What is a Capstone Project?
A Capstone Project is a culminating experience for nursing students. It is a research project that allows you to demonstrate your knowledge and skills in a specific area of nursing practice. Capstone Projects can be either quantitative or qualitative, and they must be approved by your Capstone Project Advisor.
Why is the Capstone Project Important?
The Capstone Project is important because it gives you the opportunity to apply what you have learned in your nursing program to a real-world problem. It also helps you to develop your research skills and to learn how to communicate your findings to others.
Capstone Project Requirements at Capella University
At Capella University, the Capstone Project is a requirement for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. The project must be completed in the final semester of the program. Capstone Projects must be at least 1600 words long and must be written in APA style.
Choosing a Capstone Project Topic
When choosing a Capstone Project topic, it is important to consider your interests and expertise, as well as the current needs of the nursing profession. You should also choose a topic that is feasible to complete within the given timeframe. Once you have chosen a topic, you need to get approval from your Capstone Project Advisor.
Developing a Capstone Project Proposal
Once your topic has been approved, you need to develop a Capstone Project Proposal. The proposal should include your research question or hypothesis, your research methodology, and a timeline for your project. You should also identify the resources you will need to complete your project.
Conducting Capstone Project Research
Once your proposal has been approved, you can begin conducting research for your Capstone Project. This may involve reviewing the relevant literature, collecting data, and analyzing your data. Be sure to follow ethical research guidelines and to cite your sources correctly.
Writing the Capstone Project Paper
Once you have completed your research, you can begin writing the Capstone Project Paper. The paper should be organized in a logical and coherent manner. You should write in a clear and concise style, and you should cite your sources correctly.
Presenting the Capstone Project
Once you have written your Capstone Project Paper, you will need to present it to your Capstone Project Committee. Be prepared to answer questions about your research and your findings.
Choosing a Capstone Project Topic
When choosing a Capstone Project topic, it is important to consider the following:
- Your interests and expertise: Choose a topic that you are interested in and that you have some expertise in. This will make the project more enjoyable and will help you to produce a higher quality product.
- Current needs of the nursing profession: Consider the current needs of the nursing profession when choosing a topic. This will help you to ensure that your project is relevant and that it will make a contribution to the field.
- Feasibility: Choose a topic that is feasible to complete within the given timeframe. Consider the resources that you will need to complete the project, as well as your other commitments.
Once you have chosen a topic, you need to get approval from your Capstone Project Advisor. Your advisor will be able to help you to refine your topic and to ensure that it is feasible.
Developing a Capstone Project Proposal
Your Capstone Project Proposal should include the following:
- Research question or hypothesis: Clearly state your research question or hypothesis. This is the question that you will be trying to answer or the hypothesis that you will be testing in your project.
- Research methodology: Describe the research methodology that you will be using to collect and analyze data. Be sure to explain why you have chosen this methodology and how it is appropriate for your research question or hypothesis.
- Resources: Identify the resources that you will need to complete your project. This may include equipment, software, and access to data.
- Timeline: Develop a timeline for your project. This will help you to stay on track and to ensure that you meet the deadline.
Conducting Capstone Project Research
When conducting research for your Capstone Project, it is important to follow ethical research guidelines. Be sure to obtain informed consent from all participants in your study. You should also protect the confidentiality of your participants.
There are many different research methods that you can use for your Capstone Project. The method that you choose will depend on your research question or hypothesis. Some common research methods include:
Literature review: A literature review is a comprehensive review of the existing research on your topic. It will help you to identify the gaps in the research and to develop your research question or hypothesis.
Data collection: Once you have developed your research question or hypothesis, you need to collect data. This may involve conducting interviews, surveys, or focus groups. You may also collect data from existing sources, such as medical records or databases.
Data analysis: Once you have collected data, you need to analyze it to draw conclusions. This may involve using statistical software or other data analysis tools.
Writing the Capstone Project Paper
When writing the Capstone Project Paper, it is important to organize your findings in a logical and coherent manner. You should write in a clear and concise style, and you should cite your sources correctly.
The paper should include the following sections:
- Introduction: The introduction should provide background information on your topic and should state your research question or hypothesis.
- Literature review: The literature review should summarize the existing research on your topic and should identify the gaps in the research.
- Methodology: The methodology section should describe the research methods that you used to collect and analyze data.
- Results: The results section should present your findings. Be sure to provide tables and figures to support your findings.
- Discussion: The discussion section should interpret your findings and should discuss the implications of your research.
- Conclusion: The conclusion should summarize your main findings and should discuss the limitations of your study and directions for future research.
Presenting the Capstone Project
Once you have written your Capstone Project Paper, you will need to present it to your Capstone Project Committee. Be prepared to answer questions about your research and your findings.
Your presentation should be clear and concise. Be sure to use visuals, such as PowerPoint slides or handouts, to support your presentation.
Conclusion
The Capstone Project is an important requirement for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree at Capella University. It is an opportunity for you to apply what you have learned in your nursing program to a real-world problem. It also helps you to develop your research skills and to learn how to communicate your findings to others.
FAQs
Q:What happens if I can’t find a Capstone Project Advisor?
If you can’t find a Capstone Project Advisor, you can contact the Capstone Project Office for assistance.
Q:What types of resources are available to help me with my Capstone Project?
There are a variety of resources available to help you with your Capstone Project, including:
- The Capstone Project Office
- The Capstone Project Library Guide
- The Capstone Project Writing Guide
- Your Capstone Project Advisor
- Other Capstone Project students
Q:How do I get feedback on my Capstone Project Proposal?
You can get feedback on your Capstone Project Proposal from your Capstone Project Advisor or from other Capstone Project students.
Q:What is the format for the Capstone Project Paper?
The Capstone Project Paper must be written in APA style. You can find more information about APA style on the Purdue OWL website.
Q:What happens if I don’t pass my Capstone Project presentation?
If you don’t pass your Capstone Project presentation, you will be given the opportunity to revise and resubmit your presentation.
