NHS-FP 4000 Assessment 1: Applying Ethical Principles

NHS-FP 4000 Assessment 1: Applying Ethical Principles

Sample Answer for NHS-FP 4000 Assessment 1: Applying Ethical Principles Included After Question

Develop a solution to a specific ethical dilemma faced by a health care professional by applying ethical principles. Describe the issues and a possible solution in a 3-5 page paper.

Introduction

Whether you are a nurse, a public health professional, a health care administrator, or in another role in the health care field, you must base your decisions on a set of ethical principles and values. Your decisions must be fair, equitable, and defensible. Each discipline has established a professional code of ethics to guide ethical behavior. In this assessment, you will practice working through an ethical dilemma as described in a case study. Your practice will help you develop a method for formulating ethical decisions.

Instructions

Note: The requirements outlined below correspond to the grading criteria in the scoring guide. At a minimum, be sure to address each point. In addition, you are encouraged to review the performance-level descriptions for each criterion to see how your work will be assessed.

For this assessment, develop a solution to a specific ethical dilemma faced by a health care professional. In your assessment:

1. Access the Ethical Case Studies media piece to review the case studies you will be using for this assessment.
   • Select the case most closely related to your area of interest and use it to complete the assessment.
     • Note: The case study may not supply all of the information you need. In such cases, you should consider a variety of possibilities and infer potential conclusions. However, please be sure to identify any assumptions or speculations you make.
   • Include the selected case study in your reference list, using proper APA style and format. Refer to the Evidence and APA section of the Writing Center for guidance.
2. Summarize the facts in a case study and use the three components of an ethical decision-making model to analyze an ethical problem or issue and the factors that contributed to it.
   • Identify which case study you selected and briefly summarize the facts surrounding it. Identify the problem or issue that presents an ethical dilemma or challenge and describe that dilemma or challenge.
   • Identify who is involved or affected by the ethical problem or issue.
   • Access the Ethical Decision-Making Model media piece and use the three components of the ethical decision-making model (moral awareness, moral judgment, and ethical behavior) to analyze the ethical issues.
     • Apply the three components outlined in the Ethical Decision-Making Model media.
   • Analyze the factors that contributed to the ethical problem or issue identified in the case study.
     • Describe the factors that contributed to the problem or issue and explain how they contributed.
3. Apply academic peer-reviewed journal articles relevant to an ethical problem or issue as evidence to support an analysis of the case.
   • In addition to the readings provided, use the Capella library to locate at least one academic peer-reviewed journal article relevant to the problem or issue that you can use to support your analysis of the situation. The NHS-FPX4000: Developing a Health Care Perspective Library Guide will help you locate appropriate references.
     • Cite and apply key principles from the journal article as evidence to support your critical thinking and analysis of the ethical problem or issue.
     • Review the Think Critically About Source Quality resource.
       • Assess the credibility of the information source.
       • Assess the relevance of the information source.
4. Discuss the effectiveness of the communication approaches present in a case study.
   • Describe how the health care professional in the case study communicated with others.
   • Assess instances where the professional communicated effectively or ineffectively.
   • Explain which communication approaches should be used and which ones should be avoided.
   • Describe the consequences of using effective and non-effective communication approaches.
5. Discuss the effectiveness of the approach used by a professional to deal with problems or issues involving ethical practice in a case study.
   • Describe the actions taken in response to the ethical dilemma or issue presented in the case study.
   • Summarize how well the professional managed professional responsibilities and priorities to resolve the problem or issue in the case.
   • Discuss the key lessons this case provides for health care professionals.
6. Apply ethical principles to a possible solution to an ethical problem or issue described in a case study.
   • Describe the proposed solution.
   • Discuss how the approach makes this professional more effective or less effective in building relationships across disciplines within his or her organization.
   • Discuss how likely it is the proposed solution will foster professional collaboration.
7. Write clearly and logically, with correct use of spelling, grammar, punctuation, and mechanics.
   • Apply the principles of effective composition.
   • Determine the proper application of the rules of grammar and mechanics.
8. Write using APA style for in-text citations, quotes, and references.
   • Determine the proper application of APA formatting requirements and scholarly writing standards.
   • Integrate information from outside sources into academic writing by appropriately quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing, following APA style.

