RSCH FPX 7868 Assessment 1: Laying the Foundation for Evidence-Based Nursing Research

In the evolving world of healthcare, evidence-based practice (EBP) is not just a framework but the cornerstone of modern nursing. It ensures that patient care is not rooted in tradition or intuition alone but in scientific evidence, clinical expertise, and patient values. For nursing professionals pursuing advanced education, courses like RSCH FPX 7868: The Foundations of Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing Research equip them with the essential tools to navigate this scholarly and clinical landscape.

The very first step in this journey—RSCH FPX 7868 Assessment 1—sets the tone for the entire course. This assessment focuses on helping students identify, articulate, and justify a nursing practice problem that can be examined through research. In other words, it is the groundwork for all future assessments in the course.

This blog explores the purpose, structure, strategies, challenges, and practical importance of RSCH FPX 7868 Assessment 1. Whether you are a student beginning this assignment or a practicing nurse interested in evidence-based research, this deep dive will help you understand how Assessment 1 builds a strong scholarly foundation RSCH FPX 7868 Assessment 1.

Understanding RSCH FPX 7868

RSCH FPX 7868 – Foundations of Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing Research is designed to prepare nurses for:

Identifying nursing problems that need evidence-based solutions.
Conducting literature reviews to analyze existing knowledge.
Synthesizing evidence across multiple studies.
Designing action plans to implement research findings in practice.
Applying ethical principles in scholarly inquiry.

Assessment 1 is the first step toward achieving these goals. It introduces students to the essential skill of problem identification—a skill that anchors all evidence-based research.

What is RSCH FPX 7868 Assessment 1?

At its core, Assessment 1 requires students to:

Select a relevant nursing practice issue.
Provide background and context for the problem.
Explain why the issue is significant for nursing and patient care.
Support the problem statement with initial evidence from scholarly literature.
Identify the potential impact of addressing the issue.

This is not about solving the problem yet—that comes later. Instead, it is about choosing the right problem and justifying why it matters in the world of nursing research.

Why Assessment 1 Matters

Assessment 1 is important because:

It sets the direction: The problem identified here becomes the focus for Assessments 2, 3, and 4.
It develops critical thinking: Students learn to frame a clinical issue as a research-worthy problem RSCH FPX 7868 Assessment 2.
It strengthens scholarly writing: Clear articulation of the problem is essential in all academic work.
It ensures clinical relevance: Problems chosen often align with real-world challenges in nursing practice.

Without a strong foundation in Assessment 1, subsequent assignments can feel misaligned or lack depth.

Steps to Excel in RSCH FPX 7868 Assessment 1

Step 1: Choose a Relevant Nursing Practice Problem

The first challenge is selecting a problem that is both researchable and meaningful.

Examples of Nursing Practice Problems:

High rates of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs).
Increasing nurse burnout and turnover.
Poor patient adherence to discharge instructions.
Inadequate pain management in post-surgical patients.
Inequities in access to mental health care.

When selecting, ensure the issue is:

Specific: Narrow enough to be manageable.
Significant: Has measurable impact on patients, nurses, or systems.
Supported by literature: Evidence exists to frame it as a real problem.

Step 2: Provide Background and Context

Once you have chosen the problem, explain the context:

How widespread is the issue?
Which patient populations are most affected?
What are the organizational or system-level implications?

Example (for nurse burnout):
“Burnout among registered nurses has reached critical levels, with studies reporting nearly 50% of nurses experiencing symptoms such as emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. This issue not only contributes to high turnover rates but also compromises patient safety and quality of care.”

Step 3: Justify the Significance

Here, you answer the “Why does this matter?” question.

Does the problem affect patient outcomes?
Does it increase costs or reduce efficiency?
Does it influence nurse satisfaction or retention?
Is it linked to regulatory or accreditation standards?

Example (for HAIs):
“Hospital-acquired infections lead to increased morbidity, longer hospital stays, and higher healthcare costs. Addressing this issue is crucial to improving patient safety and meeting national quality benchmarks.”

Step 4: Support with Scholarly Literature

Assessment 1 requires initial evidence from academic sources. At this stage, students typically identify 3–5 peer-reviewed articles RSCH FPX 7868 Assessment 3.

Tips for literature support:

Use databases like PubMed, CINAHL, or ProQuest.
Select recent studies (preferably within the last 5 years).
Choose articles that highlight the scope and impact of the problem.

Step 5: State the Potential Impact of Addressing the Problem

Conclude the paper by articulating how solving this problem could:

Improve patient outcomes.
Enhance nurse satisfaction and retention.
Reduce costs and improve efficiency.
Advance the nursing profession.

This forward-looking perspective sets up the transition to future assessments.

Example Problem Statement (Simplified)

Topic: Nurse Burnout in Acute Care Settings

Problem Statement:
“Nurse burnout in acute care settings is a critical issue linked to increased turnover, decreased job satisfaction, and compromised patient care outcomes. Recent studies highlight that nearly half of nurses report symptoms of burnout, and organizations face significant costs due to high turnover rates. Addressing this issue through evidence-based strategies is essential to ensure workforce sustainability and improve patient care quality.”

Common Challenges in Assessment 1

Choosing a topic that is too broad.
- ✅ Solution: Narrow it down (e.g., instead of “mental health,” focus on “mental health access for rural populations”).
Lack of evidence support.
- ✅ Solution: Use scholarly databases and peer-reviewed sources.
Unclear problem significance.
- ✅ Solution: Link the problem directly to outcomes in nursing practice or patient care.
Weak scholarly writing.
- ✅ Solution: Follow APA guidelines, use formal tone, and avoid vague statements RSCH FPX 7868 Assessment 4.

Real-World Relevance of Assessment 1

Assessment 1 doesn’t just build academic skills—it has direct professional applications.

For Clinical Practice: Identifying problems helps nurses advocate for changes in protocols and policies.
For Leadership: Nurse leaders use problem identification to propose quality improvement projects.
For Research: Defining the right problem is the first step toward grant writing and research studies.
For Policy: Well-defined problems influence organizational priorities and even health policy agendas.

Tips for Success in RSCH FPX 7868 Assessment 1

Start early: Problem selection and literature review take time.
Stay focused: Choose a problem you are genuinely interested in—it keeps motivation high.
Use organizational experience: Often the best problems come from what you’ve observed in practice.
Write clearly: Avoid jargon and present ideas in a logical flow.
Proofread carefully: APA errors or unclear phrasing weaken credibility.