Assignment Prompt & Instructions
– a month ago
**files (2)**
– ## CapstonePartI.docx
– ## Discussions.docx
**## CapstonePartI.docx**
Capstone Part I: PICOT Assignment
**CAPSTONE: PART I Due 1/24/2026 by 11:59pm**
**The PICOT will be a health issue identified at work or in the community. Be creative! There are certain topics that have been saturated in healthcare and have been implemented multiple times in this course. Do not** present on the following topics:
Diabetes, CHF, Blood pressure, Infection Control (hand washing, post op infections), Medication compliance programs, Telemedicine/Home programs, Pressure Ulcers, Falls, Nursing Burnout.
1. Title Page (use appropriate title for faculty) EX: Dr. Carmen Lazo, DNP, MSN, APRN-BC, APN
2. Introduction to your proposed problem:
– Significance of the Practice Problem: Discuss the identified Practice Problem.
-Introduce the topic of the paper (Abstract, Introduction). Describe the health problem.
-Using data and statistics, support your claim that your selected issue is a problem. What is the cost (national and local) and budget (if any) for your proposal. What is the cost nationally and locally?
– Include your purpose statement and what specifically you will address in your proposed program. Be sure your proposed outcome is realistic and measurable. Align with the semester hours.
3. PICOT- Should be discussed in detail. This section should include your PICOT question but also should provide thorough descriptions of your population, intervention, comparison intervention, outcome, and timing.
The word PICOT is a mnemonic derived from the elements of a clinical research question – patient, intervention, comparison, outcome, and time. The PICOT process begins with a case scenario, and the question is phrased to elicit an answer. Present the PICOT in
**APA Essay format. do not use bullet points**.
P – Patient/Problem I – Intervention C -Comparison O – Outcome T – Timeframe
4. Describe the vulnerable population and setting.
-Be specific. Discuss the impact of social determinants on health for your selected population.
-What are the risk factors that make this a vulnerable population? Why is change important for this population? What are the current statistics and cost? Use national and local data on your population's setting. Where are they exisiting? Ex. Miami-Dade.
-Use evidence to support the risk factors you have identified.
5. Research should be from scholarly journals of evidence-based interventions that address the
problem. Do not use websites as subtitutes. At least 5 schorlary articles and if applicable schorlarly websites.
-Peer-reviewed research articles not older than five years (all articles must be used in your paper)
6. Proposal
-Propose addressing the selected health problem using an evidence-based intervention in your
literature search to address the problem in the selected population/setting.
-Include a thorough discussion of the specifics of this intervention which include resources necessary, those involved, and feasibility for a nurse in an advanced role.
-Be sure to include a timeline for the intervention proposed.
7. Theoretical Framework/Nursing Theory- This section should include the theoretical framework which supports your project. Describe a theory or model to serve as the foundation for your project. How will this theory be incorparated into your Capstone? Discuss in details.
– Overall, you should be able to introduce the problem and why this is significant to the healthcare system. For example: What impact does it have on the patient, community, cost of care, quality of life, readmissions and so forth.
-Use appropriate APA 7th Ed. format. Write PICOT in ESSAY format.
-Scholarly, peer-reviewed, and research articles cited should be within the last five years.
-This section should be minimum 5 pages long (not including the title and reference page).
-Use proper in-text citations with a properly formatted reference list.
-All papers must be written in the 3rd person.
**Rubric Grading Part I.docx**
| | | |
| — | — | — |
| **Criterion** | **Points** | **Requirements for Full Credit** |
| **PICOT and Proposed Health Problem** | **20** | Thoroughly describe the proposed health problem and clearly explain <br>**what change is being proposed**. Support the significance of the problem with <br>**current data, statistics, and scholarly literature**. Clearly connect the problem to the PICOT question. |
| **Description of the Population** | **20** | Provide a detailed description of the target population, including relevant <br>**age range, demographic characteristics, setting, health condition, and socioeconomic or clinical factors**. Identify important <br>**risk factors** affecting the population and support them with current scholarly evidence. |
| **Depth of Discussion and Literature Review** | **20** | Provide an <br>**in-depth discussion and elaboration throughout the entire paper**. Include a literature review from scholarly journals describing <br>**evidence-based interventions** that address the identified health problem. Integrate and synthesize information from different sources rather than discussing each source separately. The paper should flow logically from one idea to another and demonstrate a clear relationship among the problem, population, evidence, and proposed intervention. According to the rubric, the discussion should flow smoothly <br>**without unnecessary headings**. |
| **Theoretical Nursing Framework** | **20** | Select an appropriate <br>**nursing theory, health-promotion model, disease-prevention model, or conceptual framework** that aligns with the proposed health problem. Explain the major concepts of the theory and clearly demonstrate how the framework supports the <br>**population, intervention, implementation, and expected outcomes** of the project. |
| **Spelling, Grammar, and Required Length** | **10** | The paper should contain <br>**fewer than five grammatical, spelling, capitalization, or punctuation errors**. Academic and professional language should be used throughout. The paper must meet the <br>**entire required word or page count** established by the instructor. |
| **Sources and Evidence** | **10** | Use <br>**more than five current sources**, with at least <br>**three peer-reviewed journal articles or scholarly books**. Include both general background evidence and specialized evidence related to the intervention. Any websites used should come from authoritative organizations such as the <br>**CDC, NIH, WHO, or professional healthcare organizations**. Citations and references should follow <br>**APA 7th edition**. |
| **TOTAL** | **100/100** | **All Outstanding criteria must be fully addressed.** |
**## Discussions.docx**
**Discussion Post: PICOT Question**
The healthcare problem I propose to change is obesity among low-income Hispanic adults. Obesity increases the risk of health problems such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, joint pain, and limited mobility. Approximately 40.3% of adults in the United States have obesity, demonstrating the seriousness of this healthcare problem (Emmerich et al., 2024).
**PICOT question**
In low-income Hispanic adults with obesity who receive care at a community clinic in Miami-Dade County (P), how does a nurse-led educational program about healthy nutrition and physical activity (I), compared with their initial weight before the program (C), affect weight loss (O) over 12 weeks (T)?
The setting for this project will be a community-based primary care clinic in Miami-Dade County. The population will include Hispanic adults between 18 and 64 years of age with a body mass index of 30 kg/m² or greater. These patients may experience barriers to weight management, including limited income, lack of nutrition education, language differences, and reduced access to healthy foods or safe places for exercise.
The proposed intervention will provide simple bilingual education about healthy eating, portion control, physical activity, and realistic weight-loss goals. Nurses are well positioned to provide health education, encouragement, psychological support, and follow-up for adults with obesity (Sen et al., 2025).
Obesity affects patients by increasing chronic disease risk, emotional distress, physical limitations, and difficulty completing daily activities. These problems may decrease quality of life and increase healthcare visits and treatment costs. Obesity-related conditions can also contribute to hospitalizations and possible readmissions when diabetes, hypertension, or cardiovascular disease is not adequately controlled. At the community level, obesity increases the demand for primary care, emergency services, medications, and chronic disease management.
The purpose of this quality-improvement project is to determine whether a simple, nurse-led educational program can help participants achieve measurable weight loss. Even a modest weight reduction may improve mobility, chronic disease control, and overall well-being while potentially decreasing future healthcare utilization.
**References**
Emmerich, S. D., Fryar, C. D., Stierman, B., & Ogden, C. L. (2024). Obesity and severe obesity prevalence in adults: United States, August 2021–August 2023.
_NCHS Data Brief, 508_, 1–8.
[https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db508.htm](https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db508.htm?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Sen, A., Astin, F., Katikireddi, S. V., & Mair, F. S. (2025). The roles of nurses in preventing and managing excess weight among adults: A systematic scoping review.
_Nursing Outlook, 73_(2), 102377.
[https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2025.102377](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2025.102377)
Top of Form
I plan to focus on low-income Hispanic adults receiving primary care in Hialeah, particularly within ZIP code 33012. I selected this area because it has a predominantly Hispanic population and includes patients who may experience financial, linguistic, transportation, and food-access barriers affecting weight management. Research conducted among Hispanic adults in Miami-Dade identified financial limitations, inadequate access to healthy foods, and insufficient culturally appropriate education as barriers to preventing obesity and related diseases (Martin et al., 2022).