     

Example Assessment: You may use the following to give you an idea of what a Proficient or higher rating on the scoring guide would look like:

• Assessment 3 Example [PDF].

Additional Requirements

Your assessment should also meet the following requirements:

• Length: 3–5 typed, double-spaced pages, not including the title page and reference page.
• Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.
• APA tutorial: Use the APA Style Paper Tutorial [DOCX] for guidance.
• Written communication: Use correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• References: Integrate information from outside sources to include at least two references (the case study and an academic peer-reviewed journal article) and three in-text citations within the paper.
• APA format: Follow current APA guidelines for in-text citation of outside sources in the body of your paper and also on the reference page.

Competencies Measured

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:

• Competency 1: Apply information literacy and library research skills to obtain scholarly information in the field of health care.
  • Apply academic peer-reviewed journal articles relevant to an ethical problem or issue as evidence to support an analysis of the case.
• Competency 3: Apply ethical principles and academic standards to the study of health care.
  • Summarize the facts in a case study and use the three components of an ethical decision-making model to analyze an ethical problem or issue and the factors that contributed to it.
  • Discuss the effectiveness of the approach used by a professional to deal with problems or issues involving ethical practice in a case study.
  • Apply ethical principles to a possible solution to an ethical problem or issue described in a case study.
• Competency 4: Write for a specific audience, in appropriate tone and style, in accordance with Capella’s writing standards.
  • Discuss the effectiveness of the communication approaches present in a case study.
  • Write clearly and logically, with correct use of spelling, grammar, punctuation, and mechanics.
  • Write following APA style for in-text citations, quotes, and references.

A Sample Answer For the Assignment: NHS-FP 4000 Assessment 1: Applying Ethical Principles

Title: NHS-FP 4000 Assessment 1: Applying Ethical Principles

Nurses play an important role in the promotion of the patients’ optimum outcomes. They experience a range of ethical issues and dilemmas that challenge their practice. Nurses often employ the principles of ethical decision-making to come up with solutions that affect their patients. Therefore, this paper explores an ethical issue where those involved suspect a needle protector was sutured inside the patient’s abdomen.

Selected Case Study and Summary

The selected case study is ‘Incident 9: The Missing Needle Protector.’ It is a case study involving healthcare providers that include E.L. Straight, Dr. Cutrite, operating room supervisor, and chief of surgery. The operating room director informs Straight that he suspects a needle protector was left in Mrs. Jameson’s abdomen during a surgery, since a discrepancy was noted in the surgical pack count. The issue in the case study that presents an ethical problem is whether to recall Jameson and inform her about the possibility of a needle being in her abdomen or keeping quiet with hopes that she will not develop any complications. Those involved in the problem include E.L Straight, the director, Dr. Cutrite, the surgeon, operating room supervisor, scrub nurse, and chief of surgery. The affected individual is Mrs. Jameson, the patient that was operated.

Application of the Components of Ethical Decision-Making

The components of ethical decision-making are applicable to in analyzing and addressing the issues in the case study. First, moral awareness is the initial step required in making an ethical decision. Moral awareness entails being cognizant of the ethical issues that one experiences in their practice. It is part of the conscience that makes providers aware of the potential violation of the fundamental principles that safeguard safety, quality, and efficiency in nursing and healthcare. Moral awareness in the case study entails the involved stakeholders automatically detecting the existence of an ethical issue that should be addressed to streamline the processes and systems used in the organization (Haahr et al., 2020). It also entails ensuring that the issue is addressed with a focus on the prioritization of the patient’s rights, needs, and safety in the care process.

