what is an example of a capstone project in healthcare

Capstone Project Ideas on Healthcare Quality Improvement

James colson dnp, rn.

May 17, 2024
Nursing Topics and Ideas

Healthcare quality improvement is a dynamic and essential aspect of modern healthcare delivery. It encompasses a range of systematic and data-driven activities aimed at enhancing the safety, effectiveness, patient-centeredness, timeliness, efficiency, and equity of healthcare services. Quality improvement initiatives are designed to address clinical processes, healthcare systems, and patient experiences, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes and the delivery of high-quality care.

This article explores Capstone Project Ideas on Healthcare Quality Improvement. We also cover PICOT questions examples, evidence based practice project ideas, capstone project ideas, research paper topics, research questions and essay topics ideas in the world of healthcare quality improvement.

PICOT Questions in Healthcare Quality Improvement

In hospitalized elderly patients (P), how does the implementation of a multidisciplinary falls prevention program (I) compared to standard care (C) affect the rate of falls (O) within a six-month timeframe (T)?
In patients with diabetes (P), what is the effect of nurse-led education and self-management interventions (I) compared to usual care (C) on glycemic control (O) within a one-year period (T)?
In postoperative surgical patients (P), how does the use of a surgical safety checklist (I) compared to its absence (C) impact the rate of surgical site infections (O) within 30 days of surgery (T)?
In pediatric patients (P), what is the effect of regular hand hygiene education and reminders (I) compared to no education (C) on the incidence of healthcare-associated infections (O) over a six-month period (T)?
In adult patients with chronic pain (P), how does the implementation of a nurse-driven pain management protocol (I) compared to standard pain management practices (C) affect pain intensity (O) within a three-month timeframe (T)?
In hospitalized patients at risk of pressure ulcers (P), what is the impact of a pressure ulcer prevention bundle (I) compared to usual care (C) on the occurrence of pressure ulcers (O) within a four-week period (T)?
In pregnant women (P), how does prenatal education and support provided by midwives (I) compared to obstetricians (C) influence maternal satisfaction (O) during antenatal care (T)?
In patients undergoing chemotherapy (P), what is the effect of a nurse-led symptom management program (I) compared to standard symptom management (C) on the severity of treatment-related side effects (O) within a six-month period (T)?
In elderly residents of long-term care facilities (P), how does the use of person-centered care approaches (I) compared to traditional care models (C) impact residents’ quality of life (O) over a one-year duration (T)?
In healthcare organizations (P), what is the effect of nurse-driven continuous quality improvement initiatives (I) compared to sporadic quality improvement efforts (C) on patient safety outcomes (O) within a two-year timeframe (T)?

You can also check out PICOT Questions Examples on Health Disparities and Social Determinants of Health

Read More on How to write a Nursing Change Project

Evidence-Based Project Ideas in Healthcare Quality Improvement

Develop and implement a comprehensive program to reduce hospital readmissions for specific patient populations.
Create and test a standardized medication reconciliation process to improve accuracy and reduce medication errors during transitions of care.
Develop strategies and interventions to enhance hand hygiene compliance among healthcare workers.
Implement a pain management protocol with regular assessments and non-pharmacological interventions to improve pain control in various clinical settings.
Create educational materials and programs for patients with chronic diseases to enhance their self-management skills and outcomes.
Design and implement a fall prevention program that includes risk assessments, patient education, and environmental modifications.
Develop and evaluate an infection control bundle to reduce healthcare-associated infections within a healthcare facility.
Implement a pressure ulcer prevention bundle, including skin assessments, repositioning protocols, and support surfaces.
Develop communication training programs for healthcare teams to improve collaboration and reduce communication errors.
Implement patient satisfaction surveys and use feedback to identify areas for improvement in healthcare services.
Analyze and streamline processes in the emergency department to reduce wait times and improve patient flow.
Explore the feasibility and impact of telehealth services on patient access and outcomes, especially in remote areas.
Develop and implement standardized clinical protocols for common conditions to ensure evidence-based care delivery.
Empower nurses to conduct quality rounds and identify areas for improvement in patient care.
Implement cultural competency training for healthcare providers to improve care for diverse patient populations.
Develop standardized handoff protocols and training to enhance information transfer during care transitions.
Create and evaluate a comprehensive discharge planning process to reduce readmissions and improve patient transitions to post-acute care.
Encourage and facilitate reporting of patient safety incidents and near misses to enhance a culture of safety.
Develop and implement a palliative care program to improve symptom management and end-of-life care.
Investigate and implement strategies to reduce diagnostic errors, such as improving test result communication and follow-up.
Evaluate the impact of nurse staffing ratios on patient outcomes and advocate for changes based on findings.
Develop and implement a standardized handoff communication process to improve patient safety during care transitions.
Conduct a comprehensive infection control audit and develop strategies to reduce healthcare-associated infections.
Explore and implement patient-centered care models in a healthcare facility to enhance patient experiences and outcomes.
Develop and evaluate interventions to reduce medication errors and enhance medication safety in a specific clinical unit.
Create and implement patient education programs for specific patient populations to improve self-management and adherence to treatment plans.
Investigate the causes of readmissions in a healthcare facility and develop targeted interventions to reduce them.
Analyze and optimize processes in the emergency department to reduce wait times and improve patient flow.
Develop a comprehensive palliative care program, including symptom management and end-of-life care.
Explore the feasibility and impact of telehealth services on patient access and outcomes, especially in rural or underserved areas.
Develop strategies to enhance the informed consent process, ensuring that patients fully understand their treatment options and potential risks.
Create and evaluate cultural competency training for healthcare providers to improve care for diverse patient populations.
Implement a system to encourage and streamline the reporting of patient safety incidents and near misses, fostering a culture of safety.
Develop and implement standardized clinical protocols for specific medical conditions or procedures to ensure evidence-based care delivery.
Evaluate the effectiveness of a falls prevention program in reducing falls and related injuries in a healthcare facility.
Develop and implement communication skills training for healthcare teams to improve collaboration and reduce communication errors.
Investigate the causes of pressure ulcers in a clinical setting and develop targeted interventions to reduce their occurrence.
Conduct patient satisfaction surveys and use feedback to identify areas for improvement in healthcare services, then implement and evaluate changes.
Develop a comprehensive discharge planning process to improve patient transitions to post-acute care settings and reduce readmissions.

You can also check out Nursing Capstone Project Ideas on Patient-Centered Care

Nursing Research Paper Topics in Healthcare Quality Improvement

A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies examining the relationship between nurse staffing ratios and patient outcomes.
An exploration of the impact of standardized handoff communication processes on patient safety and care continuity.
A study evaluating the effectiveness of infection control bundles in reducing healthcare-associated infections in acute care settings.
An examination of patient-centered care models and their influence on patient experiences, satisfaction, and outcomes.
An analysis of medication safety practices and their impact on medication errors and adverse drug events.
A review of strategies and interventions aimed at reducing hospital readmissions and improving care transitions.
An investigation into process improvements in the emergency department to reduce wait times and enhance patient flow.
A study on the implementation and impact of palliative care programs in acute care hospitals, focusing on symptom management and end-of-life care.
An assessment of the feasibility and effectiveness of telehealth services in improving patient access to care and health outcomes.
A review of informed consent practices in healthcare and their impact on patient understanding and decision-making.
An exploration of cultural competency training programs for healthcare providers and their influence on care quality for diverse patient populations.
An analysis of patient safety reporting systems and their role in promoting a culture of safety in healthcare organizations.
An evaluation of the implementation of standardized clinical protocols and their impact on evidence-based care delivery.
A study on falls prevention strategies and their effectiveness in reducing falls and fall-related injuries in healthcare settings.
An assessment of communication skills training programs for healthcare teams and their influence on teamwork and patient safety.
A review of pressure ulcer prevention strategies and their impact on pressure ulcer rates in clinical settings.
An investigation into factors affecting patient satisfaction and strategies for improving patient experiences.
An analysis of discharge planning practices and their role in enhancing patient transitions to post-acute care settings.
A study on strategies to reduce diagnostic errors, with a focus on improving test result communication and follow-up.
An exploration of healthcare quality improvement frameworks and their application in healthcare organizations.

Capstone Project Ideas on Healthcare Quality Improvement

Nursing Research Questions in Healthcare Quality Improvement

What is the relationship between nurse staffing ratios and patient outcomes in acute care settings?
How do standardized handoff communication processes influence patient safety and care continuity in healthcare settings?
What are the key components of effective infection control bundles, and how do they impact healthcare-associated infection rates?
How do patient-centered care models affect patient experiences, satisfaction, and clinical outcomes?
What are the most common medication safety practices, and how do they correlate with medication errors and adverse drug events?
What strategies have been most successful in reducing hospital readmissions and improving care transitions?
How can process improvements in the emergency department reduce wait times and enhance patient flow without compromising patient care?
What are the critical elements of effective palliative care programs in acute care hospitals, and how do they impact symptom management and end-of-life care?
What is the feasibility and effectiveness of telehealth services in improving patient access to care and health outcomes, especially in underserved areas?
How do informed consent practices in healthcare influence patient understanding and shared decision-making?
What are the outcomes of cultural competency training programs for healthcare providers in terms of care quality for diverse patient populations?
What is the role of patient safety reporting systems in promoting a culture of safety in healthcare organizations, and how can reporting be encouraged?
How do standardized clinical protocols impact evidence-based care delivery and clinical outcomes?
What are the most effective strategies for falls prevention, and how do they reduce falls and fall-related injuries in healthcare settings?
What is the impact of communication skills training programs for healthcare teams on teamwork and patient safety?
How do pressure ulcer prevention strategies influence pressure ulcer rates in clinical settings, and what are the key components of effective prevention programs?
What factors significantly affect patient satisfaction in healthcare, and what interventions can enhance patient experiences?
How do discharge planning practices contribute to effective patient transitions to post-acute care settings, and what barriers exist in their implementation?
What strategies have been most successful in reducing diagnostic errors, particularly in test result communication and follow-up?
How can healthcare quality improvement frameworks be effectively applied in diverse healthcare organizations to drive meaningful change?

Other readers also checked out Nursing Research Paper Topics on Interprofessional Collaboration in Healthcare

Nursing Essay Topic Ideas in Healthcare Quality Improvement

The Impact of Nurse Staffing Ratios on Patient Safety and Outcomes.
Improving Handoff Communication to Enhance Patient Safety.
Strategies for Reducing Healthcare-Associated Infections in Hospitals.
Patient-Centered Care that Puts Patients at the Center of Healthcare.
Medication Safety, Challenges and Solutions.
Causes and Solutions for Hospital Readmissions.
Balancing Speed and Quality of Care in Emergency Department
A Compassionate Approach to Symptom Management in Palliative Care.
Telehealth Services to Bridge Gaps in Access to Care.
Informed Consent in Healthcare to Ensure Patient Understanding.
Cultural Competency in Nursing to Deliver Culturally Sensitive Care.
The Role of Patient Safety Reporting Systems in Healthcare Organizations.
Standardized Clinical Protocols to Enhance Evidence-Based Care.
Falls Prevention Strategies for Keeping Patients Safe.
Effective Communication in Healthcare to Build Strong Teams.
Pressure Ulcer Prevention Strategies for Healthcare Facilities.
Meeting Expectations in Patient Satisfaction in Healthcare.
Discharge Planning for Smooth Transitions for Patients.
Diagnostic Errors in Healthcare for Identifying and Preventing Mistakes.
A Comprehensive Overview on Healthcare Quality Improvement Models.
Lean Six Sigma in Healthcare in Improving Processes and Reducing Waste.
The Role of Nursing Leaders in Driving Quality Improvement Initiatives.
The Influence of Electronic Health Records on Healthcare Quality and Safety.
Interprofessional Collaboration to Enhance Patient-Centered Care.
Ethical Considerations in Quality Improvement to Balance Patient Autonomy and Safety.
The Impact of Healthcare Policies on Quality Improvement Efforts.
Patient Education to Empowering Them to Manage Their Health.
Addressing Inequities in Quality of Care.
The Role of Health Informatics in Healthcare Quality Improvement.
A Lifelong Commitment for Healthcare Professionals in Continuous Quality Improvement.

Nursing Essay Example in Healthcare Quality Improvement

How Quality Improvement Plays An Important Role In Today’s Healthcare Industry

Healthcare quality improvement is a dynamic and multifaceted field that plays a pivotal role in enhancing patient care, safety, and outcomes. Nursing professionals are at the forefront of these efforts, driving initiatives to improve processes, reduce errors, and create a culture of patient-centered care.

The capstone project ideas on healthcare quality improvement, PICOT questions examples, evidence-based practice project ideas, research paper topics, and research questions in this article are a valuable starting point for nurses and healthcare professionals seeking to make a meaningful impact on the quality of care delivered to patients.

1. What is quality improvement in health care?

Quality improvement seeks to standardize processes and structure to reduce variation, achieve predictable results, and improve outcomes for patients, healthcare systems, and organizations.

2. What are the five domains of quality improvement in a healthcare environment?

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality denotes six domains of healthcare quality, including effective, efficient, timely, safe, patient-centered, and equitable.

3. What are the six dimensions of quality improvement in healthcare?

Don Berwick describes six dimensions of quality in health care: safety, effectiveness, patient-centeredness, timeliness, efficiency, and equity

4. What is a quality indicator in healthcare?

Quality Indicators (QIs) are standardized, evidence-based measures of health care quality that can be used with readily available hospital inpatient administrative data to measure and track clinical performance and outcomes.

Sources

Quality and Safety in Nursing: A Competency Approach to Improving Outcomes Author: Gwen Sherwood and Jane Barnsteiner
The Healthcare Quality Book: Vision, Strategy, and Tools, Fourth Edition Author: Maulik Joshi
Patient Safety and Healthcare Improvement at a Glance Author: Sukhmeet S. Panesar, Andrew Carson-Stevens, and Aziz Sheikh
Healthcare Quality Handbook: A Professional Resource and Study Guide, Seventh Edition Author: Janet A. Brown and Susan E. Benner
Improving Healthcare Quality and Cost with Six Sigma Author: Roderick A. Munro and Kimberly Ann Sollecito

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Capstone Projects for Nursing Programs

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Are you ready to earn your online nursing degree?

Capstone courses function as a bridge between the end of school and the beginning of a career, allowing nursing students to put what they’ve learned into practice. As the name suggests, students complete capstones toward the end of their nursing training. Not every nursing program requires a capstone, but those that do generally culminate in a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) or doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree.

Each nursing program sets their own requirements. While capstone formats differ between programs, they typically consist of an evidence-based practice formal paper or presentation. Students might complete their capstone projects as team leaders, and BSN candidates may present their papers to a faculty panel. Projects could include case studies, program evaluations, and policy analyses.

The focus on evidence-based practice allows students to apply research and experiential evidence toward solving a healthcare problem. For example, candidates may develop intervention strategies that promote health, improve outcomes, enhance quality of life, and foster safe practices for patients.

Capstone goals center on the application of knowledge gained during nursing training programs, including topics related to leadership , management, research, theories, and evidence-based practice, along with the strategies needed to transition from students to baccalaureate-level nurses.

Choosing Your Nursing Capstone Topic

When selecting a capstone topic, students should evaluate their interests, strengths, and weaknesses, along with their chosen nursing specialty area. Luther College recommends that students with lower GPAs and weaker nursing skills consider a basic medical-surgical topic. Those with strong clinical skills and high GPAs might choose emergency or intensive care medicine, although some students might prefer outpatient topics, such as clinical services, long-term care, or public health. However, this is simply an example of one school’s approach, and readers should keep in mind that each school sets its own policies and recommendations.

Asking for guidance from faculty, supervisors, preceptors, and fellow students also helps narrow down capstone topics. Advisors can also provide assistance in choosing an appropriate capstone site, helping with questions of geographical location, facility size, patient population, and care delivery model.

Students develop and learn the skills needed to complete their capstones throughout their training. These include organization and time management, knowledge of evidence-based practice, writing, and critical thinking. They also learn to conduct literature searches, identify research designs, and evaluate evidence.

Completing Your Nursing Capstone

Capstone formats and completion times widely vary between programs. Students at Luther College and Purdue University Northwest complete their capstones in 4-5 weeks, while Ferris State University specifies a timeframe of 30 hours of online classes and 90 hours of applied project work. Case Western Reserve University’s capstone spans 10 weeks.

Regardless of the program, most students follow a PICO format for project proposal questions of inquiry: population, intervention, comparison or condition, and outcome.

Some universities allow capstone projects to be completed in teams, in which students develop and implement the project. Capstone components may include defining the project and the team leader’s role, selecting team members, and formulating the project plan.

In addition to the skills previously referenced, such as knowledge of evidence-based care, critical thinking, and effective writing, capstone courses hone leadership and management abilities These include mastering therapeutic communication, applying leadership and management concepts, and developing collaborative relationships and working on multidisciplinary teams.

Presenting Your Nursing Capstone

The capstone process culminates in a paper or presentation that measures students’ skills in communication, information dissemination, and application of evidence-based practice skills. Members of the public may attend.

Utilizing the poster format, students commonly use three panels to illustrate: (1) the background, problem, and purpose; (2) methodology; and (3) 2-3 key findings and implications. Students who present using PowerPoint on a laptop or other device should pay attention to time limits, planning for one slide per minute, and verify that equipment and internet connectivity are available.

Visuals like graphs, figures, and bullet points are more effective than large blocks of text . Students should practice presenting in front of others to ensure that they thoroughly know their content and can answer questions. Backing up a copy of a PowerPoint presentation and printing out copies or transparencies guards against last-minute glitches.

How is a Nursing Capstone Graded?

Capstone grading methods differ between programs, with some issuing letter grades and others using a pass/no pass system. Grades typically hinge on a percentage basis of the project’s written sections, the final proposal, and the presentation. Faculty evaluate how students execute the capstone course objectives, which may include the following:

Students’ presentation skill evaluation criteria include exhibiting thorough preparation and knowledge of the subject matter, clear and concise communication, adherence to any time limits, ability to answer questions and cite references, and persuasiveness.

What is the Difference Between a Nursing Capstone and a Thesis?

Students complete capstones individually or in groups, while thesis projects must be done alone. Capstone project time lengths span between four and 12 weeks, while graduate students work on their thesis projects throughout their 2- to 3-year programs. Graduate thesis courses generally take place over 1-2 semesters to keep students on track.

Finally, capstone topics evaluate current issues and theories; thesis students incorporate existing case studies and literature while exploring and arguing for their own original research. Some schools require students to publish their thesis papers in a healthcare journal.

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Theresa Granger, Ph.D., MN, NP-C With over two decades of teaching and clinical practice as a family nurse practitioner, Dr. Granger is an expert in nursing education and clinical practice at all levels of education (associate, baccalaureate, and graduate). She has published and lectured extensively on nursing education and clinical practice-related content. Her expertise ranges from student advising and mentoring to curricular and content design (both on ground and online) to teaching and formal course delivery. Dr. Granger is one of the founding faculty members of the University of Southern California’s first ever fully online graduate family nurse practitioner program .

Whether you’re looking to get your pre-licensure degree or taking the next step in your career, the education you need could be more affordable than you think. Find the right nursing program for you.

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List of 500 Plus Nursing Capstone Project Ideas to Consider as a nursing Student

In most nursing schools, you might be required to work on a capstone project, often known as a senior capstone. It is usually a prerequisite for your final course in a degree program that requires its completion. Most nursing students prefer undertaking a capstone nursing course.

A capstone project is an individualized research project on a specific nursing topic of your professional or personal interest. It is usually completed within between 4 to 12 weeks, depending on the nursing school and the program you are pursuing. It is usually part of a project-based nursing capstone course that runs within a selected duration and is led by a capstone instructor. The first step of writing a capstone is choosing a topic that focuses on the quality improvement process, procedure, or policy and creating a nursing capstone project proposal/nursing project proposal or presentation.

A standard nursing capstone project is between 20 to 100 pages, but that depends on the institutional requirements and the preference of your capstone instructor. It is a chance to show what you have learned, enhance your professional development, specialize in your nursing career, and investigate/solve community-related health issues. The capstone project paper is based on evidence-based practice (EBP) project , which makes it necessary to follow the PICO format . Therefore, the first step is choosing the topic when doing the capstone at BSN, MSN, or DNP level.

This guide is about the first step, specifically to help you choose a good and manageable topic for your nursing capstone project. Cognizant that selecting a topic depends on the area of specialization that you are interested in (Family nursing, forensic nursing, informatics, pediatrics, nursing administration and management, nursing education, or public health, etc.), we have categorized the ideas and topics into nursing specialties to make it easier for you to brainstorm and choose a good topic for your nursing capstone paper.

General Nursing Capstone Ideas

Patient-controlled fluid restriction monitoring
The effects of tai chi on cardiovascular risk factors of hypertension, BMI, anxiety, depression, quality of life, and its safety and feasibility
Exercise to improve cancer-related fatigue
CPM machine protocol for knee replacements
Managing hypertension with lifestyle modifications
Self-engagement to decrease blood pressure readings and reduce non-compliance
The application of the ABCDE bundle in ICU
Controlled donation after circulatory death
Effectiveness of using virtual reality in oncology settings
Impacts of the clinically aligned pain assessment tool (CAPA) on pain management
The influence of "deliberate practice" on skill competency
Consequences of massage therapy for agitation in dementia
Impact of virtual simulation on knowledge transfer
Increased discharge compliance through mental health follow-up
Impacts of early mobilization
Impacts of bedside shift reports on patient safety
Effects of physical activity and patient education on rheumatoid arthritis
Benefits of non-physician-led hypertension management
Reducing the rates of use of emergency departments by homeless and at-risk homeless through screening
Improving discharge timeliness and patient outcomes
Role of Nurses in policymaking
Video education on fever to empower and educate caregivers
Protecting the health and safety of nurses working with at-risk populations

Forensic Nursing Capstone Project Ideas

Forensic nursing is a very lucrative area of specialization in nursing. If you consider specializing in forensic nursing to become a Nurse Death Investigator (NDI), sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE), legal nurse consultant, forensic psychiatry nurse, correctional nurse consultant, forensic nurse educator, or forensic nurse examiner, consider these topics and ideas for your capstone. It is not exhaustive but gives you an upper hand when selecting a suitable topic for your forensic nursing capstone project. If you are looking for nursing ebp project ideas related to forensic nursing, check out these:

Impacts of forensic nurses in preventing intimate partner violence
Role of forensic nurses in developing community interventions to prevent elderly abuse and neglect
Coordinated community response as a strategy to address elderly abuse
Role of forensic nurses in identifying and preventing sexual abuse in pediatric emergency departments
Does Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) training affect the attitudes of Emergency Department nurses toward sexual assault survivors?
How sexual assault nurse examiners practice trauma-informed care
Roles of forensic outpatient nurses
Use of simulation in training forensic nurses
Attitudes of forensic nurses working at psychiatric facilities
Benefits of incorporating forensic nurses as part of the multidisciplinary teams in psychiatric health facilities
Importance of forensic nurse research
Collaboration between forensic nurses and law enforcement agencies
Implementation of sexual assault services in a clinic setting
Effects of an emotional education program on prisoners
Occupational injuries and workplace violence among forensic nurses
Stress and burnout among forensic nurses working in mental health facilities
Role of forensic nurses in examining medical error
Role of forensic nurse examiner in patient education for victims of sexual assault
The rhetoric of therapy in forensic psychiatric nursing
Evaluation of a Standardized Patient Simulation on Undergraduate Nursing Students' Knowledge and Confidence On Intimate Partner Violence
Evidence-based practice in forensic mental health nursing
Standards of practice for forensic mental health nurses
Innovative assessments for retention of sexual assault nurse examiners
Collection and preservation of evidence by forensic nurses
Compassion fatigue among pediatric forensic nurse examiners
Investigating chronic traumatic encephalopathy among national football league players
Nurses and Medicolegal Death Investigation
Strategies for documenting evidence used by forensic nurses
Forensic nurses as expert witnesses in courts of law
Role of forensic nurses in research in correctional facilities
Causes and consequences of forensic nurse shortage
Ethical issues encountered by forensic nurses in correctional facilities
De-escalation and limit-setting in forensic mental health units
How forensic nurses can prevent human and organ trafficking
Risk factors for domestic minor sex trafficking in the United States
Mental illness as a vulnerability for sexual assault
Cardiovascular risk factors among prisoners
Establishing the therapeutic relationship between a forensic nurse and a patient
Benefits of a holistic approach to training forensic nurse examiners
Impacts of trauma-informed care training on the competency and confidence of forensic nurses
Forensic nursing interventions with patients with personality disorder
A forensic nurse's perspective of trauma-informed care approaches to medico legal death investigation
How forensic nurses handle families and loved ones of those who succumb in emergency departments
Forensic nurses and human rights abuse
Responsibilities of forensic nurses
SANE vs. non-SANE forensic nurses
Required skills for forensic psychiatric nurse
Veracity for children in pediatric forensics
Strategies for screening children for abuse and neglect
Trauma-Informed Care Education in Baccalaureate Nursing Curricula in the United States
Understanding nonfatal strangulation
Role of forensic nurses in advocating for pregnant women in correctional facilities
The professional identity of prison nurses
Role of education and continuous professional development in strengthening the science of forensic nursing
Stress and burnout in forensic health nursing
Using telehealth for sexual assault forensic examinations
Promoting professional quality of life and resiliency in sexual assault nurse examiners
Child labor trafficking essentials for forensic nurses
Sexual assault nurse examiner forensic examinations for immigrant victims

You can find more topics concerning forensic nursing from Topics by Science.gov

Critical Care Nursing Capstone Project Ideas

Critical care nursing, also called intensive care nursing , is a domain of nursing practice that deals with seriously ill patients. If you are interested in pursuing critical care/ICU nursing, you can focus your capstone project on a related topic. Here are some ideas for critical nursing or ICU nursing capstone project.