Current public statistics do not demonstrate that Hialeah’s overall adult obesity prevalence is higher than the national prevalence. In 2023, approximately 30.9% of Hialeah adults had obesity, with a 95% confidence interval of 26.2%–35.9% (Miami-Dade Matters, 2023). Nationally, 40.3% of adults had obesity during August 2021–August 2023 (Emmerich et al., 2024). Therefore, I cannot conclude that Hialeah’s overall population has statistically more obesity than the national population.
Nevertheless, my project will examine a specifically selected high-risk clinical population: low-income Hispanic adults with a BMI of 30 kg/m² or greater. Before implementing the intervention, I will conduct a baseline review of deidentified clinic data to determine the number and percentage of eligible patients with obesity. This clinic-specific statistic will document the local need and provide evidence supporting the educational intervention. Participants’ baseline weights will then be compared with their weights after 12 weeks.
**References**
Emmerich, S. D., Fryar, C. D., Stierman, B., & Ogden, C. L. (2024). Obesity and severe obesity prevalence in adults: United States, August 2021–August 2023.
_NCHS Data Brief, 508_, 1–8.
[https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db508.htm](https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db508.htm)
Martin, M. P., Obioha, C. U., Gaikwad, S., et al. (2022). Perceptions, awareness, and barriers to care regarding obesity and diabetes among Latinx in Miami and Escambia, Florida.
_Journal of Global Health Reports, 6_, e2022003.
[https://doi.org/10.29392/001c.30829](https://dmuwut6e40u5o.cloudfront.net/ultra/uiv4000.21.0-rel.64_53a3540)
Miami-Dade Matters. (2023).
_Adults who are obese: Hialeah_.
[https://www.miamidadematters.org/index.php?action=view&controller=index&indicatorId=54&localeId=138831&module=indicators](https://www.miamidadematters.org/index.php?action=view&controller=index&indicatorId=54&localeId=138831&module=indicators&utm_source=chatgpt.com)
**Nursing and Change Theories for the Capstone Project**
The nursing theory selected for this capstone project is Pender’s Health Promotion Model. This model is appropriate because the proposed intervention focuses on helping low-income Hispanic adults adopt healthier nutrition and physical activity behaviors. The model recognizes that health behaviors are influenced by personal experiences, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, self-efficacy, interpersonal support, and environmental factors (Alligood, 2022). These concepts are particularly relevant for patients in Hialeah ZIP code 33012 who may encounter financial limitations, language differences, transportation problems, and limited access to healthy foods.
Pender’s model will be incorporated by assessing each participant’s perceived barriers, cultural food preferences, readiness to change, and confidence in managing weight. The nurse-led program will provide culturally appropriate bilingual education concerning portion control, affordable food choices, physical activity, and realistic weight-loss goals. Participants will establish individualized weekly goals and monitor their weight. Nurses will reinforce progress, address barriers, and encourage self-efficacy. This approach aligns with evidence indicating that nurses have important educational, motivational, and supportive roles in adult weight management (Sen et al., 2025).
Lewin’s Change Theory will guide the implementation of the project through the stages of unfreezing, changing, and refreezing. During the unfreezing stage, baseline clinic data will be reviewed, and participants and clinic stakeholders will receive information about obesity risks and the need for change. The changing stage will include implementation of the 12-week bilingual educational program, weekly weight monitoring, goal setting, and ongoing nursing support. During the refreezing stage, participants will receive strategies for sustaining healthier behaviors, while clinic staff will consider incorporating effective educational materials and follow-up procedures into routine practice. Lewin’s model is suitable because structured preparation, stakeholder engagement, implementation support, and reinforcement can facilitate sustainable healthcare improvements (Volpendesta et al., 2026). Together, these theories will guide both individual behavioral change and organizational adoption of the intervention.
**References**
Alligood, M. R. (2022).
_Nursing theorists and their work_ (10th ed.). Elsevier.
[https://www.elsevier.com/books/nursing-theorists-and-their-work/alligood/978-0-323-75702-7](https://dmuwut6e40u5o.cloudfront.net/ultra/uiv4000.21.0-rel.64_53a3540)
Sen, A., Astin, F., Katikireddi, S. V., & Mair, F. S. (2025). The roles of nurses in preventing and managing excess weight among adults: A systematic scoping review.
_Nursing Outlook, 73_(2), 102377.
[https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2025.102377](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2025.102377)
Volpendesta, C., Graham, N., Collins, E., & Kirchhoff, A. (2026). Transforming quality and patient experience in postpandemic nursing: A strategic collaboration between system and local leaders using Lewin’s change model.
_Nurse Leader, 24_(1), 102574.
[https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mnl.2025.102574](https://dmuwut6e40u5o.cloudfront.net/ultra/uiv4000.21.0-rel.64_53a3540)
**Evidence-Based Practice and the Capstone PICOT**
Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a systematic approach to clinical decision-making that integrates the best available research evidence with clinical expertise, patient preferences, and individual circumstances. In nursing, EBP is important because it supports safe, high-quality, and patient-centered care while encouraging healthcare professionals to evaluate whether current practices are producing the desired outcomes. Advanced practice nurses play an important role in identifying clinical problems, critically evaluating research findings, implementing evidence-based interventions, and measuring patient outcomes (Ylimäki et al., 2024).
Through my review of the literature related to my PICOT question, I have discovered that obesity management requires more than simply advising patients to lose weight. Effective interventions should address nutrition, physical activity, motivation, behavioral change, cultural preferences, socioeconomic barriers, and continued follow-up. This is particularly important for low-income Hispanic adults who may experience barriers such as limited access to healthy foods, financial challenges, language differences, and limited opportunities for physical activity. Evidence supports nurses as important participants in obesity prevention and management because they can provide education, behavioral support, motivation, monitoring, and continuity of care (Sen et al., 2025). Therefore, the literature supports the use of a nurse-led bilingual educational intervention focusing on nutrition, portion control, physical activity, and realistic weight-loss goals.
APRNs are directly involved in EBP throughout this capstone project. The APRN can identify the practice problem, formulate the PICOT question, search and critically evaluate current literature, develop the educational intervention, and monitor outcomes. APRNs can also assess participants' readiness for behavioral change, identify individual barriers, provide culturally appropriate education, and collaborate with interdisciplinary team members. Ylimäki et al. (2024) found that advanced practice nurses demonstrate important competencies in evidence transfer and implementation, emphasizing their role in translating research into clinical practice. In this capstone project, weight measurements obtained before and after the 12-week intervention will provide objective data for evaluating effectiveness. Ultimately, EBP allows the APRN to connect current scientific evidence with culturally responsive nursing interventions to improve outcomes among adults experiencing obesity.
**References**
Sen, A., Astin, F., Katikireddi, S. V., & Mair, F. S. (2025). The roles of nurses in preventing and managing excess weight among adults: A systematic scoping review.
_Nursing Outlook, 73_(2), 102377.
[https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2025.102377](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2025.102377)
Ylimäki, S., Oikarinen, A., Kääriäinen, M., Tuomikoski, A.-M., et al. (2024). Advanced practice nurses’ evidence-based healthcare competence and associated factors: A systematic review.
_Journal of Clinical Nursing, 33_.
[https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.17075](https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.17075)
Current statistical evidence demonstrates the magnitude and economic burden of obesity in the United States. Approximately
**40.3% of U.S. adults** were living with obesity during 2021–2023, demonstrating that obesity continues to represent a major public health concern (Fryar et al., 2026). Disparities are also evident among Hispanic populations. Recent CDC surveillance data indicate that Hispanic adults had an obesity prevalence of at least 35% in 33 U.S. states and territories with sufficient data, emphasizing the disproportionate burden experienced by this population (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2025). Socioeconomic conditions further contribute to obesity risk because cumulative social disadvantage has been associated with substantially higher prevalence of obesity, particularly more severe classes of obesity (Almandoz et al., 2022).
The financial impact is also considerable. Obesity is estimated to cost the U.S. healthcare system nearly
**$173 billion annually** (CDC, 2026). Additionally, research has demonstrated that adults with obesity experience significantly greater annual healthcare expenditures than adults of normal weight, with costs increasing as obesity severity increases (Cawley et al., 2021). These demographic, clinical, and economic findings support implementing a culturally appropriate, nurse-led bilingual nutrition and physical-activity intervention among low-income Hispanic adults. Changes in participants’ weight will be measured from baseline through the end of the
**12-week intervention period**.
**References**
Almandoz, J. P., Xie, L., Schellinger, J. N., Mathew, M. S., Gazda, C., Ofori, A., Kuk, J. L., & Messiah, S. E. (2022). Social determinants of health and obesity: Findings from a national study of US adults.