Moral judgment is the other component of the ethical decision-making. It entails the decisions that one should adopt in response to a morally problematic encounter. It guides what is right and wrong when addressing ethical dilemmas in nursing practice. The process entails actions that include deliberation of the issue, selection of a decision, and resolution of the problem. The key actors in the case study should obtain data about the dilemma, deliberate on an effective solution, and adopt it to resolve the stalemate. The decision should benefit to the patient and the institution. Lastly, is ethical behavior. Ethical behavior entails embracing actions that align with the moral standards in our societies. It focuses on the application of moral principles to response to a dilemma in nursing or healthcare. The primary focus in ethical behaviors is ensuring equity, fairness, and integrity in the decisions that are made in response to organizational issues (Haahr et al., 2020; Kim & Park, 2019). The involved stakeholders in the case study should demonstrate ethical behaviors by making a decision that is patient-centered and aiming at creating a culture of safety in the organization.

Factors that Contributed to the Problem

Some factors contributed to the ethical dilemma. One of them is the lack of culture of patient safety in the organization. For example, Straight knows that Dr. Cutrite’s performance in surgery has fallen below the expected standards. Despite this, he has not recommended the removal of some of his privileges, thereby, threating the safety, quality, and efficiency of care that he gives to his patients. The lack of patient safety culture can also be seen from the lack of equipment counting before closure of surgical sites in the operating room. The lack of such standardized procedures imply that patients are increasingly at a risk of safety issues such as those experienced by Mrs. Jameson. As a result, the discoveries of missed surgical equipment are late, hence, the safety concerns. The last factor that contributed to the issue is ineffective communication. The case demonstrates poor communication among healthcare providers. For example, the scrub nurse did not raise alarm about the issue (Ceri̇t & Özveren, 2019). The chief surgeon and Dr. Cutrite are reluctant in following up and addressing the problem. As a result, it creates a culture of laxity in addressing and creating the desired safety culture in the organization.

Communication among Healthcare Professionals in the Case Study

The healthcare professionals demonstrated the lack of open communication among them. Open communication is crucial for effective delivery of collaborative care to clients. However, healthcare providers such as the scrub nurse, chief surgeon, Dr. Cutrite, and Straight demonstrated ineffective communication. For example, the scrub nurse should have been the first person to note the missing needle protector, report to Dr. Cutrite for the necessary actions to be taken. In addition, Dr. Cutrite should have informed the chief surgeon about the issue and initiate appropriate measures. Straight should have already informed the hospital’s executive about the potential threat of Dr. Cutrite’s behavior on patient safety and the need for responsive measures to be adopted. The only individual that demonstrated effective communication is the operating room director who has brought the issue to the hospital administrator.

The communication approaches that should be used to prevent the occurrence of the issue in the future include open communication, providing feedback, encouraging teamwork, and consistency. Open communication eliminates potential errors in the care process. It also strengthens the effectiveness of the interprofessional collaboration among the different healthcare providers involved in the care process. Providing feedback improves the organization’s systems and processes. The healthcare providers build on successful communication strategies, which eliminate ineffective approaches in the care process. Teamwork ensures collectivism in the realization of the desired care outcomes. The successful communication approaches should be utilized consistently to ensure sustainability in best strategies for providing care in the organization (Grace & Uveges, 2022). Non-effective communication approaches contribute to care outcomes such as increased error rates, patient and provider dissatisfaction, and rise in patient morbidity and mortality statistics in an organization.