Impacts of critical incident stress debriefing for nurses in acute care departments
Strategies to address stress and burnout among critical care nursing staff
Role of critical care nurses in palliative care
Nursing interventions to prevent central line bloodstream infection (CLABSI) in the ICU settings
Benefits of SNF infection prevention online training on CLABSI prevention
The role of law and policy in addressing healthcare-associated infections in critical care
Impact of needleless connector change frequency on central line-associated bloodstream infection rate
Effects of surveillance of hospital-acquired CLABSI in pediatric NICU
Impacts of CLABSI on length of stay and readmission in ICU
Using Nurse-Driven Protocols to Eliminate Routine Gastric Residual Volume Measurements
Implementing a standardized communication tool in an intensive care unit
Decreasing 30-day readmission rates in patients with heart failure
Strategies for assessing discomfort in critically ill patients
Increasing nurses' knowledge of and self-confidence with family presence during pediatric resuscitation
The link between perceived and actual risk assessment by ICU nurses and the use of catheters
How critical care nurses can prevent blood contamination during transfusion
Risk factors and preventive measures for pressure ulcers among patients in critical care units
Factors Leading to critical nurses shortage in the USA
Compassion fatigue among ICU nurses and strategies to prevent it
Pain assessment by critical care nurses through physical and physiological monitoring
The use of CDSS in decision-making within the ICU
Critical Nurses' education and Competencies in the USA
Impacts of nurse-patient Ratio on patient safety and Outcomes in critical care units
Prevalence of nurse burnout syndrome among ICU nurses
Strategies to help critical nurses achieve excellence
Collaborative decision-making between ICU nurses and patients in end-of-life care
Attitudes of critical care nurses on terminally ill patients
Hand hygiene adherence among critical care nurses
How critical care nurses can leverage big data and AI to improve safety and outcomes
Strategies to optimize intubation in the ICU
The link between ICU staffing and patient outcomes
Quality improvement strategies for neonatal ICU
The application of telemedicine in ICU settings
Strategies to optimize mechanical ventilation in the neonatal ICU
Patient education strategies for children with adult patients in the ICU
ICU nurses assist patients in making the DNR orders
Payment Structure and morale among ICU nurses
Challenges experienced by ICU nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic
Intensive care nurses' knowledge and practice on endotracheal suctioning of the intubated patient
Benefits of promoting shared decision-making in the ICU
Intensive care nurses' experiences and perceptions of delirium and delirium care.
Reasons why nurses should have empathy with newborn families in neonatal ICU
Nurses' Perceptions of Telemedicine Adoption in the Intensive Care Unit
Importance of allowing ICU nurses to grieve when patients die
The perceptions and attitudes of ICU nurses on the use of ICU diaries
The experiences of new nurses in ICU units
Strategies ICU nurses use to screen delirium among ICU patients
Impacts of brownout on ICU nurses
Attitudes of ICU nurses on caring for patients with mental illness
Impacts of hemodynamic monitoring training for ICU nurses on patient safety and outcomes
Readiness of novice nurses to practice in ICU
Nurses' experiences of caring for patients during a prolonged critical illness
Oral practices for ICU nurses
Caring for non-sedated mechanically ventilated patients: Attitudes of ICU nurses
Knowledge and practice of physical restraints in ICU

Nursing Education Topics and Ideas

Nursing education is a vast area. You can never run out of ideas to explore in your nursing education capstone. Here are some potential rn to bsn capstone project ideas to consider:

The impacts of the Nurse Residency Program
Undergraduate pediatric nursing education: Issues, challenges, and recommendations
How mentorship post-residency affects the experiences of new graduates transitioning from novice to competent
Benefits of mindful meditation for nursing students
A new leadership development model for nursing education
Evidence-based practice and quality improvement in nursing education
Role of stakeholder engagement in nursing education
Strategies to improve nurse to patient ratio through nursing education
Use of simulation in nursing education
Effectiveness of a venous thromboembolism course using flipped classroom with nursing students
Perceptions of the use of reflective learning journals in online graduate nursing education
Effects of nursing education on students' pain management knowledge
Cultural competencies for graduate nursing education
Implications of virtual reality and augmented reality in nursing education
The use of gamification in education with digital badges
Strategies to dismantle racism and disparities in nursing education
Importance of teaching reflective practice among nursing students
Arts-based inquiry in nursing education
Supporting the integrative health care curriculum in schools of nursing
Educational pathways to becoming a registered nurse
Strategies to make nursing education lucrative for the millennial generation
How educators can influence the success of nursing students
Philosophical perspectives of nursing education
Use of social media and technology in nursing education
Should nurses stay longer in college?
Faculty shortage in nursing schools
Impacts of the scarcity of clinical experiences on the competency of new nurses
The gap between education and practice and the nursing staff shortage
Benefits of integrating climate change topics in nursing curricula
Impacts of problem-based learning models in nursing schools
Benefits of promoting multicultural nursing education
Integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion topics into an undergraduate nursing research course
Benefits of nurses having a personal philosophy in nursing school
Using active simulation to enhance the learning of nursing ethics

You can also consider topics related to mental health issues or mentally ill patients. The goal is to find the best topic to stand out among the nursing capstone projects submitted to your professor.

Health Promotion Ideas for Capstone Projects

Implementing community cooking courses to prevent nutritional knowledge deficit
Promoting the use of honey in diabetes foot ulcer management
Application of the health belief model in tailoring nursing interventions to prevent adolescent smoking
Using an educational program based on the health belief model to improve the preventive behaviors of nurses against cardiovascular diseases
Factors affecting health promotion activities by nurses
Attitudes of registered nurses and midwives toward health promotion targeting obese patients
Attitudes of Nurses towards health Promotion
Role of Nurses in health promotion and Disease prevention
Health promotion strategies to reduce smoking among nurse practitioners
Roles of Nurses in preventive care
Impacts of nursing advocacy on health promotion
Role of advanced practice nurse in health promotion
Healthy lifestyle behaviors and health promotion attitudes in preregistered nurses
Practical approaches to health promotion in nursing
Translating social ecological theory into guidelines for community health promotion
Health promotion strategies that work best with indigenous populations
Ethical dilemmas in health promotion by nurses
Strategies to promote mental health promotion in psychiatric facilities

Nursing Shortage and Burnout Topics and Ideas for Capstone

Benefits of having an official mentoring program on nursing retention and job satisfaction
Impacts of burnout and fatigue on patient outcomes
Results of implementing patient acuity tool on nurse satisfaction
Effects of meaningful recognition on med-surgical unit's staff satisfaction and retention
Benefits of compassion fatigue education on oncology nurses

Women's Health Topics and Ideas for Capstone

Benefits of early screening for postpartum depression
Impacts of patient education on reducing postpartum depression
Breastfeeding and consumption of sweetened foods
Challenges facing women with disabilities in exclusive breastfeeding
Relationship between the mental health of the mother and the outcomes of a pregnancy
Promoting physical activity and healthy lifestyles among women
Helping women address the challenges that come with menopause: perspectives of a nurse
Long-term effects of preeclampsia on mother and neonate
Strategies to prevent preeclampsia
Preeclampsia screening within healthcare facilities
Diagnosis and management of atypical preeclampsia-eclampsia
Cardiovascular Sequels During and After Preeclampsia
Impacts of superimposed preeclampsia on women
Preeclampsia and maternal risk of breast cancer
Nursing care approach for women with preeclampsia and eclampsia
Administration of NSAIDs during pregnancy and the initiation of lactation
Diagnosis and management of fetal alcohol syndrome
Educating women on the dangers of consuming alcohol when pregnant
Sexual dysfunction in women with alcohol dependence syndrome
Impacts of female genital mutilation on the reproductive health of women
Assessment and prevention of postpartum depression among pregnant women
Etiology and consequences of postpartum depression
Use of oxytocin in the management of postpartum depression
Postpartum depression and breastfeeding efficacy
Diagnosis and treatment of cytomegalovirus during pregnancy
Relaxation techniques for pain management during labor
Benefits of multiple-micronutrient supplementation for women during pregnancy
Methods of milk expression for lactating women
Effects of disorder eating on the fertility of women
Hypertension disorders of pregnancy
Implementation of the maternal-fetal triage index to improve obstetric triage
Strategies to prevent obstetric hemorrhage
Childbirth experiences of women with an autism spectrum disorder in acute care settings

Pediatrics Topics and Ideas for Capstone

Efficacy of using music therapy in NICU
Pain and Sedation Scales in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Impacts of skin-to-skin contact as a method for body warmth for infants with low birth weight
How to maintain normothermia among newly born infants
Effects of very early skin-to-skin contact on the success of breastfeeding
Chest-to-back skin-to-skin contact in regulating body temperature for preterm babies
Early intervention to achieve thermal balance in term neonates
Benefits of infant massage for infants and parents in the NICU

Patient Falls Topics and Ideas for Capstone

Patient falls management is another excellent area to consider for your capstone. You should inquire into some of the best strategies to solve patient falls associated with mortality and morbidity. Reducing falls is an indicator of quality improvement in healthcare settings. Here are some ideas and topics to get you started:

Impact of Hourly Rounding on Fall Rates
Evidence-based fall management strategies for patients aging in place
Nursing-led interventions to prevent falls in clinical settings
A multifactorial approach to fall management in healthcare settings
Impacts of patient education on fall rates
Multi-professional team approach in fall management
Use of telehealth to assess and address fall risk among elderly patients
Fall risk assessment and patient safety
Evaluation and management of fall risk in primary care settings
The link between polypharmacy and fall rates among older adults
Rates of falls and hospital readmissions among the older adults
Utilizing technology to prevent falls in healthcare settings
Benefits of patient-centered fall prevention toolkit in reducing falls and injuries among patients
Fall Prevention Decision-Making of Acute Care Registered Nurses
Occupational therapy falls prevention interventions for community-dwelling older adults
Multifactorial falls prevention programs for older adults presenting to the emergency department with a fall
Fall prevention strategies for Emergency departments
The effectiveness of exercise for fall prevention in nursing home residents
Role of physical therapists and aromatherapy for fall prevention in older people
Use of radar and sensor technology to prevent falls in primary care settings
Use of alarms to prevent falls on medical-surgical floors
Applying bed exit alarms to prevent falls
Using bathroom safety constructions to prevent elderly falls
Application of intelligent socks system to reduce falls in clinical settings
Addressing the nutritional needs of elderly patients to prevent falls
Using smartphones to detect and prevent falls in homes and hospitals
Use of robots in fall management

Patient Education Capstone Project Ideas

Impacts of polypharmacy teaching in reducing adverse effects at an acute setting
Benefits of patient education in promoting healthy lifestyles
Patient education and reduced falls within home settings
Impacts of using social media to facilitate patient education
Role of patient-centered education in improving adherence and outcomes of patients in long-term care facilities
Patient education in wound management and outcomes
Impact of patient education on utilization of nonpharmacological modalities for persistent pain management
Patient education and self-care management practices
Benefits of patient education in medical rehabilitation
Therapeutic patient education and outcomes in heart failure patients
Benefits of multi-professional approach in diabetes patient education
The benefits and challenges of providing patient education digitally
Factors affecting patient education in healthcare settings
Using healthcare information infrastructure to deliver education to patients with chronic conditions
Impacts of using electronic health records to facilitate education for patients in rural areas
The Effects of Tailored Diabetic Education in the Patient with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Emergency Nursing Topics and Ideas for Capstone

If you are struggling to develop a perfect topic for your capstone project and are interested in emergency nursing, you can consider these capstone ideas and topics. Emergency nurse practitioners often face many challenges, including workplace incivility, lateral violence, bullying, brownout, stress, and high workload, which is a great place to start. You can also address their roles in emergency preparedness and management. Here are some ideas:

Solutions and strategies to address Emergency Department overcrowding
Causes and consequences of emergency room overcrowding
Nurse-led strategies to prevent emergency room overcrowding
Evidence-based approaches to address ED overcrowding
Challenges for patient onboarding in the ED
Use of technology and data modeling to address ED overcrowding
Use of RFID technology to reduce ED overcrowding
Application of telemedicine in addressing ER overcrowding
Innovations to reduce demand and crowding in emergency care
The use of wearable tech to address overcrowding in the ER
Strategies to improve access to ER in rural areas
Role of ER nurses in disaster management
Factors affecting emergency nurses' perceptions of the triage systems
Attitudes and skills of ER nurses in triage decision-making
Perceptions of ER nurses in the assessment of the risk of emerging infectious disease in ED
Role of ER nurses in disease surveillance
Role of ER Nurses in disease outbreaks
Strategies to prevent ER nurses from burnout and stress
Addressing compassion satisfaction and fatigue among ER nurses
Benefits of cultural competence training for ER nurses
Feelings and emotions of ER nurses related to dying and death of patients
Factors causing high turnover among emergency room nurses
Pediatric pain management strategies that ER nurses managing pediatric patients use
Strategies to address work fatigue and musculoskeletal disorders among ER nurses
Strategies to improve communication skills among ER nurses and other healthcare practitioners in the ED
Enhancing systems thinking for undergraduate nursing students using Friday night at the ER
How ER nurses can apply nursing theories when caring for patients
The impact of reflective journaling and diaries for ER nurses
Perceptions and attitudes of ER nurses on teamwork in ED
Causes of occupational stress among ER nurses
Factors affecting radiation protection behaviors among ER nurses
How ER nurses provide care to patients with self-harm
Impacts of incivility, bullying, and workplace violence on effectiveness and performance of ER nurses
Strategies to foster collegiality and civility
Impacts of educational intervention through online training on incivility among ER nurses
Lateral violence among ER nurses
Interventions to reduce the risk of violence toward emergency department staff
The emergency nurse's perception of incivility in the workplace
Impacts of cognitive rehearsal training for ER nurses on confronting bullying and lateral violence
Importance of implementing a psychiatric triage algorithm
Use of simulation-based emergency to train ER nurses on responding to emergency situations
Benefits of using emergency nursing competency scale for school nurses
The lived experiences of ER nurses encountering patients with mental illness in prehospital emergency care
Knowledge and practice of nursing students regarding bioterrorism and emergency preparedness
Impacts of continuous competency assessment and education for ER nurses
Emergency nurses' knowledge, attitude, and perceived barriers regarding pain Management in Resource-Limited Settings
Effect of problem-based learning on severity classification agreement by triage nurses
Effects of a standardized patient-based simulation in anaphylactic shock management for new graduate ER nurses
Emergency Room nurses' perceptions of leadership, teamwork, turnover intention and patient safety
Attitudes of ER nurses towards patient safety
Factors affecting patient satisfaction in nurse-led triage in ED
ER Nurses' experience with emergency room psychiatry services
Impacts of CPR training for ER nurses on patient outcomes
Nurses' attitudes to supporting people who are suicidal in emergency departments

Telemetry Capstone Ideas and Topics

Improving cardiac telemetry use
Improving Quiet-at-Night on a telemetry unit
Reducing Cardiac Telemetry Alarm Fatigue
Impacts of alarm fatigues on patient safety
Evaluation of Telemetry Utilization in Medical-Surgical Unit
Customizing Physiologic Alarms in the Emergency Department
Impacts of default order set settings on telemetry ordering
Strategies for transitioning Novice Nurses to Expert Nurses in Progressive Telemetry Care
Preventing stress and burnout among nurses in the telemetry unit
Strategies to optimize the use of telemetry in nursing training
Is simulation efficient for telemetry nurse trainees?
An Evidence-Based Approach to Reducing Cardiac Telemetry Alarm Fatigue.
Physiologic monitoring alarm load on medical/surgical floors of a community hospital.
Impacts of alarm management program on alarm fatigue among telemetry and ICU RNs
Benefits of customizing physiologic alarms in ED
Effect of a Nurse-Managed Telemetry Discontinuation Protocol on Monitoring Duration, Alarm Frequency, and Adverse Patient Events
Impacts of introducing patient-customized monitoring bundle in decreasing alarm fatigue in ICU
Alternative strategies for cardiac alarm management on telemetry units
Role of monitor watchers in decreasing alarm burden of nurses
Stress and burnout among telemetry nurses

Geriatrics/Gerontology Topics and Ideas for Capstone

Perspectives of nursing students undertaking a practicum at a gerontology facility on their experience
Geriatric assessment in daily oncology practice for nurses and allied health care professionals
Hospital nurses' perception of the geriatric nurse practice environment
Use of a screening tool and primary health care gerontology nurse specialist for high-needs older people
Competency and skills of nurses practicing in elderly homes
Assessing the perceptions and attitudes among geriatric resource nurses
Attitudes of nurses on physical restraint for hospitalized elderly people
Role of geriatric nurses in addressing falls among elderly patients
Strategies to reduce restraint use for older adults in acute care
Strategies to care for elderly patients with schizophrenia and dementia
Addressing the nutritional needs of elderly adults who are homeless through a community nursing center
Strategies to promote physical activity among the elderly patients
How to improve the quality of life of elderly adults who are veterans
Caring for elderly adults with cerebrovascular accidents
Burnout and stress among registered nurses working in nursing homes
Addressing social isolation and loneliness among elderly patients
The application of robots in dementia care
Benefits of administering vitamin C supplements to elderly adults
Impacts of tai chi and yoga on improving the health of elderly patients
Nonpharmacological interventions to improve sleep patterns among elderly patients
Effectiveness of geriatric nurses getting trained in dementia care
Use of social media to reduce depression among elderly adults
Role of community health nurses in addressing osteoporosis among the elderly populations

To find more topics you can search for nursing capstone project examples pdf online and peer-reviewed nursing journals. You can be inspired to choose a unique, memorable, and manageable topic.

Final Remarks!

For topics on nursing informatics, check out our exclusive blog article, where we share a list of nursing informatics topics that you can choose for your capstone project.

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Capstone Project Ideas in Nursing: Exploring Innovative Approaches to Healthcare

Introduction to nursing capstone projects.

The dynamic landscape of healthcare requires nursing students to demonstrate practical knowledge through capstone projects. These projects provide an opportunity to delve into a unique aspect of nursing and contribute towards improving the healthcare system. Selecting the perfect topic for your nursing capstone project ideas can be challenging, but we’re here to help! This comprehensive guide will introduce Nursing Capstone Projects Ideas, how to choose them, and several promising themes to explore.

What is a Nursing Capstone Project?

A nursing capstone project is the pinnacle of your academic journey, marking the transition from student to full-fledged healthcare professional. This project provides a platform for students to apply classroom learning to a real-world clinical scenario, driving them to expand their knowledge and refine their nursing skills.

The capstone project isn’t just about showcasing what you’ve learned—it’s about contributing to the nursing field by exploring and addressing a critical healthcare issue. Capstone projects vary in nature. They can take the form of evidence-based practice (EBP) projects where students identify a problem in healthcare, review the current literature on the topic, and propose a solution based on their findings. Alternatively, they may involve research studies where students design and carry out a study to contribute to nursing knowledge.

Furthermore, nursing capstone ideas for different projects offer an opportunity to specialize in a specific area of interest within the vast nursing field. Be it pediatrics, geriatrics, emergency nursing, or community health, this project enables you to delve deeper into a chosen niche, strengthening your expertise.

Nursing capstone papers are hands-on learning experiences that significantly augment your understanding of nursing theories, models, and frameworks. They push you to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, leadership, and research skills, making you adept at evidence-based practice.

How To Write Nursing Capstone Projects Ideas

Indeed, writing a nursing capstone project requires significant planning, research, and execution. This is not a task that can be completed overnight—it’s a process that will test your analytical and problem-solving skills. Here are the steps to use when writing Ideas for a nursing capstone project:

Step 1: Identify the Problem

The first step in any nursing capstone project is identifying a real-world issue relevant to the nursing field. It could be a gap in patient care, an operational inefficiency, or even an unexplored area of nursing practice. To identify a problem worth exploring, you can reflect on your clinical rotations, speak to professionals in the field, or review recent nursing literature.

Step 2: Select a Topic

Once you have identified the problem, the next step is to narrow it down into a specific topic for your capstone project. This specific area of interest should align with your career goals. Remember, the more passionate you are about the topic, the more motivated you will be throughout the process.

Step 3: Develop a Proposal

After selecting a topic, the next step is to develop a project proposal. This proposal should outline the problem you have identified, the objectives of your project, the methods you plan to use to address the problem, and the expected outcomes. Your proposal will require approval from your faculty advisor before you can move forward.

Step 4: Conduct Extensive Research

Now comes the part where you roll your sleeves and dive deep into nursing research. This involves thoroughly reviewing relevant literature, data collection, and analysis. You’ll need to gather and evaluate evidence to support your proposed solution. Please keep track of all your sources; you’ll need to reference them in your final report.

Step 5: Implement the Project

Depending on the nature of your project, you may need to implement your proposed solution in a real-world setting. This could involve initiating a new nursing intervention, developing a program, or testing a new approach to patient care.

Step 6: Write the Final Report

After collecting and analyzing your data, it’s time to write your final report . This report should include an introduction presenting the problem and research objectives, a literature review, a detailed description of your methodology, findings, discussion, and conclusion. Be sure to adhere to your institution’s formatting guidelines.

Step 7: Presentation

Often, nursing capstone projects also require an oral presentation upon completion. This is your chance to share your work with your peers, faculty, and sometimes even professionals in the field. Ensure to rehearse thoroughly, know your content, and be ready to answer questions.

How To Choose Topic For Capstone Project?

Choosing the right topic ideas for your nursing capstone project is critical to your capstone journey. A well-chosen topic can engage the process and yield more impactful results. Here are some key considerations to help guide you in making this significant decision:

Identify Your Interests and Strengths

Start by reflecting on your nursing education and clinical experience so far. Are there specific areas or specialties that you find particularly engaging? Are you passionate about pediatrics, geriatrics, mental health, surgical nursing, or public health? Your capstone project is an excellent opportunity to further explore and specialize in an area you are passionate about. Moreover, working on a topic you love can make the rigorous capstone process more enjoyable and less overwhelming.

Consider the Practical Implications

While personal interest is essential, it’s also crucial to consider the practical implications of your potential topic. Ideally, your capstone project should address a real-world problem in nursing or healthcare and contribute towards improving patient care. Ask yourself, “How will this project potentially impact the nursing field? Will it contribute to better patient outcomes or advance nursing practice?”

Feasibility is Key

Feasibility is another essential consideration when choosing a capstone topic. Given your time frame, resources, and available data, you want to ensure that your selected topic can be thoroughly explored. Ambitious projects are admirable, but remember that it’s better to thoroughly explore a narrower topic than to scratch the surface of a broader one barely.

Seek Feedback

Once you have a potential topic, seek feedback from your instructors, peers, and mentors. They can provide valuable insights, help refine your ideas, and guide you toward a viable and impactful project.

Be Flexible

Finally, remember to stay flexible. As you delve deeper into your topic, you might need to adjust your research question or tweak your project’s focus. That’s perfectly okay and part of the learning process.

Ideas Of Capstone Project Topics For Students

There are countless topics students can choose for their capstone projects. Below are some of the best nursing capstone project ideas.

Noteworthy Capstone Project Ideas For Nursing

The Impact of Nurse-led Health Counseling on Lifestyle Diseases
Effective Pain Management Strategies for Oncology Patients
Role of Nurses in Enhancing the Quality of Palliative Care
The Influence of Family-centered Care on Patient Outcomes
Holistic Nursing Approaches to Chronic Disease Management
Exploring the Role of Nursing in Care Coordination
Understanding Nurses’ Roles in Patient Advocacy
The Effects of Spiritual Care in Nursing Practice
Exploring the Role of Nursing in Home Care
Analyzing the Importance of Patient Education in Nursing Practice
Impact of Continuing Education on Nurses’ Professional Development
The Role of Nursing in Managing Alzheimer’s Patients
Impact of Nurse-led Interventions on Medication Adherence
Examining the Role of Nurses in Infection Control
Understanding Nurses’ Roles in Health Promotion and Prevention

Health Promotion Project Ideas For Nursing Students

Assessing the Efficacy of Community Health Programs on Childhood Obesity
Exploring the Role of Nurses in HIV/AIDS Awareness Campaigns
Influence of Health Promotion Initiatives on Mental Health Outcomes
Evaluating the Impact of School-based Health Promotion Programs
Role of Nursing in Promoting Physical Activity Among Elderly Patients
Nurse’s Role in Promoting Healthy Eating in Communities
Impact of Health Promotion Strategies on Cardiovascular Disease Prevention
The Role of Nurses in Sex Education and STI Prevention
Examining the Effect of Nurse-led Exercise Programs on Patients with Arthritis
Effectiveness of Nurse-led Health Check-ups in Early Disease Detection
Impact of Health Education on Medication Adherence in Elderly Patients
Role of Nursing in Preventing Alcohol and Substance Abuse
Effectiveness of Health Promotion Campaigns in Reducing Stigma Around Mental Health
Examining the Role of Nurses in Family Planning Services
Role of Nurses in Health Education for Patients with Diabetes

Nursing Capstone Project Ideas for Mental Health

Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Patients with Anxiety Disorders
The Impact of Group Therapy on Patients with Bipolar Disorder
Evaluating the Role of Nurses in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Assessing the Effect of Nurse-led Mindfulness Techniques on Stress Reduction
Exploring the Role of Nursing in Substance Abuse Treatment
The Impact of Nursing Interventions on Quality of Life for Schizophrenia Patients
Examining the Effect of Art Therapy on Patients with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
The Role of Nurses in Managing Insomnia in Psychiatric Patients
Nursing Interventions for Patients with Eating Disorders
Exploring the Impact of Family Therapy on Patients with Personality Disorders
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Nurse-led Psychoeducation for Patients and Families
Role of Nursing in the Rehabilitation of Patients with Mental Health Disorders
The Impact of Nursing Care on Long-Term Mental Health Outcomes
Examining the Role of Nurses in Community Mental Health Services
Role of Nurses in Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention

Capstone Project Topics on Nursing Burnout

Evaluating the Impact of Flexible Work Schedules on Nursing Burnout
Assessing the Role of Peer Support Programs in Reducing Nurse Burnout
Understanding the Correlation Between Nurse-Patient Ratios and Burnout
The Impact of Organizational Culture on Nurse Burnout
Studying the Effect of Mindfulness Programs on Nursing Burnout
Evaluating the Efficacy of Stress Management Workshops in Reducing Burnout
Role of Leadership in Managing Nurse Burnout
Impact of Emotional Intelligence Training on Nurse Burnout
The Effects of Work-Life Balance Initiatives on Nursing Burnout
Assessing the Relationship Between Nurse Burnout and Medical Errors
Exploring the Role of Continuing Education in Preventing Nurse Burnout
Nurse Burnout: A Comparative Study of Different Specialties
Evaluating the Role of Resilience Training in Reducing Nurse Burnout
The Impact of Nurse Burnout on Job Satisfaction
Understanding the Link Between Nurse Burnout and Patient Satisfaction

Women’s Health Capstone Project Ideas

Evaluating the Role of Nurses in Breast Cancer Screening Programs
The Impact of Nurse-led Counseling on Postpartum Depression
Exploring the Effect of Health Education on Women’s Knowledge of Cervical Cancer
Assessing the Role of Nurses in Reproductive Health Services
The Impact of Nursing Care on Women’s Health During Menopause
The Role of Nurses in Health Promotion for Pregnant Women
Examining the Impact of Nurse-led Support Groups for Women with Infertility
Understanding the Role of Nursing in Domestic Violence Prevention
Evaluating the Effect of Nurse-led Interventions on Maternal Mortality Rates
Nurse’s Role in Managing Hormonal Imbalances in Women
Exploring the Impact of Nursing Care on Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
The Role of Nurses in Managing Pre- and Postnatal Care
Examining the Efficacy of Nursing Interventions on Prenatal Nutrition
The Role of Nurses in Fertility Counseling and Treatment
Evaluating the Role of Nurses in Managing Endometriosis

Pediatric Nursing Capstone Project Topics

The Impact of Nurse-led Asthma Education Programs on Pediatric Asthma Control
Examining the Role of Nurses in Managing Childhood Diabetes
Exploring the Efficacy of Nurse-led Interventions for Childhood Obesity
The Impact of Pediatric Nursing Care on Neonatal Mortality Rates
Nurse’s Role in the Early Detection and Management of Autism Spectrum Disorders
Evaluating the Impact of Nurse-led Parental Education on Childhood Vaccination Rates
Assessing the Role of Nurses in Pediatric Pain Management
The Effect of Nursing Care on Quality of Life for Children with Chronic Illnesses
Role of Nurses in Pediatric Palliative Care
The Impact of Nurse-led Interventions on Adherence to Treatment in Pediatric Patients
Examining the Role of Nurses in Managing Pediatric Mental Health
Assessing the Impact of Nurse-led School Health Programs on Children’s Health Outcomes
Role of Nurses in Managing Childhood Allergies
Evaluating the Impact of Nurse-led Play Therapy on Hospitalized Children
Exploring the Role of Nurses in Supporting Families of Children with Special Needs

Patient Falls Nursing Capstone Project Ideas

Evaluating the Impact of Nurse-led Fall Prevention Programs in Hospitals
The Role of Nurses in Fall Risk Assessment for Elderly Patients
Assessing the Effectiveness of Bed Alarms in Reducing Patient Falls
Understanding the Link Between Medication Administration and Patient Falls
The Impact of Patient Education on Fall Prevention
Evaluating the Efficacy of Physical Therapy in Reducing Falls Among Hospitalized Patients
Role of Nursing in Implementing Fall Prevention Protocols
The Impact of Environmental Modifications on Patient Fall Rates
Examining the Effect of Multifactorial Interventions on Patient Falls
The Influence of Cognitive Assessment on Fall Risk Management
Understanding the Relationship Between Staffing Levels and Patient Falls
Assessing the Impact of Mobility Aids on Fall Rates in Hospitals
Role of Nurses in Managing Fall Risks in Patients with Neurological Disorders
The Effect of Patient and Family Education on Falls Prevention in Home Care
Evaluating the Role of Nurses in Post-fall Care and Management

