Capstone Project: Impacting Factors
Impacting Factors Tool
Instructions: Use this tool to document your assessment of the factors impacting the capstone project. Be sure to cite and reference necessary sources according to APA format, using the last page for your reference list: Capstone Project: Impacting Factors.
Name: ______________________________________________________________________
Stakeholder Identification and Engagement Strategies to Secure Support
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Stakeholders (Critical for Narcotic Waste Process):
Engagement Strategies:
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SWOT Analysis
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Strengths
· Two-nurse verification system already accepted as standard practice · Electronic medication administration record (eMAR) system fully implemented · Strong support from unit management for safety initiatives · Dedicated unit pharmacy liaison available for consultation · Strong culture of patient safety established on unit · Experienced nursing staff familiar with narcotic handling · Regular staff meetings in place for communication
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Weaknesses
· Current inconsistent documentation of narcotic waste procedures · Significant time constraints during high-acuity patient care periods · Staff working different shifts making standardized training challenging · Limited monitoring and oversight of compliance measures · Variable staff knowledge levels regarding proper procedures · Lack of standardized process for end-of-month verification · High workload affecting documentation completion |
Opportunities
· Reduce medication errors through improved tracking · Enhance regulatory compliance with state and federal guidelines · Improve patient safety through better medication management · Develop better tracking systems for controlled substances · Strengthen collaboration between nursing and pharmacy departments · Create model process for other units to follow · Potential for recognition as unit best practice
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Threats
· Staff resistance to additional documentation requirements · Time pressure during high census periods affecting compliance · Risk of non-compliance during understaffed shifts · Potential for workarounds if process becomes too cumbersome · Competing priorities for staff attention and time · Risk of turnover if staff perceives increased workload · Possible regulatory scrutiny during implementation phase |
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Financial Implications of the Capstone Project
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Direct Costs:
Potential Savings:
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External Influencing Factors |
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Outcome statement for the capstone project
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By January 31, 2024, implement a standardized narcotic waste process with 100% staff education completion and 90% compliance with two-nurse verification and documentation requirements as measured by weekly documentation audits. | |
Evaluation plan for the capstone outcome
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Weekly audits of narcotic waste documentation will track compliance with two-nurse verification, proper signatures, and waste documentation. Success is measured through staff training completion records and weekly compliance rates from documentation review. |
References
Cms. (2024). Medicare Claims Processing Manual. https://www.cms.gov/regulations-and-guidance/guidance/manuals/downloads/clm104c17.pdf
Environmental Health & Safety. (2024). Dea Controlled Substances Program Manual. University Of Oregon.https://safety.uoregon.edu/sites/default/files/manual_dea_controlled_substances_program_2023_rev.pdf
Hussein, M., Pavlova, M., Ghalwash, M. et al. The impact of hospital accreditation on the quality of healthcare: a systematic literature review. BMC Health Serv Res 21, 1057 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-07097-6
Jcr. (2024). Medication Management (Mm). https://store-jcrinc.ae-admin.com/assets/1/7/jcr_hcaw24-2-09-mm.pdf
Preuss, C. V., Kalava, A., & King, K. C. (2023, April 29). Prescription of Controlled Substances: Benefits and Risks. Pubmed; Statpearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/nbk537318/
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Question
Getting Started
Throughout the NUR-495 course, you will actively engage in strategically planning for and managing a planned change project within the scope of your current professional role. For this field-based project, you will identify a specific problem or need to serve as the foundation for a faculty-guided capstone experience. Project-related experiences are integrated throughout the course, and will involve application of strategic planning and management processes.
For the purpose of your coursework, application of the strategic planning and project management processes is broken down into six distinct phases in order to integrate the assessment components throughout the eight workshops.
In this discussion, you will explore strategies for stakeholder engagement, including patients, along with an updated SWOT analysis. Additionally, you will identify the actual and/or potential financial impact of your project, as well as any external influencing factors that are driving the planned change. As discussed previously, the capstone project involves ongoing modifications to strengthen the process and effectively impact change. This week, as you complete your capstone project activities, you will share any modifications to your outcome, activities/action plan, and evaluation plan that may be underway.
Upon successful completion of the course material, you will be able to:
- Consider the multifaceted internal and external factors that impact the planned change process.