_Obesity, 30_(2), 491–502.
[https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35088551/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35088551/)
Cawley, J., Biener, A., Meyerhoefer, C., Ding, Y., Zvenyach, T., Smolarz, B. G., & Ramasamy, A. (2021). Direct medical costs of obesity in the United States and the most populous states.
_Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy, 27_(3), 354–366.
[https://doi.org/10.18553/jmcp.2021.20410](https://doi.org/10.18553/jmcp.2021.20410)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025).
_Adult obesity prevalence maps_.
[https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data-and-statistics/adult-obesity-prevalence-maps.html](https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data-and-statistics/adult-obesity-prevalence-maps.html)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2026).
_Fast facts: Health and economic costs of chronic conditions_.
[https://www.cdc.gov/chronic-disease/data-research/facts-stats/index.html](https://www.cdc.gov/chronic-disease/data-research/facts-stats/index.html)
Fryar, C. D., Afful, J., & Saif, N. T. (2026).
_Prevalence of overweight, obesity, and severe obesity among adults age 20 and older: United States, 1960–1962 through August 2021–August 2023_. National Center for Health Statistics.
[https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/hestat111.htm](https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/hestat111.htm)
Bottom of Form
**## Discussions.docx**
**Discussion Post: PICOT Question**
The healthcare problem I propose to change is obesity among low-income Hispanic adults. Obesity increases the risk of health problems such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, joint pain, and limited mobility. Approximately 40.3% of adults in the United States have obesity, demonstrating the seriousness of this healthcare problem (Emmerich et al., 2024).
**PICOT question**
In low-income Hispanic adults with obesity who receive care at a community clinic in Miami-Dade County (P), how does a nurse-led educational program about healthy nutrition and physical activity (I), compared with their initial weight before the program (C), affect weight loss (O) over 12 weeks (T)?
The setting for this project will be a community-based primary care clinic in Miami-Dade County. The population will include Hispanic adults between 18 and 64 years of age with a body mass index of 30 kg/m² or greater. These patients may experience barriers to weight management, including limited income, lack of nutrition education, language differences, and reduced access to healthy foods or safe places for exercise.
The proposed intervention will provide simple bilingual education about healthy eating, portion control, physical activity, and realistic weight-loss goals. Nurses are well positioned to provide health education, encouragement, psychological support, and follow-up for adults with obesity (Sen et al., 2025).
Obesity affects patients by increasing chronic disease risk, emotional distress, physical limitations, and difficulty completing daily activities. These problems may decrease quality of life and increase healthcare visits and treatment costs. Obesity-related conditions can also contribute to hospitalizations and possible readmissions when diabetes, hypertension, or cardiovascular disease is not adequately controlled. At the community level, obesity increases the demand for primary care, emergency services, medications, and chronic disease management.
The purpose of this quality-improvement project is to determine whether a simple, nurse-led educational program can help participants achieve measurable weight loss. Even a modest weight reduction may improve mobility, chronic disease control, and overall well-being while potentially decreasing future healthcare utilization.
**References**
Emmerich, S. D., Fryar, C. D., Stierman, B., & Ogden, C. L. (2024). Obesity and severe obesity prevalence in adults: United States, August 2021–August 2023.
_NCHS Data Brief, 508_, 1–8.
[https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db508.htm](https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db508.htm?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Sen, A., Astin, F., Katikireddi, S. V., & Mair, F. S. (2025). The roles of nurses in preventing and managing excess weight among adults: A systematic scoping review.
_Nursing Outlook, 73_(2), 102377.
[https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2025.102377](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2025.102377)
Top of Form
I plan to focus on low-income Hispanic adults receiving primary care in Hialeah, particularly within ZIP code 33012. I selected this area because it has a predominantly Hispanic population and includes patients who may experience financial, linguistic, transportation, and food-access barriers affecting weight management. Research conducted among Hispanic adults in Miami-Dade identified financial limitations, inadequate access to healthy foods, and insufficient culturally appropriate education as barriers to preventing obesity and related diseases (Martin et al., 2022).
Current public statistics do not demonstrate that Hialeah’s overall adult obesity prevalence is higher than the national prevalence. In 2023, approximately 30.9% of Hialeah adults had obesity, with a 95% confidence interval of 26.2%–35.9% (Miami-Dade Matters, 2023). Nationally, 40.3% of adults had obesity during August 2021–August 2023 (Emmerich et al., 2024). Therefore, I cannot conclude that Hialeah’s overall population has statistically more obesity than the national population.
Nevertheless, my project will examine a specifically selected high-risk clinical population: low-income Hispanic adults with a BMI of 30 kg/m² or greater. Before implementing the intervention, I will conduct a baseline review of deidentified clinic data to determine the number and percentage of eligible patients with obesity. This clinic-specific statistic will document the local need and provide evidence supporting the educational intervention. Participants’ baseline weights will then be compared with their weights after 12 weeks.
**References**
Emmerich, S. D., Fryar, C. D., Stierman, B., & Ogden, C. L. (2024). Obesity and severe obesity prevalence in adults: United States, August 2021–August 2023.
_NCHS Data Brief, 508_, 1–8.
[https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db508.htm](https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db508.htm)
Martin, M. P., Obioha, C. U., Gaikwad, S., et al. (2022). Perceptions, awareness, and barriers to care regarding obesity and diabetes among Latinx in Miami and Escambia, Florida.
_Journal of Global Health Reports, 6_, e2022003.
[https://doi.org/10.29392/001c.30829](https://dmuwut6e40u5o.cloudfront.net/ultra/uiv4000.21.0-rel.64_53a3540)
Miami-Dade Matters. (2023).
_Adults who are obese: Hialeah_.
[https://www.miamidadematters.org/index.php?action=view&controller=index&indicatorId=54&localeId=138831&module=indicators](https://www.miamidadematters.org/index.php?action=view&controller=index&indicatorId=54&localeId=138831&module=indicators&utm_source=chatgpt.com)
**Nursing and Change Theories for the Capstone Project**
The nursing theory selected for this capstone project is Pender’s Health Promotion Model. This model is appropriate because the proposed intervention focuses on helping low-income Hispanic adults adopt healthier nutrition and physical activity behaviors. The model recognizes that health behaviors are influenced by personal experiences, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, self-efficacy, interpersonal support, and environmental factors (Alligood, 2022). These concepts are particularly relevant for patients in Hialeah ZIP code 33012 who may encounter financial limitations, language differences, transportation problems, and limited access to healthy foods.
Pender’s model will be incorporated by assessing each participant’s perceived barriers, cultural food preferences, readiness to change, and confidence in managing weight. The nurse-led program will provide culturally appropriate bilingual education concerning portion control, affordable food choices, physical activity, and realistic weight-loss goals. Participants will establish individualized weekly goals and monitor their weight. Nurses will reinforce progress, address barriers, and encourage self-efficacy. This approach aligns with evidence indicating that nurses have important educational, motivational, and supportive roles in adult weight management (Sen et al., 2025).
Lewin’s Change Theory will guide the implementation of the project through the stages of unfreezing, changing, and refreezing. During the unfreezing stage, baseline clinic data will be reviewed, and participants and clinic stakeholders will receive information about obesity risks and the need for change. The changing stage will include implementation of the 12-week bilingual educational program, weekly weight monitoring, goal setting, and ongoing nursing support. During the refreezing stage, participants will receive strategies for sustaining healthier behaviors, while clinic staff will consider incorporating effective educational materials and follow-up procedures into routine practice. Lewin’s model is suitable because structured preparation, stakeholder engagement, implementation support, and reinforcement can facilitate sustainable healthcare improvements (Volpendesta et al., 2026). Together, these theories will guide both individual behavioral change and organizational adoption of the intervention.
**References**
Alligood, M. R. (2022).
_Nursing theorists and their work_ (10th ed.). Elsevier.
[https://www.elsevier.com/books/nursing-theorists-and-their-work/alligood/978-0-323-75702-7](https://dmuwut6e40u5o.cloudfront.net/ultra/uiv4000.21.0-rel.64_53a3540)
Sen, A., Astin, F., Katikireddi, S. V., & Mair, F. S. (2025). The roles of nurses in preventing and managing excess weight among adults: A systematic scoping review.