Emergency Nursing Capstone Project Ideas

Examining the Role of Nurses in Triage Decision-making
Assessing the Impact of Rapid Response Teams on Patient Outcomes
The Role of Nurses in Managing Disaster Response
Evaluating the Efficacy of Advanced Life Support Training for Emergency Nurses
The Impact of Nursing Interventions on Patient Satisfaction in the ER
Understanding the Role of Emergency Nurses in Pediatric Care
Assessing the Role of Nurses in Preventing Medication Errors in the ER
The Effect of Nurse-led Crisis Intervention in Emergency Care
Role of Nurses in Emergency Mental Health Care
The Impact of Simulation Training on Emergency Nurses’ Competency
Examining the Role of Nurses in Airway Management in the ER
The Impact of Emergency Nursing Care on Trauma Patient Outcomes
Understanding the Role of Emergency Nurses in Pain Management
Examining the Efficacy of Telemedicine in Emergency Nursing Practice
The Impact of Nurse-led Rapid Assessment on Patient Flow in the ER

Medical Surgery Capstone Project Ideas

The Impact of Preoperative Nursing Interventions on Postoperative Outcomes
Role of Nurses in Managing Postoperative Pain
Assessing the Efficacy of Nurse-led Patient Education on Surgical Complication Rates
The Impact of Nursing Care on Post-surgery Recovery Times
Exploring the Role of Nurses in Pre- and Postoperative Patient Assessment
Understanding the Influence of Nursing on Surgical Wound Healing
Evaluating the Role of Nurses in Surgical Risk Assessment
The Impact of Nursing Interventions on Postoperative Delirium
Exploring the Role of Nurses in Managing Perioperative Hypothermia
Assessing the Efficacy of Nurse-led Preoperative Counseling on Patient Anxiety
The Role of Nursing in Reducing Postoperative Infections
Understanding the Impact of Nursing on Patient Satisfaction in Surgical Care
Assessing the Role of Nurses in Postoperative Rehabilitation
Exploring the Influence of Nursing on Nutrition Management in Surgical Patients
The Role of Nursing in Palliative Care for Surgical Patients

Excellent Nursing Capstone Project Ideas BSN

Exploring the Role of BSN Nurses in Promoting Patient Safety
The Impact of BSN Education on Patient Outcomes
Evaluating the Role of BSN Nurses in Care Coordination
Understanding the Influence of BSN Education on Nursing Leadership Skills
Assessing the Impact of BSN Nurses on Reducing Hospital Readmissions
Evaluating the Role of BSN Education in Promoting Evidence-Based Practice
The Impact of BSN Nurses on Interdisciplinary Communication in Healthcare Teams
Understanding the Influence of BSN Education on Nursing Ethics
Evaluating the Role of BSN Nurses in Managing Chronic Disease Care
The Impact of BSN Education on Quality Improvement in Healthcare
Exploring the Role of BSN Nurses in Health Education and Promotion
Understanding the Impact of BSN Education on Global Health
Assessing the Role of BSN Nurses in Community Health
Evaluating the Influence of BSN Education on Culturally Competent Care
The Role of BSN Nurses in Improving Healthcare Access

Latest Nursing Capstone Projects Ideas

The Role of Nurses in Telehealth: An Emerging Trend
Assessing the Impact of AI Technology on Nursing Practice
The Influence of Social Media on Health Promotion: A Nurse’s Role
Evaluating the Role of Nurses in Precision Medicine
The Impact of Digital Health Records on Patient Safety and Care
Exploring the Role of Nurses in Remote Patient Monitoring
Understanding the Impact of Smart Devices on Nursing Care
The Role of Nurses in Using VR Technology for Pain Management
Assessing the Impact of Automated Medication Dispensing Systems on Patient Safety
The Role of Nurses in Genomic Medicine
Evaluating the Impact of E-Learning on Nursing Education
Exploring the Role of Nurses in Disaster Management in the Era of Climate Change
Understanding the Impact of Advanced Diagnostics on Nursing Practice
Evaluating the Role of Nurses in the Integration of Complementary and Alternative Medicine
The Impact of Health Informatics on Nursing Practice

Examples of Capstone Projects For Nursing

A Quality Improvement Project on Reducing Medication Errors in Hospitals
Implementing a Nurse-led Health Education Program for Diabetic Patients
Evaluating the Impact of a Fall Prevention Program in a Long-term Care Facility
Implementing a Nurse-led Smoking Cessation Program in a Community Health Setting
A Research Project on the Correlation Between Nurse Staffing Levels and Patient Outcomes
Developing a Peer Support Program for Nurses to Reduce Burnout
Implementing an Infection Prevention Protocol in an ICU
Evaluating the Impact of a Nurse-led Weight Management Program for Obese Children
A Research Project on the Impact of Palliative Care Training for Nurses on Patient Satisfaction
Implementing a Nurse-led Pain Management Protocol in a Surgical Unit
Evaluating the Impact of a Skin Cancer Screening Program in a Community Health Center
A Quality Improvement Project on Reducing Patient Wait Times in an ER
Developing a Nursing Protocol for the Care of Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease
A Research Project on the Impact of Continuing Education on Nursing Competency
Implementing a Nurse-led Health Promotion Program for Pregnant Women

Capstone Nursing Ideas For Professionals

Investigating the Role of Nursing Leadership in Improving Patient Safety
Evaluating the Impact of Interprofessional Collaboration on Patient Outcomes
Developing a Nurse-led Wellness Program for Healthcare Professionals
Understanding the Impact of Advanced Nursing Education on Healthcare Quality
Examining the Role of Nurses in Health Policy Development
Implementing a Nursing Mentorship Program in a Healthcare Facility
Evaluating the Role of Nurses in Reducing Healthcare Disparities
Understanding the Impact of Evidence-based Practice on Healthcare Delivery
Examining the Role of Nurses in Palliative and End-of-Life Care
Developing a Nursing Ethics Education Program for Healthcare Professionals
Assessing the Role of Nurses in Chronic Disease Management
Implementing a Culture of Safety Initiative in a Healthcare Facility
Evaluating the Role of Nurse Practitioners in Primary Care Delivery
Understanding the Impact of Nurse-led Intervention on Patient Satisfaction
Examining the Role of Nurses in Healthcare Innovation

Creative Nursing Projects Ideas

Designing a Mobile App for Patient Education and Health Monitoring
Creating a Virtual Reality-Based Pain Management Program
Developing a Creative Art Therapy Program for Mental Health Patients
Implementing a Community Art Project for Health Promotion
Creating a Digital Storytelling Project for Pediatric Patients
Developing a Music Therapy Program for ICU Patients
Creating a Digital Health Game for Diabetes Education
Developing a Creative Writing Program for Patients with Dementia
Implementing a Photovoice Project for Community Health Assessment
Creating an Interactive Web-Based Health Education Platform
Developing a Theater-Based Health Education Program for Adolescents
Creating a Virtual Support Group for Patients with Chronic Illnesses
Developing a Garden Therapy Program for Elderly Patients
Implementing a Dance/Movement Therapy Program for Patients with Parkinson’s Disease
Creating a Pet Therapy Program for Hospitalized Patients

Nursing Leadership Project Ideas

Assessing the Role of Nursing Leadership in Reducing Medical Errors
Implementing a Leadership Training Program for Charge Nurses
Examining the Impact of Nursing Leadership on Interprofessional Collaboration
Understanding the Influence of Transformational Leadership on Nursing Team Performance
Assessing the Role of Nursing Leadership in Quality Improvement Initiatives
Implementing a Nurse Leader Mentorship Program
Examining the Impact of Nursing Leadership on Patient Satisfaction
Understanding the Influence of Leadership Styles on Nurse Job Satisfaction
Assessing the Role of Nursing Leadership in Change Management
Implementing a Leadership Development Program for Novice Nurses
Examining the Impact of Nursing Leadership on Patient Safety Culture
Understanding the Influence of Nurse Leaders on Health Policy
Assessing the Role of Nursing Leadership in Conflict Resolution
Implementing a Leadership Program for Diversity and Inclusion in Nursing
Examining the Impact of Nursing Leadership on Healthcare Innovation

Nursing Capstone Projects Examples For Undergraduates

Developing a Peer Tutoring Program for Nursing Students
Understanding the Impact of Simulation Training on Nursing Student Competency
Examining the Role of Cultural Competency Education in Nursing Practice
Implementing a Health Screening Program on a College Campus
Assessing the Impact of Stress Management Interventions on Nursing Student Well-being
Creating a Peer Support Program for First-Year Nursing Students
Understanding the Influence of Clinical Preceptorship on Nursing Student Confidence
Evaluating a Community Health Promotion Project Led by Nursing Students
Assessing the Impact of Interprofessional Education on Nursing Student Perspectives
Creating a Study Skills Workshop for Nursing Students
Understanding the Influence of Reflective Practice on Nursing Student Development
Evaluating a Nursing Student-led Health Education Program in a School Setting
Assessing the Impact of a Mentorship Program on Nursing Student Success
Implementing a Self-Care Initiative for Nursing Students
Understanding the Influence of Nursing Student Volunteer Work on Professional Development

Senior Project Topics on Nursing

Assessing the Impact of Geriatric Nursing Training on Elderly Patient Care
Understanding the Role of Nurses in Promoting Healthy Aging
Implementing a Fall Prevention Program in a Senior Living Community
Assessing the Impact of a Memory Care Program on Dementia Patient Outcomes
Understanding the Role of Nurses in End-of-Life Care for Seniors
Implementing a Nutrition Education Program for Seniors in a Community Setting
Assessing the Impact of a Physical Activity Program on Senior Health
Understanding the Role of Nurses in Medication Management for Seniors
Implementing a Health Screening Program for Seniors in a Community Center
Assessing the Impact of a Home Safety Assessment Program on Senior Falls
Understanding the Role of Nurses in Assisting Family Caregivers of Seniors
Implementing a Health Literacy Program for Seniors
Assessing the Impact of a Nurse-led Chronic Disease Management Program for Seniors
Understanding the Role of Nurses in Promoting Mental Health in Seniors
Implementing a Community-Based Senior Health Promotion Project

Nursing Informatics Capstone Project Ideas

Evaluating the Impact of Electronic Health Records on Patient Care
Understanding the Role of Nursing Informatics in Quality Improvement
Implementing a Nurse-led Telehealth Service for Chronic Disease Management
Assessing the Impact of Clinical Decision Support Systems on Patient Safety
Understanding the Role of Nursing Informatics in Enhancing Interprofessional Communication
Evaluating the Implementation of a Mobile Health App for Patient Engagement
Assessing the Impact of Health Information Exchange on Care Coordination
Understanding the Role of Nursing Informatics in Promoting Evidence-Based Practice
Implementing a Digital Health Literacy Program for Nurses
Assessing the Impact of Data Analytics on Healthcare Delivery
Understanding the Role of Nursing Informatics in Disaster Management
Implementing an Artificial Intelligence Tool for Patient Triage
Assessing the Impact of Personal Health Records on Patient Engagement
Understanding the Role of Nursing Informatics in Healthcare Innovation
Evaluating the Implementation of a Digital Health Education Platform for Patients

Nursing Practicum Project Ideas

Implementing a Quality Improvement Project in a Clinical Practicum Setting
Evaluating the Impact of a Preceptorship Program on Nursing Practicum Experiences
Developing a Health Education Program for Patients in a Clinical Practicum Setting
Assessing the Role of Reflective Practice in Enhancing Nursing Practicum Learning
Implementing a Peer Support Program for Nursing Practicum Students
Evaluating the Impact of Interprofessional Collaboration on Nursing Practicum Experiences
Developing a Safety Initiative in a Clinical Practicum Setting
Assessing the Role of Simulation Training in Enhancing Nursing Practicum Learning
Implementing a Stress Management Program for Nursing Practicum Students
Evaluating the Impact of Evidence-Based Practice on Nursing Practicum Experiences
Developing a Patient-Centered Care Program in a Clinical Practicum Setting
Assessing the Role of Clinical Supervision in Enhancing Nursing Practicum Learning
Implementing a Clinical Leadership Project in a Practicum Setting
Evaluating the Impact of a Mentorship Program on Nursing Practicum Experiences
Developing an Interprofessional Communication Initiative in a Clinical Practicum Setting

Final Thoughts

Nursing Capstone Projects present an opportunity to apply learned theory to real-life scenarios, display an understanding of evidence-based practice, and showcase the ability to think critically and solve problems. The choice of topic is critical, as it will guide your study and significantly impact your professional development. Therefore, make the most of this opportunity. Always remember, the key to a successful project is choosing a topic that aligns with your career goals, addresses a pertinent health issue, and can be completed within the given time frame. So, take your time, consider the ideas in this guide, and choose the one that best fits your goals and interests.

If you ever feel overwhelmed with developing a capstone project, remember that help is just a click away. Whether you need assistance brainstorming ideas, structuring your capstone paper , or polishing your final work, you can rely on our experienced writers. Our team of nursing assignment help professionals is ready to guide you to success, providing tailored support at every step of your Capstone journey.

FAQs on Capstone Nursing Project Ideas

What is a good nursing capstone project.

A good nursing capstone project allows you to apply theoretical knowledge into practice, showcases your critical thinking skills, and contributes to improving healthcare delivery. It should address a current healthcare issue, have a feasible design, and be relevant to your career goals.

How do I choose a nursing capstone project?

Choosing a nursing capstone project involves considering your areas of interest, relevance to your career goals, and significance to current healthcare practices. It would be best to consider the project’s feasibility, the availability of resources, and the guidance from your mentors or faculty.

What is a capstone project for BSN?

A capstone project for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is a comprehensive project that is the culminating academic experience for nursing students. It allows students to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during their nursing program to address a healthcare issue or improve nursing practice.

How do I choose a good capstone project?

Choosing a good capstone project involves careful consideration of your interests, career goals, and the needs of the healthcare community. It would be best if you chose a passionate topic relevant to current healthcare scenarios and will provide a valuable learning experience. Moreover, consider your resources and the feasibility of completing the project within the designated timeframe.

What are some unique nursing capstone project ideas?

Some unique ideas could be developing a mobile health app for diabetes education, creating a virtual reality-based pain management program, implementing an artificial intelligence tool for patient triage, or assessing the impact of telehealth services on chronic disease management.

Why are capstone projects important in nursing?

Capstone projects are essential in nursing as they allow students to apply theoretical knowledge to practical situations, enhancing their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. They allow students to explore areas of interest, contribute to improving healthcare delivery, and prepare for their future nursing roles.

How vital is nursing leadership in a capstone project?

Nursing leadership is crucial in capstone projects as it involves effective project management, communication, and coordination. Developing leadership skills through your capstone project can enhance your ability to lead teams and implement change in healthcare settings.

Nursing Capstone Project Ideas

Starting a capstone project is a significant milestone for a student, marking the shift from classroom learning to practical application. However, the process of choosing the right project idea can feel overwhelming.

In this article, we'll provide a helpful guide to spark nursing project ideas and ensure your capstone leaves a lasting impact. If you need help with actually writing a paper, please consult our guide on how to write a nursing essay .

Nursing Capstone Project Definition

A nursing capstone project is a comprehensive, culminating academic endeavor undertaken by nursing students nearing the completion of their degree program. It allows students to integrate and apply their knowledge, skills, and clinical experiences gained throughout their education.

Typically completed in collaboration with healthcare professionals or community organizations, the capstone project allows students to address real-world healthcare challenges, conduct research, implement evidence-based interventions, and evaluate outcomes. Through this experiential learning process, learners demonstrate their readiness for professional practice while making meaningful contributions to the healthcare field with their nursing capstone project idea.

Keep in mind that our nursing essay writing service also covers such papers as capstones, theses, and dissertations.

Sources of Nursing Capstone Project Ideas

Here are seven excellent sources for generating nursing capstone project ideas:

Clinical Experiences

Reflect on your clinical rotations and experiences. Did a particular patient population or healthcare issue stand out to you? Perhaps you noticed a gap in care or an opportunity for improvement during your clinical practice.

Evidence-Based Practice Journals

Explore journals like the Journal of Nursing Scholarship, Nursing Research, or the American Journal of Nursing. These publications often feature research articles highlighting current trends, challenges, and innovations in practice, which can inspire potential nursing capstone ideas.

Healthcare Policy Reports

Investigate reports and publications from organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), or your country's Ministry of Health. These sources often identify pressing public health issues or policy priorities that could be the basis for a meaningful capstone project.

Professional Organizations

Check out the websites and publications of professional nursing organizations such as the American Nurses Association (ANA), the National League for Nursing (NLN), or specialty-specific organizations like the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS). They often provide resources, research, and initiatives relevant to current nurse practice and areas for improvement.

Community Needs Assessments

To assess needs, collaborate with local healthcare organizations, community health centers, or public health departments. Identifying your community's health needs and priorities can help you develop a capstone project that addresses real-world issues and makes a positive impact.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Consider interdisciplinary collaboration with professionals from other healthcare disciplines, such as medicine, social work, public health, or psychology. Exploring shared challenges or areas where nursing intersects with other fields can lead to innovative capstone project ideas and solutions.

Literature Reviews and Meta-Analyses

Conduct comprehensive literature reviews or meta-analyses on topics of interest within nursing. Identifying gaps or controversies in the existing literature can inspire research questions or areas for further exploration in your capstone project.

Use a dedicated essay writer service to save time browsing manifold sources of information and expedite an overall writing process.

The List of 150 Nursing Capstone Project Ideas

Medical surgery nursing capstone project ideas.

Nursing capstone project ideas cover comprehensive care, assisting in procedures, monitoring patient vital signs, administering medications, and facilitating patient recovery in surgical settings according to our expert human essay writer .

Improved patient education for surgery.
Pain management protocol implementation.
Surgical site infection prevention checklist.
Pre-op skin antiseptic solutions evaluation.
Enhancing surgical hand hygiene compliance.
Nurse-led discharge planning evaluation.
Resource guide for surgical patient caregivers.
Telemedicine in post-op care assessment.
Fall prevention program implementation.
Effective communication in surgery.
Music therapy for surgical anxiety reduction.
Standardized wound assessment protocol.
Early ambulation promotion after surgery.
Simulation training for surgical nursing.
Nutrition education impact on recovery.

Nursing Capstone Project Ideas on Mental Health

Nursing is critical for mental health patients as it offers compassionate care, builds therapeutic relationships, supports recovery, and advocates for holistic treatment approaches, ultimately enhancing well-being and quality of life.

Primary care mental health screening tool development.
CBT effectiveness in anxiety disorder treatment.
Peer support for schizophrenia.
Mindfulness intervention impact on nurse stress.
Animal-assisted therapy for depression.
Emergency department suicide risk protocol.
Group therapy for substance use.
Trauma-informed care in mental health.
Exercise and mental health outcomes.
Art therapy for childhood ADHD.
Telepsychiatry for remote consultations.
DBT for borderline personality disorder.
School stigma reduction for mental health.
Social support impact on psychotic disorder recovery.
Nutrition interventions for bipolar disorder.

Nursing Leadership Capstone Project Ideas

Studying nursing project ideas regarding leadership fosters a supportive and empowering environment, drives innovation, advocates for patient-centered care, and facilitates professional growth to ensure quality healthcare delivery and positive outcomes.

Nurse mentorship program.
Transformational leadership study.
Nurse wellness program.
Shared governance impact assessment.
Emotional intelligence in nurse leadership.
Nurse leadership development.
Interprofessional collaboration assessment.
Diversity in nurse leadership.
Servant leadership in healthcare.
Technology for nurse leaders.
Resilience training for leaders.
Leadership rounding impact.
Nurse leadership mentorship.
Ethical leadership in healthcare.
Continuous education for leaders.

Topics for a General Nursing Capstone Project

General nursing encompasses providing holistic care to individuals of all ages, addressing a wide range of health needs and promoting overall well-being across diverse healthcare settings.

Patient education on medication adherence.
Evidence-based practice implementation.
Hand hygiene practices and infection reduction.
Pain management for elderly patients.
Nurse shortages and patient care outcomes.
Cultural competence in nurse education.
Falls prevention in long-term care.
Telehealth in chronic disease management.
Standardized care plans for chronic conditions.
Family-centered care in pediatrics.
Nursing burnout and patient satisfaction.
Improving nurse documentation accuracy.
Pain management interventions in palliative care.
Nurse delegation protocol in community health.
Interprofessional collaboration in patient care.

Pediatric Nursing Capstone Project Topics

Pediatric nursing involves providing specialized healthcare to infants, children, and adolescents, addressing their unique physical, emotional, and developmental needs in various healthcare settings.

Pediatric pain assessment tools.
Child life specialists' impact.
Play therapy effectiveness.
Pediatric medication error protocol.
Pediatric palliative care role.
Vaccination education for parents.
Reducing pediatric medication errors.
Nurse interventions for pediatric pain.
Music therapy in pediatrics.
Asthma management protocol.
Child safety program impact.
Developmental delay screening tool.
Pediatric nurse-led support groups.
Pediatric nurses promoting healthy lifestyles.

Women’s Health Capstone Project Ideas

The role of nursing in women's health involves providing comprehensive care, education, and support tailored to women's unique health needs.

Female nurse leadership.
Maternal nutrition education and birth outcomes.
Midwives' role in maternal and neonatal health.
Breast cancer screening in low-income areas.
Intimate partner violence screening in clinics.
Hormonal contraceptives and health outcomes.
Pregnancy support for immigrant women.
Postpartum depression screening.
Menopause symptom management programs.
Preconception care and pregnancy.
Physical activity and women's health.
Gender-based healthcare disparities.
Socioeconomic factors and women's health.
Sex education and teenage pregnancy.
Environment and women's reproductive health.

Capstone Project Topics on Nursing Burnout

Nursing burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion resulting from prolonged exposure to stressors in the nurse profession, often leading to reduced job satisfaction and impaired performance.

ICU nurse burnout factors.
Shift length and acute care burnout.
Nurse-patient ratios in medical-surgical units.
Resilience training for oncology nurses.
ER nurse burnout and mindfulness.
Leadership support in long-term care.
Pediatric nurse workload and burnout.
EHRs and primary care nurse burnout.
Mentorship for new nurse burnout.
Self-care for mental health nurses.
Team communication in perioperative nursing.
Work-life balance for obstetrics nurses.
Exercise for critical care nurse burnout.
Burnout prevention for nurse managers.
COVID-19 impact on nurse burnout.

Patient Falls Nursing Capstone Project Ideas

Patient falls refer to unintentional descents to the ground or lower levels, posing risks of injury, and are a significant concern in healthcare settings.

Acute care fall prevention interventions.
Long-term care fall risk assessments.
Patient education for fall prevention.
Technology-based fall detection systems.
Hospital environmental modifications for fall prevention.
Staff training for fall prevention.
Medication management to reduce falls.
Post-fall assessment protocols.
Falls root cause analysis.
Family involvement in fall prevention.
Nurse assistants in fall prevention.
Fall trend data analytics.
Bed alarms and bedrails for fall prevention.
Interdisciplinary team approaches to fall prevention.
Fall prevention in home healthcare.

Emergency Nursing Capstone Project Ideas

Emergency nursing involves providing immediate care to patients of all ages and across diverse medical conditions in critical and time-sensitive situations within emergency departments.

Triage protocols and patient wait times.
Simulation training for emergency response.
Telemedicine in emergency triage.
Disaster preparedness planning.
Pain management in the emergency setting.
Nurse staffing levels and patient outcomes.
Rapid response teams in non-ICU areas.
De-escalation techniques for aggressive patients.
Screening and intervention for substance use disorders.
Electronic health records and documentation efficiency.
Behavioral health emergencies management protocol.
Team communication strategies to reduce medical errors.
Sepsis recognition and treatment protocol.
Point-of-care ultrasound use in emergency diagnosis.
Emergency nurses' role in disaster response.

Nursing Informatics Capstone Project Ideas

Nursing informatics integrates nursing science, computer science, and information science to manage and communicate data, information, and knowledge in nurse practice.

EHR workflow optimization.
Telehealth in nursing.
Patient education mobile apps.
Data analytics for quality.
Nurse documentation standards.
Clinical decision support systems.
Patient portal usability.
Wearable tech in nursing.
Healthcare system interoperability.
Telemedicine platform evaluation.
Big data for population health.
Nurse informatics education.
Remote monitoring for chronic diseases.
Cybersecurity in healthcare.
Usability testing for nursing software.

Should you need more nursing essay topics , consult this guide, too.

Ryan Acton is an essay-writing expert with a Ph.D. in Sociology, specializing in sociological research and historical analysis. By partnering with EssayHub, he provides comprehensive support to students, helping them craft well-informed essays across a variety of topics.

Capstone Projects For Nursing Programs | Nursejournal.org . (n.d.). https://nursejournal.org/resources/nursing-degree-capstone-projects/
MSN Capstone Projects | Nursing | University of Texas at Tyler . (n.d.). https://scholarworks.uttyler.edu/nursing_msn/

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MMHC Capstone Strategy Project

The Capstone Project engages teams of students on projects of significant importance to their organizations. The student team is responsible for diagnosing the critical problem, defining an appropriate scope of work, managing institutional expectations, and producing a suitable recommendation in both written and presentation form.

Your Capstone Team

Master of Management in Healthcare team composition.

It takes many managers, healthcare practitioners and other executives to care for a patient and to manage a healthcare organization. Having the skills to manage a team, evaluate critical problems, and execute solutions is required to be an effective business leader. This is why your Capstone Team will be comprised of a cross-functional group of 4-5 executives, each with a diverse set of backgrounds and industry experiences, giving you an experience that emulates the work environment of a healthcare delivery organization. Support includes coaching on team dynamics and the progress of your work together, checkpoints to ensure you’re on track, and guidance for projects that serve as a real-world learning lab.

The Project

The Capstone Strategy Project complements the classroom instruction and is defined as learning by construction. It is a total immersion experience in which students are challenged to use all of the tools and concepts learned to date to tackle a current business problem for a healthcare organization.

With faculty oversight, you demonstrate rigorous application of business concepts and disciplines. Leading a project of utmost importance for your organization provides immediate impact that benefits the student and the sponsoring organization.

Your team will kick off the Capstone Strategy Project in Mod 3 by meeting with the client sponsor to outline and discuss the initiative at hand. Your team will spend the next six months working on all aspects of the project, including:

I learned so much about the health care business model, and I hope to use it to improve processes across all segments of health care. Cara Anderson, Master of Management in Health Care, 2021

The Benefits For You

For the students, the Capstone Strategy Projects are opportunities to exhibit the healthcare business management knowledge you’ve acquired. You will demonstrate, to yourself and your organization, your ability to problem-solve creatively, make strategic decisions, and manage as part of a high-level executive team. Learn More .

The Benefits for Your Organization

For an organization, the Capstone Strategy Projects is an opportunity to have a team of experienced mid-level health care professionals conduct an intense engagement to address a current business need. Learn More .

See how MMHC students' capstone helped improve Emergency Department wait times and efficiency at VUMC.

How MMHC benefits your organization

A closer look at the program through the eyes of students, faculty and sponsoring organizations

University of Notre Dame

College of sceince, hillebrand center for compassionate care in medicine.

Undergraduate Students >

2021 Capstone Projects

Andrew alexander - the widespread, multilevel impact of compassionate care on healthcare organization success .

