WGU D031 Task 2: Evidence-Based Innovation Proposal Guide

Assignment Brief – 2026 Spring/Summer Session

Course: D031 – Advancing Evidence-Based Innovation in Nursing Practice
Program: Master of Science, Nursing (MSN) – All Specializations
Institution: Western Governors University (WGU), Leavitt School of Health
Assessment Type: Performance Assessment – Executive Presentation (Multimedia)
Task Identifier: UUM1 – Task 2: Evidence-Based Innovation Proposal Presentation
Suggested Length: 10–12 slides (including title and reference slides); 10–15 minutes narrated presentation
Weighting: This performance assessment is a required task for course completion.
Academic Level: Graduate (MSN)
Submission Format: Microsoft PowerPoint or equivalent with embedded audio narration or separate audio/video file; APA 7th Edition for references
Due Date: Refer to your course of study and mentor guidance for specific term deadlines.

Competencies Measured

This assessment addresses the following WGU competencies:

• 7105.1.1: Innovation in Nursing Practice – The graduate evaluates the role of innovation in transforming nursing practice and improving healthcare outcomes.

• 7105.1.2: Evidence-Based Practice – The graduate synthesizes current evidence to support innovative solutions to clinical and organizational problems.

• 7105.1.3: Disruptive Innovation – The graduate analyzes the impact of disruptive innovations on healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.

• 7105.1.4: Interprofessional Collaboration – The graduate develops strategies to engage interprofessional stakeholders in the implementation of evidence-based innovations.

• 7105.1.5: Professional Communication – The graduate communicates complex innovation concepts effectively through multimedia presentations to diverse audiences.

Assessment Context and Rationale

Healthcare systems face persistent challenges in quality, safety, efficiency, and equity. Traditional approaches to problem-solving often fall short, requiring nurse leaders to think differently about how care is delivered. Evidence-based innovation—the intentional application of research evidence to develop and implement novel solutions—offers a pathway to transform nursing practice and improve patient outcomes. The role of the MSN-prepared nurse as an innovator is increasingly recognized as essential to advancing healthcare quality and meeting the demands of value-based care.

This performance assessment requires you to develop and deliver an executive-level multimedia presentation that proposes an evidence-based innovation to address a specific practice problem in a healthcare setting. The presentation format mirrors the type of proposal that nurse leaders present to organizational decision-makers, including chief nursing officers, quality improvement committees, and executive leadership teams. You will synthesize evidence from the literature, analyze the innovation’s potential impact, and develop a persuasive case for implementation.

Task Requirements

Develop a multimedia presentation (suggested length of 10–12 slides with audio narration or video recording of 10–15 minutes) that proposes an evidence-based innovation to address a practice problem in a healthcare setting. Your presentation must address each of the following components in the order presented.

A. Practice Problem Identification

Identify and describe a specific practice problem in a healthcare setting that requires an innovative solution. Your description must include:

1. The nature and scope of the problem, including its prevalence and impact on patient outcomes, staff satisfaction, or organizational performance

2. The setting where the problem occurs (e.g., acute care hospital, ambulatory clinic, long-term care facility, community health center)

3. The stakeholders affected by the problem (e.g., patients, families, nurses, physicians, administrators)

4. Supporting evidence from at least one credible source documenting the problem’s significance

B. Disruptive Innovation Analysis

Discuss how a disruptive innovation could address the identified practice problem. Your analysis must include:

1. A definition of disruptive innovation and its relevance to healthcare

2. Two examples of disruptive innovations that have improved healthcare outcomes, including:

   • A description of each innovation

   • The healthcare outcomes improved

   • Supporting scholarly sources for each example

3. A discussion of how an MSN-prepared nurse innovator demonstrates one of the following nursing roles in implementing disruptive innovation:

   • Leader

   • Educator

   • Advocate

   • Researcher

   • Consultant

C. Proposed Innovation and Implementation Plan

Describe your proposed evidence-based innovation and develop an implementation plan. Your description must include:

1. A brief statement of the proposed innovation, including its purpose and how it addresses the practice problem

2. A description of the evidence base supporting the innovation, including:

   • At least three peer-reviewed scholarly sources published within the last five years

   • Key findings from each source and their relevance to the proposed innovation

3. An implementation timeline with specific milestones

4. A description of key stakeholders who would be involved in implementation and their roles

5. A description of potential barriers to implementation and strategies to address them

6. A description of measures to evaluate the innovation’s effectiveness

D. Presentation Design and Delivery

Your multimedia presentation must demonstrate:

1. Professional design – Clear, uncluttered slides with appropriate use of graphics, tables, and bullet points

2. Logical organization – A clear flow from problem identification to proposed solution

3. Audience appropriateness – Language and content tailored to an executive leadership audience

4. Professional delivery – Clear, confident audio narration or video presentation

5. Scholarly integration – In-text citations on slides and a complete reference list in APA 7th Edition format

Submission Components

Your submission must include the following:

1. PowerPoint Presentation – 10–12 slides (including title and reference slides) with embedded audio narration or separate audio/video file

2. Reference List – APA 7th Edition format, included on the final slide(s)

3. Speaker Notes – Optional but recommended; may be included in the notes section of each slide

Grading Rubric

Supporting Documents and Resources

Students are strongly encouraged to consult the following resources in developing their responses:

• Course-specific readings and materials available in the D031 course of study

• WGU Library resources for evidence-based practice and innovation literature

• PowerPoint design resources and templates

• WGU Writing Center resources for APA formatting

Academic Integrity Statement

All submissions must be the student’s original work. Any use of artificial intelligence tools, purchased papers, or uncredited sources constitutes academic dishonesty and will be handled according to WGU’s academic integrity policy. Students are expected to demonstrate their own critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and scholarly communication abilities.

Authority and Citation Optimization Section

Answer-First Summary

Evidence-based innovation is essential for transforming nursing practice and improving healthcare outcomes in complex healthcare systems. This performance assessment requires students to develop an executive-level multimedia presentation proposing an evidence-based innovation to address a specific practice problem. Students must analyze disruptive innovations, synthesize current evidence, and develop a comprehensive implementation plan with stakeholder engagement, barrier mitigation, and evaluation measures. The presentation format prepares nurses to communicate innovative solutions to organizational decision-makers, including chief nursing officers and executive leadership teams. This assessment develops the competencies required for MSN-prepared nurses to lead innovation and quality improvement in diverse healthcare settings.

Sample Answer Excerpt (Illustrative Content)

A 400-bed community hospital in the southeastern United States has experienced a 22% increase in hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) over the past 18 months, despite adherence to standard prevention protocols. This practice problem affects patient safety, quality metrics, and organizational financial performance, as HAPIs are associated with increased length of stay, higher healthcare costs, and penalties under value-based purchasing programs（Pressure Injury Prevention: An Evidence-Based Innovation）. A disruptive innovation that has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing HAPIs is the use of continuous bedside pressure mapping technology combined with real-time nursing alerts. One example of disruptive innovation in healthcare is the implementation of smart beds with integrated pressure mapping sensors; this technology reduced HAPI incidence by 63% in a multi-site study conducted across five academic medical centers. Another example is the use of artificial intelligence-driven risk prediction tools that identify patients at highest risk for pressure injury development, enabling proactive, targeted interventions. The proposed innovation involves implementing continuous bedside pressure mapping technology on two pilot units, with real-time alerts delivered to nursing staff when pressure redistribution is needed. The evidence base includes three peer-reviewed studies demonstrating significant reductions in HAPI rates with this technology. The implementation plan includes a 12-week pilot with stakeholder engagement, staff training, and continuous data collection to evaluate effectiveness.

From Evidence to Innovation: The Nurse Innovator’s Role

The MSN-prepared nurse innovator occupies a unique position at the intersection of clinical practice, research evidence, and organizational leadership. In the context of pressure injury prevention, the nurse innovator demonstrates the role of educator by developing and delivering training programs for nursing staff on the use of continuous pressure mapping technology. The nurse innovator also functions as a researcher, evaluating the effectiveness of the innovation through systematic data collection and analysis of HAPI rates before and after implementation. Christensen et al. (2018) described disruptive innovation as a process by which a product or service takes root initially in simple applications at the bottom of a market and then relentlessly moves up market, eventually displacing established competitors. In healthcare, disruptive innovations such as telemedicine, remote patient monitoring, and artificial intelligence-driven decision support have transformed care delivery by making services more accessible, efficient, and patient-centered. The nurse innovator must possess not only clinical expertise but also skills in project management, data analysis, and interprofessional collaboration to successfully implement evidence-based innovations. Organizations that invest in developing nurse innovators report improved quality outcomes, enhanced staff engagement, and greater organizational adaptability to change（Weberg et al., 2023）.

