The difficulty of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Nursing Student Education
Capstone Project: Leadership/Management Problem Solving/Decision Making Paper
The final assignment in this course (due week 6) asks you to identify a problem you have or are currently experiencing in the workplace or your personal life.
Provide a comprehensive introduction to the situation, including the background and scope of the problem, all individuals involved in the situation, any solutions that were attempted, as well as the outcome of those solutions. Make sure you have clearly identified who owns the problem and why. (Remember that you cannot always control the actions of others, so it should be a problem you own and thus have control over the alternatives for action.)
Then apply a formal problem-solving or decision-making model and apply each step of the model to reach a decision about the best way to address the problem. Make sure you identify whether a maximizing or satisfying solution was needed and why. Also make sure you have specific evaluation criteria that include both process (how you will measure the quality of your decision making itself) and outcome measures (actual outcomes).
Authenticity is important in this paper. Be realistic in your problem solving in terms of the time, energy, and power you must implement the chosen alternative. In addition, it is important to demonstrate self-awareness in your analysis by discussing what personal values or beliefs might have influenced your choices.
Writing Expectations—6 to 8 pages, double-spaced, in length, not counting title page and references. APA format required (title page, citations in body of paper, and reference list). An introduction and conclusion are required. The steps of the problem-solving or decision-making model chosen are recommended as additional subheadings for the paper.
Rubric
Leadership/Management Problem Solving and Decision Making
Leadership/Management Problem Solving and Decision Making
Criteria Ratings Pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeWriting Style and Formatting
6 to 8 pages, double-spaced, in length, not counting title page and references. APA format required (title page, citations in body of paper, and reference list). An introduction and conclusion are required. The steps of the problem-solving or decision-making model chosen are recommended as additional subheadings for the paper. Grammar, Spelling, Syntax, and word choice should be correct. 25 pts
Proficient
Adheres to guidelines on length, style and formatting. Has introduction and conclusion and reference page as well as subheadings. Minimal errors in grammar spelling and syntax, with varied and interesting word choices. 19 pts
Advanced Beginner
Is formatted correctly but runs short or long by a page, misses one essential element, and has multiple errors. Word choice makes it moderately difficult to read. 10 pts
Needs Work
Not formatted correctly, missing major elements, grammar and spelling errors make it difficult to read, word choice makes it difficult to understand.
25 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeProblem Assessment
Provide a comprehensive introduction to the situation, including the background and scope of the problem, all individuals involved in the situation, any solutions that were attempted, as well as the outcome of those solutions. Make sure you have clearly identified who owns the problem and why 50 pts
Proficient
Explains the problem well, with enough background information to clarify scope and causes. Individuals are referenced in understandable way, and attempted solutions are named along with the outcomes. Ownership of the problem is clear. 40 pts
Advanced Beginner
Explains the situation moderately well, but leaves reader questioning some key details. Need a scorecard for the players. Solutions are included without outcomes. Ownership of problem is unclear. 25 pts
Needs Work
Problem is ill-defined. Reader is left unsure who did what to whom or why. Background is sketchy or unhelpful. Full of unnecessary detail. No solutions mentioned. Blame is assigned but not ownership.
50 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeApplication of Model
Apply a formal problem-solving or decision-making model and apply each step of the model to reach a decision about the best way to address the problem. Make sure you identify whether a maximizing or satisfying solution was needed and why. Also make sure you have specific evaluation criteria that include both process (how you will measure the quality of your decision making itself) and outcome measures (actual outcomes). 50 pts
Full Marks
Appropriate and known model is chosen for application. All steps are delineated and and explanation is given of how they did or did not help with the outcome of this problem. Maximizing or Satisfying Solution is discussed. Evaluation Criteria is explained as well as outcome measures. 40 pts
Advanced Beginner
Good model is chosen but not applied in every step. Brief discussion of Maximizing v. Satisfying solution. Listing of Evaluation Criteria and Outcome Measures is incomplete. 25 pts
Needs Work
Model chosen is either not a recognized model or inappropriate for this problem. Only a few steps are addressed. No discussion of type of solution. Minimal to no Evaluation criteria and outcome measure discussion. Final solution seems unsatisfactory.
50 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeAuthenticity
Be realistic in your problem solving in terms of the time, energy, and power you must implement the chosen alternative. In addition, it is important to demonstrate self-awareness in your analysis by discussing what personal values or beliefs might have influenced your choices. Your voice should be preeminent. 25 pts
Full Marks
Solution is doable in terms of time, power, resources and effort for the situation at hand. Rational and understandable discussion of the impact of own values and beliefs included. The paper is clearly personal. 19 pts
Advanced Beginner
The solution is admirable but make take more time, power, resources or effort than is likely to exist in the situation. Discussion of impact of own values and beliefs is incomplete or lacks self-awareness. Paper seems stilted or in authentic 10 pts
Needs Work
Solution is clearly unrealistic. Little to no discussion of own values and beliefs or that discussion is so general as to apply to anyone. Paper seems to be in a third person POV.
