Introduction

PICO(T) is an acronym that helps researchers and practitioners define aspects of a potential study or investigation.

It stands for:

· P – Patient/population/problem.

· I – Intervention.

· C – Comparison (of potential interventions, typically).

· O – Outcome(s).

· T – Time frame (if time frame is relevant).

The end goal of applying PICO(T) is to develop a question that can help guide the search for evidence (Boswell & Cannon, 2015). From this perspective, a PICO(T) question can be a valuable starting point for nurses who are starting to apply an evidence-based model or EBPs. By taking the time to precisely define the areas in which the nurse will be looking for evidence, searches become more efficient and effective. Essentially, by precisely defining the types of evidence within specific areas, the nurse will be more likely to discover relevant and useful evidence during their search. When applying the PICO(T) approach, the nurse can isolate the interventions of interest and compare to other existing interventions for the evidenced impact on the outcome of the concern.

You are encouraged to complete the Vila Health PICO(T) Process activity before you develop the plan proposal. This activity offers an opportunity to practice working through creating a PICO(T) question within the context of an issue at a Vila Health facility. These skills will be necessary to complete Assessment 3 successfully. This is for your own practice and self-assessment and demonstrates your engagement in the course.

Reference

Boswell, C., & Cannon, S. (2015). 
Introduction to nursing research. Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Professional Context

As a baccalaureate-prepared nurse, you will be responsible for locating and identifying credible and scholarly resources to incorporate the best available evidence for the purposes of enhancing clinical reasoning and judgement skills. When reliable and relevant evidence-based findings are utilized, patients, health care systems, and nursing practice outcomes are positively impacted.

PICO(T) is a framework that can help you structure your definition of the issue, potential approach that you are going to use, and your predictions related to the issue. Word choice is important in the PICO(T) process because different word choices for similar concepts will lead you toward different existing evidence and research studies that would help inform the development of your initial question. When writing a PICO(T)-formatted research question, you want to focus on the impact of the intervention and the comparison on the outcome you desire.

Scenario

For this assessment, please use a health care issue of interest from your current or past nursing practice.

If you do not have an issue of interest from your personal nursing practice, then review the optional Case Studies presented in the resources and select one of those as the basis for your assessment.

Instructions

For this assessment, select a health care issue of interest and apply the PICO(T) process to develop the research question and research it.

Your initial goal is to define the population, intervention, comparison, and outcome. In some cases, a time frame is relevant and you should include that as well, when writing a question you can research related to your issue of interest. After you define your question, research it, and organize your initial findings, select the two sources of evidence that seem the most relevant to your question and analyze them in more depth. Specifically, interpret each source's specific findings and best practices related to your issues, as well explain how the evidence would help you plan and make decisions related to your question.

If you need some structure to organize your initial thoughts and research, the PICOT Question and Research Template document (accessible from the ”
Create PICO(T) Questions” page in the Capella library's Evidence Based Practice guide) might be helpful.

In your submission, make sure you address the following grading criteria:

· Define a practice issue to be explored via a PICO(T) approach. Create a PICO(T)-formatted research question

· Identify sources of evidence that could be potentially effective in answering a PICO(T) question (databases, journals, websites, etc.).

· Explain the findings from articles or other sources of evidence as it relates to the identified health care issue.

· Explain the relevance of the findings from chosen sources of evidence to making decision related to a PICO(T) question.

· Communicate using writing that is clear, logical, and professional with correct grammar and spelling using the current APA style.

Example Assessment: You may use the following to give you an idea of what a Proficient or higher rating on the scoring guide would look like:

·
Assessment 3 Example [PDF]
 Download Assessment 3 Example [PDF].

Additional Requirements

Your assessment should meet the following requirements:

·
Length of submission:
 Create a 3-5-page submission focused on defining a research question and interpreting evidence relevant to answering it.

·
Number of references:
 Cite a minimum of four sources of scholarly or professional evidence that support your findings and considerations. Resources should be no more than 5 years old.

·
APA formatting: Format references and citations according to the current APA style.

Portfolio Prompt: Remember to save the final assessment to your ePortfolio so that you may refer to it as you complete the final capstone course.

The nine areas of competency are:

· Scientific Foundations

· Leadership

· Quality

· Practice Inquiry

· Technology and Information Literacy

· Policy

· Health Delivery System

· Ethics

· Independent Practice

For each of the nine NONPF competencies, write one paragraph explaining how the program has prepared you to meet the competency (for a total of at least nine paragraphs). Then, propose how you plan to engage in social change in your community as a nurse practitioner. Finally, describe 1–2 legislative and/or advocacy activities in which your state (Forida) nurse practitioner (psyquiatric nurse practitioner) organization(s) are involved. Be specific and provide examples.

one paragraph for each competency, state: Florida and the nurse practitioner: the PMHNP. Please free of plagiarism, and valid references

Week 2 Methodology

· Points 75

 This week, you will submit the methodology portion of your project. In this section, you will explain your proposed research design and the foundation for your data collection. While you will not collect data for your study, you will be expected to explain how you would implement your study. 

In your methodology section, include the following: 

Statement of purpose

· What was studied and why? 

· The population studies (if appropriate) and how they will be selected for the study

Description of the methodology

· Is your study qualitative or quantitative and why did you choose this method? 

· If you chose quantitative, is your study:

· Descriptive, correlational, quasi-experimental or experimental and why?

· If you chose qualitative, is your study:

· A case study, grounded theory, phenomenology, ethnography, or historical study and why? 

· What other methods were considered but discarded? 

Data collection

· How will you collect the data that correlates to your research method?

· What are the factors that influence this data collection choice? 

· Identify and explain the data collection instrument and if they are published instruments or created by the researcher. 

· Where will the data be collected and who will collect it? How will it be recorded? 

· How is the data collection connected to the research questions? 

· What is the plan for data analysis? 

Trustworthiness

Describe how you will ensure your study is trustworthy: 

· Qualitative: Explain strategies for credibility, dependability confirmability, and transferability. 

· Quantitative: Explain strategies for internal and external validity, reliability, and objectivity

Your methodology section should be 8–10 pages with cited references and support from your research. 

Review the rubric for grading criteria.

Points Possible: 75

due 10-16-23@10am