_Nursing Outlook, 73_(2), 102377.
[https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2025.102377](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2025.102377)
Volpendesta, C., Graham, N., Collins, E., & Kirchhoff, A. (2026). Transforming quality and patient experience in postpandemic nursing: A strategic collaboration between system and local leaders using Lewin’s change model.
_Nurse Leader, 24_(1), 102574.
[https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mnl.2025.102574](https://dmuwut6e40u5o.cloudfront.net/ultra/uiv4000.21.0-rel.64_53a3540)
**Evidence-Based Practice and the Capstone PICOT**
Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a systematic approach to clinical decision-making that integrates the best available research evidence with clinical expertise, patient preferences, and individual circumstances. In nursing, EBP is important because it supports safe, high-quality, and patient-centered care while encouraging healthcare professionals to evaluate whether current practices are producing the desired outcomes. Advanced practice nurses play an important role in identifying clinical problems, critically evaluating research findings, implementing evidence-based interventions, and measuring patient outcomes (Ylimäki et al., 2024).
Through my review of the literature related to my PICOT question, I have discovered that obesity management requires more than simply advising patients to lose weight. Effective interventions should address nutrition, physical activity, motivation, behavioral change, cultural preferences, socioeconomic barriers, and continued follow-up. This is particularly important for low-income Hispanic adults who may experience barriers such as limited access to healthy foods, financial challenges, language differences, and limited opportunities for physical activity. Evidence supports nurses as important participants in obesity prevention and management because they can provide education, behavioral support, motivation, monitoring, and continuity of care (Sen et al., 2025). Therefore, the literature supports the use of a nurse-led bilingual educational intervention focusing on nutrition, portion control, physical activity, and realistic weight-loss goals.
APRNs are directly involved in EBP throughout this capstone project. The APRN can identify the practice problem, formulate the PICOT question, search and critically evaluate current literature, develop the educational intervention, and monitor outcomes. APRNs can also assess participants' readiness for behavioral change, identify individual barriers, provide culturally appropriate education, and collaborate with interdisciplinary team members. Ylimäki et al. (2024) found that advanced practice nurses demonstrate important competencies in evidence transfer and implementation, emphasizing their role in translating research into clinical practice. In this capstone project, weight measurements obtained before and after the 12-week intervention will provide objective data for evaluating effectiveness. Ultimately, EBP allows the APRN to connect current scientific evidence with culturally responsive nursing interventions to improve outcomes among adults experiencing obesity.
**References**
Sen, A., Astin, F., Katikireddi, S. V., & Mair, F. S. (2025). The roles of nurses in preventing and managing excess weight among adults: A systematic scoping review.
_Nursing Outlook, 73_(2), 102377.
[https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2025.102377](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2025.102377)
Ylimäki, S., Oikarinen, A., Kääriäinen, M., Tuomikoski, A.-M., et al. (2024). Advanced practice nurses’ evidence-based healthcare competence and associated factors: A systematic review.
_Journal of Clinical Nursing, 33_.
[https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.17075](https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.17075)
Current statistical evidence demonstrates the magnitude and economic burden of obesity in the United States. Approximately
**40.3% of U.S. adults** were living with obesity during 2021–2023, demonstrating that obesity continues to represent a major public health concern (Fryar et al., 2026). Disparities are also evident among Hispanic populations. Recent CDC surveillance data indicate that Hispanic adults had an obesity prevalence of at least 35% in 33 U.S. states and territories with sufficient data, emphasizing the disproportionate burden experienced by this population (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2025). Socioeconomic conditions further contribute to obesity risk because cumulative social disadvantage has been associated with substantially higher prevalence of obesity, particularly more severe classes of obesity (Almandoz et al., 2022).
The financial impact is also considerable. Obesity is estimated to cost the U.S. healthcare system nearly
**$173 billion annually** (CDC, 2026). Additionally, research has demonstrated that adults with obesity experience significantly greater annual healthcare expenditures than adults of normal weight, with costs increasing as obesity severity increases (Cawley et al., 2021). These demographic, clinical, and economic findings support implementing a culturally appropriate, nurse-led bilingual nutrition and physical-activity intervention among low-income Hispanic adults. Changes in participants’ weight will be measured from baseline through the end of the
**12-week intervention period**.
**References**
Almandoz, J. P., Xie, L., Schellinger, J. N., Mathew, M. S., Gazda, C., Ofori, A., Kuk, J. L., & Messiah, S. E. (2022). Social determinants of health and obesity: Findings from a national study of US adults.
_Obesity, 30_(2), 491–502.
[https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35088551/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35088551/)
Cawley, J., Biener, A., Meyerhoefer, C., Ding, Y., Zvenyach, T., Smolarz, B. G., & Ramasamy, A. (2021). Direct medical costs of obesity in the United States and the most populous states.
_Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy, 27_(3), 354–366.
[https://doi.org/10.18553/jmcp.2021.20410](https://doi.org/10.18553/jmcp.2021.20410)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025).
_Adult obesity prevalence maps_.
[https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data-and-statistics/adult-obesity-prevalence-maps.html](https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data-and-statistics/adult-obesity-prevalence-maps.html)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2026).
_Fast facts: Health and economic costs of chronic conditions_.
[https://www.cdc.gov/chronic-disease/data-research/facts-stats/index.html](https://www.cdc.gov/chronic-disease/data-research/facts-stats/index.html)
Fryar, C. D., Afful, J., & Saif, N. T. (2026).
_Prevalence of overweight, obesity, and severe obesity among adults age 20 and older: United States, 1960–1962 through August 2021–August 2023_. National Center for Health Statistics.
[https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/hestat111.htm](https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/hestat111.htm)
Bottom of Form
**## CapstonePartI.docx**
Capstone Part I: PICOT Assignment
**CAPSTONE: PART I Due 1/24/2026 by 11:59pm**
**The PICOT will be a health issue identified at work or in the community. Be creative! There are certain topics that have been saturated in healthcare and have been implemented multiple times in this course. Do not** present on the following topics:
Diabetes, CHF, Blood pressure, Infection Control (hand washing, post op infections), Medication compliance programs, Telemedicine/Home programs, Pressure Ulcers, Falls, Nursing Burnout.
1. Title Page (use appropriate title for faculty) EX: Dr. Carmen Lazo, DNP, MSN, APRN-BC, APN
2. Introduction to your proposed problem:
– Significance of the Practice Problem: Discuss the identified Practice Problem.
-Introduce the topic of the paper (Abstract, Introduction). Describe the health problem.
-Using data and statistics, support your claim that your selected issue is a problem. What is the cost (national and local) and budget (if any) for your proposal. What is the cost nationally and locally?
– Include your purpose statement and what specifically you will address in your proposed program. Be sure your proposed outcome is realistic and measurable. Align with the semester hours.
3. PICOT- Should be discussed in detail. This section should include your PICOT question but also should provide thorough descriptions of your population, intervention, comparison intervention, outcome, and timing.
The word PICOT is a mnemonic derived from the elements of a clinical research question – patient, intervention, comparison, outcome, and time. The PICOT process begins with a case scenario, and the question is phrased to elicit an answer. Present the PICOT in
**APA Essay format. do not use bullet points**.
P – Patient/Problem I – Intervention C -Comparison O – Outcome T – Timeframe
4. Describe the vulnerable population and setting.
-Be specific. Discuss the impact of social determinants on health for your selected population.
-What are the risk factors that make this a vulnerable population? Why is change important for this population? What are the current statistics and cost? Use national and local data on your population's setting. Where are they exisiting? Ex. Miami-Dade.
-Use evidence to support the risk factors you have identified.
5. Research should be from scholarly journals of evidence-based interventions that address the
problem. Do not use websites as subtitutes. At least 5 schorlary articles and if applicable schorlarly websites.
-Peer-reviewed research articles not older than five years (all articles must be used in your paper)
6. Proposal
-Propose addressing the selected health problem using an evidence-based intervention in your
literature search to address the problem in the selected population/setting.
-Include a thorough discussion of the specifics of this intervention which include resources necessary, those involved, and feasibility for a nurse in an advanced role.
-Be sure to include a timeline for the intervention proposed.
