Capstone Project Instructions for Post-Professional BS Degrees

The following instructions are for the Post-Professional BSRS, any other program should go to the Entry-Level Capstone Instructions. 

 

As a culmination of your work, the goal of this Capstone Project is to place into "practice" ideas you have learned in your coursework. 

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The project's goals are to Review, Research, Implement and Reflect

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Note: Please read this webpage very carefully. You can reach out to your program director or portfolio instructor anytime you need assistance or have a question

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Your project is comprised of 4 main parts:

1. A problem, issue, or gap in service that is defined by you and supported by research (see samples below).

2. A resolution to the problem developed by you and supported by research.

3. Implementation of the project’s solution developed by you and supported by research.

4. A reflection on the project that discusses your experience with the project, what you would change, and why. Each idea is supported by research.

 

Note: The first two elements are supported by research and thus comprise the basis for your literature review in Writing for HC Professionals.

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The selection of your Capstone project topic should be pertinent to the healthcare environment (specifically imaging), your educational goals and objectives, and that can be implemented into your professional environment (see sample ideas below). However, if implementing your Capstone project in your professional environment is not possible, you can speak hypothetically (with program director approval) about the implementation plan and establish associated timeline milestones. You will work with your program director on the feasibility of implementation or a hypothetical discussion. Your Capstone project should incorporate at least one (more than one is preferred) programmatic theme (learning outcome). These themes can be found here. 

 

Note: Capstone projects can be complementary to service-learning, emphasis projects, course projects in progress, or professional projects. Meaning, you can use your service-learning project as an implementation mechanism for your Capstone project.

 

You will present a 5-10 minute oral presentation based on your Capstone project at the end of the Senior Portfolio II Course. 

 

 

Capstone Project Outline and Details

 

Sample Ideas:

• Helping to streamline, design, or fix an administrative process or task. For example, billing, coding, strategic planning, workflow design, IT design, etc.

• Working with an IT Department on a project or part of a project such as software implementation or hardware replacement.

• Teaching a lesson, continuing education, or mini-course in a clinic or the classroom

• Applying a new radiation safety policy and or procedure in your clinical site

• Policy and procedure creation or revision

• Service-learning project involving imaging-based community projects 

• Conference presentation or journal publication on research or a meta-analysis of current research

 

The sky's the limit when it comes to your project. However, please keep the following items in mind:

• Your project must be something you can research and test in a real imaging environment (clinical or educational), therefore, it must be feasible.

• You will work to build the research element as a literature review in the RTCH 387 Writing for Healthcare Professionals course during your first or second quarter.

• Your project MUST be related to the imaging profession but can be in any discipline (education, administration, informatics, community outreach, CT, MRI, etc.).

• It's okay if you find that during the implementation process you have to modify your project OR that your initial hypothesis did not work out. Work with your program director on any modifications.

• Don't make the project so complicated that you cannot do it. Think about time constraints, resources you have available, your support at work, etc.

• Make sure you can complete the implementation portion of the project prior to starting your Senior Portfolio II course.

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Note: any projects relating to human subject research (i.e. surveys at work or in class) require IRB approval. Although we encourage research at this level, it is not required. Please work with your program director on the potential for human subject research.

 

Capstone Project Elements

 

Overview

Your Capstone project is comprised of the following elements: identification of the problem, identification of an intervention or resolution, completion of the problem and solution-based research (literature review), building an implementation and measurement plan, implementing the plan or a hypothetical implementation, and a reflection of the project. All elements will be presented as a paper to be turned in with your ePortfolio and as an oral presentation (PowerPoint), both to be completed during the Senior Portfolio II Course.

 

 

Details

 

 

The paper will be in APA format, 15-20 pages, with a minimum of 10 resources, and include the following components:

 

I - Identify the Problem and Potential Resolution/Intervention (Proposal) 1-2 pages

 

Part of AHCJ 493 Senior Portfolio I

 

Selection of topic, identification of the problem, and the hypothesis of the solution. This should be a 1-2 page proposal that will evolve into the first section of your Capstone project. The Proposal should include the following items:

• A brief overview of the problem (topic/idea)

• The program learning outcome (theme) the topic/idea relates to

• The location and people involved in applying the topic/idea

• Potential barriers to the solution and its implementation

• Potential measurement of success to the implementation

• A list of preliminary research (attached as an appendix or reference page)

 

You can also include, although not required, theoretical frameworks, methodologies, or other research elements. The more detail, the better. A good way to think of your proposal is to think about what you would need to tell someone in order for them to fund your project. What is relevant to your idea?

 

Once the proposal is written, it will be submitted during the Senior Portfolio I Course for review by the Portfolio Instructor. The proposal will be then be sent to the Program Director for approval. Feedback and recommendations will be sent back to the student prior to the completion of the Portfolio I Course.

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Note: It is recommended to set up a meeting with your program director to plan your project prior to proposal submission. It is your responsibility to reach out to the Program Director for a meeting

 

II Problem-Based Research (Literature Review) 8-10 pages

 

Part of RTCH 387 Writing for Healthcare Professionals

 

Upon the approval of your initial proposal, construct an 8–10-page literature review (not including your title page, abstract, or reference pages) discussing BOTH your problem AND the potential resolution to that problem. The literature review will be part of your Writing for Healthcare Professionals course as an independent assignment. It will then be integrated into your overall Capstone project paper for Senior Portfolio II for a final grade.

