A Capstone Project: A Way to Integrate Knowledge and Empower Students to Become Change Agents in the Practice Setting

Abstract

Nursing education today calls for creative and innovative ways in preparing students for the future. The growing complexity in the practice setting demands that nursing students gain exposure to skill sets that empower them to be change agents. A capstone project in the final year of an undergraduate nursing program enabled students to integrate their knowledge from all areas of their curriculum to address quality improvement (QI) issues. While the students’ projects were not QI projects, they functioned as precursors or ideas for future QI initiatives. The capstone projects were graded using a designed marking rubric that addressed the undergraduate degree level expectations and the entry to practice competencies for the registered nurse in Ontario. The students presented their work at a capstone conference that invited personnel from both academia and clinical practice organizations. The capstone project became a way to acknowledge ideas and accomplishments of future nursing graduates.