literature review

Assessment Type 

Literature review 

Value 

35% 

Related Unit Outcomes 

1,3,4,5,6

Due Date 

Week 6 Friday at 22:00hrs ACST

Length 

2,500 words ±10%

Task

​This assessment builds directly on Assessment 1, where you identified and justified a nursing practice issue.

You will now critically examine and synthesise the existing research evidence related to that issue.

The aim is to develop a clear, evidence-based understanding of what is already known, what gaps exist, and how this knowledge can inform a future practice-change framework (Assessment 3).

Write a structured literature review (2,500 words ±10%) that analyses and synthesises peer-reviewed research relevant to your selected nursing practice issue.

Task instructions

Your review should:

Introduce the topic and scope

• Restate your nursing practice issue (from Assessment 1).
• Explain why this issue is significant for nursing care and patient outcomes.
• State a focused review question (e.g. PICo/PICO format).

Describe the search strategy

• Outline databases searched, keywords, inclusion/exclusion criteria, and date range.
• Summarise the number and type of studies located.
• Justify your choices to demonstrate a systematic, ethical approach to evidence retrieval (LO 2).

Critically appraise and compare the evidence

• Use recognised appraisal tools (e.g. JBI, CASP).
• Discuss methodological strengths, limitations, and reliability.
• Identify ethical or cultural considerations within the research.

Synthesise findings

• Group results into themes or categories (e.g. barriers, facilitators, interventions, outcomes).
• Highlight consistencies, contradictions, and gaps across the evidence base.

Discuss implications for nursing practice

• Evaluate how current evidence can be applied or adapted in diverse nursing contexts.
• Consider translation models (e.g. PARIHS, Knowledge-to-Action) to show how research could inform practice change (LO 3 & 4).

Conclude with evidence-based insights

• Summarise key findings and gaps that will guide your forthcoming evidence-framework proposal (Assessment 3).

A suggested word count is 200-250 words per paragraph.

Preparation 

To prepare for completing this assessment students should;

• Have completed all the readings and activities from Modules 1-4.
• Ensure that they are up to date with tutorial attendance and/or watching the recordings and are monitoring the relevant discussion boards

Presentation 

This assessment is to be submitted via the dedicated Turnitin submission point in Learnline. Only pdf or doc/docx files are accepted.

Accepted or expected use of generative AI tools for this assessment item

You may use GenAI only to develop research ideas and concepts. Please follow the CDU policies of academic writing.

Assessment Criteria 

Marking rubric is available below

Suggested headings:

• Introduction
• Search Strategy
• Critical Appraisal
• Synthesis of Findings
• Implications for Practice
• Conclusion
• References

1.5 spacing, 12-pt font, APA 7th referencing.

Minimum 10 recent (≤10 years) peer-reviewed sources, excluding grey literature unless justified.

my topic should be related to medication error in nursing practice