25 pts
Total Points: 150
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Solution
Response
Hey Adi
Thanks for submitting your paper! There are definitely some things that your essay is doing right, but there are a few things I think you could work on.
Strengths:
One thing you are doing well is that the essay as it currently is works well. There were no major issues with the content that I could find, and only a few minor errors. Nice job.
Areas for Improvement:
Following the assignment:
The most important thing I think you should think about is the topic of your essay. I’m not sure if it addresses the prompt. The prompt states the problem should be “a problem you own and thus have control over the alternatives for action.” I do not feel as if you are meeting this very important part of the prompt. Did you have control over the decisions made for this problem? Are you involved in school administration? Did you make the choice between the two options you presented? If not, I think the current topic for your essay probably is not something you should stick with. Instead, you could talk about how you personally dealt with moving to remote learning. What were some of the problems you faced as a nursing student doing remote learning? What options for solving these problems did you have? What choices did you make to solve these problems? If you switch to this related but more personal problem, I think this will make for an essay that better follows the prompt.
Trey
Next Steps
- Refocus paper to make sure you are following the prompt.
- Resubmit your paper for additional feedback.
The Difficulty of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Nursing Student Education
The difficulty of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Nursing Student Education
The beginning of 2020 saw a significant disruption of everyday life as we know it. Once the first few cases of the Covid 19 disease were announced across the US, the government moved to implement measures to prevent the spread of the virus and protect public health. The different actions that were implemented by the US government to curb the spread of Covid 19 included social distancing measures, stay-at-home orders, mask mandates, and restrictions of public movement where necessary. The different measures that the US government took to prevent the spread of the Covid 19 had a significant impact on education in various learning institutions across the country. Nursing colleges were significantly affected by the lockdown measures enacted by the federal and local governments to curb the spread of the Covid 19 pandemic. Eventually, the nursing faculty closed down and requested students to go home, awaiting further instructions on how learning would continue. The federal government, local governments, and even various authorities in institutions thought the Covid 19 pandemic would be controlled over a short period of time and did not anticipate that the pandemic would take more than two years to manage. The Covid 19 pandemic resulted in a lot of distractions on nursing student education. The nursing faculty in various colleges across the US and nursing students experienced an unexpected closure of schools as a result of the implementation of different measures by local and federal governments to control the spread of the pandemic. Physical classes across nursing colleges where are suspended without notice, while all students across nursing colleges were directed to go home to avoid the meeting of people in large groups, which could contribute significantly to the spread of the Covid 19 virus.
After the onset of the COVID19 pandemic, most nursing institutions did not provide any solutions to help nursing student education to continue. This is because most authorities, including federal, local, and even the management of nursing schools and nursing faculties, thought that lockdowns to curb the spread of Covid 19 were temporary and that such measures would be effective in limiting the spread of the virus. Eventually, after more than six months, nursing faculties is across the US realized that the resumption of regular physical classes would take longer than anticipated, which forced them to introduce remote classes. Attendance and adapting to remote classes has therefore been one of the main challenges for nursing students across the US and is currently one of the main challenges of nursing student education. As a nursing student, I have encountered the challenge of frequently attending and adapting to remote classes and getting the most value out of such classes. As a nursing student, it’s therefore important for me to adopt the right problem-solving model that can help me address the challenges related to remote learning and its impact on a nursing student’s education. For the challenge related to the effect of the Covid 19 pandemic on nursing student education, I decided to utilize the analytical problem-solving approach.
Analytical Problem-Solving Approach
The analytical problem-solving approach relies on five main steps, including the identification of the problem, exploration of the alternatives, selection of an alternative, implementation of the solution, and evaluation of the situation (Karenina et al., 2020).
Identification of the Problem
Considering the impact of the Covid 19 pandemic on nursing student education, different issues emerged. After the announcement of the first cases of Covid 19 in the US, both federal and local governments moved to curb the spread of the virus, which was feared to be a deadly respiratory disease. Because covid-19 was a new virus, federal and local authorities adopted extreme measures to curb the spread of the virus, which included social distancing guidelines, implementation of mask mandates, and requesting all people to stay at home and work from home. The extreme measures that were taken to curb the spread of covid-19 therefore significantly affected nursing education because all in-person learning across all nursing colleges in the US was suspended. The suspension of nursing classes was enacted because in-person classes violated social distancing measures and were feared to contribute to the spread of covid-19. The central problem that the Covid 19 pandemic created in relation to nursing education was the suspension of all classes without prior planning. After in-person classes were suspended across nursing colleges in the US, most nursing students fell behind in syllabus coverage and became significantly at risk of spending more time in learning institutions than what was planned.