Effectiveness of the Approach used by a Professional to Deal with the Problems

The approach taken by the operating room director to deal with the problem was effective. His decision to inform Straight about the problem is desirable since its raises the existence of the issue and the exploration of potential solutions that should be adopted. The director ensured that rather than keeping quiet, as seen from the other actors in the case study, he reported the issue for the management and senior healthcare providers in the organization to embrace an effective and ethical solution. This case study provides several lessons for health care professionals. First, it raises the need for the creation of patient safety culture in healthcare organizations. Healthcare providers should be held responsible and accountable for their actions to enhance safety and quality outcomes in the care process. It also increases the need for the healthcare providers to embrace open communication. Open communication would foster enhanced coordination of the care given to patients. Lastly, the case study raises the need for standardized procedures in health organizations (Grace & Uveges, 2022). For example, procedures such as counting surgical equipment before closing surgical sites should be in place in the organization.

Possible Solution

The proposed solution would be recalling the patient and performing investigations such as abdominal x-ray or ultrasound to assess if the needle protector was left in the abdomen. The patient would then be informed about the problem should the diagnostics reveal the presence of the protector in the abdomen and be requested to consent for its removal. The case should be used in the organization to raise the need for safety, quality, and efficiency among the healthcare providers. The proposed solution is effective in building relationships across disciplines since it increases the providers’ awareness about their responsibility in ensuring that patient safety is prioritized (Ceri̇t & Özveren, 2019). It will also enhance the use of effective interventions by healthcare providers that will minimize such occurrences in the future.

NHS-FP 4000 Assessment 1: Applying Ethical Principles Conclusion

In summary, this paper has explored a case study involving a patient who underwent a surgical procedure and the healthcare team suspects that a needle protector was left in her abdomen. The components of ethical decision-making should be applied to address the issue. The organization should create a culture of patient safety and use of effective communication to prevent similar occurrences in the future. An effective solution to the problem is having the client recalled and diagnostics performed to determine if the needle protector was left in her abdomen.

NHS-FP 4000 Assessment 1: Applying Ethical Principles References

Ceri̇t, B., & Özveren, H. (2019). Effect of hospital ethical climate on the nurses’ moral sensitivity. The European Research Journal, 5(2), Article 2. https://doi.org/10.18621/eurj.423324

Grace, P. J., & Uveges, M. K. (2022). Nursing Ethics and Professional Responsibility in Advanced Practice. Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Haahr, A., Norlyk, A., Martinsen, B., & Dreyer, P. (2020). Nurses experiences of ethical dilemmas: A review. Nursing Ethics, 27(1), 258–272. https://doi.org/10.1177/0969733019832941

Kim, W.-J., & Park, J.-H. (2019). The effects of debate-based ethics education on the moral sensitivity and judgment of nursing students: A quasi-experimental study. Nurse Education Today, 83, 104200. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2019.08.018

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A Sample Answer 2 For the Assignment: NHS-FP 4000 Assessment 1: Applying Ethical Principles

Title: NHS-FP 4000 Assessment 1: Applying Ethical Principles

Ethical principles are part of a normative theory that rationalizes moral rules or moral judgements, and they are not reliant on one’s subjective viewpoints. Ethical values are indispensable to all healthcare workers, primarily nurses, who resolve ethical issues daily. The four main ethical principles are autonomy, beneficence, justice, and non-maleficence. Autonomy requires health providers to respect patients’ decisions, while beneficence directs the provider to minimize harm and promote patients’ good. Justice advocates for equality in service provision, while non-maleficence directs the clinician not to harm the patient. Therefore, this paper’s purpose is to analyze incident 10 case study to determine how best we can apply the ethical principles in which ethical dilemmas arise.

Case Summary and Ethical Decision Making

Incident 10: To Vaccinate, or Not? is an account of Jenna and Chris Smith, who are parents to Ana, a 5-year-old baby. They desired to raise their kid as naturally as possible, which meant breastfeeding the baby exclusively for six months and feeding her on pure organic foods afterward and no vaccination. From the research, the Smiths concluded that the harmful effects of vaccines outweigh the beneficial effects, informing their decision not to vaccinate Ana. Dr. Angela Kerr, the family pediatrician, listens to the family’s concerns about vaccination. She feels that vaccination would benefit Ana and proceeded to give elaborative information to convince the family to accept vaccination. The smiths confirm their understanding of Dr. Angela’s explanation but insist on no vaccine.