In the first decade of the 2000s, the number of elderly men and women in American prisons increased by over 80%. Moreover, as the result of three-strike laws, life sentencing, and mandatory minimum sentences, spending the remainder of one's life in the confines of a correctional facility has become commonplace for incarcerated individuals. When combined with the poor health outcomes and the high prevalence of physical and mental disabilities among prisoners, these determinate sentencing practices result in an elevated risk for dying in captivity and in such a way that violates what is both professionally and morally acceptable. Fortunately, over the past few decades, many prisons and correctional facilities have adopted in-facility hospice programs in an attempt to restore compassion to the dying process. For individuals serving time in facilities that have yet to adopt such programs, however, early release programs, commonly referred to as compassionate release, offer a preferable alternative to dying in prison for many patients. Nonetheless, numerous obstacles ranging from the attitudes of correctional healthcare providers to inefficient and underdeveloped protocols oftentimes render these paths to ‘dying well’ ineffective at accomplishing their aim. Thus, this study seeks to summarize both what it means to ‘die well’ as well as the major approaches and barriers to providing compassionate and high-quality end-of-life care to the American prison population. Additionally, this study will examine existing end-of-life care programs and practices with the hopes of informing the future of a more compassionate model of end-of-life care for the incarcerated.

Hope Baldwin - Applying the Science of Compassion to the Future of Artificial Intelligence in the Medical Field

Recent advances in artificial intelligence with clinical applications has led many to consider how the implementation of such technologies into medicine will affect the healthcare system. And, extensive research has demonstrated the scientific basis of compassion and its positive impacts on patient, provider, and system outcomes. Although many think these ideas of technology and compassionate or humanistic healthcare are competing, the integration of AI into medical practice can ultimately serve to make healthcare more compassionate. Deep learning algorithms offer the potential to increase accuracy and efficiency in diagnosis and treatment strategies, while natural language processing can limit clerical duties of physicians to improve patient-physician encounters and decrease clinician burnout. Additionally, a shift from information overload towards increased integration of important skills like communication and emotional regulation in medical school curriculums, as well as the use of new learning technologies, can help to create more competent and compassionate physicians. If physicians truly desire to provide the best possible care for their patients, they will learn how to properly integrate AI into their practice as this shift in the medical field occurs, as such technology can enable increased physician competency and better patient-physician relationships by serving a model of healthcare that places compassion at the center.

Mary Benz - Poverty in Medicine: Pathways Forward - examining the factors that lead to physician fatigue, burnout, and shortages in poor and underserved communities: the role of the compassion mindset in restoring and sustaining physicians in their practice with the underserved

There are more than 640 counties in the United States that are considered “healthcare deserts” due to their limited access to healthcare resources, especially primary care physicians. Despite the great need for physicians and other healthcare professionals in these regions, many clinicians face significant challenges when practicing medicine in underserved communities, such as financial burden, lack of proper training, emotional distress, and role strain. These obstacles can make it exceedingly difficult for doctors to sustain careers for an extended period of time in these underserved communities, which is why there continues to be such an extreme shortage of healthcare workers in poor communities throughout the country. Although this is a complex, multifaceted problem, this analysis addresses the factors which can motivate or dissuade physicians from practicing in underserved communities, and promising strategies to sustain them in such work. Such strategies for improving a physician’s ability to thrive while caring for those of lower socioeconomic status include: incorporating proper training and exposure early on in medical training, improving federal loan repayment programs, building networks of support in local communities, teaching the compassion mindset, and encouraging physicians to engage with their spirituality. While these efforts are complex and require a great number of resources and engagement, they, nevertheless, provide realistic pathways forward in the effort to empower physicians and other healthcare workers to not only survive in their medical practice with the underserved but to thrive and find deep fulfillment as they care for the most vulnerable populations.

Kate Bockholt - Coping with Cancer: The Necessity of Prioritizing Compassion in Oncology

The burden of cancer on patients, caregivers and health care teams, and oncologists is extensive, and mental illness is identified as a comorbidity for many. Depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder are especially common for cancer patients and survivors, leading to worsened cancer outcomes and continued psychological distress even after the completion of cancer treatment. These psychological disorders are also frequently observed in oncologists, who experience heightened risk of mental illness and burnout relative to many medical specialties. Through an extensive review of the available data and literature on the topic of cancer and mental illness, this paper discusses the burden of cancer, the association of mental illness with cancer and its continued impact through the lifetime of the patient, and the factors that contribute to the magnitude of this occurrence. Given the pervasiveness of mental illness in cancer patients and survivors, the need for compassionate care in medicine – specifically oncology – is established with evidence from the new science of compassion. The obligation to prioritize compassion in oncology is explained through a patient lens as well as a clinician lens, both of which exhibit an empirically grounded need for compassionate caring and evidenced benefits of this practice. The foundation for these practices is defined through an analysis of the mechanism by which compassionate caring (termed C 2 ) is established, with a particular focus on the importance of emotional intelligence in clinicians. The feasibility of implementing compassionate caring practices in cancer care is analyzed with consideration of potential challenges and common hesitations, namely time and cost associated with training health care staff and administering these changes to current medical practices. Despite uncertainty and hesitancy from many, financial- and time-related costs of compassionate caring practices have not been found to be significant. The necessity of compassion in oncology is thus inarguable. Its immediate and longitudinal benefits and the marked improvement of mental and physical health outcomes provide hope for the future of cancer care – for patients and clinicians alike.

Leah Bode - The Neuroscientific Benefits of Hobbies and Leisure Activities for Healthcare Providers: How Self-care Improves Patient Care

The job of caring for others in their most critical and vulnerable states takes a toll on healthcare providers. One study found that 60.7% of doctors experience exhaustion or stress three or more days of the week and that ‘having no coping mechanisms’ was a predictive factor for mental health problems in physicians (Chambers & Belcher, 1994). Periods of rest and recovery from the hard work of healthcare are vital to ensuring that providers remain both effective and compassionate caregivers. The brain undergoes important changes during periods of awake leisure, including processing the events of the day, building resiliency, improving mood, and boosting creativity. Hobbies have the ability to help providers recover from compassion fatigue and take proactive measures towards self-care. The chemical effect of neurotransmitters, the broaden and build theory of positive emotions, acts of self-compassion, and changes in creativity and memory all provide supportive evidence for how self-care is hugely beneficial to clinicians and their patients. Physical exercise, creating music, art/handcrafts, cooking/baking, and yoga/physical meditation are discussed in this paper as hobbies with particularly compelling evidence for healthcare providers. The culture of medical training is changing to embrace the emotional needs of trainees along with their educational responsibilities. The compelling evidence for hobbies’ neuroscientific benefits is presented as a way for clinicians to protect themselves against stress and burnout while sustaining skillful, compassionate care towards patients.

Aidan Crowley - Mental Performance of Physicians in High-Stress Clinical Specialties During COVID-19: A Qualitative Interview Study

The science of compassion is a novel field of inquiry within the study of psychological and behavioral aspects of the patient-physician encounter. More than simply being “kind” or having “bedside manners,” compassion is a four-step biological and psychological process that activates neurological pathways distinct from empathy (Vachon, 2020). Operating in a zone of balanced compassionate caring can mitigate physician burnout as well as improve accuracy of diagnosis, appropriateness of treatment, and patient health outcomes (Trzeciak & Mazzarelli, 2019). However, little is known about mental and emotional strategies and techniques physicians use to actively foster a compassion mindset in their daily work. This is especially true in high-stress clinical specialties such as surgery, emergency medicine, and critical care, and this stress is compounded in the context of a global pandemic. This qualitative interview study seeks to identify the practices and techniques by which physicians in high-stress clinical specialties remain mentally and emotionally present with their patients during the novel coronavirus pandemic. Semi-structured interviews were conducted using an appreciative inquiry approach with twelve physicians from specialties including surgery, emergency medicine, and critical care. Interview transcripts were independently analyzed using the qualitative methodology of grounded theory in NVivo software and discussed to majority consensus by a five-member research team. Results uncovered a broad range of techniques for actively maintaining mental performance before, during, and after work, as well as clear dichotomies between emotional processing and emotional “detachment.” Participants primarily acquired these techniques through trial-and-error over years of gradual professional development. These findings are relevant for physicians to share, disseminate, and train best practices for mitigating burnout and bolstering fulfillment in the emotionally demanding profession of medicine. They also suggest a need to promote increased discussion around such techniques longitudinally throughout physician formation, and they highlight a largely untapped resource in the psychology of the clinician mind.

Vanessa Davis - Compassionate Trauma-Informed Treatment of Patients in the Clinical Setting

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and trauma have significant detrimental impacts on patient emotional, physical, and cognitive health. Early traumatic experiences negatively affect neurological and physiological development, often resulting in a hindered or altered trajectory of development for brain regions involved in emotional regulation, such as the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus, as well as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, contributing to decreased regulation of the cortisol stress-response and overall emotional regulation (Anda et al., 2006). These maladaptive alterations in development, combined with socio-economic factors, contribute to the increased health risk seen in victims. An ACE score of four or greater is correlated with increased risk for alcoholism, drug abuse, depression, suicide attempt, smoking, and obesity, among many others (Felitti et al., 1998). Trauma also affects the way victims interact with society, especially within the healthcare system. Victims often struggle forming healthy, positive interpersonal relationships and exhibiting a secure attachment style (Poole et al., 2018). This affects the way physicians must interact with them in the clinical setting to optimize the effects of treatment and increase positive outcomes. Despite high demand, few physicians are adequately trained to provide trauma-sensitive treatment, limiting the efficiency and consistency needed to provide optimal care (Kappel et al., 2020). Standardizing trauma-informed training within the medical curriculum and treatment in the clinical setting could help reduce some of the barriers that patients with trauma histories face within the healthcare system.

Irving Delgado-Arellanes - Compassionate Insights on the Treatment of Addiction

Addiction is not a new problem that the United States and the world has faced, yet the attention and treatment of addiction has lagged behind the rest of modern medicine. Addiction is a complex problem that has been obscured by its reputation and the perspectives from the public and the clinical world continue to differ. Historically, patients recovering from addiction have been dehumanized and disregarded because of the nature of the condition. Here, I present a perspective that recovering addict patients are indeed deserving of standard quality of care, and that their condition should be viewed as a disease since there are profound physiological changes to the brain and other systems when a person has developed an addiction. Addiction has been studied in detail in the neurosciences, and its investigations reflect these profound changes in brain circuitry. Along with this perspective, I provide several dimensions of the problem of addiction including its differential development, perspective from society and perspective from clinicians. Addiction itself holds various implications beyond the health of the addict, such as aversive experiences in their social and emotional lives. It is important to consider these facets of patients since their condition is not only physiological in nature. The current state of treatment of addiction does not reflect the standard levels of other conditions despite there being several avenues of remedy. Rehabilitation centers struggle with funding and access to them is not consistent across communities. Novel treatments of addiction are currently being investigated and show great promise, such as psychedelic-assisted treatments. These treatments have had more success than their conventional alternatives because of their brain-restructuring mechanisms. Along psychedelic-assisted treatment are Mindfulness-Based-Interventions (MIBs) which employ a non-invasive and introspective approach to addiction treatment. They too have shown great promise without the risks and side effects of purely pharmacological interventions. Integrating these views, the way forward with the treatment of addiction lies in the effort to maintain a compassionate mindset with these patients and acknowledging the road to recovery is strenuous. In the end, addicts are humans too, and they deserve the same care and concern that any other condition calls for – hopefully medicine will reflect this in the future.

Giuliana Di Bono - Causes, Consequences and Coping Methods for Burnout in Clinicians that Serve in Underserved Hospitals in Honduras

In 2018 more than 78% of physicians reported they had burnout, 54.3% reported fatigue and 6.5% reported recent suicidal ideation. Physician burnout is a global crisis that has been faced by all in the field and keeps increasing. Physician burnout keeps increasing due to a sense of powerlessness, lack of autonomy, asymmetric rewards and personal characteristics. Personal characteristics that negatively affect clinicians are perfectionism, self-criticism, sleep deprivation, over commitment, work life imbalances and a lack of social support. Physician burnout leads to negative consequences for themselves, the organization they work in and the patients they treat. Moreover, when clinicians serve in underserved hospitals and treat low income patients the burn out can be even more common. Due to the highly negative consequences of burnout there needs to be individual and systematic changes that aid in protecting/buffering physicians from burnout. This study focuses on an in depth of analysis of burn out factors and consequences and the accelerating factors for clinicians that serve in under serve hospitals. Additionally, this study will explore individual coping methods for clinicians that serve in under serve populations and propose ways that these health care organizations can protect their clinicians from burnout even with limited financial resources.

Mariana Ferre - Applying the Science of Compassion to Improve the Caregiving Relationships of Dementia Patients and their Loved Ones

Dementia is a progressive disease characterized by an observable decline in cognitive abilities such as memory, thinking, behavior, and the performance of daily activities. This disease poses one of the greatest global challenges for health and social care in the 21 st century with approximately 50 million people currently affected and nearly 10 million new cases every year. In addition to debilitating the cognitive and psychological health of diagnosed individuals, the disability and dependency characteristics of dementia have been shown to negatively impact the health of patients’ loved ones, especially if they play a role of caregiver. The purpose of this paper is to help familial caregivers learn about the challenges both patients and caregivers will face in light of this diagnosis and provide resources to help them navigate the difficulties of caring for a loved one with dementia. More specifically, I will be discussing how compassionate skills, such as communication skills and emotion-based coping mechanisms, can be used to improve the livelihood and overall health of patients with dementia and their family members respectively. While there is still no cure for dementia, learning about the science of compassion and how it can be employed in the treatment of this disease can help improve the lives of both those who suffer from this disease and their loved one.

Mary Freedlund - Addressing Barriers to Healthcare: Applying the Science of Compassion at Free Clinics for Uninsured and Low-Income Patients

Approaching the healthcare system can be an especially complicated process for uninsured and low-income patient populations in the United States. High costs of care, a lack of sufficient healthcare coverage, and limited available resources at medical facilities essentially exclude the underserved from receiving medical care. Thus, free charitable clinics as well as residency-run free clinics function to make health resources more accessible to patients. While the mission of free clinics embodies the core attributes of compassionate caring in medicine, the act of providing compassionate care effectively to patients at free clinics requires further attention. Although physicians have no control over systemic practices that bar the underserved from medical care, they play an integral role in the health outcomes of uninsured and low-income patients at free clinics. How they choose to approach systemic challenges and utilize compassionate caring techniques affects their patient outcomes. This paper analyzes the perspectives and experiences of both patients receiving care and physicians providing care at free clinics. Utilizing the clinician compassion mindset and self-reflection techniques in free clinics has the potential to improve the experiences and health outcomes of physicians and their patients.

Michelle Grady - Compassionate Solutions to Conserve Dignity During End-of-Life Care

End-of-life care includes a variety of patient aspects such as physical needs, emotional support, spiritual support, and practical comforts. Far too often, the emotional needs of the patient and their family are unknowingly neglected by the healthcare provider in favor of attending to the physical suffering of the patient. Several barriers have been identified by patients, providers, and their families that block access to adequate end-of-life care. These barriers are namely fear and uncertainty revolving around prognosis and treatment options on behalf of both the patient and provider, which result in inadequate communication. These barriers then lead to a significant delay in conversations surround end-of-life care, contributing to a loss of dignity and quality of life for the patient. Compassion offers a way to overcome such barriers by using a holistic approach to care, one that incorporates the continuous interaction of psychological and physiological influences on patient well-being. Compassion centered communication enables providers to communicate with patients and families both in a timely and effective manner while addressing needs beyond physiological symptoms. Additionally, compassion acts as a safeguard for providers, offering protection from emotional exhaustion and depersonalization through the practice of self-compassion and mindfulness. End-of-life care can be better achieved through a compassionate approach to communication that promotes early and thorough discussion of possible paths, leading to the best possible outcome for all involved.

Meghan Greene - Pervasive Discrepancy in Quality Healthcare for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities

A significant disparity exists in quality healthcare for individuals with intellectual disabilities, particularly in current mainstream healthcare services. Equal access to and quality of these services are lacking. Numerous explicit objectives exist to promote equal rights to high quality healthcare for individuals with intellectual disabilities, including from the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. However, despite these professed efforts to increase inclusion of individuals with intellectual disabilities in mainstream healthcare services, this pervasive discrepancy persists due to systemic negative attitudes and perceptions towards the entire population of these individuals. In the current western world, stigma surrounds individuals with intellectual disabilities which creates implicit biases in physicians towards the entire population. In my opinion, this stigma is rooted in the uncertainty of treating those different from us, often due to lack of experience with doing so. Additional variability elicits negative attitudes of healthcare professionals that often detrimentally impact their medical decisions for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Furthermore, perceived lack of self-reliance of individuals with intellectual disabilities significantly contributes to the discrepancy in mainstream healthcare services. Preventing these individuals from contributing to their own medical decisions forcefully removes their autonomy, depriving them of basic human rights and further contributing to inconsistencies in healthcare for this population. Unfortunately, dehumanization of patients, particularly those with intellectual disabilities, is very prevalent in physicians and other healthcare staff. Because compassion prioritizes seeing each patient as a person, compassionate care in medicine is especially important for remediating the disparity. All healthcare professionals have an obligation to provide unbiased treatment, and this is especially true for those that treat individuals with disabilities. Compassionate care is characterized by a genuine desire for what is best for the patient regardless of preexisting attitudes or perceptions that often exist for patients with disabilities. Further research and efforts to combat this discrepancy should primarily focus on education. Educational efforts should aim to increase confidence in healthcare professionals to treat patients with intellectual disabilities, implement anti-stigma interventions and promote positive attitudes towards these individuals in future healthcare professionals.

Rebecca Hammond - Moral Injury: The Roots, Causes, and Manifestations in Physicians

Physicians commit suicide at rates higher than the general population and report increasingly worse mental health and well-being. Previously, poor physician mental health has been attributed to burnout. However, researchers and physicians alike are beginning to suggest that what was previously thought of as burnout is actually moral injury. Moral injury was first characterized in combat veterans and was suggested as an alternative diagnosis to PTSD. While practicing medicine is not synonymous to going to war, physicians on the front lines of healthcare face human suffering every day and may feel they are fighting a battle of allegiances between patients, hospital systems, insurance companies, and their own personal values. The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted this struggle. Moral injury is the psychological suffering that results from engaging in, failing to prevent, or witnessing an act or situation that violates one’s beliefs and values. It is related to concepts such as moral distress and disorders like PTSD and depression; however, it is unique. Moral injury is even identified by the US Department of Veterans Affairs as a distinct phenomenon that occurs in both military populations and healthcare professionals. There are a multitude of risk factors including younger age, shorter time spent practicing, low religiosity as well as a changing healthcare system that prioritizes the business side of healthcare. Scales are now being developed, such as the Moral Injury Symptom Scale-HP, to identify moral injury in healthcare professionals specifically. Further, studies are currently investigating its neural correlates via brain imaging. This paper reviews the roots, causes, and manifestations of moral injury in healthcare professionals, specifically physicians, and applies the research on moral injury in military populations to physicians. Included in this discussion is a review of possible therapeutic interventions to relieve symptoms of moral injury and long-term institutional changes to reduce the occurrence of potentially morally injurious events.

Sarah Hatfield - Additions to Standard Patient-Centered Care for Individuals with Severe or Profound Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

The cultivation of a patient-centered care approach to medicine has become increasingly prevalent in recent years. Patient-centered care recognizes the role of patients in their own healthcare decisions and focuses on collaboration between the physician, with their vast medical knowledge, and the patient’s autonomy. People with intellectual and developmental disabilities make up a large portion of our population and are deserving of the same high-quality care that is emerging. Despite this fact, many physicians do not receive adequate training to feel comfortable and confident in providing high-quality care to the specific needs of these patients. People with serve or profound intellectual and developmental disabilities add a unique component to the patient-physician relationship with the addition of a caregiver, forming a non-conventional, triadic relationship. Navigating this triadic relationship and building it in trust may look different for people with severe or profound IDD. Additions to standard patient-centered care can be made to ensure people in this population are receiving the same high-quality care as others. Particular factors to focus on are figuring out effective modes of communication with the patient, having a recognition of common humanity towards the patient, and acceptance of physician’s role to enter into the patient-caregiver relationship forming a triad. These additions to standard patient-centered care, as well as others, will provide physicians with the proper knowledge and training to maintain a high standard of care for patients with severe or profound intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Nick Iovino - End-of-Life Care Behind Bars: Compassion for the Incarcerated and Dying

Olivia Jazbutis - Cognition and Emotion: The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Patient-Centered Care

Our lives are infused with emotions, which play an integral role in the cognitive processing of information, decision-making, and memory formation. Neuroscience demonstrates that cognition and emotion are inherently intertwined, and clinical work requires both cognitive and emotional components. Patient-centered care is enacted when a clinician self-monitors how he or she is both relating to patients and adjusting to patient needs. To adequately practice patient-centered care, clinicians must learn to strike a balance between being emotionally underinvested and overinvested with patients. Training clinicians to be aware of their own emotions, to regulate their emotions, to recognize patient emotions, and to pick up on cues from patients has the potential to change how emotions are understood and utilized in healthcare. Emotional intelligence may ultimately act as a vehicle for guiding a clinician’s competency to the patient’s best interests. Emotionally intelligent care is not only correlated with better patient outcomes, but it also fosters protective features for the clinician. It should therefore actively be promoted and cultivated on both an individual and an organizational level when implementing a compassion-centric paradigm of healthcare. Individual ways to cultivate emotional intelligence include journaling, daily meditation, positive visualization, appreciative inquiry, thought before action, and empathic listening. Emotionally intelligent care is already used on an individual level by some clinicians, but little formal training exists in terms of learning effective emotional regulation techniques for dealing with the emotional aspects of working in healthcare. With a tendency to focus on objectivity and developing expertise with technical procedures, there is still much work left to be done with training emotional intelligence to achieve and sustain a compassion mindset. RULER, which stands for recognizing, understanding, labeling, expressing, and regulating, is an evidence-based approach to social-emotional learning developed by the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence that embeds emotional intelligence into norms, routines, policies, instruction, and relationships in K-12 schools. Given that the RULER approach mirrors the competencies of emotionally intelligent care in the healthcare field, and its efficacious implementation in schools, it may potentially be modified to cater to the social, emotional, and cognitive aspects of clinicians. Further, active implementation of the CERB framework, which is comprised of cognitive, emotional, relational, and behavioral emotionally intelligent strategies, along with additional personal feedback is an alternative approach for the healthcare field to implement emotionally intelligent care. Ultimately, training clinicians’ emotional intelligence may function as a realistic long-lasting solution that addresses the neuroscience of compassion as well as the increasing pressures clinicians continue to face in healthcare.

Kelly Kolleck - Challenges to Physician Compassion During COVID-19

The science of compassion is an emerging field, and thus unlikely to be a high priority of physicians facing challenging conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, compassion offers tools which can help the physician to better connect with and care for their patients, ultimately improving patient satisfaction and physician fulfillment. The clinician compassion mindset is an invaluable tool used to ensure compassion is the organizing factor in all patient interactions. Clinicians that were most strongly affected by pandemic stressors might have relied upon a compassionate mindset to better care for patients in the face of adversity. But the pandemic did present myriad challenges which might have overwhelmed these mindsets. Direct tolls, such as cognitive uncertainty, fear of transmission, and overwhelming work hours, in addition to indirect tolls, including moral injury, compassion fatigue, and increased burnout, all contributed to grueling work conditions. Polyvagal theory and empathic distress fatigue help to explain why employing a compassion mindset at certain times was nearly impossible. These pandemic were imposed upon a backdrop of high national physician burnout rates and betrayal by the public. Thus, physicians had countless challenges stacked against them. This paper seeks to determine which stressors unique to the pandemic have affected clinician compassion and offers a forward-looking perspective to compassion recovery as the pandemic continues. Time dedicated to compassion recovery and reconnecting with families will be crucial to help physicians heal post-pandemic.

Kathryn Kostolansky - Compassion-etics: The Necessity for Compassion in Genetic Counseling

The field of genetic counseling is expected to grow over 20% from 2019 to 2029 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2020). With an extreme increase in number of genetic counseling professionals to come in the next decade, it is of the utmost importance that compassionate care in medicine is understood and practiced. Compassion is not only a concept, but a hard science and should be taught to genetic counseling students in order to provide them with necessary skills for their career. Compassion, which involves a combination of neural bottom-up processing with mirror neurons and top-down processing, is based on evolutionary biology and serves as a protective mechanism against compassion fatigue and burnout. Furthermore, the use of compassion in the practice of genetic counseling aids the genetic counselor in efficiency, patient interactions, and job satisfaction, which in an ever fast paced and technological age, allows for better patient experience due to increased trust between a counselor and client due to compassionate care.

Joseph Lazzara - The Neuroscience of Exercise and its Role in Combating Burnout and Cultivating Compassionate Physicians

Burnout is characterized by “emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a decreased sense of personal accomplishment caused by work-related stress” (Dimou, 2016, p.1). It occurs to some extent in every profession but is even more prevalent among those in the medical field. Physicians are at an increased risk for burnout due to long work hours, difficulty maintaining work-life balance, and challenges associated with constantly caring for others who are ill. Burnout has been linked to depression, and many theorize clinicians experiencing burnout are predisposed to declining mental health. Further, burnout can lead to changes in appetite, disengagement, insomnia, and anxiety (Moalem, 2017). The consequences of such factors can be quite severe and include divorce, strained personal relationships, and in some cases suicide. Burnout poses a serious threat for all physicians, and a variety of methods have been developed to combat its effects. Many of these solutions are centered around reducing stress, improving work-life balance, and developing better relationships with colleagues. However, the literature often oversimplifies methods like physical activity, placing them into one of these categories. Exercise is frequently viewed as a method of stress reduction that works for some people, but not others. The literature suggests a negative correlation between physical activity and burnout but calls for further analysis regarding its method of action. This capstone project seeks to develop a deeper understanding of the benefits of exercise in the context of burnout and demonstrate its ability to cultivate compassionate and caring physicians.

Monique Le Tran - Compassion in the NICU: The Importance of Responding to the Psychosocial Needs of Parents of Very Preterm Infants

The purpose of this study is to explore the different psychosocial and logistical issues that parents reported having with nurses and other staff members while their child was in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), ways that nurses can provide the compassionate support that parents need, and how burnout in the NICU/ICU can interfere with this caregiving. It is crucial that nurses are educated on how to respond empathetically to the needs of parents and to help them cope with the hospitalization of their child. Some common themes of psychosocial needs that parents have reported include emotional support, trust in the healthcare provider, and privacy. To respond to these needs, nurses and other healthcare professionals should receive specific training in communication skills and family-centered care, as it will allow them to empathetically support both parent and child during their stay at the hospital. However, as the NICU is a high stress environment, burnout and compassion fatigue is especially prevalent, which can interfere with the quality of care infants receive. In addition to this, interacting with worried and upset parents can also be emotionally taxing for nurses, especially when they are not trained to handle situations like this. When nurses are not able to provide compassionate care, parents are less satisfied with their NICU experience and are less confident in their roles as parents. Therefore, responding to parents with understanding and empathy will encourage parents to cope with their situation

Maura Lee - Organizational Methods of Compassionate Care: Caring for Doctors So That They Can Care for Patients

The Physician Foundation discovered in their “2016 Physician Survey” that 78% of clinicians are experiencing sensations of burnout and that 50% of doctors are completely burnt out (2016, p. 7). Burnout, or experiencing emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a lack of personal accomplishment (i.e. the feeling that your efforts achieve nothing), is expensive for physicians, patients, and health systems (Maslach & Leiter, 1997). Johns Hopkins estimates that burnout costs the United States billions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of lives each year (Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2016, p. 1). A new movement in the scientific literature proposes compassion – not simply a sentiment but rather a body of science based on neuroscience, biology, and evolution – as a solution to sensations of burnout. During every encounter with a suffering patient, the physician automatically undergoes the “Clinician Compassion Mindset Process” (CCMP), which determines how emotions of empathy and mirror neuron firing will impact the physiology of the doctors’ brain as they continue to practice medicine (Vachon, 2020, p. 102). Unhealthy processing of these intense emotions is an accurate predictor of sensations of burnout. Doctors cannot give of themselves to care for their patients if the healthcare systems in which they work do not care for them. Organizations must show compassion for doctors first, taking responsibility for the overall health and well-being of their physicians by cultivating a culture of compassionate care. Included in this capstone project are literature-reviewed methods through which healthcare administrations can work to reduce burnout by showing compassion for their clinicians: employing emotionally intelligent and supportive immediate superiors, taking physician feedback into consideration when making new policies, implementing a professional practice model, re-introducing community into the workplace, re-inspiring clinicians’ internal motivations, and giving doctors some freedom in treating their patients. This paper also seeks to explain how organizations intentionally taking steps to build a culture of compassion can prevent and protect against burnout at the point of care, allowing physicians to more successfully engage with their CCMP. Although many healthcare organizations are taking steps to combat the prevalence of burnout in their workforce, a fundamental paradigm shift is necessary to ensure a culture of compassion in medicine is the norm, not an added benefit for those who can afford it.