- Implement the activities of your strategic plan necessary to complete the capstone project.
Resources
- Textbook: Fundamentals of Project Management
- Textbook: Leading and Managing in Nursing
- Article: Developing Health Visitor Prescribing (Attached)
- Video: Episode 24: How to Complete a SWOT Analysis
- File: Impacting Factors Tool.docx (Attached)
- File: Impacting Factors Tool Resource.docx (Attached)
Background Information
As discussed in Workshop One, the planned change process is rather iterative in nature, with dynamics that are organic rather than static. For this reason, we tend to think of a planned change project as a work in continual process. With each workshop, you will polish and fine-tune aspects of your plan as part of the learning process.
Each facet of the planned change process will be unpacked, examined, and critically applied to your capstone project. As you advance in the course, each workshop will bring an opportunity to carefully reflect upon and streamline your work. When the capstone course ends, your final project documentation will accurately articulate the planned change process that you have created and managed.
As you have identified through readings, a number of internal and external factors impact the planned change process. Even the most detailed strategic plan can be successful only if those factors and their impact have been carefully considered. For the purpose of your capstone project, we will examine four specific areas: stakeholder engagement and support, the SWOT analysis, financial impact, and relevant external influencing factors (such as pertinent health policies, accreditation and practice standards, external benchmarking, and the like).
To position your capstone project for success, you will examine each of these four areas and their affect on your specific planned change process. You will also share any necessary modifications to the project outcome, activities, or evaluation plan.

Capstone Project: Impacting Factors
Instructions
- Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.
- In your textbook Leading and Managing in Nursing, review chapters 18, 22, and 30.
- In your textbook Fundamentals of Project Management, review Chapter 3 and 4.
- Read the article “Developing Health Visitor Prescribing”.
- You may need to log in, using your MyIWU log in.
- Optional: View the video “Episode 24: How to Complete a SWOT Analysis” at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0D2fT6obqdg.
- Revisit your Strategic Planning Tool from Workshop One, as well as the instructor feedback that you received regarding your strategic plan and/or capstone project.
- Download the Impacting Factors Tool.docx file.
- Download and review the Impacting Factors Tool Resource.docx file that explains how to use this tool.
- Navigate to the threaded discussion and post your assignment according to the following instructions:
- Using information from the Impacting Factor Tools.docx, address the following components.
- Who are the stakeholders impacted by your capstone project?
- Identify two specific strategies to engage stakeholders and secure their support. Explain why you believe these strategies will be effective.
- Conduct an updated organizational SWOT analysis and document your findings for each of the four areas (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) as relevant to your capstone project.
- What is the financial implication of your project for the organization and the patient? All projects have costs, what expenditures and/or cost savings do you anticipate for the future as a result of this planned change initiative?
- Identify the external influencing factors that are driving or that will impact the capstone project. Cite the literature to support your assertions.
- Identify any necessary changes to your SMART, patient care focused outcome statement and discuss the rationale for that modification; if no modifications are needed, please state that fact. Share your current outcome statement.
- Identify any necessary changes to your corresponding plan for evaluation and discuss the rationale for that modification; if no modifications are needed, please state that fact. Share your current plan for evaluation that corresponds to your SMART, patient-focused outcome statement.
- Post your discussion post and your tool in the discussion forum by the fourth day of the workshop. Be sure to await feedback from your instructor regarding your impacting factors tool; modify your strategic planning tool as recommended by your instructor before submitting your final draft to the 2.2 Assignment submission page.
- Using information from the Impacting Factor Tools.docx, address the following components.
- Review your classmates’ postings. Choose one of your classmate’s postings to provide meaningful feedback. You are expected to choose a classmate’s posting that has not already received peer feedback. If all classmates have received feedback, respond to a classmate of your choice. Your feedback to one classmate should also:
- Be a minimum of six sentences in length.
- Be well developed by providing clear answers with evidence of critical thinking.
- Add greater depth to the discussion by introducing new ideas.
- Provide clarification to classmates’ questions and provide insight into the discussion.
- When you have completed your assignment, save a copy for yourself and submit a copy to the 2.2 Assignment submission page by the end of the workshop.
Client’s Notes:
- Project Topic: Reduction of prescription drug abuse