Capstone

BSN 355 Capstone Project Work Plan

Phases of the Project (dates activities will

occur)

Activities that will help you

create and implement

your project

Who will be in

charge?

Resources needed to complete this phase

Cost of Phase

Approximate Time Spent

on Phase

Planning Literature

Review: Review recent studies on

mindfulness- based

interventions for Set Objectives:

Define the research goals, like assessing

MBIs' impact on nurse stress.

Research Design Finalize the

approach

Learner Google Scholar, PubMed,

If using paid tools.

2-4 weeks

Implementation Begin with applying

mindfulness practices, begin training nurses on techniques, like meditation

Learner and Administrati

on person that will

help

Guides, programs, or instructors for

mindfulness training

Cost of mindful

ness resource

s like instructo

rs, printed guides

4 weeks

Evaluation Summarize

everything from the evaluation phase the data feedback, and key findings.

Learner Surveys or interviews to collect input from participants.

Time spent by the team on the

evaluati on

process.

2-3 weeks

Reporting Summarize everything from the evaluation phase – the data, feedback, and key findings.

Focus on what worked with the mindfulness programs, what didn’t, and areas to improve.

Learner Microsoft Word or Google Docs

Time spent

writing, reviewin

g, and presenti

ng.

2-3 weeks

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Objectives, Strategies, and Background

Cristal Paez

Nightingale College

BSN 355-02 Capstone Proposal

Dr. Darlene Ridley

2/26/2025

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Objectives, Strategies, and Background

Introduction

Healthcare institutions face medication errors as a significant issue because they generate

unfavorable patient results and more extended hospital stays while increasing medical expenses.

The Institute of Medicine (2020) reveals that United States healthcare providers encounter

medication errors with patients at a rate of 1.5 million every year, thus demonstrating the need

for evidence-based interventions. This capstone project aims to lower medication errors in acute

care facilities by introducing educational training for nursing professionals. Nurses participating

in the project will enhance their skills and follow best practices for medication administration to

build better patient safety and healthcare outcomes. This paper details this health initiative's

objectives, strategies, and background examination. This project follows the PICOT question to

examine medication error changes in registered nurses (P) performing acute medical care when

implementing education about medication administration (I) relative to standard protocols (C)

during six months (T).

Objectives

Through an educational intervention and targeted strategy, this project will decrease

medication errors by 40% within six months among registered nurses in acute care environments.

The program aims to create a specific medication safety training, which must achieve a 90%

success rate in competency tests administered after the training sessions. A double-check

verification system for high-risk medications will be integrated into the nursing practice while

maintaining at least 95% compliance during implementation. This project seeks to heighten

eMAR system utilization by establishing proficiency among nurses who will use eMAR to stop

documentation errors (Koyama et al., 2020). The SMART objectives delivered measurable

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outcomes by defining clear goals that lead to the best patient safety and quality improvement

standards.

Strategies

The organization will use two essential methods to lower medication errors. The initial

strategy involves developing systematic education and training that stands critically important

for medication safety education. The programs use simulation, competencies testing, and

interactive classroom training to boost nurses' understanding and clinical competence.

Simulation-based education demonstrates its effectiveness in both improving knowledge

retention and practical medication safety skills of nurses in actual practice, according to Smith et

al. (2021). Thorough training activities enable nurses to access ongoing information about

current guidelines and error-prevention methods, minimizing medication errors.

The second strategy is A double-check verification system focusing on high-risk

medications. Two registered nurses must independently check medication information before

giving any medication to patients. Double-check verification formalized at healthcare institutions

has lowered medication errors because nurses confirm drug information before patient delivery

(Koyama et al., 2020). Healthcare institutions using this practice have demonstrated better

patient security measures and better medication administration practice adherence. A set of

audits and feedback systems will establish accountability through which compliance can be

reinforced for continuous improvement.

Nurses can reduce transcription errors and improve documentation accuracy by

implementing electronic medication administration record (eMAR) systems that warn healthcare

professionals about drug complications, wrong dosage, and missed medication incidents

(Koyama et al., 2020). The implementation of eMAR will integrate into nursing workflows after

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employees receive training and periodic assessments of system effectiveness to minimize

medication errors. Combining these strategies will develop a safer medication administration

system to enhance patient outcomes and minimize healthcare-associated risks.

Background

Healthcare professionals confront medication errors as a vital clinical issue that generates

harm to patients, as well as prolonged hospital stays and elevated healthcare expenses. Based on

the World Health Organization, Koyama et al. (2020) report medication errors as one of the

primary hospital-related avoidable harms affecting millions of patients yearly. Medication errors

occur mainly because healthcare staff experience heavy workload pressures and face

interruptions during drug administration tasks. At the same time, they possess inadequate

training in medical technology and poor skill at technology-enabled accuracy improvement.

Urgent action must be taken because patient safety is the key focus within nursing practice.

Medication administration constitutes a key source of errors at institutions because it is

challenging. Healthcare providers experience many distractions combined with multitasking

activities due to the fast nature of nursing work, contributing to increased error rates (Kwiecień-

Jaguś et al., 2025). Furthermore, inconsistent adherence to best practices, such as proper

documentation and double-check verification, exacerbates the issue. The healthcare sector must

adopt proven methods combining educational systems with elections to reduce safety risks and

develop secure work environment platforms.

Appropriate interventions to reduce medication errors lead to more excellent patient

protection and better healthcare management effectiveness. Medical facilities using educational

programs and technological tools decrease medication errors and generate better patient care

outcomes, according to Ude-Okeleke et al. (2021). Through nurse education and the provision of

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necessary tools, our targeted project aims to develop environments where medications can be

administered more safely, thus benefiting both healthcare providers and their patient populations.

Conclusion

The identified issue receives attention through this capstone project that implements

research-based strategies to deliver better patient care outcomes. The project's defined objectives

satisfy all SMART criterion requirements for specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and

time-bound targets. The project design incorporated proven practices and research-driven

interventions into strategies to support objective achievement. Extra information in the

background section sheds complete light on underlying problem factors, underscoring why

specialized interventions must be deployed. The project executes its mission by effectively

implementing compressed frameworks that support long-term improvements of healthcare

delivery systems and patient safety protocols.

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References

Koyama, A. K., Maddox, C.-S. S., Li, L., Bucknall, T., & Westbrook, J. I. (2020). Effectiveness

of Double Checking to Reduce Medication Administration errors: a Systematic Review.

BMJ Quality & Safety, 29(7), 595–603. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjqs-2019-009552

Kwiecień-Jaguś, K., Mędrzycka-Dąbrowska, W., & Kopeć, M. (2025). Understanding

Medication Errors in Intensive Care Settings and Operating Rooms—A Systematic

Review. Medicina, 61(3), 369. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61030369

Ude-Okeleke, R. C., Aslanpour, Z., Dhillon, S., & Umaru, N. (2021). Medicines Related

Problems (MRPs) Originating in Primary Care Settings in Older Adults - A Systematic

Review. Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 089719002110236.

https://doi.org/10.1177/08971900211023638