Allison LeHanka - The Shift to the Shared Decision-Making Model in Medicine

In the 1970s, American healthcare systems began to move away from a paternalistic approach in the patient-physician relationship towards the shared decision-making model. While the paternalistic approach focuses on a physician’s expertise and authority in making medical decisions, the shared decision-making model grants new power to the patient in their own care. The shared decision-making model is characterized by clinician and patient collaboration on medical decision-making, where the doctor supplies their medical training, clinical experience, and knowledge of current treatments and research and the patient expresses their values and personal preferences relevant to the decision at hand. This model can be broken down into a five-step process in which partnership is built, a choice is explicitly identified, options with their corresponding risks and benefits are discussed, and a decision is ultimately made. The shared decision-making model not only satisfies patient demands for autonomy in care, but also can improve patient outcomes, especially in the affective-cognitive realm. Further benefits of the shared decision-making model remain to be seen as correct implementation of the model continues to increase across the US.

Chelsea Logo - Applying the Science of Compassion to the Delivery of Bad News: Can Teaching Unemotional Physicians to Be More Emotionally Regulated Facilitate This Process?

Though physicians are responsible for breaking bad news, a majority of practicing physicians have reported receiving no formal training in effectively communicating bad news. Since bad news in and of itself can cause suffering, the way bad news is delivered can have a significant impact on patients’ perspectives of their illness and their relationship with their healthcare provider. For patients, bad news can threaten their identity and challenge their sense of meaning, and patients can become more distressed when physicians deliver bad news in an inappropriate manner. Thus, teaching physicians how to deliver bad news well is an important area of study. Currently, medical schools are using strategies like the SPIKES protocol and the ABCDE mnemonic to teach physicians how to deliver bad news well. While these strategies are effective, I propose the application of the science of compassion to the delivery of bad news with three types of physicians in mind: physicians who are emotionally detached, physicians who are emotionally over-involved, and physicians who are emotionally inexpressive. Emotional regulation plays a very important role in the delivery of bad news, particularly because bad news often elicits a profound emotional response from the patient and triggers an equal emotional response in the physician who has to deliver the news. By understanding the role of emotions and empathy in healthcare, I highlight the possibility that teaching physicians to be emotionally regulated is a means by which the science of compassion can be used to assuage the burden of delivering bad news.

Emma Mazurek - Narrative Medicine: Bridging the Gap Between the Biomedical and Biopsychosocial Models of Medical Practice

The medical field is experiencing a paradigm shift from the biomedical to the biopsychosocial model of health. Narrative-based medicine (NBM) is a key factor in completing the transition from a detached stance to a more holistic and interdisciplinary practice of medicine. Focusing on the narrative and illness experience of the patient returns autonomy and agency to the sufferer, augments the physician-patient relationship, and allows healing to continue. Ultimately, NBM improves health outcomes in patients with chronic illnesses and is a useful tool to enhance trust between physician and patient in other specialties. While more extensive research is needed, especially in specialties outside primary care, medical curricula should include medical humanities and holistic caring models in their education in order to train competent future physicians. By implementing a narrative approach, medicine will remain in touch with the demands of the public and will see higher efficacy among its patients. Narrative medicine is necessary to transition fully to the biopsychosocial model of health, and it provides a means to practice the art of medicine.

Megan McCabe - Addressing the Barriers that Pediatric Rare Disease Patients and their Families Face when Receiving Medical Care, and Application of the SPIKES Protocol for Healthcare Professionals to Reduce these Barriers

“Rare disease” is an umbrella term for a variety of rare and neglected disorders. For a pediatric patient with a rare disease, a main part of their life will be receiving medical care from physicians, nurses, therapists, or other healthcare professionals. Due to a lack of awareness and compassion for pediatric patients with rare diseases and their family members, they often face many barriers when trying to receive medical care. The goal of this capstone project is to first outline the many barriers that pediatric rare disease patients and their families face in the medical field. Some of these barriers and difficulties that they face include the diagnostic process, a lack of healthcare provider competence, psychosocial needs, or the doctor-patient relationship itself. Next, a common technique used in the medical community called the SPIKES protocol will be used to suggest a framework that healthcare professionals can use to approach pediatric rare disease patient visits. The SPIKES protocol stands for setting up the interview, assessing the patient’s perceptions, obtaining the patient’s invitation, addressing patient emotions with empathetic responses, and strategy and summary. The rationale for using SPIKES is to use a protocol that is already well-known in the medical community for the pediatric rare disease patient and family member population who is much less well-known. After a detailed analysis of how the SPIKES protocol can be used for pediatric rare disease medical visits, a set of resources will be presented that both healthcare professionals and the rare disease community can use to increase education, awareness, and advocacy for rare diseases. Some of these resources include the National Organization for Rare Disorders, the Boler-Parseghian Center for Rare and Neglected Diseases, Young Adult Representatives of RDLA, Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, Medical Genetics, and support groups. Through discussing barriers, the SPIKES model, and these resources, this capstone paper will express the needs of the pediatric rare disease community in the medical field, and make specific suggestions to address these needs

Monica Mesecar - Compassionate Care in Neurology: The Importance of Practicing Primary Neuropalliative Care

This paper will first define what neurology is, followed by a discussion of what neurologists treat. Then after emphasizing the global importance of neurological disorders, the most significant problem facing neurology will be revealed as the “diagnose and adios” mentality. This phrase refers to the approach of simply diagnosing the patient and following-up with treatment with little to no emphasis on helping the patient live well with their condition. After exploring the significance of this problem, the solution of implementing the science of compassionate care will be generally proposed. Following this section, this paper will argue that in neurology, using this approach means practicing primary neuropalliative care. Primary neuropalliative care refers to utilizing the principles and practices of palliative care in routine, daily practice in a way that is specific to patients living with long-term neurological conditions. Next, after defining neuropalliative care, this paper will discuss the unique challenges to practice posed by patients with long-term neurological conditions, followed by a practical approach to implementation. This paper will then conclude with a discussion of why practicing neuropalliative care is beneficial with an emphasis on the improvement of patient outcomes, as well as its potential to buffer against the ever-growing problem of neurologist burnout.

Christian Oakley - Systemic, Institutional, and Individual-level Factors Influencing the Adoption and Efficacy of Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction Interventions in Surgical Residents

Surgical residents experience significant emotional and logistical stressors that can increase their susceptibility to burnout and compassion fatigue. The numerous systemic, institutional, and individual-level factors influencing the adoption and the efficacy of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) interventions are unclear. Moreover, the effects of MBSR interventions on surgical residents remain uncertain. To better understand these factors and the effects of MBSR on surgical residents, a comprehensive literature search strategy was performed on PubMed and Google Scholar to find studies that 1) discussed the factors influencing the adoption and efficacy and MBSR interventions or 2) evaluated the effect of MBSR interventions on resident and physician burnout, empathy, mindfulness, stress, executive functioning, mood, or surgical performance. Multiple studies examining the factors influencing the adoption and efficacy of MBSR interventions were identified. Surgeon stoicism, expectations of emotional resilience by attendings, long work hours, and a lack of understanding of MBSR interventions were identified as systemic factors, while hospital profitability and residency administrative structures were identified as institutional factors. Leadership attitudes and individual-resident qualities were discussed as individual-level factors. The search also returned four randomized clinical trials and one single-arm cohort study examining the effects of MBSR interventions on physicians or surgical residents. Findings from these studies suggest that MBSR interventions are associated with decreased burnout and perceived stress and increased mindfulness, empathy, and mood regulation in the short and long-term. From these findings, it is clear that there are numerous systemic, institutional, and individual factors affecting MBSR intervention use and success. While studies suggest that MBSR interventions are efficacious, larger randomized controlled trials with increased statistical power are needed to better discern the effects of MBSR interventions on surgical residents.

Mairead Pfaff - Diagnosis of Chronic Illness in Pediatric Patients: Distinctions in Clinical Practices and Importance of Quality Communication from Physicians

Pediatric patients have distinct needs from adults in a clinical setting; children often require simpler explanations of medical jargon, with more analogies being used. The job of the physician is more difficult since they must cater to the patient as well as the parents or guardians present. The parents will have different types of questions from their child, and each party may expect a different style of communication from the physician. Parents of children with a chronic illness often experience a major change in lifestyle after the diagnosis of their child. The memory of the physician delivering news of the illness to the parent and child often remains clear for years following the diagnosis. These moments can be categorized as “flashbulb memories”; the parent and child’s predisposition to remember details of the diagnosis conversation makes this moment highly important for quality communication by the physician. Most research shows that parents want to be shown “empathy” or “compassion”, but few studies outline what that means for the physician in practice. Furthermore, the diagnosis of chronic illness in pediatric patients has the potential to affect the child for the rest of their life. In cases of chronic illness, as the child grows older, they will assume more responsibility for their own health. The way a pediatric patient is treated at the beginning of their journey with chronic illness can impact the way the child progresses towards taking an active role in their own care. It is important to recognize the perspectives of the child, parents, and physician during these conversations. Focusing on the diagnosis is important for the remainder of the child’s relationship with their illness. To minimize the parent and child’s trauma from the experience, the physician must be compassionate towards both parties and recognize their individual and mutual needs. Best practices to act in a compassionate manner during difficult diagnoses are not clearly outlined for pediatric physicians, and current published guidelines on communication do not delve into the complexities of distinctive disease scenarios. This research describes the importance of the specific moment of diagnosis for a pediatric patient with a chronic illness. The perspectives of the parents, the child, and the physician are explored; each party’s specific needs are outlined as they have been currently described in the literature. Recommendations are made to standardize these practices for clinicians in clinical practice. The purpose of this research is to demonstrate a need for physicians to focus on compassionate communication during the diagnosis of a child with any chronic illness.

Keegan Riggs - Burnout Disproportionately Affects the Emergency Department: Is Compassion a Solution?

Physicians experience higher rates of burnout than any other profession with a 48.5% prevalence nationwide. In the emergency department specifically, the prevalence is 68%, the highest out of any specialty (Shanafelt et al. 2012). The disproportionately high level of burnout in the ED has historically been attributed to the long hours and inconsistent schedules. However, recent data shows that despite having a higher percentage of burnout than other specialties, emergency medicine has above average satisfaction with work-life balance. So, why does burnout continue to plague emergency departments nationwide? There are factors specific to the ED beyond the tough schedule that result in the high percentage of burnout. Many specialties encounter suffering, but none in as fast-paced of an environment as the emergency department. Emergency physicians rarely have time cope with the tragedies they witness. Much of health care has become business-oriented, but no specialty has been affected by a profit-driven workplace more than the ED. Physicians are rewarded for seeing as many patients as fast as possible, frequently at the expense of establishing a strong patient-clinician relationship. These key factors, along with many others, can be detrimental to the clinician compassion mindset. There is a positive correlation between burnout and depersonalization, workplace fragmentation, and other aspects of non-compassionate health care culture. Decreasing hours, offering stress workshops, and requiring mandatory wellness training have been unsuccessful at decreasing burnout in emergency departments nationwide. Just as a band-aid cannot patch a gunshot wound, these “simple fixes” cannot rid the emergency department of the issues deeply rooted in the workplace culture. To solve the burnout crisis in the ED, health care organizations need to strive for widespread shifts towards a compassionate culture. Compassion has been studied to improve both physician well-being and patient satisfaction, but a compassionate mindset is only sustainable if shared amongst the whole organization. Hospitals will have to reorganize their departments for better collaboration, encourage development of compassionate relationships amongst colleagues, and remove the pressure to provide quick and profitable treatment. The ED can never be ridden of suffering, tragedy, and hard work, but changing the approach towards these hardships can improve outcomes for physicians, patients, and medicine as a whole.

Justin Roy - iCare: Maintaining Compassionate Care Practices in the Throes of the Digital Age

The dawn of the digital age has sparked rapid innovation throughout all sectors of society. These improvements have afforded many improvements in convenience, including in healthcare – electronic health records, faster system organization, telehealth. Yet, there are still discrepancies that present issues in maintaining compassionate care in medicine in conjunction with technological advancement. Digitalization has taken away personal and humanistic aspects of healthcare, leading patients to feel as though they are talking to a computer as opposed to interacting with their clinician, both in person and through telehealth. As a result, websites like WebMD have created a resource for patients to self-diagnose, which has formed nuances in care in which the patients try to diagnose themselves, resulting in potential differing views with experienced, knowledgeable clinicians. In addition, pushback from healthcare workers on the lack of user-friendly technology – or lack of willingness to learn – creates a further rift which hampers the efficacy of compassionate, caring attitudes and interactions that should be seen between clinicians and their patients. Medicine cannot be made convenient in ways that online shopping and streaming services are. Rather, with the ushering in of a digital age to the healthcare sphere, there becomes a glaring necessity for clinicians to evolve and adapt simultaneously as opposed to feel hindered by new technological options. Examining the scope of healthcare technology and its flaws in compassionate care allows clinicians to enhance their compassion techniques in order to mitigate the rift between patients and clinicians. First and foremost, expanding digital literacy among clinicians presents a strong foothold in bridging the gap of compassionate care through educational sessions, digital workshops, and also EMR improvements. In addition, research notes that clinicians – and patients, alike – must continue to build empathic awareness in technological media to enhance correspondence, appointment efficiency, and caring, communicative mindsets. Healthcare can facilitate these efforts by emphasizing education of the youth, who are not only the future of medicine, but also future patients and administrators as well. Roadblocks to the zone of compassionate care in medicine are perpetuated by a stagnancy in efforts and education. Thus, further research toward methods in which clinicians can create a duality of compassionate care with the evolution of technology will pilot medicine into more effective health outcomes and a healthier future.

Michael Shannon - Investigating the Role of Burnout and Compassion in Organ Donation and Transplantation

Pioneered in the mid-twentieth century by the work of Dr. Thomas Starzl and bolstered by advances in surgical technology, organ donation and transplantation have seen drastic evolution over the years. The medicine of this field is a highly integrated process and involves coordination between providers serving in several specialized roles. Working in the realm of transplantation is rife with exposure to psychological challenges. These may include caring for terminally ill patients, difficulty in procuring organs for needy recipients, and facing the ethical challenges associated with organ allocation. Broadly, the healthcare field is currently burdened by an epidemic of clinician burnout. This phenomenon is characterized by symptoms of emotional exhaustion, reduced personal accomplishment, and depersonalization. Given their unique selection of stressors, the nurses, doctors, and transplant coordinators working in organ transplantation may be at an elevated risk to succumb to burnout. To date, research on burnout in these professions suggests tangible levels of burnout and compassion fatigue. Factors that influence the prevalence of this malady include a surplus of roles and responsibilities, missed opportunities as a result of career choice, and feelings of inadequate compensation. However, research into clinical burnout has also managed to elucidate several strategies that may assist in buffering against its manifestation. Namely, the nascent science of compassion may hold many important implications for enabling clinicians to stave off burnout, maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle, and preserve their ability to deliver optimal patient care. Methods to continually reinvigorate a compassionate mindset include mind-training techniques, meditation, and adequate leisure time for decompression. Additionally, incorporating these considerations into training for clinicians may help prepare them to retain a compassionate mindset throughout their experiences with mental and emotional taxation. Overall, more research is needed in order to determine the exact nature of burnout in this field, as well as the effectiveness of different strategies in preventing its occurrence. However, the importance of compassion is prominent, and should remain a subject of discussion in seeking to improve clinician well-being, patient outcomes, and the healthcare system as a whole.

Kelly Straub - A Case Study on Compassionate Care Manifestation in Organ Transplantation and How Treatment is Perceived by the Patient and Loved Ones

Compassion shown in health care is an emerging concept that is gaining momentum in the field. It was once thought that providers should “cut straight and care less,” but now it is apparent that caring is an important part of the healing process. Organ transplantation illustrates the significance of compassion and empathy’s impact on clinicians, patients, and loved ones. The fundamentals of organ transplantation, including ethics and biases, display how compassionate care is necessary in health care. Using the case study of a double organ transplant patient, compassion and empathy were shown to have a major impact on the patient, clinicians, and loved ones. Assessors determining who gets on the transplant list, surgeons, nurses, and PAs all uniquely demonstrate compassion to both the patient and loved ones; in return, this rejuvenates the clinician, buffers against burnout, and creates a helpful relationship with the patient. Additionally, the patient perceives the clinicians’ efforts toward him or her as either compassionate or uncompassionate. Patients also exemplify compassion towards physicians using techniques to build relationships, thus helping the clinician treat the patient more holistically. Finally, loved ones also perceive a clinician’s responses to the patient’s pain as well as employ their own techniques to show compassion towards their sick loved one. As compassionate care continues to permeate into the health care culture, it is important for clinicians to learn and become aware of compassion’s influence in order to use its benefits both to optimally treat a patient and maintain a patient-centered mindset.

Tanner Tarkelson - Managerial Changes in Emergency Medicine to Improve the Patient and Clinician Experiences

The science of compassion is a new and rapidly expanding field of study. Within a healthcare setting, implementing the suggestions that come from this research can have implications for health outcomes, administrative organization, finances, etc. While the science of compassion is often seen as a “soft subject”, there exists plentiful hard evidence for the benefits that empathetic resonance followed by action to relieve suffering (a shortened definition of compassion) can have. Emergency medicine is one of the most difficult sectors of healthcare to manage. This struggle arises from the division’s fast-paced nature, variety in patient conditions, and consistent need to be prepared for crisis. With these facets in mind, the patient and clinician experiences are an aspect of emergency medicine that is oftentimes overlooked. However, the specific administrative changes within the emergency department needed to create an environment of compassion and improve the patient and clinician experiences have not yet been succinctly organized. Here, suggestions are made to emergency department administrations in order to improve their patient and clinician experiences. Namely, the suggestions made to improve the patient experience (the first part of this thesis) include (1) creating a more compassionate environment for healthcare professionals and patients, (2) improving upon teaching styles and techniques, and (3) reducing the language barriers that are so common in the emergency department. Suggestions made to improve the clinician experience (the second part of this thesis) include (1) molding the facility’s mission around compassion, (2) encouraging emotion regulation techniques, and (3) utilizing team-based care. The results demonstrate the practicality of implementing the suggestions generated from a study of the science of compassion. It is anticipated that this thesis will provide a groundwork for emergency department administrations to use in terms of improving the experience, and consequently health and financial outcomes, of everyone within their facility. This thesis is additionally one of the first to analyze the tri-layer network between patients, clinicians, and administrators within the emergency department. Further work is necessary to fully examine the intricacies of such relationships and to create solutions to reduce the friction between them.

Olivia Venvertloh - Presence Amidst Emotional, Physical, and Structural Problems: A Case Study in the Compassionate Mindset of Elderly Caregiving

As the baby boomer generation ages and the fertility rate declines, the number of people dependent on caregivers will only continue to rise in the coming years. The United Nations reports that one in six people will be over the age of 65 by 2050. The healthcare system, already strained by a global pandemic, a shortage of healthcare workers and clinician burnout, will continue to be impacted as more elderly need assistance in long-term care facilities. The only way out of this predicament is training healthcare workers in the compassion mindset, which applies compassion to all stages of patient interactions. By maintaining an inner motivation to care for others and mitigating organizational challenges faced at work, resilient elderly caregivers who utilize the compassion mindset will become an example for other caregivers. This paper will explore the compassion mindset through a series of interviews conducted with an elderly healthcare professional as a part of an IRB-approved study investigating mental performance in high stress specialties. Dedication to providing top quality care through physical, emotional, and spiritual presence while implementing the compassion mindset is a powerful example for future caregivers navigating systemic difficulties.

Hillebrand Center for Compassionate Care in Medicine

Capstone Projects

The Capstone Project (HSR 500; 1.0 Course Unit) serves as a culminating experience and summative product of students’ experiences in the master’s program. It provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate their research development, data gathering and management, analysis, interpretation and dissemination skills. The Capstone Project is conducted as an independent study. Students spend their first several quarters in the master's program developing an original and independent research proposal under the guidance of faculty advisers. Students gather data and complete analysis before enrolling in HSR 500. While enrolled in HSR 500, students draft their project manuscript, receive feedback from advisers and prepare a final manuscript that is suitable for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Recent Student Projects

Capstone Title	Student	Graduation Year
Association between the 2020 Hepatitis C Virus Universal Screening Guidelines and change in screening rates among patients with cirrhosis	Al'ona Furmanchuk, PhD	2024
A SART data cost-effectiveness analysis of planned oocyte cryopreservation versus in vitro fertilization with preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy considering ideal family size	Jennifer Bakkensen, MD	2024
Predictors of Endoscopic Assessment in Pediatric Patients Presenting with Bleeding of Esophageal Varices	Ariel Porto, MD	2024
Preterm birth among Black Latina women in the United States: The impact of self-identified race	Blair Simon, MD	2024
Child Opportunity Index & Pediatric Firearm Injury Emergency Department Visits	Megan Attridge, MD	2022
Differences in the Allocation of Healthcare Resources to Treat Patients with Cirrhosis Across Four Different Regions of the United States. A Cross-Sectional Study	Daniel Borja-Cacho, MD	2022
Association of Neighborhood Characteristics with Healthcare Transition Planning for Adolescents with Special Health Care Needs	Meredith Johnson, MD	2022
Youth Suicides and County-Level Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas in the United States	Jennifer Hoffman, MD	2022
Shared decision-making for families facing adversity and the role of the medical home	Alyssa Cohen, MD	2022
Parent and Caregiver Perspectives on Social Need and Trauma Screening in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit: A Qualitative Study	Rebecca Asp, MD	2022
Patient-reported experience measures on HIV viral load testing at public health facilities in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: A convergent mixed-method study	Peter Karoli, MD	2022
Knowledge and Practice Patterns Among Pulmonologists for Molecular Biomarker Testing in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer	Adam Fox, MD	2022
Association Between the Use of Balanced Fluids and Outcomes in Critically Ill Children: A Before and After Study	Matthew Barhight, MD	2021
A Scoping Review on the Concept of Physician Caring	David Burstein, MD	2021
Association Between Pre-Admission Factors and Deterioration Among Children Following Transport	Cara Cecil, MD	2021
Validating a Local Quality Improvement Initiative to Reduce Transfusion in Lower Extremity Arterial Bypass	Matthew Chia, MD	2021
Changes in Anesthesia Can Reduce Periprocedural Urinary Retention After EVAR	Andres Gerra, MD	2021
Association of race/ethnicity with discharge disposition and quality of life following acute hemorrhagic stroke: A mediation test of gait interventions and patient support	Roberto Lopez-Rosado, DPT, MS	2021
Conceptual Frameworks of Postoperative Recovery in Adults and Children	Benjamin Many, MD	2020

Top 27+ Most Interesting Nursing Capstone Project Ideas

Nursing capstone project ideas are a culmination of your academic field. It allows you to showcase your knowledge, skills, and passion in the field of nursing. These nursing capstone projects provide students with an opportunity to address real-world healthcare issues, make a positive impact, and demonstrate their readiness for the profession.

In this blog, we will explore 27+ intriguing nursing capstone project ideas , covering various fields within the nursing profession.

What Is the Nursing Capstone Project

Table of Contents

A nursing capstone project is a comprehensive, culminating academic assignment or project that serves as a capstone to a nursing student’s education. It is typically undertaken in the final year of a nursing program, such as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), and is designed to demonstrate the student’s knowledge, skills, and readiness for professional nursing practice.

Basic Characteristics Nursing Capstone Project

These are the major characteristics of nursing capstone project ideas.

Integration of Knowledge: The project brings together the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the nursing program. It often involves the application of nursing theory, clinical experiences, research, etc.
Real-World Relevance: Capstone projects are usually grounded in real-world healthcare settings. Students work on problems or topics.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Depending on the project’s scope, students may collaborate with other healthcare professionals, such as physicians, social workers, or pharmacists.
Research Component: Many nursing capstone projects involve research, data collection, analysis, and evidence-based practice. Students may conduct literature reviews, and design and implement studies.
Innovative Solutions: Nursing capstone projects often require students to propose innovative solutions, interventions, or improvements to address healthcare issues.

27+ Most Interesting Nursing Capstone Project Ideas

Following are the good nursing capstone project ideas for students. it is such as;

Medical-Surgical Nursing Capstone Projects

Pressure Ulcer Prevention : Develop strategies and protocols to reduce pressure ulcers in hospitalized patients.
Medication Error Reduction : Investigate methods to minimize medication errors in healthcare settings.
Postoperative Pain Management : Analyze and improve postoperative pain management protocols for better patient outcomes.

Pediatric Nursing Capstone Project Ideas

Childhood Obesity Intervention : Design programs to combat childhood obesity and promote healthier lifestyles.
Immunization Campaigns : Develop strategies to increase childhood immunization rates in underprivileged communities.
Pediatric Palliative Care : Enhance palliative care services for pediatric patients with life-limiting illnesses.

Maternal Health Nursing

Teenage Pregnancy Prevention : Create educational programs aimed at reducing teenage pregnancy rates.
Maternal Mental Health : Explore ways to improve screening and support for maternal mental health.
Postpartum Hemorrhage Management : Develop protocols for the early detection and management of postpartum hemorrhage.

Nursing Capstone Project Ideas For Mental Health

Mental Health Stigma Reduction : Design campaigns to reduce stigma associated with mental health conditions.
Telepsychiatry Implementation : Investigate the effectiveness of telepsychiatry in providing mental health services.
Therapeutic Art and Music : Assess the impact of art and music therapy on mental health patients.
Health Education for Underserved Communities : Create programs to educate and empower underserved populations.
Community-Based Diabetes Management : Develop strategies for managing diabetes in community settings.
Homelessness and Healthcare : Explore ways to improve healthcare access for homeless individuals.

Geriatric Nursing Capstone Project Ideas

Fall Prevention in Elderly : Implement fall prevention programs in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
Cognitive Impairment Care : Develop care plans for patients with Alzheimer’s and other cognitive impairments.
End-of-Life Care in Geriatrics : Improve end-of-life care for elderly patients in long-term care facilities.

Good Pediatric Intensive Care Nursing Projects

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Protocols : Create protocols for neonatal care in the NICU.
Pediatric Trauma Care : Analyze and improve trauma care for pediatric patients.
Pediatric Cardiac Care : Enhance care for children with congenital heart conditions.

Good Public Health Nursing Capstone projects

Pandemic Preparedness : Develop strategies for better preparedness in response to future pandemics.
Tobacco Cessation Programs : Implement smoking cessation programs in the community.
School Health Promotion : Improve health promotion in schools, focusing on nutrition and physical activity.

Emergency Nursing Capstone Project Ideas

Emergency Response Protocols : Evaluate and update emergency response protocols in hospitals.
Disaster Preparedness : Develop disaster preparedness plans for healthcare facilities.
Trauma Triage Guidelines : Improve triage guidelines for trauma patients in the emergency department.

