What the hail is a 'capstone', anyway?!

elkpark · Jun 30, 2016

"Capstone" is a popular term now in nursing academia, and different schools use it to mean different things, so your best bet is probably to ask your school about what the requirements are. Since you are in a BSN completion program for licensed RNs, I would guess that the "capstone" project is probably academic in nature rather than a clinical experience, but, again, only your school knows for sure. Best wishes for your studies!

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Jun 30, 2016

I have come to believe that successfully navigating all of the implicit rules, regulations, guidelines, customs, norms, pitfalls and mine fields of an educational program is actually a carefully hidden educational curriculum. It certainly is an "educational" experience, right? Hopefully, you will be able to interpret the syllabus Sanskrit in order to avoid a lot of false-starts and extra work that comes from misinterpretation of the criteria. If so, that is a noteworthy accomplishment that should automatically put you at the top of your class.

Based on my experience, Capstone projects are intended as a synthesis (sorry for the academic jargon) experience... pulling together all of the stuff you have learned in the program. Think of it as 'thesis light'. If you do it really well, it could be used as the basis of a thesis in a graduate program later on.

The 'deliverable' is normally a comprehensive APA-style paper that includes a literature review. It could be an analysis of some clinical phenomenon you've observed or experienced in the program; e.g., maternal bonding issues with teenaged mothers or introduction of a new documentation system in the ED. It usually has to incorporate all of the aspects of the program that are considered important (by faculty). So, if your program is gung-ho on cultural competence or professional accountability, be sure to include it in some way.

Does that help?

Lennonninja, MSN, APRN, NP · Jun 30, 2016

The capstone for my ASN-BSN program was a research paper about how to solve a problem we have seen on our units. I wrote my 17 page paper on the use of chlorhexadine impregnated caps for IV tubing.

TiffyRN, BSN, PhD · Jul 1, 2016

Hey NICU_nurse, I feel a bond somehow. I'm also in NICU and returned to get the BSN after about 20 years of practice. At my college, the capstone weekly modules essentially covered topics we had covered through our BSN courses: research, management, community nursing, etc. . .

Our big projects were (as a group, sigh!), were to pretend we were implementing a quality improvement project in a unit. We were given choices of paired projects and units. Nothing was close to my clinical experience but a few people in my group had outpatient surgery experience so we picked "improving discharge process flow for OPT surgery patients".

We had to write a big paper reviewing the appropriate literature and evidence based practice. Then we had to do a PowerPoint with VoiceOver describing the process and our pretend results (which were fabulous of course).

After that was done, there was an individual paper on healthcare reform where you could address any element of ACA and take whatever (supported) position on the effects of that element. I picked improving women's health services during pregnancy and lactation as that was the closest element to NICU.

NICU_Nurse, BSN, RN · Jul 4, 2016

Thank you all. That is clearer now, and I am terrified, but I appreciate your answers. ðŸ˜¬

Mia415 · Jul 10, 2016

I did a traditional "in person" BSN so I don't know about accelerated programs. This is really interesting because in my school the word capstone did not mean project... It mean your final senior preceptorship on your favorite unit - I had 225 hours in post partum / well baby. Basically 2-3 times per week in the hospital, 8 hour shifts, 15 weeks long. taking on 3-4 patients independently... It's was like clinical but double the hours of all the previous clinicals. Yes we did have a major senior project, which we were to present to the staff nurses on our unit. Mine was titled "the role of the RN in supporting breastfeeding mothers on postpartum units" it was lit review on the problem and the need for more BFing support, and very specific actions nurses should take to promote exclusive BFing not only in the hospital but long term success. I presented it to my staff in small groups and they were polite but kinda did the "aw that's nice...don't care too busy" attitude lol. But the whole 15 weeks of basically working in the unit 3 days a week... Where I really learned most of my crucial RN knowledge - that's what we called our "capstone"

BeachsideRN, ASN · Jul 10, 2016

This is interesting. Sounds very much like my "practicum" for my MPH. I wonder if I could dig it up and put a nursing spin on it when I get to this point.

applesxoranges, BSN, RN · Jul 12, 2016

I did basically a literature review and submitted a proposed project of implementing a barcode scanning system into the emergency room to limit medication errors. I did find that a lot of research for this was older because a lot of hospitals have already implemented barcode scanning. I guess my area was behind the times. Realistically, for most BSN programs they do not expect you to actually submit your proposal. We had to include some information on QSENs for our capstone.

I'm struggling to find a topic for my MSN capstone. I want to do more of a project but I'm switching areas so I don't want to join a project. I sort of wish I could do a survey and write an article on it. That would make it so much easier!

Capstones are done in a lot of different areas. While researching potential ideas (and I still hit a brick wall), there seems to be a variety of degrees that require capstone projects. There are also different degrees of what they can be. One MSN school gives students a list of potential capstones and one is a medical mission trip. They have like four options for that one. A lot of the students that went to the brick school basically assisted with a project.

You also have to make sure to try and word it in a way that won't trigger the need for the review board. Usually avoiding human subjects.

One capstone project example for the MSN was basically a large education project that involved a paper, a power point for the education, and other parts of the program. It was improving the hemolyzing and contamination rate of blood samples that were drawn by nurses. This is a MSN project for a MSN with focus on education so it probably wouldn't be nearly as complete for a BSN. The educators have to have a teaching component in theirs.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Jul 12, 2016

It depends on the school. My capstone was a leadership class which equated to us talking about ethics, resumes, and job hunting. Some capstone classes involve clinical hours and some research. It truly depends on the school.