7. Theoretical Framework/Nursing Theory- This section should include the theoretical framework which supports your project. Describe a theory or model to serve as the foundation for your project. How will this theory be incorparated into your Capstone? Discuss in details.
– Overall, you should be able to introduce the problem and why this is significant to the healthcare system. For example: What impact does it have on the patient, community, cost of care, quality of life, readmissions and so forth.
-Use appropriate APA 7th Ed. format. Write PICOT in ESSAY format.
-Scholarly, peer-reviewed, and research articles cited should be within the last five years.
-This section should be minimum 5 pages long (not including the title and reference page).
-Use proper in-text citations with a properly formatted reference list.
-All papers must be written in the 3rd person.
**Rubric Grading Part I.docx**
| | | |
| — | — | — |
| **Criterion** | **Points** | **Requirements for Full Credit** |
| **PICOT and Proposed Health Problem** | **20** | Thoroughly describe the proposed health problem and clearly explain <br>**what change is being proposed**. Support the significance of the problem with <br>**current data, statistics, and scholarly literature**. Clearly connect the problem to the PICOT question. |
| **Description of the Population** | **20** | Provide a detailed description of the target population, including relevant <br>**age range, demographic characteristics, setting, health condition, and socioeconomic or clinical factors**. Identify important <br>**risk factors** affecting the population and support them with current scholarly evidence. |
| **Depth of Discussion and Literature Review** | **20** | Provide an <br>**in-depth discussion and elaboration throughout the entire paper**. Include a literature review from scholarly journals describing <br>**evidence-based interventions** that address the identified health problem. Integrate and synthesize information from different sources rather than discussing each source separately. The paper should flow logically from one idea to another and demonstrate a clear relationship among the problem, population, evidence, and proposed intervention. According to the rubric, the discussion should flow smoothly <br>**without unnecessary headings**. |
| **Theoretical Nursing Framework** | **20** | Select an appropriate <br>**nursing theory, health-promotion model, disease-prevention model, or conceptual framework** that aligns with the proposed health problem. Explain the major concepts of the theory and clearly demonstrate how the framework supports the <br>**population, intervention, implementation, and expected outcomes** of the project. |
| **Spelling, Grammar, and Required Length** | **10** | The paper should contain <br>**fewer than five grammatical, spelling, capitalization, or punctuation errors**. Academic and professional language should be used throughout. The paper must meet the <br>**entire required word or page count** established by the instructor. |
| **Sources and Evidence** | **10** | Use <br>**more than five current sources**, with at least <br>**three peer-reviewed journal articles or scholarly books**. Include both general background evidence and specialized evidence related to the intervention. Any websites used should come from authoritative organizations such as the <br>**CDC, NIH, WHO, or professional healthcare organizations**. Citations and references should follow <br>**APA 7th edition**. |
| **TOTAL** | **100/100** | **All Outstanding criteria must be fully addressed.** |
**## Discussions.docx**
**Discussion Post: PICOT Question**
The healthcare problem I propose to change is obesity among low-income Hispanic adults. Obesity increases the risk of health problems such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, joint pain, and limited mobility. Approximately 40.3% of adults in the United States have obesity, demonstrating the seriousness of this healthcare problem (Emmerich et al., 2024).
**PICOT question**
In low-income Hispanic adults with obesity who receive care at a community clinic in Miami-Dade County (P), how does a nurse-led educational program about healthy nutrition and physical activity (I), compared with their initial weight before the program (C), affect weight loss (O) over 12 weeks (T)?
The setting for this project will be a community-based primary care clinic in Miami-Dade County. The population will include Hispanic adults between 18 and 64 years of age with a body mass index of 30 kg/m² or greater. These patients may experience barriers to weight management, including limited income, lack of nutrition education, language differences, and reduced access to healthy foods or safe places for exercise.
The proposed intervention will provide simple bilingual education about healthy eating, portion control, physical activity, and realistic weight-loss goals. Nurses are well positioned to provide health education, encouragement, psychological support, and follow-up for adults with obesity (Sen et al., 2025).
Obesity affects patients by increasing chronic disease risk, emotional distress, physical limitations, and difficulty completing daily activities. These problems may decrease quality of life and increase healthcare visits and treatment costs. Obesity-related conditions can also contribute to hospitalizations and possible readmissions when diabetes, hypertension, or cardiovascular disease is not adequately controlled. At the community level, obesity increases the demand for primary care, emergency services, medications, and chronic disease management.
The purpose of this quality-improvement project is to determine whether a simple, nurse-led educational program can help participants achieve measurable weight loss. Even a modest weight reduction may improve mobility, chronic disease control, and overall well-being while potentially decreasing future healthcare utilization.
**References**
Emmerich, S. D., Fryar, C. D., Stierman, B., & Ogden, C. L. (2024). Obesity and severe obesity prevalence in adults: United States, August 2021–August 2023.
_NCHS Data Brief, 508_, 1–8.
[https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db508.htm](https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db508.htm?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Sen, A., Astin, F., Katikireddi, S. V., & Mair, F. S. (2025). The roles of nurses in preventing and managing excess weight among adults: A systematic scoping review.
_Nursing Outlook, 73_(2), 102377.
[https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2025.102377](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2025.102377)
Top of Form
I plan to focus on low-income Hispanic adults receiving primary care in Hialeah, particularly within ZIP code 33012. I selected this area because it has a predominantly Hispanic population and includes patients who may experience financial, linguistic, transportation, and food-access barriers affecting weight management. Research conducted among Hispanic adults in Miami-Dade identified financial limitations, inadequate access to healthy foods, and insufficient culturally appropriate education as barriers to preventing obesity and related diseases (Martin et al., 2022).
Current public statistics do not demonstrate that Hialeah’s overall adult obesity prevalence is higher than the national prevalence. In 2023, approximately 30.9% of Hialeah adults had obesity, with a 95% confidence interval of 26.2%–35.9% (Miami-Dade Matters, 2023). Nationally, 40.3% of adults had obesity during August 2021–August 2023 (Emmerich et al., 2024). Therefore, I cannot conclude that Hialeah’s overall population has statistically more obesity than the national population.
Nevertheless, my project will examine a specifically selected high-risk clinical population: low-income Hispanic adults with a BMI of 30 kg/m² or greater. Before implementing the intervention, I will conduct a baseline review of deidentified clinic data to determine the number and percentage of eligible patients with obesity. This clinic-specific statistic will document the local need and provide evidence supporting the educational intervention. Participants’ baseline weights will then be compared with their weights after 12 weeks.
**References**
Emmerich, S. D., Fryar, C. D., Stierman, B., & Ogden, C. L. (2024). Obesity and severe obesity prevalence in adults: United States, August 2021–August 2023.
_NCHS Data Brief, 508_, 1–8.
[https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db508.htm](https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db508.htm)
Martin, M. P., Obioha, C. U., Gaikwad, S., et al. (2022). Perceptions, awareness, and barriers to care regarding obesity and diabetes among Latinx in Miami and Escambia, Florida.
_Journal of Global Health Reports, 6_, e2022003.
[https://doi.org/10.29392/001c.30829](https://dmuwut6e40u5o.cloudfront.net/ultra/uiv4000.21.0-rel.64_53a3540)
Miami-Dade Matters. (2023).
_Adults who are obese: Hialeah_.
[https://www.miamidadematters.org/index.php?action=view&controller=index&indicatorId=54&localeId=138831&module=indicators](https://www.miamidadematters.org/index.php?action=view&controller=index&indicatorId=54&localeId=138831&module=indicators&utm_source=chatgpt.com)
**Nursing and Change Theories for the Capstone Project**
The nursing theory selected for this capstone project is Pender’s Health Promotion Model. This model is appropriate because the proposed intervention focuses on helping low-income Hispanic adults adopt healthier nutrition and physical activity behaviors. The model recognizes that health behaviors are influenced by personal experiences, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, self-efficacy, interpersonal support, and environmental factors (Alligood, 2022). These concepts are particularly relevant for patients in Hialeah ZIP code 33012 who may encounter financial limitations, language differences, transportation problems, and limited access to healthy foods.
Pender’s model will be incorporated by assessing each participant’s perceived barriers, cultural food preferences, readiness to change, and confidence in managing weight. The nurse-led program will provide culturally appropriate bilingual education concerning portion control, affordable food choices, physical activity, and realistic weight-loss goals. Participants will establish individualized weekly goals and monitor their weight. Nurses will reinforce progress, address barriers, and encourage self-efficacy. This approach aligns with evidence indicating that nurses have important educational, motivational, and supportive roles in adult weight management (Sen et al., 2025).
