Evidence-Based Pressure Injury Prevention Guidelines
Budget: $15 – $25 USD
This assessment focuses on the APPLY stage of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP), where research evidence is translated into meaningful and practical nursing care. You are required to use high-quality research evidence to inform clinical decision-making and to develop clear, evidence-based recommendations for nursing practice.
The hierarchy of evidence used in this task is based on the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) levels of evidence. Acceptable studies include:
• Level I: Systematic reviews or meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials (RCTs)
• Level II: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs)
Research Question Selection
Select one of the following focused clinical questions:
1. What are effective interventions for reducing pressure injuries in hospital settings?
OR
2. What are effective strategies to reduce medication errors by registered nurses in hospital settings?
OR
3. What are effective interventions to improve infection control practices by student nurses?
Your selected question will guide all components of the research report.
Research Report Requirements
Your submission must be written as a formal research report using academic language, scholarly sources, and structured headings. The report should demonstrate:
• Systematic identification of evidence
• Critical appraisal
• Comparative analysis
• Integrated synthesis
• Evidence-based recommendations for nursing practice
1. Introduction and Background
Provide a concise introduction that:
• Introduces the clinical problem and its significance to nursing practice
• Presents the chosen research question
• Justifies the importance of investigating this question using current literature
• Establishes the scope and purpose of the report
Use scholarly sources to support the relevance and impact of the issue.
2. Evidence Identification and Selection
Conduct a structured search of the literature to identify a minimum of five eligible studies that:
• Meet Level I and/or Level II evidence criteria
• Directly address the research question
• Have been published within the last five years
Clearly describe your selection approach (e.g., databases searched, keywords, inclusion criteria).
3. Table of Included Studies
Present a summary table of included studies to provide a clear overview of the evidence base.
Include the following for each study:
• Author(s)
• Year
• Study design (e.g., systematic review, RCT)
• Setting
• Population/sample
• Intervention(s)
• Comparator(s), if applicable
• Outcomes and key findings
Note: This table is not included in the word count.
4. Synthesis of Evidence
Provide a critical and integrative synthesis of the findings across studies.
This section should:
• Compare and contrast study outcomes
• Identify patterns, consistencies, and discrepancies
• Discuss methodological strengths and limitations (e.g., bias, sample size, generalisability, context)
• Evaluate overall quality and applicability of the evidence
• Directly link findings to the research question
Avoid describing each study separately; instead, synthesise across studies to produce new insights.
5. Recommendations for Nursing Practice
Based on your synthesis, formulate clear, actionable, and evidence-informed recommendations.
Recommendations should:
• Be specific and feasible for nursing practice
• Be justified with evidence
• Consider clinical context, safety, and implementation factors
• Demonstrate translation of research findings into practice improvement
6. Conclusion
Summarise:
• Key findings
• Implications for nursing practice
• The overall strength of the evidence
• The potential impact of implementing your recommendations
7. References
Use current, peer-reviewed scholarly sources and format according to required academic referencing guidelines (e.g., APA 7).
Required Structure
Present your report under the following headings, in this order:
• Introduction
• Background
• Evidence Identification and Selection
• Table of Included Studies
• Synthesis of Evidence
• Recommendations for Practice
• Conclusion
• References
Acceptable AI Use
For this Assessment Item, acceptable AI use is set at:
Level 1: AI Assisted Structure Checking
Description: Students may use Artificial intelligence (AI) tools to organise and check the structure and flow of their Assessment Item. This includes grammar checks, coherence, and flow of arguments but excludes using AI to generate new text and/or new content.
Additional Information Required: Indicate the AI tool(s) used for structure checking at the beginning of the Assessment Item and include the prompts you have used. Save copies of your drafts and content before/after AI was used, to produce upon request.
Essay Structure, Format, and Writing Style
Essay Structure
• This assessment must be written as a structured essay using the prescribed headings.
• Include an Introduction, Background, Synthesis, Recommendations and Conclusion section.
Response Format
• Write your response in sentences and paragraphs.
• Bullet points or lists are not permitted.
Table of Included Studies
• Provide a table summarising the included studies as part of your response.
Referencing Requirements
• Support every statement of fact with a valid, peer-reviewed reference.
• Use the APA 7th referencing style for all in-text citations and the reference list.
In-Text Citations
• Include in-text citations throughout your work.
• Attribute each new point or piece of evidence to its source using appropriate citations.
Referencing Support
• UniSQ Library: Referencing Help
Writing Style
• Academic writing only. First person (“I” “me” my“) is not allowed.
• Follow the APA 7th Edition writing style guidelines: APA Style Guide
• Font: Times New Roman, size 12.
• Spacing: Double-space all text.