Nursing Informatics

Electronic Health Record Optimization : Optimize EHR systems for better patient care and data management.
Telemedicine Integration : Explore the integration of telemedicine technologies into healthcare settings.
Big Data in Nursing : Analyze the potential of big data in nursing research and practice.

Nursing Capstone Project Ideas In Education

Simulation-Based Training : Evaluate the effectiveness of simulation-based training for nursing students.
Curriculum Development : Design a nursing curriculum that aligns with current healthcare trends.
Mentorship Programs : Create mentorship programs for nursing students to enhance their clinical skills.

Nursing Leadership

Nursing Leadership Development : Develop leadership training programs for aspiring nurse leaders.
Patient-Centered Care Initiatives : Implement initiatives to promote patient-centered care in healthcare organizations.
Nurse Staffing Models : Analyze and improve nurse staffing models for better patient care.

Holistic Nursing

Yoga and Meditation in Nursing : Study the benefits of yoga and meditation in promoting holistic nursing care.
Complementary Therapies : Explore the integration of complementary therapies into nursing practice.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction : Assess the impact of mindfulness-based stress reduction programs for nurses.

Ethical Nursing Capstone Project Ideas

Ethical Dilemmas in Nursing : Analyze and propose solutions for common ethical dilemmas in nursing.
Cultural Competence Training : Develop cultural competence training for nurses to provide culturally sensitive care.
End-of-Life Decision-Making : Explore end-of-life decision-making and advance care planning in nursing.

Nursing Capstone Project Ideas In Research

Evidence-Based Practice Implementation : Promote evidence-based practice in healthcare settings.
Nursing Research on Quality Improvement : Conduct research on quality improvement in nursing care.
Patient Outcomes Research : Investigate the impact of nursing interventions on patient outcomes.

How To Choose A Good Nursing Capstone Project Ideas

Here are some steps and considerations to help you select a strong and meaningful nursing capstone project idea:

1. Identify Your Interests and Passions

Start by reflecting on your personal interests within the field of nursing. What topics or areas of nursing do you find most engaging and motivating? Passion for your project can drive your commitment and enthusiasm throughout the process.

2. Consider Clinical Experience

Reflect on your clinical experiences and rotations during your nursing program. Is there a particular patient population, healthcare issue, or clinical setting that left a lasting impression on you? These experiences can provide valuable inspiration for your capstone project.

3. Assess Current Healthcare Needs

Look at the healthcare landscape in your region or the world. Are there pressing healthcare issues, challenges, or gaps in care that you’re passionate about addressing? A capstone project that aligns with current healthcare needs can be impactful and relevant.

4. Review the Literature

Conduct a literature review to explore existing research and knowledge gaps in nursing. This can help you identify areas where additional research or intervention is needed. Look for recent studies and emerging trends.

5. Consult with Faculty and Preceptors

Seek guidance from your nursing faculty members or preceptors. They can offer insights into potential project ideas, recommend relevant literature, and provide valuable feedback on the feasibility of your proposed project.

6. Brainstorm and Narrow Down Ideas

Generate a list of potential project ideas and concepts based on your interests and research. Brainstorm a variety of possibilities before narrowing down your choices. Consider the scope, complexity, and feasibility of each idea.

7. Consider Resources and Access

Assess the availability of resources, data, and access to the population or setting relevant to your project. Ensure that you have the necessary support and infrastructure to carry out your project successfully.

8. Set Clear Goals and Objectives

Define clear and specific goals and objectives for your capstone project. What do you aim to achieve with your project, and what outcomes do you expect? Having well-defined objectives will guide your project’s development.

9. Think About Impact and Sustainability

Consider the potential impact of your project on patient care, nursing practice, or healthcare systems. Additionally, think about the sustainability of your project beyond the capstone course. Can your work continue to benefit patients or the healthcare community?

10. Seek Feedback and Validation

Share your project ideas with peers, mentors, and healthcare professionals for feedback and validation. Their input can help refine your concept and ensure it aligns with nursing best practices.

Conclusion – Nursing Capstone Project Ideas

These 27+ nursing capstone project ideas encompass a wide range of fields within the nursing profession. They offer students the opportunity to delve into critical healthcare issues, contribute to patient care, and demonstrate their readiness for the nursing profession. Simply choose a project that aligns with your interests and goals, and make a meaningful impact in the world of healthcare. Your dedication and passion will shine through in your capstone project, leaving a lasting impression on your academic journey and future nursing career.

What is a capstone project for RNs?

The Capstone is an individualized research project on a nursing topic of your professional or personal interest.

What is an example of a capstone project in healthcare?

Examples of capstone projects: Create a marketing campaign for a healthcare facility. Work with management to revise existing policies and procedures and maximize operational efficiency.

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Capstone Project

The Capstone Project is the culminating experience required for graduation from the Master of Public Health Program. MPH students apply the knowledge and skills learned in class to public health problems in a chosen skillset or area of interest under the guidance of a Capstone Mentor. The projects should be chosen to help students address their academic interests and afford them an opportunity to master advanced public health competencies. The MPH capstone satisfies the CEPH Integrated Learning Experience.

Supporting Students in Capstone

To support this process, students are required to take two semester-long Capstone courses, Capstone I and Capstone II. Capstone I will help guide students in selecting an appropriate project, identifying a mentor, and starting their project, while Capstone II will help guide them in completing their project, analyzing any results, and developing deliverables. At the end, students submit a written paper and deliver a 10-minute public presentation. The nature and scope of the capstone project is determined collaboratively by the student, Capstone Mentor, and their Capstone Instructor, but they should be scaled appropriately for the time frame available.

Your Capstone Team

MPH students are not alone in completing their Capstone Project at any point in the process; there are different support systems in place to carry you through from project formation to completion and delivery.

Who is your Capstone Mentor?

Your Capstone Mentor is a public health professional and expert in the field of your Capstone who helps guide you through the project. Students collaborate with and seek the counsel of their Mentor to ensure their project is conducted thoroughly, being mindful of standards of the field. A project can have mentoring team, such as a content mentor and a methods mentor.

Who is your Capstone Instructor?

Your Capstone Instructor is an MPH teaching faculty who leads your Capstone seminar courses. You could have the same Capstone I and II instructor or they could be different, but your instructor will be there throughout your project as a support system to answer questions, adjust scope, assist with hurdles, and maintain perspective. The Capstone I instructor supports you in creating or finding a project, identifying a Capstone Mentor, and setting up a plan to carry out the project. The Capstone II instructor picks up the project and guides you to completion, confirming what written deliverables are needed and assisting in the preparation of your 20 minute professional presentation.

What is the role of your Capstone classmates?

Your Capstone classmates are as much a resource as your Mentor and Instructor. Capstone I and II seminars use peer-review and shared learning to help students progress through their own project while supporting their peers on their projects. From sharing project hurdles and overcoming them to motivating each other through preparing written deliverables to serving as a practice audience for presentation “dry-runs,” your Capstone classmates are your biggest cheerleaders and another incredible support mechanism.

From the very first day of Capstone, I felt supported and encouraged enough to delve deep into my specific area of interest. I was able to thoroughly cement my research, policy analysis, and public speaking skills, all while actively advancing the current academic literature. Without the Capstone process, I wouldn’t be nearly as confident in calling myself a public health professional, and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity.

Michael Adjei-Poku

MPH Student

Halle’s Capstone Project in Urban Farming

My Capstone experience allowed me to make a real difference in a community I love. I wanted to give back and the guidance of my mentor really helped me make a tangible impact for an organization I’m passionate about. My mentor helped the Capstone process unfold organically which helped ease a lot of anxiety and doubt that I had. I gained a lot of confidence in my skill set through this experience.

Halle Watkin

Working with Capstone mentees is one of my favorite ways to engage with our MPH students. Supporting their ideas and public health passions to bring a Capstone project to fruition is a privilege and I am always amazed at the incredible work they do!

Heather Klusaritz

Capstone Instructor

Capstone Skills vs Content Area

MPH Students can tailor their Capstone Projects to the kinds of skills they want to learn and grow or focus their efforts on numerous public health content areas to prepare them to be future public health professionals. Below is a non-exhaustive list of the content areas and skillsets our students have explored in their Capstone work.

Skills Gained

Community Needs Assessment (surveys, logic models, focus groups, key informant interviews)

Systematic / Narrative Review (quantitative and/or qualitative, thematic analysis)

Program Development (creating an intervention or curriculum)

Program Evaluation (quantitative and/or qualitative)

Policy Brief / Policy Analysis (evidence-based analysis)

Quality Improvement Programs (run charts, go-sees, additional quantitative and/or qualitative analyses, creating an A3, process mapping)

Public Health Education and Health Communication (pamphlets, podcasts, apps, websites, blogs, community resources, instructional seminar/training/curricula, online social media platform)

Creating a Survey or other Measurement Tool (quantitative and/or qualitative)

Research Projects (primary or secondary, quantitative or qualitative)

Community Based Participatory Research (stakeholder engagement, recruitment, organizing/running meetings, community engagement and needs assessments, team building)

Implementation Science Projects (quantitative and/or qualitative)

Data Analysis (quantitative and/or qualitative, GIS, epidemiology, large and small datasets)

Content Areas

Adolescent and Young Adult Health

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Aging, Memory, and Geriatric Health

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Behavioral Economics

Cancer Risk and Screenings

Chronic Disease Issues

city planning and housing issues

communicable diseases

community health

criminal justice issues

driving safety

environmental health issues

food insecurity

Geography & Health

gender affirming healthcare needs

global health issues

gun violence

health journalism

health law and health policy

health literacy

healthcare decision making

homelessness and housing insecurity

hospital policies and practices

infectious diseases

intimate partner violence (IPV)

LGBTQIA+ healthcare needs

maternal and child health

Mental Health

oral health and public health dentistry

peer support and peer education

public health risk preparedness

race, systemic racism, and health disparities in various public health areas

refugee and immigrant health

reproductive health issues

substance use, addiction, and recovery

support for non-English speaking and ESL populations

vaccine intention and hesitancy

zoonotic and veterinary diseases (One Health)

My capstone project explores the integration of public health education into San Cristóbal, Galápagos. Working collaboratively with our partners in Galápagos, we have been able to produce several lesson plans and identify other routes outside of school to reinforce these topics. My time in Galápagos has been enriching and invaluable.

Darby Gallagher

MPH STudent

Program Capstone for the Master's in Health Informatics, Northwestern University School of Professional Studies - Northwestern School of Professional Studies

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Health Informatics Capstone

Health Informatics

What is the Capstone project?

As a culminating experience , each student will independently put into practice the knowledge and skills they learned during their coursework through a Capstone Project.

Students will have the opportunity to develop and implement a Health Informatics project in their workplace or other academic / industry organizations . The project will challenge each student to conduct research and apply knowledge, skills and competencies built through coursework completed in the MHI program.

If students are unable to find a real-world project, they can alternatively develop a culminating, two-part project, that will leverage health informatics to provide a solution to a need or problem arising as part of a case study. Note: Finding a real-world project would be preferred over working on a case study.

Each student will work with the course instructor to identify a “Knowledge Expert” for their capstone project along with a faculty advisor from the Northwestern University Health Informatics program.

What can students expect during the MHI Capstone course?

A challenging but rewarding experience that would prepare or enhance their professional skills in the field of Health Informatics. There will be a focus on more career and real-world experiences than the other courses in the MHI program. The Capstone course is more about the hands-on (or applied experiences) in the world of Health Informatics. Depending on the complexity of your project, you can expect to spend 5 to 10 hours a week, or 50 to 100 hours during the quarter working on your project.

With whom can you do a capstone project ?

Your Employer / Workplace: You may work on a discrete project from your workplace for your capstone project. This will need to be above and beyond your day-to-day job responsibilities. You will need to identify a Knowledge Expert / Mentor at your organization to support you during the project.

“Sponsor” organization projects : You may partner with an external organization in the industry who may be interested in sponsoring a capstone project. There may be opportunities available through Northwestern University or you will need to find one on your own.

Academic Partners: You may work with a MHI Faculty member, or with other academic partners at Northwestern University (such as Feinberg School of Medicine or Northwestern Memorial Hospital), or other academic institutions to work on an informatics or research based capstone project.

Capstone Project Cases : Alternatively, if you are unable to find a real-world project, you may choose to work on one of the capstone project cases made available through the course.

What is the Capstone Course timeline?

The MHI Capstone Course can only be done in the last quarter of the MHI program prior to your graduation. Like the other courses in the program, you will have 10 weeks to complete your capstone project. Due to this aggressive timeline in the quarter, we will divide your capstone project in the following phases:

Capstone Identification and Proposal: 1-2 weeks
Capstone Implementation: 5-7 weeks
Capstone Paper and Presentation: 1-2 weeks

How to Prepare for the Capstone

Capstone pre-work: complete prior to starting the capstone course.

Reflect on your career goals. What do you want to do after you graduate from the MHI program? There is no right or wrong answer to this. If you have not yet thought about it, this exercise should help you get started.
Prepare your CV / Resume that includes your most up to date professional and academic experiences (including the MHI program) prior to the start of the MHI Capstone Course.
Start thinking about capstone project ideas that ideally align with your career goals.
Do you already have a “sponsor” or organization in mind to do your capstone with?
If you are currently working in the healthcare industry, explore possible capstone project opportunities with your employer that would be above and beyond your day-to-day job responsibilities. I would also encourage you to reach out to any relevant contacts in your professional network to find a capstone project opportunity, if needed.
Some “sponsors” or organizations will work with you in a virtual environment, while others may prefer an in-person or hybrid model.
If you have already selected a project for your capstone, then complete any onboarding work such as contracting, drug tests, training, IRB approvals, etc. as soon as possible so that you can start working on your project implementation during the capstone course.

Capstone Advising Sessions

This Capstone course has been overwhelmingly successful with respect to the student experience based on feedback. The only critique of Capstone is the timeframe – students feel that one quarter to complete the project limits the potential for projects.

In order to address the time constraint of a single quarter, students will be given the opportunity to meet with their capstone instructor during pre-capstone advising sessions in the quarter prior to their capstone. This will allow students to navigate the pre-work with the support of their instructor, allowing for more time to connect with potential partners for their proposed project leading to a more time fulfilling project experience.

Students approaching their final quarter will be contacted to set up an appointment with the capstone instructor during the quarter prior to the capstone.

The MHI Capstone Experience

Student reflections.

MHI faculty member Imran Khan interviewed two of his graduating students, Regina Schwind and Angela Mazzari, to discuss their experiences in the MHI program and their respective Capstone projects.

Recent Capstone Project Topics

Reducing Infant and Maternal Mortality Rates in the Black Populations of Athens, GA
Population Health Provider and Patient Engagement Strategy
Scalable Monitoring System to Address Emergency Care Usage among Patients with Multiple Chronic Conditions
Improving Anticoagulation Safety & Drug Compliance (of cardiac patients) through a Remote Monitoring System
WordGlass: Technology to Provide Live Closed Captioning for the Hearing- Impaired in the Health Care Setting
Hand Hygiene Audit Tool
Adoption of an Electronic Lab Notebook in a WSU Research Lab
Digital Health Solutions for a Rural Healthcare System
A Comprehensive Solution to Improving Diabetic Outcomes and Improved Shared- Savings Returns by Achieving the Together to Goal Program Metrics
Hierarchical Condition Category Risk Adjustment Documentation in Epic
Clinical Decision Support System for the Prenatal Care of Obese Patients at a Family Practice Residency Clinic
Engaging High-Need Patients to Produce Scalable High-Value Health Care
A Care Management Dashboard for Population Stratification using Johns Hopkins ACG System in the Enterprise Data Warehouse

Capstone Project Options

Master of healthcare administration.

The capstone course is taken during your final semester of the Master of Healthcare Administration program. You can choose to complete this project with a Program-Sourced Capstone Partner, Self-Sourced Capstone Partner, or an Employer Capstone Partner.

Program-Sourced Capstone Partners

This option allows students to complete a project with a facility that has approached the institution seeking students and assistance with a specific project with their organization. This is not guaranteed and still requires that the student get the facility's approval to complete a project within the given timeframe. Program Partners are under no obligation to accept any student and this decision is based on the need and capacity to work with students at any given time.

Self-Sourced Capstone Partners

Students are encouraged to explore capstone opportunities that fit their preferences and career goals. If the student needs assistance approaching outside organizations of interest, and there is no existing relationship with the MHA program, the program director and faculty may be able to assist.

Employer Capstone Partners

Students are encouraged to explore opportunities for capstone projects that fit their preferences and career goals. If the student works at a healthcare facility and his/her employer is willing to offer an opportunity for the capstone project then this can be considered. It should be made clear that this capstone project will not conflict with the student’s current duties.

The capstone project and accompanying research paper serve as the culminating assessment in the MHA program. Examples of capstone projects:

Create a marketing campaign for a healthcare facility
Work with management to revise existing policies and procedures and maximize operational efficiency
Plan and manage a fundraiser for a healthcare facility
Prepare and lead a new social media marketing campaign
Establish an international relations program for foreign physicians working at the facility
Develop a leadership training program for healthcare administrators
Establish a disaster drill procedure and program
Pilot a new system for a healthcare facility such as the EHR

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PMC10213715

MPH Capstone experiences: promising practices and lessons learned

Associated data.

The data analyzed in this study is subject to the following licenses/restrictions: The data were collected for internal program evaluation. We did not request permission at the time of data collection to disseminate these raw data. Requests to access these datasets should be directed to ude.cnu@deirfdnal .

To ensure workforce readiness, graduate-level public health training programs must prepare students to collaborate with communities on improving public health practice and tools. The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) requires Master of Public Health (MPH) students to complete an Integrative Learning Experience (ILE) at the end of their program of study that yields a high-quality written product demonstrating synthesis of competencies. CEPH suggests written products ideally be “developed and delivered in a manner that is useful to external stakeholders, such as non-profit or governmental organizations.” However, there are limited examples of the ILE pedagogies and practices most likely to yield mutual benefit for students and community partners. To address this gap, we describe a community-led, year-long, group-based ILE for MPH students, called Capstone. This service-learning course aims to (1) increase capacity of students and partner organizations to address public health issues and promote health equity; (2) create new or improved public health resources, programs, services, and policies that promote health equity; (3) enhance student preparedness and marketability for careers in public health; and (4) strengthen campus-community partnerships. Since 2009, 127 Capstone teams affiliated with the Department of Health Behavior at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have worked with seventy-nine partner organizations to provide over 103,000 h of in-kind service and produce 635 unique products or “deliverables.” This paper describes key promising practices of Capstone, specifically its staffing model; approach to project recruitment, selection, and matching; course format; and assignments. Using course evaluation data, we summarize student and community partner outcomes. Next, we share lessons learned from 13 years of program implementation and future directions for continuing to maximize student and community partner benefits. Finally, we provide recommendations for other programs interested in replicating the Capstone model.

Introduction

Responding to public health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic requires a public health workforce skilled in community partnership ( 1 , 2 ). Schools and programs of public health are thus charged with designing community-engaged learning experiences while also satisfying accreditation criteria ( 3 ). The accrediting body for schools and programs of public health, the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), requires Master of Public Health (MPH) students to complete an Integrative Learning Experience (ILE), which represents a culminating experience near the end of their program of study. The ILE must yield a high-quality written product (e.g., “program evaluation report, training manual, policy statement, take-home comprehensive essay exam, legislative testimony with accompanying supporting research, etc.”) that demonstrates synthesis of a set of competencies ( 2 ). Such products may be generated from practice-based projects, essay-based comprehensive exams, capstone programs, or integrative seminars ( 2 ). CEPH guidelines suggest ILE written products ideally be “developed and delivered in a manner that is useful to external stakeholders, such as non-profit or governmental organizations” ( 2 ).

Within this paper, we describe promising practices employed within a community-led, group-based, year-long, critical service-learning course, called Capstone, for MPH students within the Department of Health Behavior at the Gillings School of Global Public Health (Gillings) at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) ( 4 ). We explain the specifics of Capstone's staffing model; project recruitment, selection, and matching processes; course format; and assignments, all of which are designed to promote mutual benefit for students and community partners. Using internal and school-level course evaluations, we present findings on student and community partner outcomes. Next, we reflect on lessons learned from 13 years of implementation experience and suggest future directions for Capstone programming. Finally, we share recommendations for other programs interested in replicating Capstone. We hope the information presented in this paper will benefit other programs interested in ILEs that have mutual benefit for students and community partners.

Pedagogical framework

By design, Capstone is a critical service-learning course. Service-learning pedagogies and practices vary widely. Essential elements of service-learning include community-engaged activities tied to learning goals and ongoing reflection ( 5 – 7 ). The literature documents wide-ranging benefits students gain from service-learning programs such as improved critical thinking skills as well as stronger leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills ( 5 , 8 ). Participation in service-learning courses promotes program satisfaction ( 9 ), academic achievement ( 5 , 8 – 10 ), and job marketability ( 9 , 11 ) among students. Finally, service-learning experiences enhance students' civic engagement ( 2 , 4 , 7 ), cultural awareness, and practice of cultural humility ( 8 , 12 ).

Despite these benefits, service-learning implementation challenges are well documented. Service-learning courses require significant resources to cover program expenses and staffing dedicated to developing and maintaining community partner relationships ( 7 , 12 – 15 ). In addition, the academic calendar may not align with community partners' timelines ( 5 , 14 , 16 ). Students and community partners have additional responsibilities and competing priorities outside coursework, thus creating variable levels of engagement across program participants ( 13 – 15 , 17 , 18 ). In cases where students have nascent project management skills and limited professional experience ( 9 , 10 , 13 ), it can be difficult to achieve mutual benefits among students and community partners.

A prominent debate within the field is the degree to which service-learning projects perpetuate the status quo or facilitate social change. Specifically, researchers question which elements of service-learning best create the conditions for student learning and positive community transformation ( 5 , 19 – 21 ). To provide a framework for this debate, Mitchell ( 5 ) differentiates between “traditional service-learning” and “critical service-learning.” Traditional service-learning is often critiqued for prioritizing student learning needs over benefits to the community ( 5 , 21 ). In contrast, critical service-learning is explicitly committed to social justice ( 5 ). Key elements of a critical service-learning approach include: (1) redistributing power among members of the partnership; (2) building authentic relationships (i.e., those characterized by connection, mutual benefits, prolonged engagement, trust, and solidarity); and (3) working from a social change perspective ( 5 ).

Most service-learning program descriptions within public health training do not reference either a traditional or critical service-learning framework ( 8 , 9 , 11 , 13 , 14 , 22 , 23 ). Several published programs align with a traditional service-learning model, due to the exclusive focus on student benefits and the absence of an explicit commitment to power sharing, authentic partnerships, or social change. For example, Schober et al. ( 24 ) underscore service-learning as an effective means to train a younger workforce to address complex public health issues. Gupta et al. ( 8 ) describe the importance of self-reflection activities for personal growth and skill development, structured within a service-learning program for undergraduate students enrolled in a community nutrition course. While these courses contain many of the best practices in service-learning, including reflection, they discuss student outcomes without promoting or evaluating social change ( 6 ).

The literature also cites programs and courses that include elements of critical service-learning but do not use critical service-learning terminology. For example, a service-learning program at the University of Connecticut outlines how students contribute to structural changes and social progress through policy development and implementation as part of their applied practice experience, which culminates with a presentation to the state legislature ( 23 ). Additionally, Sabo et al. ( 12 ) describe a service-learning course at the University of Arizona oriented toward social justice, as the course is “modeled on the reduction of health disparities through exploration, reflection, and action on the social determinants of health” through strong community-academic partnerships across urban, rural, and indigenous settings. These examples highlight commitment to social progress, community impact, and equitable collaboration without overtly applying the language of critical service-learning.

A small number of service-learning practitioners define their programs explicitly as critical-service learning. Mackenzie et al. ( 13 ) document the benefits of a critical service-learning experience for undergraduate public health students, endorsing it as a “feasible, sustainable” high-impact practice. In their model, students partner with community organizations to address social determinants of health; analyze and challenge power dynamics and systems of oppression; and gain skills. As evidence of power sharing and social change, the authors document that communities have continued their partnerships with the university due to the expansive reach and impact of their collaborations. Authentic relationships were also developed as students gained a stronger sense of commitment to communities. Derreth and Wear ( 25 ) describe the transition to an online critical service-learning course as universities grappled with changing instructional formats with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this course, public health students collaborated with Baltimore residents to create evaluation tools while participating in reflective activities. As evidence of critical service-learning, they documented students' changed perspectives, ongoing commitment to collaborate with residents after the course, and development of strong connections with faculty. These courses show the possibilities of critical service-learning ILEs. Detailed descriptions of program structures are needed for interested faculty to replicate best practices. To assist others with adopting or adapting elements of critical service-learning ILEs, this paper provides specifics about Capstone programming.

Learning environment

Program overview.

Community-Led Capstone Project: Part I and II (Capstone) is a graduate-level course situated within UNC-CH's Gillings' Department of Health Behavior (Department). The Department developed Capstone in response to faculty concerns about the variable investment in and quality of master's papers ( 26 ), coupled with a desire to design a practice-based culminating experience driven by community partners' needs, interests, and concerns. Capstone satisfies CEPH ILE requirements and serves as the substitute for UNC-CH's master's thesis requirement for students in the Health Behavior (HB) and Health Equity, Social Justice, and Human Rights (EQUITY) MPH concentrations. The overwhelming majority of students in these two concentrations are full-time residential students pursuing an MPH within a two-year time frame, though there are a few students who are enrolled in a dual degree program to earn their MPH alongside a Master of Social Work (MSW) or Master of City and Regional Planning (MCRP) within 3 years.

During this year-long course, which occurs during the second year of the MPH program, students synthesize and apply their MPH training to community-designed public health projects. Supplementary material A , B include a list of HB and EQUITY required courses and their sequencing. The specific competencies applied and assessed during Capstone are listed in Supplementary material C . Each team of four to five Capstone students works with a partner organization and its constituents to produce a set of four to six deliverables (i.e., tangible products). Deliverables are based on the partner organization's self-identified needs. This community-led approach prioritizes partners' interests and gives students an opportunity to do applied public health work on a range of topics with a variety of organization types. Figure 1 details the tasks and timelines entailed in this programming. Table 1 presents information from selected projects that showcase the range of partner organizations, activities, and deliverables present in Capstone. Capstone's specific objectives are to (1) increase capacity among students and partner organizations to address public health issues and promote health equity; (2) create new or improved public health resources, programs, services, and policies that advance health equity; (3) enhance student preparedness and marketability for public health careers; and (4) strengthen campus-community partnerships.

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Gantt chart illustrating major Capstone activities and timeline.

Sample projects.