Lewin’s Change Theory will guide the implementation of the project through the stages of unfreezing, changing, and refreezing. During the unfreezing stage, baseline clinic data will be reviewed, and participants and clinic stakeholders will receive information about obesity risks and the need for change. The changing stage will include implementation of the 12-week bilingual educational program, weekly weight monitoring, goal setting, and ongoing nursing support. During the refreezing stage, participants will receive strategies for sustaining healthier behaviors, while clinic staff will consider incorporating effective educational materials and follow-up procedures into routine practice. Lewin’s model is suitable because structured preparation, stakeholder engagement, implementation support, and reinforcement can facilitate sustainable healthcare improvements (Volpendesta et al., 2026). Together, these theories will guide both individual behavioral change and organizational adoption of the intervention.
**References**
Alligood, M. R. (2022).
_Nursing theorists and their work_ (10th ed.). Elsevier.
[https://www.elsevier.com/books/nursing-theorists-and-their-work/alligood/978-0-323-75702-7](https://dmuwut6e40u5o.cloudfront.net/ultra/uiv4000.21.0-rel.64_53a3540)
Sen, A., Astin, F., Katikireddi, S. V., & Mair, F. S. (2025). The roles of nurses in preventing and managing excess weight among adults: A systematic scoping review.
_Nursing Outlook, 73_(2), 102377.
[https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2025.102377](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2025.102377)
Volpendesta, C., Graham, N., Collins, E., & Kirchhoff, A. (2026). Transforming quality and patient experience in postpandemic nursing: A strategic collaboration between system and local leaders using Lewin’s change model.
_Nurse Leader, 24_(1), 102574.
[https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mnl.2025.102574](https://dmuwut6e40u5o.cloudfront.net/ultra/uiv4000.21.0-rel.64_53a3540)
**Evidence-Based Practice and the Capstone PICOT**
Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a systematic approach to clinical decision-making that integrates the best available research evidence with clinical expertise, patient preferences, and individual circumstances. In nursing, EBP is important because it supports safe, high-quality, and patient-centered care while encouraging healthcare professionals to evaluate whether current practices are producing the desired outcomes. Advanced practice nurses play an important role in identifying clinical problems, critically evaluating research findings, implementing evidence-based interventions, and measuring patient outcomes (Ylimäki et al., 2024).
Through my review of the literature related to my PICOT question, I have discovered that obesity management requires more than simply advising patients to lose weight. Effective interventions should address nutrition, physical activity, motivation, behavioral change, cultural preferences, socioeconomic barriers, and continued follow-up. This is particularly important for low-income Hispanic adults who may experience barriers such as limited access to healthy foods, financial challenges, language differences, and limited opportunities for physical activity. Evidence supports nurses as important participants in obesity prevention and management because they can provide education, behavioral support, motivation, monitoring, and continuity of care (Sen et al., 2025). Therefore, the literature supports the use of a nurse-led bilingual educational intervention focusing on nutrition, portion control, physical activity, and realistic weight-loss goals.
APRNs are directly involved in EBP throughout this capstone project. The APRN can identify the practice problem, formulate the PICOT question, search and critically evaluate current literature, develop the educational intervention, and monitor outcomes. APRNs can also assess participants' readiness for behavioral change, identify individual barriers, provide culturally appropriate education, and collaborate with interdisciplinary team members. Ylimäki et al. (2024) found that advanced practice nurses demonstrate important competencies in evidence transfer and implementation, emphasizing their role in translating research into clinical practice. In this capstone project, weight measurements obtained before and after the 12-week intervention will provide objective data for evaluating effectiveness. Ultimately, EBP allows the APRN to connect current scientific evidence with culturally responsive nursing interventions to improve outcomes among adults experiencing obesity.
**References**
Sen, A., Astin, F., Katikireddi, S. V., & Mair, F. S. (2025). The roles of nurses in preventing and managing excess weight among adults: A systematic scoping review.
_Nursing Outlook, 73_(2), 102377.
[https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2025.102377](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2025.102377)
Ylimäki, S., Oikarinen, A., Kääriäinen, M., Tuomikoski, A.-M., et al. (2024). Advanced practice nurses’ evidence-based healthcare competence and associated factors: A systematic review.
_Journal of Clinical Nursing, 33_.
[https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.17075](https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.17075)
Current statistical evidence demonstrates the magnitude and economic burden of obesity in the United States. Approximately
**40.3% of U.S. adults** were living with obesity during 2021–2023, demonstrating that obesity continues to represent a major public health concern (Fryar et al., 2026). Disparities are also evident among Hispanic populations. Recent CDC surveillance data indicate that Hispanic adults had an obesity prevalence of at least 35% in 33 U.S. states and territories with sufficient data, emphasizing the disproportionate burden experienced by this population (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2025). Socioeconomic conditions further contribute to obesity risk because cumulative social disadvantage has been associated with substantially higher prevalence of obesity, particularly more severe classes of obesity (Almandoz et al., 2022).
The financial impact is also considerable. Obesity is estimated to cost the U.S. healthcare system nearly
**$173 billion annually** (CDC, 2026). Additionally, research has demonstrated that adults with obesity experience significantly greater annual healthcare expenditures than adults of normal weight, with costs increasing as obesity severity increases (Cawley et al., 2021). These demographic, clinical, and economic findings support implementing a culturally appropriate, nurse-led bilingual nutrition and physical-activity intervention among low-income Hispanic adults. Changes in participants’ weight will be measured from baseline through the end of the
**12-week intervention period**.
**References**
Almandoz, J. P., Xie, L., Schellinger, J. N., Mathew, M. S., Gazda, C., Ofori, A., Kuk, J. L., & Messiah, S. E. (2022). Social determinants of health and obesity: Findings from a national study of US adults.
_Obesity, 30_(2), 491–502.
[https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35088551/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35088551/)
Cawley, J., Biener, A., Meyerhoefer, C., Ding, Y., Zvenyach, T., Smolarz, B. G., & Ramasamy, A. (2021). Direct medical costs of obesity in the United States and the most populous states.
_Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy, 27_(3), 354–366.
[https://doi.org/10.18553/jmcp.2021.20410](https://doi.org/10.18553/jmcp.2021.20410)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025).
_Adult obesity prevalence maps_.
[https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data-and-statistics/adult-obesity-prevalence-maps.html](https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data-and-statistics/adult-obesity-prevalence-maps.html)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2026).
_Fast facts: Health and economic costs of chronic conditions_.
[https://www.cdc.gov/chronic-disease/data-research/facts-stats/index.html](https://www.cdc.gov/chronic-disease/data-research/facts-stats/index.html)
Fryar, C. D., Afful, J., & Saif, N. T. (2026).
_Prevalence of overweight, obesity, and severe obesity among adults age 20 and older: United States, 1960–1962 through August 2021–August 2023_. National Center for Health Statistics.
[https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/hestat111.htm](https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/hestat111.htm)
Bottom of Form
**## CapstonePartI.docx**
Capstone Part I: PICOT Assignment
**CAPSTONE: PART I Due 1/24/2026 by 11:59pm**
**The PICOT will be a health issue identified at work or in the community. Be creative! There are certain topics that have been saturated in healthcare and have been implemented multiple times in this course. Do not** present on the following topics:
Diabetes, CHF, Blood pressure, Infection Control (hand washing, post op infections), Medication compliance programs, Telemedicine/Home programs, Pressure Ulcers, Falls, Nursing Burnout.
1. Title Page (use appropriate title for faculty) EX: Dr. Carmen Lazo, DNP, MSN, APRN-BC, APN
2. Introduction to your proposed problem:
– Significance of the Practice Problem: Discuss the identified Practice Problem.
-Introduce the topic of the paper (Abstract, Introduction). Describe the health problem.
-Using data and statistics, support your claim that your selected issue is a problem. What is the cost (national and local) and budget (if any) for your proposal. What is the cost nationally and locally?
– Include your purpose statement and what specifically you will address in your proposed program. Be sure your proposed outcome is realistic and measurable. Align with the semester hours.
3. PICOT- Should be discussed in detail. This section should include your PICOT question but also should provide thorough descriptions of your population, intervention, comparison intervention, outcome, and timing.