The ethical decision-making model can be used to analyze the above ethical issue. The first component is moral awareness which refers to individual recognition of a moral issue (Wittmer, 2019). This component can apply to both sides. The Smiths recognize that their decision to allow their baby to get vaccinated can bring more harm than good. They base their argument on their research, where one of the sources is the mommy blogs that detail how vaccines have led to autism in many children. Dr. Kerr, based on her professionalism, recommends vaccination. The second component is the moral judgment which entails expressing and assessing moral reasoning for a possible solution to moral issues (Wittmer, 2019). Dr. Kerr has utilized his professional knowledge to explain the details regarding vaccines, including the safety and scenarios where vaccination may not be viable. Smith’s research is not justified since it is based on blogs rather than facts.

The last critical component is ethical behavior. Dr. Kerr is stranded on what to do next since, despite her explanation, the family still clings to not vaccination. It would be unethical to vaccinate the child minus the parent’s consent (Wittmer, 2019). Besides, failure to vaccinate the child may subject him to regrettable consequences. Ethical behavior should embrace the ethical principles: of autonomy, beneficence, justice, and non-maleficence. It requires a moral action in which boldness and obligation make a moral decision.  

The main factor contributing to the moral issues presented in the case study is misinformation. The decision by the smiths not to vaccinate is based on invalid research considering their information source. For instance, using information from research-based mommy blogs to make health decisions is inappropriate. The desire of the smiths to raise their kid naturally is good. Besides, the decision to feed their child exclusively breastmilk in the first six months and introduce organic food afterward was perfect. However, the decision to avoid vaccines was based on misinformation. Raising a child does not mean you ignore prophylactic disease measures to safeguard the child’s health.

 

Peer-Reviewed Journal Application

Haahr et al. (2020) discuss the ethical dilemmas defined and experienced by nurses in clinical practice. The review reports balancing harm and care as one of the major causes of ethical dilemmas in nursing. Balancing harm and care denote challenging scenarios where anticipated action from a nurse or healthcare provider collides with their professional values or principles. According to Haahr et al. (2020), balancing harm and care conflicts may result in stress and remorse regardless of the cause. Nurses’ holistic view of individual scenarios donates to the surging nurses’ stress levels. Our perception of care is deeply caught up in the prevailing structures of power and inequality. Hence, care is not only a moral concept but a treasured political concept since it aids us to rethink as autonomous human beings. The article further explains that ethics of care denotes the healthcare provider’s clinical wisdom and moral competence. This perception gives clinicians a unique view of a scenario than that of patients and donates to the ethical dilemmas experienced by clinicians where they are challenged in balancing care and harm.

The information contained in the peer-reviewed journal is credible since it outsources information from credible sources. The information is relevant to our discussion since it touches on critical issues clinicians face in their duty. As explained in the article, ethics of care applies to our case study. Dr. Kerr avails adequate education regarding the benefits of vaccination for Ana. She endorsed the safety and efficacy of vaccines and reminded Ana’s parents of the requirement for vaccination in most states for child care and school enrollment. The best describes how a health provider can balance harm and care when faced with an ethical dilemma. The article gives more insights into how health providers can balance harm and care to their patients and provides different views that can be applied to our case study. 

Besides, Haahr et al. 2020) summarizes its finding into three main themes: balancing harm and care, work overload affecting quality, and navigating disagreement. In the case study, Dr. Kerr and Ana’s parents disagree. They have differing opinions concerning vaccines. The article is relevant since the information under the theme “navigating in disagreement” provides numerous perspectives on how the ethical issue and other related ethical scenarios can be addressed. Therefore, the article is relevant to the case study since it provides additional insights into addressing ethical dilemmas in practice.