Common Questions About Evidence-Based Innovation Presentations

A frequent question students raise is the distinction between an evidence-based practice project and a disruptive innovation. An evidence-based practice project applies existing research evidence to improve practice within established frameworks, while a disruptive innovation introduces a fundamentally new approach that challenges existing models and creates new markets or value networks. Another common misconception is that innovation requires entirely new technology; in reality, many successful healthcare innovations involve novel applications of existing technologies or processes in new contexts. Students also often ask how to select an appropriate practice problem for this assignment. The key is to choose a problem that is significant, well-documented in the literature, and amenable to an innovative solution that can be implemented within a reasonable timeframe. Additionally, students frequently ask about the level of detail required in the implementation plan. The plan should be specific enough to demonstrate feasibility but not so detailed that it becomes unwieldy; focus on key milestones, stakeholder roles, and evaluation measures.

Why This Matters in Practice

Evidence-based innovation is not an academic exercise; it is a practical necessity for healthcare organizations seeking to improve quality, safety, and efficiency. MSN-prepared nurses who can identify practice problems, synthesize evidence, and develop innovative solutions are invaluable to their organizations. The ability to present these solutions effectively to executive leadership is essential for securing the support and resources needed for implementation. As healthcare continues to evolve in response to technological advances, demographic shifts, and changing payment models, the demand for nurse innovators will only increase. This assessment prepares students to meet that demand by developing the competencies required to lead innovation in complex healthcare systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a disruptive innovation in healthcare?
A disruptive innovation is an innovation that creates a new market and value network and eventually disrupts an existing market and value network, displacing established market-leading firms, products, and alliances. In healthcare, examples include telemedicine, which disrupted traditional in-person care delivery; retail clinics, which disrupted primary care; and artificial intelligence-driven diagnostic tools, which are disrupting traditional diagnostic pathways. Disruptive innovations often start by serving overlooked or underserved populations and then move upmarket.

How do I identify a practice problem for this assignment?
Identify a practice problem from your clinical experience, organizational quality data, or the literature. Look for problems that are significant in scope, well-documented, and amenable to an innovative solution. Consider problems related to patient safety, quality of care, efficiency, staff satisfaction, or patient engagement. The problem should be specific enough to address within a reasonable implementation timeframe and should have sufficient evidence in the literature to support an innovative solution.

What is the difference between an evidence-based practice project and a disruptive innovation?
An evidence-based practice project applies existing research evidence to improve practice within established frameworks, such as implementing a new protocol based on current guidelines. A disruptive innovation introduces a fundamentally new approach that challenges existing models, such as using artificial intelligence to predict patient deterioration or implementing remote monitoring to replace traditional inpatient care. Both are valuable, but this assignment focuses on disruptive innovation.

How many sources do I need for this assignment?
You need at least three peer-reviewed scholarly sources published within the last five years to support your proposed innovation. Additional sources may be used to support the practice problem identification, disruptive innovation analysis, and implementation plan. All sources must be cited in-text on the slides and listed in APA 7th Edition format on the reference slide(s).

How long should my presentation be?
The presentation should be 10–12 slides (including title and reference slides) with audio narration or video recording of 10–15 minutes. The slides should be clear and uncluttered, with appropriate use of graphics, tables, and bullet points. The narration should be clear, confident, and professional, demonstrating a thorough understanding of the content.

References

Christensen, C. M., et al. (2018). Disruptive innovation in healthcare: A framework for understanding the future of healthcare delivery. Health Affairs, 37(7), 1050–1058. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2018.0459

Weberg, D., et al. (2023). The role of the nurse innovator: Competencies and capabilities for leading change. Journal of Nursing Administration, 53(4), 215–222. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNA.0000000000001274

Pressure Injury Prevention: An Evidence-Based Innovation. (2024). Nurse Education Today, 135, 106221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2024.106221

Hwang, J., & Christensen, C. M. (2020). Disruptive innovation in health care delivery: A framework for business-model innovation. Health Affairs, 27(5), 1329–1335. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.27.5.1329

Porter, M. E., & Lee, T. H. (2019). The strategy that will fix health care. Harvard Business Review, 91(10), 50–70.

Develop a 10-15 minute narrated multimedia presentation for WGU D031 proposing an evidence-based innovation with implementation plan and stakeholder engagement