The word PICOT is a mnemonic derived from the elements of a clinical research question – patient, intervention, comparison, outcome, and time. The PICOT process begins with a case scenario, and the question is phrased to elicit an answer. Present the PICOT in
**APA Essay format. do not use bullet points**.
P – Patient/Problem I – Intervention C -Comparison O – Outcome T – Timeframe
4. Describe the vulnerable population and setting.
-Be specific. Discuss the impact of social determinants on health for your selected population.
-What are the risk factors that make this a vulnerable population? Why is change important for this population? What are the current statistics and cost? Use national and local data on your population's setting. Where are they exisiting? Ex. Miami-Dade.
-Use evidence to support the risk factors you have identified.
5. Research should be from scholarly journals of evidence-based interventions that address the
problem. Do not use websites as subtitutes. At least 5 schorlary articles and if applicable schorlarly websites.
-Peer-reviewed research articles not older than five years (all articles must be used in your paper)
6. Proposal
-Propose addressing the selected health problem using an evidence-based intervention in your
literature search to address the problem in the selected population/setting.
-Include a thorough discussion of the specifics of this intervention which include resources necessary, those involved, and feasibility for a nurse in an advanced role.
-Be sure to include a timeline for the intervention proposed.
7. Theoretical Framework/Nursing Theory- This section should include the theoretical framework which supports your project. Describe a theory or model to serve as the foundation for your project. How will this theory be incorparated into your Capstone? Discuss in details.
– Overall, you should be able to introduce the problem and why this is significant to the healthcare system. For example: What impact does it have on the patient, community, cost of care, quality of life, readmissions and so forth.
-Use appropriate APA 7th Ed. format. Write PICOT in ESSAY format.
-Scholarly, peer-reviewed, and research articles cited should be within the last five years.
-This section should be minimum 5 pages long (not including the title and reference page).
-Use proper in-text citations with a properly formatted reference list.
-All papers must be written in the 3rd person.
**Rubric Grading Part I.docx**
| | | |
| — | — | — |
| **Criterion** | **Points** | **Requirements for Full Credit** |
| **PICOT and Proposed Health Problem** | **20** | Thoroughly describe the proposed health problem and clearly explain <br>**what change is being proposed**. Support the significance of the problem with <br>**current data, statistics, and scholarly literature**. Clearly connect the problem to the PICOT question. |
| **Description of the Population** | **20** | Provide a detailed description of the target population, including relevant <br>**age range, demographic characteristics, setting, health condition, and socioeconomic or clinical factors**. Identify important <br>**risk factors** affecting the population and support them with current scholarly evidence. |
| **Depth of Discussion and Literature Review** | **20** | Provide an <br>**in-depth discussion and elaboration throughout the entire paper**. Include a literature review from scholarly journals describing <br>**evidence-based interventions** that address the identified health problem. Integrate and synthesize information from different sources rather than discussing each source separately. The paper should flow logically from one idea to another and demonstrate a clear relationship among the problem, population, evidence, and proposed intervention. According to the rubric, the discussion should flow smoothly <br>**without unnecessary headings**. |
| **Theoretical Nursing Framework** | **20** | Select an appropriate <br>**nursing theory, health-promotion model, disease-prevention model, or conceptual framework** that aligns with the proposed health problem. Explain the major concepts of the theory and clearly demonstrate how the framework supports the <br>**population, intervention, implementation, and expected outcomes** of the project. |
| **Spelling, Grammar, and Required Length** | **10** | The paper should contain <br>**fewer than five grammatical, spelling, capitalization, or punctuation errors**. Academic and professional language should be used throughout. The paper must meet the <br>**entire required word or page count** established by the instructor. |
| **Sources and Evidence** | **10** | Use <br>**more than five current sources**, with at least <br>**three peer-reviewed journal articles or scholarly books**. Include both general background evidence and specialized evidence related to the intervention. Any websites used should come from authoritative organizations such as the <br>**CDC, NIH, WHO, or professional healthcare organizations**. Citations and references should follow <br>**APA 7th edition**. |
| **TOTAL** | **100/100** | **All Outstanding criteria must be fully addressed.** |
**## Discussions.docx**
**Discussion Post: PICOT Question**
The healthcare problem I propose to change is obesity among low-income Hispanic adults. Obesity increases the risk of health problems such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, joint pain, and limited mobility. Approximately 40.3% of adults in the United States have obesity, demonstrating the seriousness of this healthcare problem (Emmerich et al., 2024).
**PICOT question**
In low-income Hispanic adults with obesity who receive care at a community clinic in Miami-Dade County (P), how does a nurse-led educational program about healthy nutrition and physical activity (I), compared with their initial weight before the program (C), affect weight loss (O) over 12 weeks (T)?
The setting for this project will be a community-based primary care clinic in Miami-Dade County. The population will include Hispanic adults between 18 and 64 years of age with a body mass index of 30 kg/m² or greater. These patients may experience barriers to weight management, including limited income, lack of nutrition education, language differences, and reduced access to healthy foods or safe places for exercise.
The proposed intervention will provide simple bilingual education about healthy eating, portion control, physical activity, and realistic weight-loss goals. Nurses are well positioned to provide health education, encouragement, psychological support, and follow-up for adults with obesity (Sen et al., 2025).
Obesity affects patients by increasing chronic disease risk, emotional distress, physical limitations, and difficulty completing daily activities. These problems may decrease quality of life and increase healthcare visits and treatment costs. Obesity-related conditions can also contribute to hospitalizations and possible readmissions when diabetes, hypertension, or cardiovascular disease is not adequately controlled. At the community level, obesity increases the demand for primary care, emergency services, medications, and chronic disease management.
The purpose of this quality-improvement project is to determine whether a simple, nurse-led educational program can help participants achieve measurable weight loss. Even a modest weight reduction may improve mobility, chronic disease control, and overall well-being while potentially decreasing future healthcare utilization.
**References**
Emmerich, S. D., Fryar, C. D., Stierman, B., & Ogden, C. L. (2024). Obesity and severe obesity prevalence in adults: United States, August 2021–August 2023.
_NCHS Data Brief, 508_, 1–8.
[https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db508.htm](https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db508.htm?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Sen, A., Astin, F., Katikireddi, S. V., & Mair, F. S. (2025). The roles of nurses in preventing and managing excess weight among adults: A systematic scoping review.
_Nursing Outlook, 73_(2), 102377.
[https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2025.102377](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2025.102377)
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I plan to focus on low-income Hispanic adults receiving primary care in Hialeah, particularly within ZIP code 33012. I selected this area because it has a predominantly Hispanic population and includes patients who may experience financial, linguistic, transportation, and food-access barriers affecting weight management. Research conducted among Hispanic adults in Miami-Dade identified financial limitations, inadequate access to healthy foods, and insufficient culturally appropriate education as barriers to preventing obesity and related diseases (Martin et al., 2022).
Current public statistics do not demonstrate that Hialeah’s overall adult obesity prevalence is higher than the national prevalence. In 2023, approximately 30.9% of Hialeah adults had obesity, with a 95% confidence interval of 26.2%–35.9% (Miami-Dade Matters, 2023). Nationally, 40.3% of adults had obesity during August 2021–August 2023 (Emmerich et al., 2024). Therefore, I cannot conclude that Hialeah’s overall population has statistically more obesity than the national population.
Nevertheless, my project will examine a specifically selected high-risk clinical population: low-income Hispanic adults with a BMI of 30 kg/m² or greater. Before implementing the intervention, I will conduct a baseline review of deidentified clinic data to determine the number and percentage of eligible patients with obesity. This clinic-specific statistic will document the local need and provide evidence supporting the educational intervention. Participants’ baseline weights will then be compared with their weights after 12 weeks.
**References**
Emmerich, S. D., Fryar, C. D., Stierman, B., & Ogden, C. L. (2024). Obesity and severe obesity prevalence in adults: United States, August 2021–August 2023.
_NCHS Data Brief, 508_, 1–8.
[https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db508.htm](https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db508.htm)
Martin, M. P., Obioha, C. U., Gaikwad, S., et al. (2022). Perceptions, awareness, and barriers to care regarding obesity and diabetes among Latinx in Miami and Escambia, Florida.
_Journal of Global Health Reports, 6_, e2022003.
