Benchmark – Capstone Project Topic Selection and Approval In collaboration with the approved clinical preceptor, students will identify a specific evidence-based topic for the capstone project change proposal. Students should consider the clinical environment in which they are currently employed or have recently worked. The capstone project topic can be a clinical practice problem, an organizational issue, a leadership or quality improvement initiative, or an unmet educational need specific to a patient population or community. The selected problem should encourage the student to engage in interprofessional collaborative practice. Students should select a topic that aligns to their area of interest as well as the clinical practice setting in which practice hours are completed. This project is only a proposal and will not be implemented in a practice setting. Write a 750-1000-word description of your proposed capstone project topic. Include the following: Describe the problem or issue that will be the focus of the change proposal. Explain with which category (leadership or community) the selected topic would best align. Discuss the setting or context in which the problem or issue can be observed and describe the population affected by this problem or issue. Discuss the implications this clinical practice problem or issue has on nursing practice. Based on your needs assessment in Topic 1, describe why this is a priority for the community/clinical site or affected clinical population. Briefly describe the organizational structure (mission, vision, values, leadership structure, etc.) of the practicum site. What internal and external processes will impact care coordination for the selected population or community? How effective has the organization been in addressing the identified problem or issue?

 

 	


You are required to cite a minimum of three peer-reviewed sources to complete this assignment. Sources must be published within the past 5 years, appropriate for the assignment criteria, and relevant to nursing practice.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.

Benchmark Information

This benchmark assignment assesses the following programmatic competencies:

RN-BSN

7.1: Apply knowledge of systems to work effectively across the continuum of care.

7.3: Optimize system effectiveness through application of innovation and evidence-based practice.

American Association of Colleges of Nursing Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education

This assignment aligns to AACN Core Competencies 3.1, 7.1 and 7.3
Expert Answer and Explanation
Falls in Older Adults

The Problem 

The problem that this Capstone project will address is falls in older adults. The US is one of the countries recording many older experiencing falls. Over three million older people visit emergency care departments across the US to get treatment for fall-related injuries and accidents (Centers for Disease Control, 2021). According to the Centers for Disease Control (2021), one in four older people experiences at least a fall per year.

The CDC also estimated that one case of falls in every five cases causes broken bones and injuries. The agency also reports that over 800 thousand adults aged 65 years and above get admitted to hospitals due to falls-related accidents and injuries. Admission cases of hip fractures make up about 37.5% of the total number of older adults admitted to hospitals due to falls-related injuries.

The Setting 

This Capstone project will be implemented in a geriatric department. As highlighted by CDC, falls is more prevalent in the older population aged 65 years and above than in other population. Older people have been selected because they are at risk of experiencing injuries or accidents as a result of falls. They risk developing fall injuries or accidents because of skeletal structure and body muscles (Zhang et al., 2019).

Description of the Problem 

According to Mahmoudi et al. (2019), falls are a significant problem for older people and are caused by several factors. One of the factors that contribute to the prevalence of falls among older people is chronic health conditions. Older people often suffer from chronic health conditions such as arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and diabetes, which can impair their mobility, muscle strength, and balance, heightening their susceptibility to falling. The second factor is their age (Zhang et al., 2019).

As a person age, they tend to experience muscle weakness which leads to balance issues, further increasing their likelihood of falling. Third, Moreland et al. (2020) noted that certain medications commonly used by older people, such as antidepressants, antihypertensive drugs, and sedatives, can induce dizziness and drowsiness, heightening the risks of falls. Other factors that increase incidences of falls in the elderly population include visual impairments, environmental hazards, and physical activity (Mol et al., 2019).

Effect of the Problem 

Falls have mental, medical, social, and economic effects on elderly populations who have experienced the problem. In terms of mental effects, falls can cause physical disability, which can prevent one from interacting with others, and as a result, the individual can develop mental problems such as depression (Zhang et al., 2020). Falls can cause injuries to the brain and skeletal system and thus lead to medical problems such as fractures and brain injuries. The economic status of older people who have experienced falls can be impacted because they will use a lot of money to treat injuries they have experienced the problem (Zhang et al., 2020). Lastly, falls causes movement problems which prevent the victims from socializing.

Significance of the Topic 

This topic is significant because it will improve the quality of life of elderly people. Falls are a serious mental and medical, which, if not addressed care, drastically affect the quality of life of older people. The project will also improve nurses’ knowledge of addressing falls among older patients.

The Proposed Solution 

The proposed intervention to education and awareness. Educating elderly people and their caregivers about fall prevention strategies, such as home safety, awareness of risk factors, and regular exercise, can help them take proactive measures to prevent falls (Ganz & Latham, 2020; Yen & Leasure, 2019; Izquierdo et al., 2021).

References

Center for Disease Control. (2021). Facts about falls. https://www.cdc.gov/falls/facts.html

Ganz, D. A., & Latham, N. K. (2020). Prevention of falls in community-dwelling older adults. New England Journal Of Medicine, 382(8), 734-743. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4fp173xd