For any new project or revision of a current process, key questions that will need to be answered are whether it's needed, does the institution have the capacity to support it, what is already in place that will facilitate implementation, and what are the downsides or barriers to development. In short, the SWOT analysis is a necessary component of planning a project and preparing the business plan. Critically examine your PICO(T) and project proposal through the lens of a SWOT analysis of your o...

Purpose The purpose of this assignment is to provide learners with the opportunity to develop break-even-analysis skills. Week 5 Break Even Analysis Assignment and Guidelines V2 (Links to an external site.) Due Date: Sunday 11:59 p.m. MT at the end of Week 5 Students are given the opportunity to request an extension on assignments for emergent situations. Supporting documentation must be submitted to the assigned faculty. If the student's request is not approved, the assignment is ...

Consider and restate your PICO(T) and the proposal for your final project. When you think of it as a type of new program development, what specific information will you need to obtain to create the cost-benefit analysis as part of your business plan for the project? SOLUTION As a likely research, the following PICOT question can be asked: in patients that are identified as high risk for developing a pressure ulcer (P), does the implementation of a pressure ulcer protocol initiated in the emerg...

Purpose This assignment provides learners with the opportunity to apply budgeting knowledge and skills by calculating full-time equivalents for a nursing unit, projecting FTE needs related to census changes, and analyzing a variance scenario. Week 4: Staffing Budgets/FTEs/Variance Analysis Agreement V4 (Links to an external site.) Due Date:  Sunday 11:59 p.m. MT at the end of Week 4 Students are given the opportunity to request an extension on assignments for emergent situations. S...

Staffing is one of the largest expenditures for healthcare organizations. It stands to reason that for some organizations a mandatory staffing ratio could negatively impact their financial bottom line. Sometimes ratios can be different within an organization based on acuity of patients or type of unit. Explore your own organization staffing ratio policy. What is/are the ratio(s) and how they are determined? What variables affect the ratios? Have they been mandated by state legislation or organiz...

Guidelines for Touchpoint Reflections A downloadable version of the guidelines, which includes further information, is available for access in the week 1 discussion thread. Reflection Information EXPERIENCE This week's readings contained a great deal of information on financial and budgeting principles. Some of you may have had some familiarity with the concepts and maybe even experience in working with them. However, there is always something new to learn. Describe your prior experiences wi...

After exploration of the types of budgets and the processes for their development at your institution. How and from whom is input into the budgets acquired and used? Where does control of the budget lie? What influence do unit and midlevel managers have on the various kinds of budgets? SOLUTION Every day, nurse leaders regulate an operating budget as well as a capital budget. "The operating spending budget has most full time equivalent personnel as well as all revenue and expenses for day ...

Guidelines for Touchpoint Reflections A downloadable version of the guidelines, which includes further information, is available for access in the week 1 discussion thread. Reflection Information EXPERIENCE Using the data collected in Week 1 about your institution’s, provide an overview of the payer mix , delivery system type, and the population demographics. Describe the type of reimbursement system relied upon most heavily by your institution; value- or volume-based. REFLECTION Describe ...

Models of payment to healthcare organizations have begun to shift from paying for volume (fee for service) to paying for value (quality). Using a Venn Diagram, compare volume-based versus value-based reimbursement. Be sure the overlapping area contains the commonalities between the two systems.Use the editable template for the Venn Diagram, which is available for download above. This template (with your findings) will need to be posted as an attachment in your discussion post along with your wri...

Guidelines for Touchpoint Reflections Touchpoint Reflections: This is a new type posting that occurs in the same type portal as the discussion thread. However, these are treated as “mini”-weekly assignments”. You will be able to see and read the posts of peers but are not required to respond to them. However, if someone responds to your TPR, replying their post is always the collegial thing to do. Your grade is not affected either way. There are specific formatting and content guidelines. Re...