[https://doi.org/10.29392/001c.30829](https://dmuwut6e40u5o.cloudfront.net/ultra/uiv4000.21.0-rel.64_53a3540)
Miami-Dade Matters. (2023).
_Adults who are obese: Hialeah_.
[https://www.miamidadematters.org/index.php?action=view&controller=index&indicatorId=54&localeId=138831&module=indicators](https://www.miamidadematters.org/index.php?action=view&controller=index&indicatorId=54&localeId=138831&module=indicators&utm_source=chatgpt.com)
**Nursing and Change Theories for the Capstone Project**
The nursing theory selected for this capstone project is Pender’s Health Promotion Model. This model is appropriate because the proposed intervention focuses on helping low-income Hispanic adults adopt healthier nutrition and physical activity behaviors. The model recognizes that health behaviors are influenced by personal experiences, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, self-efficacy, interpersonal support, and environmental factors (Alligood, 2022). These concepts are particularly relevant for patients in Hialeah ZIP code 33012 who may encounter financial limitations, language differences, transportation problems, and limited access to healthy foods.
Pender’s model will be incorporated by assessing each participant’s perceived barriers, cultural food preferences, readiness to change, and confidence in managing weight. The nurse-led program will provide culturally appropriate bilingual education concerning portion control, affordable food choices, physical activity, and realistic weight-loss goals. Participants will establish individualized weekly goals and monitor their weight. Nurses will reinforce progress, address barriers, and encourage self-efficacy. This approach aligns with evidence indicating that nurses have important educational, motivational, and supportive roles in adult weight management (Sen et al., 2025).
Lewin’s Change Theory will guide the implementation of the project through the stages of unfreezing, changing, and refreezing. During the unfreezing stage, baseline clinic data will be reviewed, and participants and clinic stakeholders will receive information about obesity risks and the need for change. The changing stage will include implementation of the 12-week bilingual educational program, weekly weight monitoring, goal setting, and ongoing nursing support. During the refreezing stage, participants will receive strategies for sustaining healthier behaviors, while clinic staff will consider incorporating effective educational materials and follow-up procedures into routine practice. Lewin’s model is suitable because structured preparation, stakeholder engagement, implementation support, and reinforcement can facilitate sustainable healthcare improvements (Volpendesta et al., 2026). Together, these theories will guide both individual behavioral change and organizational adoption of the intervention.
**References**
Alligood, M. R. (2022).
_Nursing theorists and their work_ (10th ed.). Elsevier.
[https://www.elsevier.com/books/nursing-theorists-and-their-work/alligood/978-0-323-75702-7](https://dmuwut6e40u5o.cloudfront.net/ultra/uiv4000.21.0-rel.64_53a3540)
Sen, A., Astin, F., Katikireddi, S. V., & Mair, F. S. (2025). The roles of nurses in preventing and managing excess weight among adults: A systematic scoping review.
_Nursing Outlook, 73_(2), 102377.
[https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2025.102377](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2025.102377)
Volpendesta, C., Graham, N., Collins, E., & Kirchhoff, A. (2026). Transforming quality and patient experience in postpandemic nursing: A strategic collaboration between system and local leaders using Lewin’s change model.
_Nurse Leader, 24_(1), 102574.
[https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mnl.2025.102574](https://dmuwut6e40u5o.cloudfront.net/ultra/uiv4000.21.0-rel.64_53a3540)
**Evidence-Based Practice and the Capstone PICOT**
Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a systematic approach to clinical decision-making that integrates the best available research evidence with clinical expertise, patient preferences, and individual circumstances. In nursing, EBP is important because it supports safe, high-quality, and patient-centered care while encouraging healthcare professionals to evaluate whether current practices are producing the desired outcomes. Advanced practice nurses play an important role in identifying clinical problems, critically evaluating research findings, implementing evidence-based interventions, and measuring patient outcomes (Ylimäki et al., 2024).
Through my review of the literature related to my PICOT question, I have discovered that obesity management requires more than simply advising patients to lose weight. Effective interventions should address nutrition, physical activity, motivation, behavioral change, cultural preferences, socioeconomic barriers, and continued follow-up. This is particularly important for low-income Hispanic adults who may experience barriers such as limited access to healthy foods, financial challenges, language differences, and limited opportunities for physical activity. Evidence supports nurses as important participants in obesity prevention and management because they can provide education, behavioral support, motivation, monitoring, and continuity of care (Sen et al., 2025). Therefore, the literature supports the use of a nurse-led bilingual educational intervention focusing on nutrition, portion control, physical activity, and realistic weight-loss goals.
APRNs are directly involved in EBP throughout this capstone project. The APRN can identify the practice problem, formulate the PICOT question, search and critically evaluate current literature, develop the educational intervention, and monitor outcomes. APRNs can also assess participants' readiness for behavioral change, identify individual barriers, provide culturally appropriate education, and collaborate with interdisciplinary team members. Ylimäki et al. (2024) found that advanced practice nurses demonstrate important competencies in evidence transfer and implementation, emphasizing their role in translating research into clinical practice. In this capstone project, weight measurements obtained before and after the 12-week intervention will provide objective data for evaluating effectiveness. Ultimately, EBP allows the APRN to connect current scientific evidence with culturally responsive nursing interventions to improve outcomes among adults experiencing obesity.
**References**
Sen, A., Astin, F., Katikireddi, S. V., & Mair, F. S. (2025). The roles of nurses in preventing and managing excess weight among adults: A systematic scoping review.
_Nursing Outlook, 73_(2), 102377.
[https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2025.102377](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2025.102377)
Ylimäki, S., Oikarinen, A., Kääriäinen, M., Tuomikoski, A.-M., et al. (2024). Advanced practice nurses’ evidence-based healthcare competence and associated factors: A systematic review.
_Journal of Clinical Nursing, 33_.
[https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.17075](https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.17075)
Current statistical evidence demonstrates the magnitude and economic burden of obesity in the United States. Approximately
**40.3% of U.S. adults** were living with obesity during 2021–2023, demonstrating that obesity continues to represent a major public health concern (Fryar et al., 2026). Disparities are also evident among Hispanic populations. Recent CDC surveillance data indicate that Hispanic adults had an obesity prevalence of at least 35% in 33 U.S. states and territories with sufficient data, emphasizing the disproportionate burden experienced by this population (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2025). Socioeconomic conditions further contribute to obesity risk because cumulative social disadvantage has been associated with substantially higher prevalence of obesity, particularly more severe classes of obesity (Almandoz et al., 2022).
The financial impact is also considerable. Obesity is estimated to cost the U.S. healthcare system nearly
**$173 billion annually** (CDC, 2026). Additionally, research has demonstrated that adults with obesity experience significantly greater annual healthcare expenditures than adults of normal weight, with costs increasing as obesity severity increases (Cawley et al., 2021). These demographic, clinical, and economic findings support implementing a culturally appropriate, nurse-led bilingual nutrition and physical-activity intervention among low-income Hispanic adults. Changes in participants’ weight will be measured from baseline through the end of the
**12-week intervention period**.
**References**
Almandoz, J. P., Xie, L., Schellinger, J. N., Mathew, M. S., Gazda, C., Ofori, A., Kuk, J. L., & Messiah, S. E. (2022). Social determinants of health and obesity: Findings from a national study of US adults.
_Obesity, 30_(2), 491–502.
[https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35088551/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35088551/)
Cawley, J., Biener, A., Meyerhoefer, C., Ding, Y., Zvenyach, T., Smolarz, B. G., & Ramasamy, A. (2021). Direct medical costs of obesity in the United States and the most populous states.
_Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy, 27_(3), 354–366.
[https://doi.org/10.18553/jmcp.2021.20410](https://doi.org/10.18553/jmcp.2021.20410)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025).
_Adult obesity prevalence maps_.
[https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data-and-statistics/adult-obesity-prevalence-maps.html](https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data-and-statistics/adult-obesity-prevalence-maps.html)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2026).
_Fast facts: Health and economic costs of chronic conditions_.
[https://www.cdc.gov/chronic-disease/data-research/facts-stats/index.html](https://www.cdc.gov/chronic-disease/data-research/facts-stats/index.html)
Fryar, C. D., Afful, J., & Saif, N. T. (2026).
_Prevalence of overweight, obesity, and severe obesity among adults age 20 and older: United States, 1960–1962 through August 2021–August 2023_. National Center for Health Statistics.
[https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/hestat111.htm](https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/hestat111.htm)
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