• Paragraphs: Indent the first line of every paragraph.
• Headings: Must be included as part of your structured essay.
• Formatting Restrictions: Do not include graphics, coloured text, title pages or appendices.
The hierarchy of evidence used in this task is based on the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) levels of evidence. Acceptable studies include:
• Level I: Systematic reviews or meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials (RCTs)
• Level II: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs)
Research Question Selection
Select one of the following focused clinical questions:
1. What are effective interventions for reducing pressure injuries in hospital settings?
OR
2. What are effective strategies to reduce medication errors by registered nurses in hospital settings?
OR
3. What are effective interventions to improve infection control practices by student nurses?
Your selected question will guide all components of the research report.
Research Report Requirements
Your submission must be written as a formal research report using academic language, scholarly sources, and structured headings. The report should demonstrate:
• Systematic identification of evidence
• Critical appraisal
• Comparative analysis
• Integrated synthesis
• Evidence-based recommendations for nursing practice
1. Introduction and Background
Provide a concise introduction that:
• Introduces the clinical problem and its significance to nursing practice
• Presents the chosen research question
• Justifies the importance of investigating this question using current literature
• Establishes the scope and purpose of the report
Use scholarly sources to support the relevance and impact of the issue.
2. Evidence Identification and Selection
Conduct a structured search of the literature to identify a minimum of five eligible studies that:
• Meet Level I and/or Level II evidence criteria
• Directly address the research question
• Have been published within the last five years
Clearly describe your selection approach (e.g., databases searched, keywords, inclusion criteria).
3. Table of Included Studies
Present a summary table of included studies to provide a clear overview of the evidence base.
Include the following for each study:
• Author(s)
• Year
• Study design (e.g., systematic review, RCT)
• Setting
• Population/sample
• Intervention(s)
• Comparator(s), if applicable
• Outcomes and key findings
Note: This table is not included in the word count.
4. Synthesis of Evidence
Provide a critical and integrative synthesis of the findings across studies.
This section should:
• Compare and contrast study outcomes
• Identify patterns, consistencies, and discrepancies
• Discuss methodological strengths and limitations (e.g., bias, sample size, generalisability, context)
• Evaluate overall quality and applicability of the evidence
• Directly link findings to the research question
Avoid describing each study separately; instead, synthesise across studies to produce new insights.
5. Recommendations for Nursing Practice
Based on your synthesis, formulate clear, actionable, and evidence-informed recommendations.
Recommendations should:
• Be specific and feasible for nursing practice
• Be justified with evidence
• Consider clinical context, safety, and implementation factors
• Demonstrate translation of research findings into practice improvement
6. Conclusion
Summarise:
• Key findings
• Implications for nursing practice
• The overall strength of the evidence
• The potential impact of implementing your recommendations
7. References
Use current, peer-reviewed scholarly sources and format according to required academic referencing guidelines (e.g., APA 7).
Required Structure
Present your report under the following headings, in this order:
• Introduction
• Background
• Evidence Identification and Selection
• Table of Included Studies
• Synthesis of Evidence
• Recommendations for Practice
• Conclusion
• References
Acceptable AI Use
For this Assessment Item, acceptable AI use is set at:
Level 1: AI Assisted Structure Checking
Description: Students may use Artificial intelligence (AI) tools to organise and check the structure and flow of their Assessment Item. This includes grammar checks, coherence, and flow of arguments but excludes using AI to generate new text and/or new content.
Additional Information Required: Indicate the AI tool(s) used for structure checking at the beginning of the Assessment Item and include the prompts you have used. Save copies of your drafts and content before/after AI was used, to produce upon request.
Essay Structure, Format, and Writing Style
Essay Structure
• This assessment must be written as a structured essay using the prescribed headings.
• Include an Introduction, Background, Synthesis, Recommendations and Conclusion section.
Response Format
• Write your response in sentences and paragraphs.
• Bullet points or lists are not permitted.
Table of Included Studies
• Provide a table summarising the included studies as part of your response.
Referencing Requirements
• Support every statement of fact with a valid, peer-reviewed reference.
• Use the APA 7th referencing style for all in-text citations and the reference list.
In-Text Citations
• Include in-text citations throughout your work.
• Attribute each new point or piece of evidence to its source using appropriate citations.
Referencing Support
• UniSQ Library: Referencing Help
Writing Style
• Academic writing only. First person (“I” “me” my“) is not allowed.
• Follow the APA 7th Edition writing style guidelines: APA Style Guide
• Font: Times New Roman, size 12.
• Spacing: Double-space all text.
• Paragraphs: Indent the first line of every paragraph.
• Headings: Must be included as part of your structured essay.
• Formatting Restrictions: Do not include graphics, coloured text, title pages or appendices.