Communication Approaches

Dr. Kerr employed active listening skills in her interaction with the Smith family. She took her time to listen to their side of the story before engaging them in a discussion to prove why their judgment could be inappropriate. Numerous research reports show that active listening is effective since it enables health providers to get more information from their patients, which informs the diagnosis. Besides, it enhances physician-patient trust, thus reducing disagreements and boosting understanding. Active listening demonstrates an advanced commitment level to people managed by a health provider. The effectiveness of the active listening approach was that it helped Dr. Kerr know and evaluate why her clients were against vaccination. It helped her identify the information gap and address it by engaging the clients in a meaningful discussion that benefited the family. Besides, Dr. Kerr did not deny their point about autism rates as proof of the unforeseen risk of vaccines. She performed her role of patient education when she introduced a discussion of vaccine safety and the regular update of the vaccine safety profile by the Federal Governments Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System.

The other effective approach was appreciating the patient’s knowledge (Alshammari & Guilhermino, 2019). Knowledge appreciation is a mature approach to effectively using knowledge for performance improvement. In any disagreement, it is always important to consider points where you agree to build the conversation from a neutral point. For instance, Dr. Kerr did not undermine the research from her clients but endeavored to provide more relevant information to fill the information gap. The research conducted by Ana’s parents was not scientific or academic. This is an example of the demerits of social media and the internet. False information on the internet and social media can spread like wildfire and affect people’s views and perspectives.

Appreciating some knowledge always makes them feel valued and respected. It is a means health providers can use to uphold the principles of autonomy. The rapport between Dr. Kerr and Smith’s family was enabled through knowledge appreciation. The aftermath was the willingness of the Smiths to listen to Dr. Kerr’s perspective regarding the situation. The approach was practical since it enhanced the client’s understanding of vaccines, making an informed decision. The talk was necessary to ensure that the pediatrician is not blamed in case of any complication that could arise in the future.

Approach Effectiveness

Dr. Kerr employs professionalism while dealing with ethical situations. Through active listening, she identified the information gap in her client’s argument and spent time giving more information regarding the vaccine safety profile. She interacts with her clients at a neutral point to ensure that the conversation benefits them. For instance, she reminds the Smiths that some children in the general population have weakened immune systems because of genetic diseases or cancer treatment; hence, vaccination may not be medically feasible. The approach relates to the ethical decision-making model’s moral judgment and awareness components. Patient education was necessary to raise the patient’s awareness of the moral issue and his reasoning for addressing the ethical issue.

Dr. Kerr’s approach is conducive to a respectful and understanding patient-physician relationship. Generally, parents wish the best for their kids. Hence, agreeing on what is best for the kid is not the health provider’s responsibility. Ethically, health providers should respect the wishes of their patients or patients spoke persons within reason. Besides, it is the health provider’s responsibility to safeguard the public’s health. By articulating a strong provider recommendation, Dr. Kerr performed her best to protect Ana and the other children in her practice, plus the one that will interact with Ana in the future.

Effective communication approaches are beneficial since they reduce costs like conflict, misinterpretation, faults, and misunderstanding (Alshammari & Guilhermino, 2019). It promotes trust, loyalty, and patient engagement, creating a better patient-clinician relationship. On the other hand, ineffective communication approaches are associated with deleterious effects such as a rise in tensions which reduces patients’ experience hence low productivity. Adverse outcomes associated with poor communication approaches in the healthcare setting include reduced medication adherence, patient dissatisfaction, and inappropriate use of limited resources (Arnold & Boggs, 2019).

One key lesson from the case study is the significance of active listening when interacting with clients. It is essential to appreciate information from patients before enhancing them in a meaningful discussion in a situation where opinions collide. Besides, as a health provider, it is always essential to provide the correct information to the patient regardless of the situation. This entails pointing patients to suitable sources of healthcare information. For instance, the conviction regarding vaccination in the case study was due to a mommy blog which is not an appropriate source of healthcare information.