Campus and Community Coalition to Reduce the Negative Impacts of High Risk Drinking, Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership (2018-2019)		1. Data analysis report 2. Communication plan 3. Qualitative analysis report 4. Evaluation recommendations report
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (2016-2017)		1. Interview and Focus Group Guides 2. Formative Research Report 3. Community Resource Guide 4. Recommendations Report
Chatham County Council on Aging (2019-2020)		1. Community ambassador resources 2. Monitoring report 3. Evaluation toolkit 4. Communications workplan
El Pueblo, Inc. (2011-2012)		1. Funding guide 2. Community Assessment Report 3. Revised Curriculum 4. Strategic Guide
North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition (2012-2013)		1. Literature review summary fact sheet 2. Policy recommendations 3. Presentation 4. Legislative summit
Rural Opportunity Institute (2021-2022)		1. Interview guides 2. Interview codebook and summary code report 3. Manuscript
Southern Coalition for Social Justice (2021-2022)		1. Landscape analysis 2. Interview guide and transcripts 3. Program plan 4. Partner case studies and recommendations report 5. External report

Personnel and resources

Capstone involves numerous constituents and requires dedicated resources. Each partner organization is represented by one or two preceptors (i.e., main points of contact from the partner organization) who provide a vision for, direct, and supervise the project work. Preceptors spend 2–4 h per week meeting with students, providing guidance on the work, and reviewing deliverables. Student teams are responsible for managing Capstone relationships, processes, and tasks and producing deliverables that enhance their skillsets while meeting their partner organization's needs. They are expected to spend 6–9 h per week, outside of class time, on Capstone. One faculty adviser per project provides technical expertise and ensures that each team's project deliverables meet UNC-CH's master's thesis substitute and CEPH ILE requirements. Faculty advisers spend 30 min to an hour a week providing feedback and guidance on the project work. Advising a Capstone team every other year is a service expectation for Department faculty. The teaching team, which is comprised of course instructor(s) and teaching assistants (TAs), recruits the partner organizations and oversees and supports the Capstone experience. Each instructor manages ten to eleven teams (typically between forty and fifty students) and receives coverage equal to twenty percent full-time equivalent per semester. TAs, who are HB or EQUITY MPH alumni and/or HB doctoral students, each work with five to six teams and are expected to work 18 h a week on Capstone. TAs provide feedback on draft deliverables, direct students to resources, and help problem solve. Departmental administrative staff provide additional support to coordinate expenses associated with the program such as project-related travel, equipment, services (e.g., transcription, interpretation, translation), books, software, incentives, postage, and other costs. Capstone students pay a one-time $600 field fee to cover a portion of the expenses associated with Capstone. This fee was approved by the University and is paid when a student enrolls in the first semester of the course.

Project recruitment, selection, and matching

Recruitment.

The process of setting up Capstone projects takes 9 months of advance planning (see Figure 1 ). The Capstone teaching team solicits project proposals in December for the upcoming academic year. They send email solicitations with Capstone overview information ( Supplementary material D ) and the project proposal form ( Supplementary material E ) to current and former Capstone partner organizations, hosts of other experiential education experiences, and department listservs. The Capstone teaching team encourages recipients to share the solicitation information with their networks. Prospective partners' first step is to have an informational interview with a Capstone instructor to discuss their project ideas and to receive coaching on elements of successful proposals. These interviews are also an opportunity for the teaching team to assess an organization's capacity to support a student team and gain insights on the prospective preceptors' communication, work, and leadership styles. The teaching team invites prospective partners to submit draft proposals for their review prior to the proposal deadline. Prospective partners submit their finalized project proposals and a letter of support from their leadership to the teaching team by email in early February.

The teaching team typically receives twenty project proposals. To determine which projects will be presented to incoming Capstone students, a committee consisting of the teaching team and student representatives from the current Capstone class reviews and scores proposals based on the criteria listed in Table 2 . Reviewers score each criterion on a scale of one through five with one being the lowest score and five being the highest score. The fifteen community partners with the highest scoring proposals are invited to share their ideas with students via a recorded seven-minute project overview presentation.

Project selection criteria.


Project Scope	1. Is there a clear scope of work with tangible outputs that have clear purposes and steps, are interrelated, and connect to one overarching project goal? 2. Is the proposed scope of work appropriate and feasible for a team of students within the academic timeline? 3. Is there sufficient time and effort allocated to onboarding students to the project work and partner organization? 4. Will the project facilitate knowledge and skill acquisition and application that will enhance students' readiness for public health careers?
Organizational Capacity	1. Does the preceptor have demonstrated time, expertise, and interest to mentor public health students? 2. Does leadership at the partner organization demonstrate support for the project?
Equity	1. Does the partner organization demonstrate commitment to promoting health equity and social justice? 2. Were the people who will be most impacted by the project work involved in the project design? 3. Will students engage with the intended beneficiaries of the work?
Impact	1. Does the project have strong potential to make a meaningful difference in the health of the beneficiary communities and populations?

Incoming Capstone students have 1 week in March to review the proposal materials and rank their top five project preferences. Based on student rankings, the teaching team assembles project teams using the following guiding principles: (1) give as many students as possible their top-ranked project; (2) promote diversity of concentrations and experience levels within student teams; and (3) ensure the number of students per team is appropriate for the proposed scope of work. Once the student teams are assembled, the teaching team matches faculty advisers to projects based on faculty's interests and expertise. The teaching team announces final team composition in early April. The course instructor(s) facilitates an initial meeting with each student team, their preceptor(s), and their faculty adviser in May to build community, clarify expectations, and orient the student team to their project work and partner organization. Project work formally begins in August of the following academic year.

Course format

Capstone spans the fall and spring semesters (fifteen weeks per term) and is three credits per term. To help students, preceptors, and faculty advisers become familiar with expectations for Capstone, the teaching team reserves the first 4 weeks of the fall semester for onboarding. As part of the onboarding process, each team cocreates a team charter ( Supplementary material F ) to promote authentic relationships between students and their community partners and to clarify expectations for working together. They also produce a workplan ( Supplementary material G ), which elaborates on the partner's project proposal, to outline the team's scope of work. After the onboarding weeks, the teaching team meets with each student team during class three times per semester to receive project updates and provide support. The teaching team facilitates two whole-class reflection sessions per semester to help students make meaning of their experiences. All other Capstone class sessions are protected time for student teams to meet and work on their projects.

Course assignments

Capstone assignments are designed to ensure a mutually beneficial experience for students and community partners. They are also intended to facilitate critical reflection, yield high-quality written products, assess synthesis of selected competencies, and evaluate how students steward the relationships, processes, and tasks associated with their projects. To share power and collect their unique perspectives, preceptors and faculty advisers participate in the grading process. Tables 3 , ,4 4 summarize course assignments, their descriptions, whether they are completed and assessed at the individual or group level, and the party responsible for assessing the assignment.

Capstone assignments for the fall semester.


Pre-course survey	Qualtrics survey distributed by the teaching team to students, preceptors, and faculty advisers to create a shared understanding of the team members' expectations for the Capstone experience.	Individual	TT	0%
Weekly updates	Email sent by the student team using a template prescribed by the teaching team to create communication efficiencies and systematically keep the teaching team, preceptors, and faculty advisers updated on students' project work.	Group	TT	10%
Teaching team check-in meeting facilitation	Thirty-minute meeting facilitated by the student team to build community with, update, and receive support from the teaching team.	Group	TT	10%
Team charter	Microsoft Word document following a template ( ) provided by the teaching team used to promote authentic relationships between Capstone students, their preceptor(s), and their faculty adviser by clarifying expectations for working together.	Group	TT	10%
Work plan	Microsoft Word document following a template ( ) provided by the teaching team that clarifies the Capstone student team's scope of work by outlining the project deliverables, their steps, and their timeline.	Group	TT	10%
Project Summary Visual and Script	Power point slide and accompanying narrative text used to explain the team's project work and its intended impacts in preparation for being on the job market.	Group	TT	5%
Mid and End-of Semester Evaluations	Qualtrics surveys administered by the teaching team to students, preceptors, and faculty advisers to reflect on accomplishments and challenges and assess roles, responsibilities, processes, and deliverables.	Individual	TT	0%
Project management	Assessment of teams' management of Capstone project relationships, processes, and tasks.	Group	TT, P, FA	35%
Project participation	Assessment of individuals' contributions to the Capstone project.	Individual	TT, P, FA	20%

TT, Teaching Team; P, Preceptor; FA, Faculty Adviser.

Capstone assignments for the spring semester.


Weekly updates	Email sent by the student team using a template ( ) prescribed by the teaching team to create communication efficiencies and systematically keep the teaching team, preceptors, and faculty advisers updated on students' project work.	Group	TT	10%
Teaching team check-in meeting facilitation	Thirty-minute meeting facilitated by the student team to build community with, update, and receive support from the teaching team.	Group	TT	10%
Mid and end of semester evaluations	Qualtrics surveys administered by the teaching team to students, preceptors, and faculty advisers to reflect on accomplishments and challenges and assess roles, responsibilities, processes, and deliverables.	Individual	TT	0%
Deliverables	Tangible products produced by the student team that are mutually beneficial to students' professional development goals and partner organizations' needs.	Group	TT, P, FA	35%
Project management	Assessment of teams' management of Capstone project relationships, processes, and tasks.	Group	TT, P, FA	20%
Project participation	Assessment of individuals' contributions to the Capstone project.	Individual	TT, P, FA	20%
Exit interview and prep sheet	Interview between student and faculty adviser to assess the student's synthesis and demonstration of foundational and concentration competencies.	Individual	FA	5%

Program evaluation

This study was exempted by UNC Chapel Hill's Institutional Review Board (IRB 21-0510) as it fell under the exemption category of “educational setting,” which includes research on instructional approaches and their effectiveness. To abstract and analyze data on the number of students who have completed Capstone, hours they dedicated to Capstone activities, and deliverables they produced, two authors referenced course records starting in 2009. The teaching team collects students' and preceptors' perspectives on Capstone through mid- and end-of-semester evaluations using Qualtrics. Gillings administers end-of-semester course evaluations that provide additional insights into student outcomes.

Core aspects of Capstone (e.g., program aims and our staffing model) have remained constant over the past 13 years. However, a variety of lessons learned and external conditions have led to program changes. Use of class time and project recruitment, selection, and matching processes have evolved to further promote health equity and maximize mutual student and community partner benefit. The EQUITY concentration joined Capstone in 2020, which led to changes in team composition. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a transition from in-person to a remote course format in academic years 2020 and 2021, introducing the opportunity to work with organizations across the nation.

To present qualitative findings that reflect our most current programming, two authors analyzed data from academic years 2020 and 2021. Ninety-eight students and twenty-two preceptors participated in Capstone during that time. The teaching team received a 100 percent response rate to their mid and end-of semester evaluations completed by students and preceptors and a seventy-two percent response rate to the Gillings-administered student course evaluations during academic years 2020 and 2021.

To identify key outcomes for students and preceptors, two authors completed a thematic analysis of evaluation responses ( 27 , 28 ). For students, they analyzed eighty-eight qualitative responses to the Gillings' course evaluation question, “What will you take away from this course?” Next, the two authors familiarized themselves with the data and inductively created a thematic codebook. To ensure consistent code use, they simultaneously coded approximately twenty-five percent of transcripts, coded remaining transcripts separately, and flagged any transcripts that required further review. To identify key preceptor outcomes, the two authors analyzed the twenty-two responses to the spring end-of-semester evaluation question, “Please describe how, if at all, your organization benefited from hosting a Capstone team.” They reviewed the responses to inductively create a codebook and then worked together to apply codes to all quotations to identify thematic groups.

Student outcomes

Since its inception in 2009, 574 students across 127 teams have completed the Capstone program, provided over 103,000 h of in-kind service, and produced more than 635 deliverables with our partner organizations. Between 2020–2022, ninety-eight students completed the current version of Capstone, provided 35,280 h of in-kind service, and produced eighty deliverables. Through our thematic analysis of course evaluation data, we identified two overarching themes for student outcomes: skill development and satisfaction.

Skill development, students' greatest takeaway from Capstone, was reflected in fifty-three percent ( n = 47) of students' qualitative evaluation responses. Students directly named interpersonal skills (e.g., communication, teamwork, collaboration, conflict management, facilitation, community engagement, coalition building) the most. They also commented on acquisition of technical skills (e.g., project management; content development; and data collection, analysis, and reporting). In most cases, students named a mix of skills in their responses. For example, one student said they will take away:

Skills developed on the project, including survey design and implementation as well as strategies for engaging with community advisory board authentically and successfully. Shared skills among team will stick with me as well – project management, inter–team communication, strategies for setting clear expectations and holding each other accountable.

Skill development helps achieve Capstone's course aims of increasing students' capacity to address public health issues and promote health equity while enhancing their preparedness and marketability for public health careers.

Twenty-four students commented on their satisfaction with the experience when sharing key takeaways. Seven students expressed dissatisfaction, primarily with course assignments, while seventeen others remarked on their satisfaction with the experience, particularly the applied format of the course. For example, one student shared,

This Capstone project really was special. Having a community partner that demonstrated how helpful these projects would be and work with us to shape the deliverables was such a unique process. I wish we had more community–focused classes like this one.

In alignment with Capstone's objective of strengthened campus-community partnerships and CEPH ILE goals, these Capstone partnerships afford students the opportunity to see the impacts of their learning and create meaningful work that benefits external constituents.

Community partner outcomes

Over the past 13 years, we have partnered with seventy-nine organizations representing a variety of sectors including healthcare, social services, education, and government. Twenty-five (31.6%) of our partner organizations have hosted multiple Capstone teams. Based on the twenty-two preceptor responses analyzed for this paper, two authors identified four major themes within community partner benefits: deliverable utility, enhanced capacity, broad impacts, and more inclusive processes. Sixteen (72.7%) preceptors said that they benefited from the deliverables (e.g., toolkit, communication tool, datasets, evaluation plan, report, oral history products, protocols, presentation, report, curriculum, manuscript, engagement plan) produced by their team. These findings reflect Capstone's course aim of creating new or improved public health resources, programs, services, and policies.

Fifty-seven percent ( n = 12) of preceptors noted that project outcomes would not have been possible without the support of a Capstone team. The resources teams developed increased partner organizations' capacity to further their work. For example, a preceptor shared:

The Capstone team provided us with SO many hours of highly skilled person power that we would not otherwise have had. We now have a draft of a thorough and high quality [toolkit], which I don't think could have been created without their labor, given the resource constraints of [our organization]. This toolkit will serve as a tool to start conversations with many […] stakeholders in the future. I think it will also serve as a model for other states.

Not only can students' in-kind service and the work they produce help increase the capacity of our partner organizations, but also the Capstone project work can have long-term and far-reaching impacts for public health practice at large. Indeed, preceptors ( n = 8) reported impacts that extend beyond the partner organization. For example, another preceptor noted,

[Our organization] will use the presentation and report that the Capstone team produced for the next decade. Not only will [our organization] benefit from advancing our strategic priorities and deepening our partnerships, but we believe this report will be used by other agencies across the county to advance behavioral health priorities in need of support.

This is an example of how Capstone can yield new and improved public health resources, programs, services, and policies that have lasting impacts beyond those directly benefiting our partner organizations.

A final theme that emerged was organizations' increased ability to implement more inclusive processes. Four preceptors commented on expanded commitment to equity initiatives as illustrated by the following quote:

The work the team did for [our organization] is work that we've talked about doing for several years - but we never had the time. The protocols are important for injured children, so we're grateful for the team's work. We also have never addressed social equity as a group. Working with this team has prompted us to take a look at our practices. The evaluation plan the students developed will provide a mechanism for us to assess and trend our implementation of the protocols and our efforts to reduce inequities in trauma care.

This example demonstrates how Capstone's commitment to working from a social change orientation can impact our partner organizations' cultures. Overall, these findings illustrate the myriad community partner benefits present within Capstone.

These results show that Capstone mutually benefits community partners and students. Overall, students gained skills in collaborating with communities and contributed to collective capacity to improve public health practice and tools for promoting health equity. Our finding that skill development was a key student outcome aligns with Mackenzie et al.'s ( 13 ) and Gupta et al.'s ( 8 ) evaluations of similar service-learning courses. Among skills developed, both studies cited teamwork and professional development skills as key components ( 8 , 13 ). Mackenzie et al. ( 13 ), Derreth and Wear ( 25 ), and Sabo et al. ( 12 ) also report additional student outcomes that were not explicitly measured in our evaluation, including a deeper commitment to work with local communities, a deeper commitment to engaged scholarship, and stronger relationships with faculty.

In our evaluation, community partners benefitted through useful deliverables, enhanced capacity to do more public health work, impacts beyond the scope of the project, and more inclusive and equitable processes. Like our study, Gregorio et al. ( 23 ) found that their students' work products were very useful. Moreover, the Mackenzie et al. ( 13 ) study cited that students were able to offer additional capacity to organizations by “extending the[ir] reach,” which reinforced our main findings of enhanced capacity and impacts beyond the scope of the project. While not all service-learning course evaluation studies included data from community partners, our results aligned with those that did.

Lessons learned

After 13 years, we have identified several lessons learned about implementing a critical service-learning ILE. First, despite proactive planning efforts, the teaching team has learned to expect challenges related to project scope and relationships. The solicitation and refinement of projects and partnerships starts 9 months before the beginning of Capstone. Through extended individualized support and engagement, the teaching team hopes to build trust with community partners and collaborate in shaping and strengthening their project proposals. While there are benefits of this level of engagement, no amount of planning completely insulates projects from the unforeseen challenges of community-engaged work. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted how Capstone could engage with community partners, their priorities, and their staffing. In particular, preceptor turnover creates numerous challenges for team morale and project ownership, satisfaction, and impact.

Second, Capstone course assignments are designed to maximize positive experiences for students and community partners and to uphold the principles of critical service-learning, but students are often frustrated with them. The teaching team refers to the workplan and team charter as the “guardrails” of the Capstone. They exist to clarify expectations, promote power sharing and authentic relationships, and reinforce Capstone's commitment to social change. The teaching team has observed that teams who invest deeply in these documents are the least likely to encounter significant interpersonal and logistical setbacks during the experience. Despite the teaching team's messaging about the importance of these structures for mutually beneficial experiences, students routinely assert that the start of Capstone contains too much “administrative” work. While the teaching team continues to respect and incorporate students' critical feedback, they have learned to expect a certain amount of student dissatisfaction at the start of the experience.

Third, the Department has learned that having the appropriate amount of staffing and material resources to support projects is essential to ensuring positive impacts. Limiting partners to only those with material resources is one way that funding models both within public health and the non-profit sector often exclude organizations with more explicit social change agendas. Therefore, to maximize student learning and community partner benefit while minimizing community partner burden, Capstone has a high university-staff-to-project ratio and covers project expenses. To fund Capstone, the Department uses a combination of state resources and field fees. There is an enduring tension, especially because resources are scarce, to scale back spending on courses like Capstone. For experiences like these to sustain and grow, additional resources, not fewer, are needed.

Finally, programs like Capstone must adapt to shifting social, political, economic, and educational landscapes to ensure sustained positive impacts. For example, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the teaching team limited the eligible pool of Capstone community partners to those within a forty-mile radius of UNC-CH. The pandemic resulted in the teaching team broadening community partner eligibility criteria and now Capstone works with community partners across the nation. Capstone's expanded reach is aligned with the new vision for Public Health 3.0 where public health professionals are expected to “engage multiple sectors and community partners to generate collective impact” while improving social determinants of health ( 29 ).

Future directions for Capstone

Public Health 3.0 ( 29 ) looks to promote health, equity, and resilience. With more community partners working on projects that explicitly tackle upstream factors like education, housing, and poverty in addition to health, Gillings will need to update its MPH training program to ensure that students enter their ILEs with the skills needed to meet these challenges. Below we describe ongoing quality improvement efforts internal to the Capstone program to strengthen outcomes for students and partner organizations.

The teaching team hopes to continue to enhance student preparedness and marketability for careers in public health. Much like other experiential learning models that report benefits to career readiness, professional leadership, and confidence ( 15 , 18 ), students report a host of positive outcomes from their Capstone experience that imply preparedness and marketability. Students note the breadth and depth of technical and interpersonal skills gained, as has been reported elsewhere ( 13 , 30 ). These reports of enhanced preparedness align well with findings that among undergraduate seniors seeking employment immediately after graduation, students whose course history included service-learning and capstone courses experienced greater odds of starting a new job compared with those who did not engage those high-impact practices ( 31 ). In recent years, the teaching team has offered skill-building workshops, as replicated in other programs ( 3 ), to coach students on how to present their Capstone work on résumés and how to talk about their projects during interviews using sample scripts. To simulate job applications and increase engagement with partner organizations, the teaching team will consider inviting preceptors to review and provide feedback on students' résumés and project description scripts.

The teaching team also aims to further strengthen community partnerships. One way to maximize Capstone's benefit for community partners is to adapt recruitment strategies so that the teaching team reaches more organizations for whom the Capstone experience would be most impactful. This may mean further refining the application process to lessen the time burden on potential partners and disseminating the call for Capstone projects through different channels. To enhance the experience of selected community partners, the teaching team plans to implement more preceptor-specific programming such as check-in meetings and skill-building workshops to build community and encourage collaboration among community partners.

Finally, there is a clear need for a comprehensive Capstone evaluation. The teaching team has yet to administer surveys, interviews, or focus groups that explicitly evaluate course aims and the elements of critical service learning. Furthermore, our understanding of the long-term impacts of Capstone is currently limited to anecdotal information from exchanges with former students and preceptors. By conducting a strategic evaluation, including modifications to existing course feedback opportunities and an additional alumni survey moving forward, we can better assess how Capstone is achieving course aims, operationalizing the elements of critical-service learning, and having long-term impacts.

Recommendations for program replication

Capstone's model can be adopted or adapted by individual faculty or by schools of public health. We welcome faculty members or program and school leaders to contact us to further discuss what this might look like. In general, though, we recommend that the following core components remain consistent:

Program staff invest effort to ensure community partners understand the overarching goals of the experience, general timelines, logistics, and roles and responsibilities of all involved parties prior to submitting a project proposal.
Community partners are selected using clearly defined criteria, including equity.
Community partners lead the development of, and direct, students' scope of work and have flexibility in determining deliverables.
The experience spans two semesters (vs. something shorter like one semester or a summer).
Students have ample time during their assigned class time to make progress on their projects.
Course assignments (e.g., workplan, team charter, weekly updates) provide “guardrails” for the project experience to help ensure mutual benefit.
There are robust staffing supports in place to recruit and maintain community partnerships, minimize community partners' burdens, and maximize student learning. Such supports are especially important when students have nascent project management skills and limited professional experience ( 10 , 13 ).

As shown in Figure 1 , program staff work on Capstone activities year-round and recruit new community partners while managing a current cohort of preceptors. Clear job descriptions with timelines will be helpful in negotiations and will assist with sustainability as different faculty and staff cycle through leading this kind of experience.

Our description and analyses have many strengths. First, the detailed and transparent information contained in this paper will allow interested faculty to replicate and benefit from best practices found in Capstone. We openly share our course materials in the Supplementary material section and invite others to adopt or adapt these resources for their own use. Second, our results illustrate the benefits of Capstone and highlight mechanisms for ILEs to be transformative for students and community partners alike. Lastly, all authors on this paper have been members of the Capstone teaching team, students enrolled in the course, or both. This uniquely qualifies us to write this paper and share lessons learned with others in the field to advance public health training and practice.

Limitations

As noted above, our evaluation of Capstone has some limitations. First, we designed our evaluation and analyzed data retrospectively. Therefore, evaluation tools were not explicitly aligned to our four program objectives or the elements of critical service-learning. Second, we narrowed in on qualitative data from the past 2 years instead of the past 13 years because of changes implemented in 2020. To present reflections and feedback on the current version of Capstone, we had limited data to analyze.

By applying elements of critical service-learning to an ILE, Capstone is uniquely positioned to contribute to the development of public health leaders and positive community change. Community partners' project visions undergird the project selection and the course structure, which emphasizes authentic relationships, mutually beneficial processes, and practical synthesis of applied public health competencies. Through 13 years of experience, we have developed an ILE that is nimble enough to benefit community partners and rigorous enough to satisfy accreditation requirements. Capstone is a promising culminating experience practice for training skilled, collaborative public health practitioners and effecting community-driven public health change.

Data availability statement

Author contributions.

ML developed the course and its content along with peer colleagues, wrote the abstract along with the learning environment, program evaluation, and results sections. ML and LS conducted the thematic data analysis. MC and LS completed a literature review, drafted the introduction and pedagogical framework section, and provided continual editing. EC wrote the discussion section and provided overall guidance for manuscript preparation. DE provided guidance, structural editing, and formatting. BP provided line edits. All authors contributed to the conception of the paper, manuscript revision, read, and approved the submitted version.

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the 579 students and seventy-nine community partners we have learned from and with over the past 13 years. Many thanks to the editors and reviewers of this article for their comprehensive and helpful feedback including Laura Linnan, Beth Moracco, Kelsey Accordino, and Naya Villarreal. This paper is dedicated to the memory of Jo Anne Earp.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher's note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Supplementary material

The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1129330/full#supplementary-material

University of Washington

Health Systems and Population Health

School of public health.

MHA Capstone
Academic Experience
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Master of Health Administration
Program Experience: Master of Health Administration

The capstone project is the culmination of the UW Master of Health Administration (MHA) studies. It is designed to give students meaningful hands-on experience in solving real-world health administration problems.

Working in teams of three to four students, teams tackle projects submitted by health care provider organizations in the Seattle area and present recommendations to the participating organizations.

Capstone Project Examples

Listed capstone projects are from the 2024 MHA class.

Washington State Health Care Authority – Exploration of disparities and inequities faced by complex discharge clients

Research and analysis into barriers to discharging complex Medicaid acute care patients to post-acute care, and comparing effectiveness of Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs)
Developed recommended policies and tactics for HCA and MCOs to proactively manage complex discharge patients

UW Medicine Hospital and Clinics – Define the business case for an enterprise wide environmental sustainability program

Analysis and development of return-on-investment of three hospital-based sustainability projects
Developed tactics for implementation and communications recognizing the importance of sustainability efforts on the broader health system employee engagement

Providence-Swedish Puget Sound Ambulatory Clinical Network – Patient service delivery business plan-Customer service improvement strategies

Analysis of clinic patient satisfaction drivers and observation of patient engagement workflows
Developed recommendations for enhancing communications with and decreasing wait times for patients

Proliance Surgical Group – Evaluate and recommend internal vendor contracting process both operations and financial

Understanding the inefficiencies and risks of decentralized vendor contracting within a medical group structure
Developed contract authorization decision tools, process workflows, and change management resources for implementation at two surgical centers

Seattle Children’s Hospital – Developing and implementing a midpoint evaluation of Community Health Improvement Strategies (CHIS) and tracking dashboard

Understanding of various CHIS and measuring implementation tactics
Developing effective tools for collecting, analyzing, and communicating progress on CHIS implementation (i.e., CHIS dashboard)

Seattle Children’s Hospital – Close-loop referral system implementation for Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) positive screens

Connecting with Community-based Organizations (CBOs) to link to SCH and take patients who positively screen for SDOH needs
Developed a learning needs assessment and trainings for CBOs to stay connected to SCH and provide regular service reporting

Seattle Roots (formerly Country Doctor Community Health Clinic) – Screening for Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) – Process review, develop implementation and evaluation plan

Identification of various barriers to SDOH screening in clinics, including staff engagement, workflow, and patient reluctance
Research and analysis into the effects of SDOH screening and the improvement in health of populations

Washington State Medical Association – Develop a statewide peer support resource to strengthen physician wellness and restore joy in practice

Research into and development of a wellness webinar series focusing on empowerment, support, and organizational change
Research and development of a structure for a state-wide rollout of peer support groups

UW Medicine – Business continuity planning for clinical workflows

Understanding the interface of clinical workflows and electronic health records and the related effects of clinical systems downtime
Research into frameworks and development of workflows for managing clinical processes when in a downtime situation

Critical Challenge Project

Master's in Healthcare Leadership

Take the Next Step

Address real-time challenges with applied learning that draws upon your interests and experience..

The Critical Challenge Project (CCP) is central to the learning experience and will become the focus of an independent study. You will identify a challenge related to your field and interests, drawing from your own experience and vision for the future. Each student works collaboratively with their peers, professional colleagues, course faculty, and advisors, integrating various perspectives across healthcare sectors into the project.

The CCP allows you to address problems in real-time and apply the knowledge and skills learned throughout the program, with emphasis on integrating healthcare, business and policy factors, and collaborating across healthcare sectors. Projects should consider ethical implications and have practical applicability to the field of healthcare — taking into account multiple stakeholders and cross-sector perspectives as you develop innovative and viable solutions.