Exploring the Alternatives
The alternatives that were considered to try to address the challenge of suspension of nursing student education after the Covid 19 pandemic included the implementation of remote learning and convening of classes in socially distanced environments. The convening of classes in socially distanced environments required nursing colleges to hire more faculty and expand the school infrastructure to accommodate more classes. Convening classes in socially distanced environments would require heavy investments and more time to implement. The construction of extra facilities in nursing colleges and recruitment of more faculty members would take a long time which could not be sufficient to address the short-term challenge of nursing students missing classes (Langegård et al., 2021).
Another solution that was provided to help in the resumption of nursing classes during the Covid19 pandemic was the introduction of remote classes. This alternative was more practical in that the technology for remote classes could be deployed easily at a low cost which could help in enhancing the easy resumption of nursing student education. Fewer finances were also required to implement remote learning and help to resume nursing student education during the Covid 19 pandemic across nursing colleges’. The only shortcoming to the remote learning alternative was making it difficult for students to conduct some practicals in online environments such as the virtual reality settings (Langegård et al., 2021).
Alternative Selection
Considering the two alternatives that could be adopted to help the suspension of nursing Student education as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic, the solution to introduce remote classes would be the most viable alternative. Nursing colleges would need to purchase the right remote learning technology. Nursing colleges would also have to train both the faculty and students on how to utilize the remote learning technology. The implementation of the remote learning technology in nursing colleges would take at least three weeks which would allow for the resumption of nursing student education and save more time to reduce the impact of the Covid 19 on nursing education and graduation of students in the future.
Implementation of the Solution
The implementation of remote learning in nursing colleges to help reduce the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on nursing student education would include the development of an action plan. The action plan related to the implementation of remote learning would generally include the acquiring of remote learning technology, installation of such technology, training nursing faculty and students on how to use the technology, and troubleshooting the implementation of the technology. The objectives and measures related to the implementation of remote learning in nursing colleges would be to evaluate the attendance of nurses in the remote learning classes and also evaluate the level of comprehension of students during the classes through different random assessment tests (Langegård et al., 2021).
Situation Evaluation
The final step in the utilization of the analytical problem-solving approach to address problems related to the interruption of nursing education by the Covid 19 pandemic would be to evaluate and monitor the progress of remote learning programs across nursing colleges. The evaluation of the remote learning programs would therefore examine whether learning has resumed normally across all nursing colleges and students are able to effectively comprehend what they learn through remote learning sessions.
The introduction of remote learning to help address the disruption of learning in nursing colleges brought about by the Covid 19 pandemic was a satisfying solution that helped to effectively address the challenges, including the wastage of time. Remote learning was an amicable solution that could ensure that nursing students we are not left behind in the covering of the syllabus while at the same time ensuring that such students followed the guidelines from the national and local authorities to curb the spread of Covid 19, such as social distancing and staying at home. The implementation of remote learning would also require the full cooperation of students to attend classes in the stipulated time and perform learning activities with minimal supervision.
My personal values that I believe influenced my choice of the remote learning alternative as the main solution to mitigate the disruptions of the Covid 19 pandemic on nursing education include discipline and time management. I believe that disciplined students who have effective time management skills can be able to learn effectively through the use of remote learning technology and get as much value from the nursing faculty as they would in a physical nursing college.
Conclusion
In summary, the Covid 19 pandemic resulted in a lot of distractions on nursing student education. The nursing faculty in various colleges across the US and nursing students experienced an unexpected closure of schools as a result of the implementation of different measures by local and federal governments to control the spread of the pandemic. Physical classes across nursing colleges were suspended without notice, while all students across nursing colleges were directed to go home to avoid the meeting of people in large groups, which could contribute significantly to the spread of the Covid 19 virus. Utilizing the analytical problem-solving approach, the five main steps, including the identification of the problem, exploration of the alternatives, selection of an alternative, implementation of the solution, and evaluation of the situation, can be implemented to introduce remote learning in nursing colleges and help to prevent the disruption of nursing student education.
References
Karenina, A., Widoretno, S., & Prayitno, B. A. (2020). Effectiveness of problem solving-based module to improve analytical thinking. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1511(1), 012093. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1511/1/012093
Langegård, U., Kiani, K., Nielsen, S. J., & Svensson, P. A. (2021). Nursing students’ experiences of a pedagogical transition from campus learning to distance learning using digital tools. BMC Nursing, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-021-00542-1