Program/policy evaluation is a valuable tool that can help strengthen the quality of programs/policies and improve outcomes for the populations they serve. Program/policy evaluation answers basic questions about program/policy effectiveness. It involves collecting and analyzing information about program/policy activities, characteristics, and outcomes. This information can be used to ultimately improve program services or policy initiatives.
Nurses can play a very important role assessing program/policy evaluation for the same reasons that they can be so important to program/policy design. Nurses bring expertise and patient advocacy that can add significant insight and impact. In this Assignment, you will practice applying this expertise and insight by selecting an existing healthcare program or policy evaluation and reflecting on the criteria used to measure the effectiveness of the program/policy.
To Prepare:
Review the Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Analysis Template provided in the Resources.
Select an existing healthcare program or policy evaluation or choose one of interest to you.
Review community, state, or federal policy evaluation and reflect on the criteria used to measure the effectiveness of the program or policy described.
The Assignment: (2–3 pages)
Based on the program or policy evaluation you selected, complete the Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Analysis Template. Be sure to address the following:
Describe the healthcare program or policy outcomes.
How was the success of the program or policy measured?
How many people were reached by the program or policy selected?
How much of an impact was realized with the program or policy selected?
At what point in program implementation was the program or policy evaluation conducted?
What data was used to conduct the program or policy evaluation?
What specific information on unintended consequences was identified?
What stakeholders were identified in the evaluation of the program or policy? Who would benefit most from the results and reporting of the program or policy evaluation? Be specific and provide examples.
Did the program or policy meet the original intent and objectives? Why or why not?
Would you recommend implementing this program or policy in your place of work? Why or why not?
Identify at least two ways that you, as a nurse advocate, could become involved in evaluating a program or policy after 1 year of implementation.
ASSIGNMENT RUBRIC
PROGRAM/POLICY EVALUATION
BASED ON THE PROGRAM OR POLICY EVALUATION YOU SEELCTED, COMPLETE THE HEALTHCARE PROGRAM/POLICY EVALUATION ANALYSIS TEMPLATE. BE SURE TO ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING:
· DESCRIBE THE HEALTHCARE PROGRAM OR POLICY OUTCOMES.
· HOW WAS THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM OR POLICY MEASURED?
· HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE REACHED BY THE PROGRAM OR POLICY SELECTED? HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT WAS REALIZED WITH THE PROGRAM OR POLICY SELECTED?
· AT WHAT POINT IN TIME IN PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION WAS THE PROGRAM OR POLICY EVALUATION CONDUCTED?—
REPORTING OF PROGRAM/POLICY EVALUATIONS
· WHAT DATA WAS USED TO CONDUCT THE PROGRAM OR POLICY EVALUATION?
· WHAT SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES WAS IDENTIFIED?
· WHAT STAKEHOLDERS WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAM OR POLICY? WHO WOULD BENEFIT THE MOST FROM THE RESULTS AND REPORTING OF THE PROGRAM OR POLICY EVALUATION? BE SPECIFIC AND PROVIDE EXAMPLES.
· DID THE PROGRAM OR POLICY MEET THE ORIGINAL INTENT AND OBJECTIVES? WHY OR WHY NOT?
· WOULD YOU RECOMMEND IMPLEMENTING THIS PROGRAM OR POLICY IN YOUR PLACE OF WORK? WHY OR WHY NOT?
· IDENTIFY AT LEAST TWO WAYS THAT YOU, AS A NURSE ADVOCATE, COULD BECOME INVOLVED IN EVALUATING A PROGRAM OR POLICY AFTER 1 YEAR OF IMPLEMENTATION.—
WRITTEN EXPRESSION AND FORMATTING – PARAGRAPH DEVELOPMENT AND ORGANIZATION:
PARAGRAPHS MAKE CLEAR POINTS THAT SUPPORT WELL DEVELOPED IDEAS, FLOW LOGICALLY, AND DEMONSTRATE CONTINUITY OF IDEAS. SENTENCES ARE CAREFULLY FOCUSED–NEITHER LONG AND RAMBLING NOR SHORT AND LACKING SUBSTANCE. A CLEAR AND COMPREHENSIVE PURPOSE STATEMENT AND INTRODUCTION IS PROVIDED WHICH DELINEATES ALL REQUIRED CRITERIA.—
WRITTEN EXPRESSION AND FORMATTING – ENGLISH WRITING STANDARDS:
CORRECT GRAMMAR, MECHANICS, AND PROPER PUNCTUATION—
WRITTEN EXPRESSION AND FORMATTING – THE PAPER FOLLOWS CORRECT APA FORMAT FOR TITLE PAGE, HEADINGS, FONT, SPACING, MARGINS, INDENTATIONS, PAGE NUMBERS, PARENTHETICAL/IN-TEXT CITATIONS, AND REFERENCE LIST.—
Contains many (≥ 5) APA format errors. Healthcare Program & Policy Evaluation Worksheet