Key principles students use to define their CCPs include:

Relevant: Meaningful to the student in terms of background, interests, current job, future aspirations, and/or organization
Consequential: Project is broad enough scope to have an impact on stakeholders across the healthcare industry, including patients, providers, and payers
Realistic: Feasible and viable set of steps and expectations within the 12-month program (the overarching challenge does not need to be resolved within the program, but measurable progress toward the defined CCP must be reasonable and appropriate)
Measurable: Contains measurable outcomes of success

Soof Solutions Inc: Giving a Voice to the Speechless

Through the Critical Challenge Project, Dr. Maheen Mausoof Adamson turned her medical technology idea into a healthcare company devoted to providing a happier life to older adults, like her father, by giving them a voice.

Recent Capstone Projects

Sample Project Titles

The Use of Telemedicine to Increase Access to Healthcare for the Residents of the Bahamas Out-Islands
Utilizing Critical Access Hospital Infrastructure to Provide Opioid Use Disorder Services to Rural Communities
A Proposed Alternative Care Model to Reduce Unnecessary Emergency Department Utilization in an Elderly Medicare Advantage Population
Homelessness and Stabilization Unit Stays: Analyzing Current Discharge Planning Processes

View Critical Challenge Project Examples Download More Information

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Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) to Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD)
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DNP Final Project

DNP graduates remain in practice, leading cross-professional teams in the improvement and provision of informed quality healthcare. Graduates apply disciplined processes and translate strong evidence into practice to achieve complex, innovative change. They rely on their ability to analyze intricate and rapidly changing practice problems; critically evaluate and synthesize evidence relevant to those problems; effectively communicate complex concepts across disciplines; engage teams in quality improvement; and evaluate outcomes in the face of significant flux, making use of unkempt data originally obtained for other purposes. This work demands clear and compelling communication, strong analytic abilities, and flexible leadership at the systems level.

The knowledge, skills, and abilities to conduct such work is developed across the program and applied in the conduct of the DNP final project. The DNP final project is the student’s original work that establishes them as a Hopkins Nursing clinical scholar. Completion of the project demonstrates the student has achieved the program outcomes and provides evidence of:

Expertise in a particular practice arena

Critical evaluation of the evidence

Thorough, disciplined approach to problem solving

Innovative translation of strong evidence to improve quality of care

Attainment of significant outcomes

Judicious selection of evaluation methods

Deployment of reliable, valid, and specific instruments

Appropriate protection of human subjects

Effective communication with diverse stakeholder groups

Application of robust statistical methods

Ability to manage a complex project in the context of a dynamic healthcare delivery system

Upon completion of the DNP final project the student engages in thoughtful reflection focused on project execution in order to support ongoing professional development and identify institution-wide opportunities for ongoing performance improvement.

Thesis and Capstone Requirements for Public Health Programs

Most graduate programs in public health include a thesis or capstone project, which students usually undertake after completing other coursework. While completing these projects, students must apply knowledge and skills gained throughout the program. The thesis or capstone tests the student’s ability to make a unique contribution to their field while demonstrating mastery of the subject.

These culminating projects reflect the kind of work students will do during the course of their careers.

These culminating projects reflect the kind of work students will do during the course of their careers. Public health students may complete an academic article or a detailed plan for dealing with the outbreak of a disease. Some projects involve working alongside professionals in the field, while others require significant research in archives and libraries. The completed thesis or capstone project demonstrates the student’s ability to perform duties within the public health field.

What’s the Difference Between a Capstone and a Thesis in Public Health Programs?

A thesis is an academic article that presents an argument or research findings. Common in graduate programs, thesis projects are often by an adviser or other faculty member. Capstone projects take various forms and, although more common in undergraduate studies, may be a requirement of master’s programs. Capstones are often research projects presented in a non-article format and involve hands-on experience.

What Is a Capstone Like in Public Health Programs?

Public health capstone format.

Capstones are typically independent projects, which students undertake toward the end of their program.

Capstones can take a variety of forms, but they generally consist of written and oral portions. The written portion could be a short article or a summary of findings, while the oral portion may involve a presentation at a conference. Capstones are typically independent projects, which students undertake toward the end of their program. A capstone may last one or two terms. Some programs allow students to choose project topics and begin research early.

Choosing Your Public Health Capstone Topic

Typically, students choose a capstone topic relevant to their specializations and career interests, which one or more faculty members must approve. Capstone projects are an opportunity to build connections with public health professionals. Capstone topics often address contemporary problems in the field, and individual programs or faculty may provide a selection of topics from which students must choose. Some programs pair students with faculty advisers.

Completing Your Public Health Capstone

Regardless of the capstone format, a few aspects are generally the same. Students first choose a topic or research question on which to base the project. Learners may conduct research to determine the limits of the project or may simply complete an outline. Before beginning on a capstone project, one or more faculty members must approve the student’s topic; the faculty member may be the student’s adviser or the professor of the capstone course. After receiving approval, the student can begin further research, project development, and execution of the capstone. Methods and resources vary based on the student’s field, subfield, and specialization.

Presenting Your Public Health Capstone

Presentation circumstances vary by program, but students generally present their capstone to a panel of three to five faculty members. These presentations are often open to the public and may include an opportunity for audience members to ask the student questions. Though visual aids such as slideshows and videos are common, the project’s subject and format guides presentation methods.

How Is a Public Health Capstone Graded?

While students may receive a rubric, master’s-level capstone projects rarely receive letter grades. These projects are typically pass or fail, though some students may pass with distinction. While it is possible to fail a capstone, students rarely fail a capstone they have completed and presented; advisers ensure the project is of passing quality.

What Is a Thesis Like in Public Health Programs?

Public health thesis format.

A thesis is an individual project, typically a piece of academic writing based on research, sometimes involving experimentation.

A thesis is an individual project, typically a piece of academic writing based on research, sometimes involving experimentation. A faculty adviser generally oversees the student’s completion of their thesis project. Some programs require students to present their thesis. The amount of time allotted to complete a thesis project varies by program and depends largely on how early the student may submit a topic for approval. Many programs require students to enroll in a thesis course, or courses, which allows the program to award credit for the project and provides a specific time for students to meet with advisers and complete thesis work.

Choosing Your Public Health Thesis Topic

While completing their thesis project, students typically work with a faculty member who approves their topic, suggests sources or methods, and helps guide the student through the research and writing processes. Though some programs specify certain topics or stipulate that students address a current issue, students generally have the final say regarding their thesis topic. The main requirement of thesis topics in public health is that they contribute to the field.

Completing Your Public Health Thesis

The first step to writing a master’s of public health thesis is choosing an approved topic. Students must then research and write about that topic. Students must typically obtain approval early in the process and must usually check in with advisers regularly as they progress. The format of the thesis project varies by field and school. Learners typically submit their thesis to advisers, who suggest changes and additions before the student submits the thesis to the school for digital or physical publication and inclusion in the school’s library or archives.

Presenting Your Public Health Thesis

A thesis presentation often involves questions from a panel of advisers and other faculty. These questions should help clarify and further define aspects of the thesis. While a presentation may include a slideshow or other aids, the focus of the presentation should be on replying to the panel’s concerns, rather than presenting new information. Most thesis presentations are open to the public, and audience members are usually allowed or encouraged to ask questions, though they may not have read the thesis itself. Students typically present after submitting their thesis to advisers but before finalizing the project and submitting it to the school.

How Is a Public Health Thesis Graded?

Most programs grade thesis papers pass or fail. A thesis is the culmination of a student’s education and is designed to be a challenging but ultimately successful process. A good adviser works directly with the student to ensure the final version of the student’s thesis is passing quality.

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149 Capstone Project Ideas & Examples – 2024

June 6, 2024

The word “capstone” originally referred to the decorative, final piece of masonry that would be affixed to the top of a new building. But in terms of schooling, what is a capstone project? Academically, “capstone” is a fitting metaphor, as a capstone project serves as a culminating, crowning illustration of your scholarly work. The capstone project synthesizes the learning you have done in various fields, demonstrates your level of expertise in your specific area of study, and often marks the end or milestone moment of a current study path. In short, it’s a big achievement! In this article, we’ve outlined a few tips for cultivating your perfect capstone thesis and have included a list of capstone project ideas to get you started.

General Capstone Writing Tips

As you select a topic for your capstone project, be sure to consider the following criteria:

Personal Interest . A capstone project is meant to be the culmination of or milestone representing your specific path of study; as such, it should be a project that actually interests you! Perhaps you’ve already been working on a passion project or long-term scholarly paper on a topic that excites you. Or maybe you’ve heard about a specific branch of inquiry within your field that you find compelling and want to explore further. Whether you’re new to a specific capstone subject or have been working on it for a while, it’s important to know that your actual interest in a subject can increase your productivity and learning. [i]

Existing Research . For any new piece of scholarship, it’s crucial to thoroughly understand and acknowledge the current knowledge and findings that exist around your thesis. As an advancing practitioner in your field of study or profession, you should already have a sense of what other scholars and experts have said about your capstone project idea, but this is a moment to fully explore: Who are the major players in this professional or scholarly conversation? What are the most important pieces of research that ground this field of study? What recent innovations have been made in this topic?

Stakes . If you’ve ever been involved in a debate or had to write a persuasive speech , you know that an important question to answer is: “So what?” Why is this capstone project idea important? What will be affected if the ideas in your capstone do or do not come to pass? What exactly is at stake here?

Examples Continued

Stakeholders . The stakeholders of a capstone are those who will be affected by the information in your project. Perhaps you’ve already engaged in community service and have seen a gap that can be filled by your particular area of expertise. Maybe you are one of the stakeholders in your research. In every capstone project, your readers should know who will be most important to your work.

Identify a gap or problem . If you’ve done your research properly, then you now know what current holes or gaps exist in your field. Make sure you frame your capstone so that your audience is aware of the work that needs to be done.

Fill the gap . This is your moment to shine! What is your specific hypothesis? What kind of research will you conduct to prove it? Specifically, how is your work contributing to this field of study? To this profession?

Feasibility and Scope . The last question you need to ask yourself is: Can I actually do this project? Do you have the time and resources to complete the work you’re proposing? Is your capstone actually doable? If you find that your project seems too big, don’t despair! Many capstone project ideas can be narrowed down for specificity and feasibility. Take a look at the example below:

Very broad:

“What are some recent developments in women’s health research?”

More specific and feasible:

“What are the most current findings on early diagnostic testing and maternal health outcomes amongst American women?”

Capstone Project Examples

Below, we’ve listed 150 capstone project examples in various fields. Think of all of these focus questions and ideas as jumping-off points. Some are very broad, while others are much more specific. Your capstone project will most likely fall under the “specific” category (see “feasibility and scope” above), but broader topics and focus questions can get you started down the path of your own particular branch of research.

Computer Science Capstone Project Ideas

1) In what ways does social media influence current developments in information systems and marketing?

2) What recent developments have we seen in natural language processing? What innovations do we hope to see?

3) How is cybersecurity an essential consideration in political and public policy?

4) What is the potential for virtual reality within the fields of mental healthcare and / or physical rehabilitation?

5) How can cybersecurity better function in the healthcare industry?

6) What are current and developing applications for machine learning algorithms?

7) How can we develop more secure data encryption?

8) What are the current needs for development in image processing and design?

9) How does artificial intelligence promise to elevate, innovate, revolutionize, or render obsolete various fields and / or methodologies inside and outside of computer science?

10) What current developments exist in the field of neural networks?

11) In what ways can we develop more efficient data encryption algorithms?

12) What specific roles does computer science play in national defense?

13) Exploring automated testing systems.

14) In what ways have smartphone interfaces changed human behavior? Can we predict future changes?

15) What recent innovations have we seen in cloud computing and what changes can we expect to see in this field?

16) How can we improve specific algorithms that conduct market-based analysis?

17) What are the current most important ethical questions surrounding big data and information systems?

18) What are the current expectations around the development and use of cryptocurrency?

19) What specific relationships exist between national policy and internet censorship?

20) Recent innovations and gaps in _________. (Have you already done some research on a very particular topic? This is your moment to delve more deeply into a branch of computer science that specifically interests you !)

Nursing and Medical Capstone Project Ideas

21) What roles might nurses have in administering pain management and anesthesia?

22) In what ways can we address the country’s nursing shortage?

23) In what ways is the field of nursing expected to change in the near future?

24) What innovations can be made in continuing education for nurses?

25) In what ways can nurse practitioners and PAs function more effectively in primary care and specialty settings?

26) Going forward, what roles can nurses play in mobile health and telemedicine?

27) How can clinical settings improve their mental and emotional health outreach for employees?

28) In what ways do nurses and PAs function in specific research roles (e.g. cancer research)?

29) Development of cultural sensitivity training and eliminating health equity disparities in the nursing field.

30) Recent developments in women’s health initiatives and research.

31) In what ways can communication efficacy be addressed in clinical settings?

32) What is the relationship between medical care and specific public policies?

33) Nursing, management, and leadership roles.

34) In what ways can technology improve nursing and healthcare initiatives?

35) Recent innovations and gaps in _________. (Have you already done some research on a very particular topic? This is your moment to delve more deeply into a branch of medicine or scientific inquiry that specifically interests you !)

Humanities and Arts Capstone Project Ideas

36) How does art function in the political and public spheres?

37) What specific developments have we seen in the field of graphic design in the past decade?

38) Analyzing the relationships between marketing, commercial viability and contemporary literature.

39) In what ways do the humanities function in ecocriticism and the Anthropocene?

40) Social media and communication.

41) What are some recent examples of the relationship between popular culture and political propaganda?

42) Current distinctions between pop culture, avant-garde, and highbrow literature and art.

43) What is the role of philosophy in current public debate?

44) In what ways do / have the humanities function(ed) within and / or outside of the public sphere?

45) What is the role of the digital humanities in ancient / early modern / modern history?

46) What recent developments have we seen in the fields of women’s and gender studies?

47) How has a globalized media culture impacted our views on cultural exchange / postcolonialism / hegemonic power structures?

48) In what ways have sustainability initiatives become an essential part of art, theatre, fashion, film, and literary production?

49) Race, class, gender and / or sexuality, and recent developments in the construction of personal identity.

50) How does appropriation function in the realm of cultural production?

51) What is the current role of cinema in public and political culture?

52) Creativity and new genres in the wake of social media, artificial intelligence and monoculture.

53) How can / do museums and public spaces function as sites of cultural production?

54) In what ways has artificial intelligence begun to shape the arts and humanities?

55) Recent innovations and gaps in ____________. (Have you already done some research on a particular topic? This is your moment to delve more deeply into a branch of humanities research that specifically interests you!)

Engineering Capstone Project Ideas

56) What is the role of engineering in specific manufacturing practices?

57) In what ways are environmental and sustainable efforts transforming various industries (transportation, manufacturing, public use, energy, etc.)?

58) How does artificial intelligence promise to function in various engineering fields?

59) What are the functions of drones in supply chains?

60) How does engineering specifically function in the production and management of public health (water purification and distribution, waste management, etc.)?

61) What recent innovations have we seen in the fields of engineering and defense?

62) Assessing the feasibility of solar power, wind power, etc.

63) In what ways can engineering facilitate specific infrastructure innovations in public spaces?

64) What does the privatization of the aerospace industry demonstrate about the relationship between public and commercial scientific research?

65) In what ways does current engineering promise to disrupt fields like the automotive, manufacturing, aerospace, etc. industries?

66) Examining various uses of 3D printing.

67) What are some recent innovations in electric, geothermal and/ or nuclear energy?

68) What is the current relationship between extraction engineering and the public sphere?

69) How does the field of robotics function in medicine and public health?

70) Recent innovations and gaps in _________. (Have you already done some research on a very particular topic? This is your moment to delve more deeply into a branch of engineering or scientific inquiry that specifically interests you !)

Education Capstone Project Ideas

71) How do charter schools currently function in the education system?

72) What current pathways exist for continuing education in the teaching field?

73) What roles does artificial intelligence play in the future of education?

74) Disciplinary practices and education for early childhood, middle school, high school, etc.

75) Addressing income and resource disparities between public school districts.

76) In what ways does gender currently function in STEM education?

77) In what ways can mental health initiatives more thoroughly benefit students, staff, and educators?

78) In what ways is parental involvement a factor in current curriculum models?

79) What are the advantages and disadvantages of various modes of virtual learning, technology in the classroom, asynchronous learning, e-learning, etc.?

80) How can we address the current teacher shortage?

81) What are the current relationships between politics, public policy, school funding and curriculum development?

82) What recent innovations have we seen in outdoor learning, Montessori schooling, forest schools, eco-education, etc.?

82) How can schools facilitate better curricula and funding for special needs programs?

83) What is the current role of the arts in public education? In private education?

84) What is the relationship between public policy and homeschooling?

85) In what ways do race and class currently function in specific conversations around education?

86) What are current concerns and developments in the practices of school safety?

87) What developments are currently underway in curricula involving interdisciplinary and project-based learning?

88) What benefits and drawbacks currently exist in extracurricular programs and initiatives for students of various age groups?

89) Recent innovations and gaps in _________. (Have you already done some research on a very particular topic? This is your moment to delve more deeply into a branch of education or curriculum planning that specifically interests you !)

Biology Capstone Project Ideas

90) What are some recent developments in the ethics of stem cell research and cloning?

91) How has public disease testing changed since the pandemic?

92) What is the role of the biologist in mining, extraction, and geoengineering?

93) What recent innovations have been made in pesticide production, distribution, and wider use?

94) How can biology serve manufacturing industries to prevent contamination and supply chain stalling?

95) How do specific ecosystems currently function in regard to climate change? What changes are predicted to these ecosystems in the next decade and why?

96) In what ways are biologists’ roles evolving in the development of biomechanical medical devices?

97) What roles do biologists play in understandings of human reproduction and DNA?

98) How are pharmaceutical and recreational drugs currently understood and classified?

99) What recent biological innovations have been made in the production of food? What developments do we foresee in this branch of biology?

100) In what ways are biological systems affected by various forms of energy extraction and consumption (electrical power, gas, wind and solar power, etc.)?

101) How does A.I. promise to affect the roles of biologists in various fields?

102) What current biological threats do we face in terms of biological warfare? How are biologists crucial players in national defense?

103) Explore a relationship between the biochemical signatures of the body and mental wellness / illness.

104) In what specific ways is the organic movement both a biological consideration and a marketing strategy?

105) How do biologists play significant roles in the prevention of spreading infectious diseases?

106) What are the relationships between human population growth or decline and natural ecosystems?

107) How is marine life affected by human activity (recent understandings and developments)?

108) How do biologists function in public and political conversations around sustainability?

109) Recent innovations and gaps in _________. (Have you already done some research on a very particular topic? This is your moment to delve more deeply into a branch of biology that specifically interests you !)

Psychology Capstone Project Ideas

110) What recent developments have been made in research around specific social media platforms and mental health?

111) What roles did the pandemic play in social and mental health amongst particular age groups?

112) How are recent developments in digital communication (“ghosting,” “swiping,” “liking”) indicative of disordered psychological behaviors?

113) Considering particular contexts like time and place, explore the relationships between psychological wellness and gender.

114) Investigate stress reduction efficacy amongst particular populations.

115) What is the role of mental health awareness in policies and conversations around public health?

116) What role does psychology play in pain management?

117) In what ways are clinical psychologists and therapists uniquely poised to conduct empirical research?

118) What recent developments exist in research around various types of trauma?

119) What daily interventions need to be explored in the reduction of anxiety and sleep disorders?

120) What is the developing role of telemedicine and online mental healthcare?

121) In what ways are particular prescription drugs more or less effective when paired with traditional types of psychotherapy?

122) In what ways do companies utilize psychology in marketing and branding?

123) What is the role of the child psychologist in public schools?

124) In what ways can HR departments benefit from on-staff mental health workers?

125) Explore distinctions between child psychologists and early childhood educators.

126) What interventions can be made in the realm of public policy to lessen the social stigma of mental health disorders?

127) How can psychology be used to create more efficient workplaces?

128) In what ways can new technology like apps and AI be implemented in the ongoing care of mental health patients?

129) Recent innovations and gaps in _________. (Have you already done some research on a very particular topic? This is your moment to delve more deeply into a branch of psychology that specifically interests you !)

Business and Accounting Capstone Project Ideas

130) What are the current impacts of globalization on business strategy?

131) How can organizations change communication practices?

132) What are the relationships between sales, brand perception, and social justice movements?

133) In what ways are women perceived and compensated in the finance field? How has this developed over the past decade? What developments remain to be seen?

134) What leadership training programs and strategies best serve managers?

135) Exploring sustainable business practices.

136) In what ways can company structure influence business innovation?

137) What are the current trends and best practices for inter-departmental conflict resolution within businesses?

138) Exploring effects of mergers and acquisitions for specific companies.

139) What is the specific role of HR in performance management amongst employees?

140) Recent explorations of forensic accounting in cases of embezzlement.

141) Perform a case study analysis of a particular taxation policy.

142) What are some important features of the ethics of non-profit accounting?

143) In what ways can we measure international accounting standards?

144) Due to the pandemic, how have budgeting and financial planning methods evolved in recent years?

145) What specific impacts can we predict in the accounting field as a result of AI and other advancing technologies?

146) Perform an analysis of marketing strategies that utilize social media.

147) How can companies maximize consumer engagement in saturated markets?

148 Which technologies and designs are most effective in brand management and dispersion?

149) Recent innovations and gaps in _________. (Have you already done some research on a very particular topic? This is your moment to delve more deeply into a branch of business or accounting that specifically interests you !)

Capstone Project Examples – Works Cited

[i] Kahu, Ella., Karen Nelson, Catherine Picton. “Student Interest as a Key Driver of Engagement for First Year Students.” Student Success. Volume 8, Issue 2, pp. 55-66. July 2017.

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For the past decade, Jamie has taught writing and English literature at several universities, including Boston College, the University of Pittsburgh, and Carnegie Mellon University. She earned a Ph.D. in English from Carnegie Mellon, where she currently teaches courses and conducts research on composition, public writing, and British literature.

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Predicting Pediatric Malpractice Risks with AI

Miguel Nunez

Aug 13, 2024, 8:45 PM

Preverity – Predicting Pediatric Malpractice Risks with AI

In collaboration with Vanderbilt Data Science, Preverity launched a project aimed at developing a predictive model to assess malpractice risks in pediatric healthcare. This initiative was driven by the need to enhance patient safety in a particularly vulnerable population. By employing advanced logistic regression models with Lasso regularization, the project sought to create a tool that healthcare providers could use to identify potential risks before they manifest, ultimately improving the quality of care.

Predictive Modeling for Pediatric Malpractice

The project was spearheaded by a student who undertook the challenge of building a model capable of predicting the likelihood of malpractice occurrences in pediatric medicine. The student applied a combination of statistical techniques and machine learning algorithms to develop a model that not only predicts risk but also provides insights into the factors that contribute to these risks. The ultimate goal was to create a data-driven tool that could be integrated into healthcare systems to support better decision-making and reduce the incidence of malpractice.

Project Highlights:

Throughout the course of the project, the student focused on several areas essential to the development of an accurate and reliable predictive model. These highlights include:

Purpose: The primary aim of the project was to develop a logistic regression model enhanced by Lasso regularization, capable of effectively predicting malpractice occurrences in pediatric healthcare. By identifying these risks early, healthcare providers can take proactive measures to prevent adverse outcomes and improve patient safety.
Data Collection and Preparation: The project began with the collection of a comprehensive dataset, which included a variety of variables such as patient demographics, treatment types, outcomes, and historical malpractice claims. The student undertook extensive data cleaning and normalization processes to ensure the dataset was of high quality and suitable for modeling. This stage was crucial in laying the foundation for an accurate and reliable predictive model.
Feature Selection and Model Development: The student used logistic regression with Lasso regularization to manage the high-dimensional dataset. This technique was particularly effective in selecting the most relevant features that influence malpractice risks, helping to improve the model’s accuracy and interpretability. By focusing on the most significant variables, the model was able to provide clear and actionable insights.
Addressing Class Imbalance: One of the significant challenges the student faced was the issue of class imbalance, where the majority of cases did not involve malpractice, making it difficult for the model to learn from the minority class. To address this, the student implemented Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique (SMOTE) and adjusted class weights to balance the dataset. These techniques were essential in ensuring that the model could accurately identify and predict instances of malpractice.
Applications: The predictive model developed through this project is intended to serve as a decision-support tool for healthcare providers. By incorporating this model into clinical practice, providers can better identify patients at higher risk of adverse outcomes, allowing them to implement targeted interventions and reduce the likelihood of malpractice. This proactive approach has the potential to significantly improve patient care and safety in pediatric healthcare settings.

Session Insights:

The project highlighted the importance of rigorous data preparation and feature selection in developing predictive models for healthcare. The approach to data cleaning, normalization, and feature selection ensured that the model was both accurate and interpretable.
Addressing class imbalance was a critical component of the project’s success. By implementing rebalancing techniques like SMOTE, the student was able to create a model that could reliably predict malpractice risks despite the inherent challenges posed by imbalanced data.
The use of logistic regression with Lasso regularization was particularly effective in handling the complex, high-dimensional dataset. This approach not only improved the model’s predictive power but also provided insights into the most significant factors contributing to malpractice risks, offering valuable information for healthcare providers.
Overall, the project underscored the potential of AI-driven predictive modeling in healthcare, particularly in high-stakes environments like pediatric medicine, where the ability to anticipate and mitigate risks can have profound implications for patient safety and care quality.

The collaboration between Preverity and Vanderbilt Data Science illustrates how data science can be applied to healthcare, particularly in assessing pediatric malpractice risks. The project contributed to healthcare analytics and underscored the role of predictive modeling in enhancing patient safety and outcomes.

What is a capstone project?

Explore story topics.

- Generative AI
Capstone Case Study
Completed Research
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Natural and Life Sciences
Vanderbilt Generative AI Research

COMMENTS

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What is a Capstone Project and Why Are They Required By Most Master's
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Capstone Projects For Nursing Programs
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DNP Capstone Project Guide
An example of how one DNP student followed this 5-step evidence-based process to develop a change project with the goal of increasing vaccination among healthcare personnel working in a college: Step 1. A change project was initiated to increase influenza vaccination among healthcare personnel at a college. Step 2.
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PDF MPH Capstone Project Handbook
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Capstone: Executive MHA
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MHA 698: Applied Health Administration Capstone Project
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Health Informatics Capstone
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MSA Capstone Resources (698/699): Sample MSA 699 Capstones
The CMU Libraries did not participate in the selection of the sample capstones and does not have access to additional capstones. NOTE: The sample MSA 699 projects were written and submitted prior to curricular changes made in Fall 2024. Students should consult the course syllabus, Blackboard shell, and instructor for guidance.
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Capstone Project Examples. Below, we've listed 150 capstone project examples in various fields. Think of all of these focus questions and ideas as jumping-off points. Some are very broad, while others are much more specific. Your capstone project will most likely fall under the "specific" category (see "feasibility and scope" above ...
Enhancing Diagnostics with AI-Driven Medical Analysis
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Predicting Pediatric Malpractice Risks with AI
The project highlighted the importance of rigorous data preparation and feature selection in developing predictive models for healthcare. The approach to data cleaning, normalization, and feature selection ensured that the model was both accurate and interpretable. Addressing class imbalance was a critical component of the project's success.

Capstone Project Ideas on Healthcare Quality Improvement

PICOT Questions in Healthcare Quality Improvement

Evidence-Based Project Ideas in Healthcare Quality Improvement

Nursing Research Paper Topics in Healthcare Quality Improvement

Nursing Research Questions in Healthcare Quality Improvement

Nursing Essay Topic Ideas in Healthcare Quality Improvement

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Step 1: Identify the Problem

Step 2: Select a Topic

Step 3: Develop a Proposal

Step 4: Conduct Extensive Research

Step 5: Implement the Project

Step 6: Write the Final Report

Step 7: Presentation

How To Choose Topic For Capstone Project?

Identify Your Interests and Strengths

Consider the Practical Implications

Feasibility is Key

Seek Feedback

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