 

In this step of the process, students are required to locate and use at least ten external peer-reviewed sources (referenced scholarly journals) in the process of finding solutions to their problems. The Writing for Healthcare Professionals course will include lessons that instruct you on how to use the LLU library databases as a resource. These databases are highly recommended to be used for your primary research point because they are assured to be scholarly and are vetted by our library staff.  In addition to the database, the library staff is an excellent resource for getting assistance in scholarly writing and research. https://library.llu.edu/

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The literature review should include:

• A statement of the problem

• Synthesized research supporting the problem statement (why is the problem a problem?)

• Supporting research ancillary or relevant to the project (i.e. demographic information, definitions of new terms, theories you wish to use, principles introduced from your learning)

• A statement of the solution (can be a potential solution to start)

• Supporting research supporting the solution

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For example, Technologists do not get enough sleep. Research shows .... This is most prevalent in ... It is suggested that training on proper health and sleep be provided. Research shows..... 

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EndNote: It is highly recommended that you use EndNote for your project (and other projects). EndNote is an excellent tool to categorize and easily create citations/reference lists in APA format. It is free to all LLU students while they attend LLU. See the program Canvas page for details on accessing EndNote at no cost.

 

III Implementation Plan (Where or how will I implement my solution?) 2-3 pages

 

Part of RTCH 387 Writing for Healthcare Professionals & RTCH 489 - Effective Communication for Supervisors

 

After completing the literature review assignment, which builds upon the problem and solution elements of the project, the focus becomes developing a step-by-step implementation and measurement plan. Implementation should be feasible. Common implementations can include policy and procedural updates or creation, continuing education, training of staff, public blog or website to inform, etc. 

 

This plan can be broken into two parts.

 

Implementation:

• Who do you need to involve in your project for successful implementation?

• What supplies or resources will you need to carry out your project?

• Where do you plan to implement your project?

• What is the timeline for your project and when do you plan for it to be completed?

• Why is your project important?

• How do you think your project will make a difference?

• What obstacles do you see that might prevent you from implementing your project?

• How do you plan to overcome those obstacles?

 

Measurement:

• What tools will you use to measure success? For example, a survey or a data report?

• What will be your criteria for success? For example, 75% of students learn about an objective and pass a written assessment test.

• What is your plan if you do not meet the criteria?

• What other results or measurements do you wish to include?
   

Your plan should be informed by the literature review and appropriate resources. It is important to clarify quantitative versus qualitative measurement, and that your measurements are truly objective and verifiable/measurable to appropriately track solution effectiveness.

 

 

IRB approval may be necessary. For additional information pertaining to this process, please contact your Program Director.

 

IRB: https://researchaffairs.llu.edu/responsible-research/human-studies/irb-toolkit

 

The draft of this plan is your “Implementation and Measurement Plan” assignment due the final week of the Writing for Healthcare Professionals course. You will continue to refine and update as you progress towards Effective Communication for Supervisors.

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IV - Implementation of Plan or Hypothetical Implementation (Putting into Action) Journal

 

Part of RTCH 489 - Effective Communication for Supervisors

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Students will work with their program director to approach and implement the project according to their plan. This is the actual putting your plan into action. While this is not a paper per se, keeping track of activities, accomplishments, and setbacks is an important step towards building the final reflection element (Part V). You will be required to keep a journal or diary of the implementation. This should be in a digital format, preferably an MS Word Doc. This will be the “Implementation Journal” assignment in your RTCH 489 Effective Communication for Supervisors course.

 

V - Project Reflection (How did I do and what would I do differently?) 3-5 pages

 

Part of AHCJ 494 - Senior Portfolio II

 

Structured reflection is a way to maximize learning and process experiences. Reflective thinking is key to making an educative experience into personal knowledge and mastery. The following questions should be included in your reflection:

• Did your project succeed or fail and why (both are okay)?

• What did you learn about yourself while working on this problem/solution, and how can you apply it beyond the program?

• What was the most difficult part of the process?

• What part of the project required you to master new skills? And what are those skills?

• What would you tell another person about how to effectively solve a problem like yours?

• How would you go about solving the problem differently if you were to work on it again?

• How happy were you with the outcome of the solution you implemented and why?

 

Putting it all together (deliverables in SPII)

All 4 written elements will be synthesized and submitted as a final 15-20 page paper in your ePortfolio and will be part of your Senior Portfolio II grade. During Senior Portfolio II, you will create an oral presentation based on your project paper:

 

Final Paper

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Your 15-20 page paper should have the following:

• Introduction of the problem, issue, or gap supported by your literature review research. (5-7 pages)

• Introduction of the resolution or intervention to the problem, issue, or gap supported by your literature review research (5-7 pages)

• An overview of your plan for implementation of the resolution or intervention that includes how you measured your success (2-3 pages)

• A reflection of your project: (3-4 pages)

  • What occurred in your implementation? Was it a success or not?

  • Why was it a success or not?

  • What would you do differently?

  • How would you apply lessons learned in your degree?

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Oral Presentation

 

During Senior Portfolio II, you will create an oral presentation based on your Capstone project. Your oral presentation will need to be 5-10 minutes in length and include the following elements:

• An overview of your project problem and resolution (include support from your and literature research)

• An overview or discussion of your implementation

• A summary of your reflection

 

You will also need to be prepared to address questions from the audience.

 

Notes on your presentation:

 

• Your presentation will be completed online during the finals week in Senior Portfolio II using the Zoom video conference software. You WILL need a webcam with a microphone. It would be smart to test ahead of time.

• You should be professionally dressed; this should be treated like an interview.

• You will be sharing your work with your community (fellow students and instructors), so be prepared to do so.

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