesses of your search strategy (350- 500)

Conclusion – Summarise key points from your assignment. Make recommendations to how your research or ideas for quality improvement could be taken forward (350-500)

Level 6

Fail

Pass

Grade band

Grading category

0-34(F) – Fail

Not successful

35-39(E)

Marginal Fail

Below required standard

40-49(D) 3^rd class Threshold pass

Satisfactory

50-59(C) 2:2 class

Good

60-69(B) 2:1 class

Very good

70-79(A) 1^st class

Excellent

80% (A+) High 1^st class

Outstanding

Knowledge and understanding of the research process

See key indicators below

The work demonstrates limited and/or substantially inaccurate or no understanding of the research process as outlined in the key indicators (below).

The work demonstrates insufficient understanding of the research process as outlined in the key indicators (below).

The work demonstrates a basic, yet systematic understanding of the research process as outlined in the key indicators (below).

The work demonstrates a sound breadth and depth of systematic understanding of the research process as outlined in the key indicators (below).

The work demonstrates a sophisticated and critical systematic understanding of the research process as outlined in the key indicators (below).

The work demonstrates a highly accomplished understanding of the research process beyond the key indicators (below).

The work demonstrates an exceptional systematic understanding of the research process well beyond the key indicators (below).

Key Indicators of knowledge and understanding.

(a) ELR

· There is a rationale/justification for the chosen topic area

· The review question is structured using the PICO/PEO format.

· The keywords / search terms chosen, relate clearly to the review question.

· There is application of an appropriate inclusion and exclusion criteria.

· There is a presented audit trail of how and why the selected primary research papers were chosen through staged elimination/reduction.

· There is evidence that primary research papers have been critically appraised.

· Selected sources are contemporary

· There is the relevant use of tables throughout

(b) SEP

· Identify practice/service/quality improvement topic

· There is a rationale for the choice of practice improvement being explored

· The aim and objectives of the quality improvement are clear

· A search strategy is evident

· Strategies for managing change are clearly identified

· There is evidence that the selected sources have been critically appraised and analysed.

· Selected sources are contemporary

· There is the relevant use of tables throughout

Level 6

Fail

Pass

Grade band

0-34(F) – Fail

35-39(E)

40-49(D) 3^rd class

50-59(C) 2:2 class

60-69(B) 2:1 class

70-79(A) 1^st class

80% (A+) High 1^st class

Grading category

Not successful

Marginal Fail

Below required standard

Threshold pass

Satisfactory

Good

Very good

Excellent

Outstanding

Analysis and criticality of the findings through the development and articulation of applicable themes, synthesis, and evaluation of their meaning

See key indicators below

The work demonstrates limited or no understanding of the key indicators and limited or no ability to work independently and deploy relevant techniques of analysis, criticality, evaluation, and synthesis.

The work demonstrates an insufficient understanding of the key indicators and insufficient ability to work independently, deploying accurately established techniques of analysis, criticality, evaluation, and synthesis.

The work demonstrates sufficient understanding of the key indicators and the ability to work independently, deploying accurately established techniques of analysis, criticality, evaluation, and synthesis.

The work demonstrates a sound understanding of the key indicators and the ability to consistently work independently, deploying accurately established techniques of analysis, criticality, evaluation, and synthesis.

The work demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of the key indicators and the ability to work independently, critically deploying established techniques of analysis, criticality, evaluation, and synthesis.

The work demonstrates a highly accomplished understanding beyond the key indicators and the ability to work independently, critically deploying established techniques of analysis, criticality, evaluation, and synthesis and extending their use in relevant and innovative ways.

The work demonstrates an exceptional understanding well beyond key indicators and ability to work independently, critically deploying established techniques of analysis, criticality, evaluation, and synthesis and extending their use in relevant and innovative ways.

Key Indicators of knowledge and understanding.

(a) ELR

· There is identification of themes and/or sub-themes through thematic analysis.

· The themes/sub-themes presented reflect the review question.

· There is an evidenced review of the findings of the selected primary research papers, presented as themes/sub-themes.

· A critical appraisal of the research methods used within the primary research papers selected is demonstrated.

· Evaluation of the findings is presented.

(b) SEP

· The selected sources have been critically reviewed

· There is evidence of critical analysis

· There is an awareness of critical thinking, professional judgment and reasoning

Level 6

Fail

Pass

Grade band

Grading category

0-34(F) – Fail

Not successful

35-39(E)

Marginal Fail

Below required standard

40-49(D) 3^rd class Threshold pass

Satisfactory

50-59(C) 2:2 class

Good

60-69(B) 2:1 class

Very good

70-79(A) 1^st class

Excellent

80% (A+) High 1^st class

Outstanding

Application to practice

See key indicators below

With reference to the key indicators, a limited and/or substantially inaccurate or no understanding of evidence-based recommendations or enhancing nursing care through the justification of the

utilisation of the research findings in practice.

Unsafe practice is demonstrated.

Confidentiality in relation to the patient or the clinical area is not maintained *.

With reference to the key indicators, an insufficient understanding and justification of evidence-based recommendations for enhancing nursing care through the justification of the

utilisation of the research findings in practice.

Unsafe practice may be demonstrated.

Confidentiality in relation to the patient or the clinical area may be not maintained*

With reference to the key indicators, a basic and systematic understanding and justification of evidence-based recommendations for enhancing nursing care through the justification of the

utilisation of the research findings in practice.

Safe practice maintained throughout.

Confidentiality is maintained and understood.

With reference to the key indicators, a sound breadth and depth of systematic understanding and justification of evidence-based recommendations for enhancing nursing care through the justification of the

utilisation of the research findings in practice.

Safe practice maintained throughout.

Confidentiality is maintained and understood.

With reference to the key indicators, a sophisticated and critical systematic understanding and justification of evidence-based recommendations for enhancing nursing care through the justification of the

utilisation of the research findings in practice.

Safe practice maintained throughout.

Confidentiality is maintained and understood.

With reference to the key indicators, a highly accomplished understanding and justification of evidence-based recommendations for enhancing nursing care through the justification of the

utilisation of the research findings in practice.

Safe practice maintained throughout.

Confidentiality is maintained and u