NURS FPX 4010 Assessment 3 Leadership and Change Management in Nursing Practice

NURS FPX 4010 Assessment 3 is a key assignment in Capella University's Leading People, Processes, and Organizations in Interprofessional Practice course. In this assessment, nursing students are challenged to lead a proposed change in a healthcare setting using evidence-based strategies, collaborative leadership, and effective communication. The goal is to promote quality improvement, increase patient safety, and enhance interprofessional collaboration.

As healthcare grows more complex, nurses must learn to lead change, not just respond to it. This assessment helps students develop the confidence and skills to initiate, manage, and sustain improvements in real-world clinical environments.

Purpose of NURS FPX 4010 Assessment 3

The main objectives of this assessment are to:

• Demonstrate the nurses role as a change agent

• Identify a healthcare issue that requires improvement

• Propose a realistic change strategy

• Analyze how leadership theories support that change

• Communicate the plan effectively to an interprofessional team

This assessment prepares students to influence policy, improve systems, and lead teams through transformationall critical skills for BSN-prepared nurses.

Assignment Overview: What Youll Be Doing

In this NURS FPX 4010 Assessment 3, students are asked todevelop a change proposal for a specific healthcare issue. This includes:

• Defining the issue or gap in care

• Describing the change needed and why it matters

• Applying leadership theories to support the change

• Explaining how the change will be implemented and communicated

• Discussing how to measure the outcomes of the proposed change

Step-by-Step Guide to Completing Assessment 3

Step 1: Identify a Relevant Healthcare Issue

Choose an issue that:

• Impacts patient safety, quality of care, or team performance

• Involves interdisciplinary collaboration

• Can be improved through leadership and structured change

Examples of issues include:

• High hospital readmission rates

• Low patient satisfaction scores

• Medication errors due to communication breakdowns

• Delays in discharge planning

• Poor handoff communication between shifts

Use data (e.g., from your workplace or national databases like the CDC, AHRQ, or WHO) to support your choice.

Step 2: Propose a Change Strategy

Describe what needs to change and how you propose to improve the situation. Your plan should be:

• Realistic within your clinical setting

• Evidence-based

• Supported by best practices or clinical guidelines

Include strategies like:

• Implementing bedside shift reports

• Using electronic medication reconciliation tools

• Conducting regular interdisciplinary care meetings

• Launching a patient education initiative

Step 3: Apply a Leadership Theory

To align with EEAT principles, apply a recognized leadership model and explain how it supports the proposed change. Common models include:

• Transformational Leadership: Inspires and empowers staff through vision and motivation

• Lewins Change Management Model: Unfreezing, changing, and refreezing behaviors

• Kotters 8-Step Change Model: Structured approach to organizational change

• Servant Leadership: Focus on the needs of others to drive success

• Situational Leadership: Adapts leadership style based on the readiness of followers

Back up your leadership approach with peer-reviewed evidence.

Step 4: Communicate the Plan

Effective leadership requires clear, structured communication. Include:

• How you will present the proposal to stakeholders (e.g., meetings, presentations)

• Use of structured tools like SBAR for clarity

• Ensuring feedback from the interprofessional team is included

• Tailoring the message to different roles (nurses, physicians, administrators)

Step 5: Define Metrics for Success

Use SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) to evaluate the effectiveness of your plan.

Examples of metrics:

• Reduce medication errors by 20% within 90 days

• Increase patient satisfaction scores from 70% to 85% in 3 months

• Improve care coordination between units by 30% within 6 weeks

Also include how you will collect, measure, and analyze the data.

EEAT Integration: Building a Strong, Credible Paper

To align with EEAT (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) standards, make sure your work includes:

Expertise

• Show deep understanding of change management and leadership in nursing

• Use appropriate terminology and clinical relevance

• Demonstrate critical thinking in developing the proposal

Authoritativeness

• Cite current, peer-reviewed sources (within 5 years)

• Include data from respected organizations like ANA, CDC, AHRQ, or WHO

• Apply proven leadership theories with academic support

Trustworthiness

• Be transparent about potential risks or challenges

• Propose realistic solutions

• Acknowledge diverse team input and cultural competence

Sample Paper Outline

Title: Improving Medication Safety Through Interdisciplinary Rounding and Leadership Innovation

I. Introduction

• Summary of the issue (medication errors)

• Importance of leadership in addressing safety concerns

II. Identifying the Problem

• Describe current practices leading to errors

• Provide supporting statistics or evidence

III. Proposed Change Strategy

• Introduce interdisciplinary rounding as the intervention

• Outline step-by-step implementation

IV. Leadership Theory Application

• Apply Kotters 8-Step Model

• Explain how it supports successful implementation

V. Communication Plan

• Describe how the change will be introduced to staff

• Address team roles and communication formats

VI. Evaluation Metrics

• List SMART goals

• Include tools to track performance (e.g., audits, surveys)

VII. Ethical and Professional Considerations

• Discuss fairness, safety, cultural sensitivity

• Address patient consent and involvement

VIII. Conclusion

• Recap of leadership role in managing change

• Call for sustained teamwork and improvement

Recommended Sources for Evidence-Based Support

• PubMed:

• CINAHL: Nursing-focused database

• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ):

• ANA (American Nurses Association):

• CDC Healthcare Quality Guidelines:

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Choosing a problem thats too broad or vague

• Not grounding your change in a leadership theory

• Lack of scholarly references

• Proposing unrealistic goals without clear evaluation

• Ignoring the teams role or skipping the communication strategy

Conclusion

NURS FPX 4010 Assessment 3 empowers BSN learners to step into the role of nurse leader and change-maker. By identifying key issues, proposing actionable strategies, and applying leadership theories, you demonstrate your readiness to make an impact in healthcare settings.

This assignment helps build not just academic successbut also the professional confidence to lead teams, inspire innovation, and deliver safer, higher-quality care. Use this opportunity to reflect on how leadership drives transformationand how you can be a voice for change in the evolving world of nursing.