NR 702 Week 4 Project Evaluation

NR 702 Week 4 Project Evaluation

Student Name

Chamberlain University

NR-702: DNP Project & Practicum I

Prof. Name:

Date

PICOT: The Clinical Question

Clinical Question: Can structured educational interventions reawaken compassion among frontline nurses experiencing burnout symptoms that contribute to compassion fatigue (CF)?

PICOT Breakdown

PICOT Element	Description
P (Population)	Bedside nurses working in hospital settings, particularly in intensive care units (ICUs) and emergency departments (EDs)
I (Intervention)	Implementation of a structured care model and compassion-focused sessions such as Schwartz Rounds
C (Comparison)	No comparison group (baseline measures only)
O (Outcome)	Increased awareness of compassion fatigue, improved job satisfaction, and decreased burnout symptoms
T (Timeframe)	8 weeks

Sample Selection

The study population will include nurses from ICUs and emergency departments since these environments are highly associated with stress, burnout, and compassion fatigue. Both novice and expert nurses of varying ages and genders will be invited to participate in Schwartz Rounds. These units were chosen because frontline staff often witness high levels of patient suffering, leading to emotional exhaustion, reduced empathy, and eventual detachment if not addressed.

Significance of Power Analysis and Sample Size

Conducting a power analysis is essential to determine an adequate sample size for the study. Power analysis ensures that the number of participants is sufficient to detect meaningful differences between pre- and post-intervention outcomes. According to Seaman, Seaman, and Allen (2015), power analysis helps avoid both underpowered studies, which risk inconclusive results, and overpowered studies, which may waste resources. Sylvia and Terhaar (2014) emphasize that proper sample size selection strengthens the validity and generalizability of findings.

In this project, the sample size will be calculated based on the estimated population of at-risk nurses in ICU and ED units. This approach enhances the reliability of results while ensuring representation across different experience levels.

Comparison

To measure the impact of the intervention, the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL) will be used. This tool is widely recognized for its ability to evaluate both the positive and negative dimensions of caregiving. It measures burnout (BO), secondary traumatic stress, and compassion satisfaction (Stamm, 2010).

NR 702 Week 4 Project Evaluation

A pre-test/post-test design will be implemented. Nurses will complete the ProQOL survey prior to the intervention and again after eight weeks of Schwartz Rounds. The comparison will allow for the assessment of changes in compassion fatigue, resilience, and job satisfaction.

Summative Evaluation Criteria and Data Collection

The summative evaluation will be conducted through baseline ProQOL surveys before the intervention. These pre-tests will provide a foundation for understanding current levels of compassion fatigue and satisfaction among the participants. Initial data will establish the emotional and professional well-being of the group, serving as a benchmark for later comparison.

Formative Evaluation Criteria and Data Collection

At the end of the eight-week program, participants will complete the ProQOL survey again. The post-test results will be compared with pre-test data to determine whether the intervention improved compassion satisfaction and reduced burnout. Research has shown that structured reflective sessions, such as Schwartz Rounds, can significantly enhance resilience, empathy, and overall job satisfaction (Morrow, Mood, Disch, & Kang, 2015).

Statistician

A statistician will be engaged to guide data management and interpretation. Their responsibilities will include validating the analysis plan, ensuring proper application of statistical methods, and confirming the accuracy of findings. This professional support is critical for producing credible and publishable results.

Data Analysis

Survey responses will be analyzed using IBM SPSS and Microsoft Excel. Since ProQOL provides interval-level data, descriptive statistics such as means, ranges, and standard deviations will be reported. Parametric statistical tests will then be applied to evaluate changes between pre- and post-intervention scores. Sylvia and Terhaar (2014) recommend this approach for clinical research, as it enhances accuracy and facilitates meaningful interpretation.

References

Morrow Jr., J. R., Mood, D., Disch, J., & Kang, M. (2015). Measurement and evaluation in human performance (5th ed.). Human Kinetics.

Seaman, C. A., Seaman, J. E., & Allen, I. E. (2015). The significance of power. Quality Progress, 48(7), 51–53.

Stamm, B. H. (2010). The ProQOL (Professional Quality of Life Scale: Compassion Satisfaction and Compassion Fatigue). Pocatello, ID: ProQOL.org. Retrieved from http://www.proqol.org

NR 702 Week 4 Project Evaluation

Sylvia, M., & Terhaar, M. (2014). An approach to clinical data management for the Doctor of Nursing Practice curriculum. Journal of Professional Nursing, 30(1), 56–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2013.04.002