Possible Solution

Dr. Kerr did the best job by encouraging and endorsing vaccine use. Since the Smiths declined the vaccine despite the information provided, the best thing would be to give a solid recommendation to the family. Besides, Dr. Kerr could have the parents sign a waiver of understanding, indicating that they have been advised on the risks of not vaccinating the child, including the possibility of death. The guilt of signing their names and acknowledging that they are actively risking the kid’s life could make the Smiths change their mind. Signing the waiver of understanding also conforms to the justice principle, which requires fairness in service provision. Dr. Kerr was fair since she treated the family respectfully, upholding the principle of justice.

Informed by the principle of autonomy, the most appropriate solution in this scenario would be to respect the client’s opinion. However, Dr. Kerr would advise on what to do in case of a future complication and the best method they can embrace to ensure their child is raised naturally as they desire. Respecting the opinion of the Smiths would build a positive rapport, and they will feel free to contact Dr. Kerr in case of any emergency regarding the child’s health. Besides, the information provided was appropriate and timely. Besides, the solution upholds the principle of beneficence and non-maleficence. Beneficence refers to acting for the benefit of others, while the non-maleficence principle means, “above all, do no harm.” Dr. Kerr acted to the benefit of the child and the public by availing the necessary information to the family.

The proposed solution will foster professional collaboration, enhancing the client’s experience. It would demonstrate that the clinician value opinion of their client and adheres to the ethical principles that govern healthcare service provision. The experience will make clients feel free to reach out in case of anything regarding their child’s health and seek information on how best they can raise their kid naturally.

Conclusion

Healthcare providers should have a clear understanding of the fundamental ethical principles to know the limits they can go went ethical dilemmas present in practice. For instance, in the above case study, respecting the decision of the Smiths would be appropriate since it would obey the principle of autonomy. Besides, since there was no immediate harm to Ana, the decision also covers the other three principles.

NHS-FP 4000 Assessment 1 Applying Ethical Principles Grading Rubric

Performance Category	100% or highest level of performance 100% 16 points	Very good or high level of performance 88% 14 points	Acceptable level of performance 81% 13 points	Inadequate demonstration of expectations 68% 11 points	Deficient level of performance 56% 9 points	Failing level of performance 55% or less 0 points
Total Points Possible= 50	16 Points	14 Points	13 Points	11 Points	9 Points	0 Points
Scholarliness Demonstrates achievement of scholarly inquiry for professional and academic topics.	Presentation of information was exceptional and included all of the following elements: Provides evidence of scholarly inquiry relevant to required TD topic(s). Presents specific information from scholarly sources to develop a comprehensive presentation of facts. Uses at least one outside scholarly reference that is relevant, less than 5 years old (use of older references requires instructor permission) and reliable for the required topic.* Uses in-text citation and full reference at end of posting when presenting another person’s thoughts as quotes or paraphrase of information.	Presentation of information was good, but was superficial in places and included all of the following elements: Provides evidence of scholarly inquiry relevant to required TD topic(s). Presents specific information from scholarly sources to develop a comprehensive presentation of facts. Uses at least one outside scholarly reference that is relevant, less than 5 years old (use of older references requires instructor permission) and reliable for the required topic.* Uses in-text citation and full reference at end of posting when presenting another person’s thoughts as quotes or paraphrase of information.	Presentation of information was minimally demonstrated in all of the following elements: Provides evidence of scholarly inquiry relevant to required TD topic(s). Presents specific information from scholarly sources to develop a comprehensive presentation of facts. Uses at least one outside scholarly reference that is relevant, less than 5 years old (use of older references requires instructor permission) and reliable for the required topic.* Uses in-text citation and full reference at end of posting when presenting another person’s thoughts as quotes or paraphrase of information.	Presentation of information is unsatisfactory in one of the following elements: Provides evidence of scholarly inquiry relevant to required TD topic(s). Presents specific information from scholarly sources to develop a comprehensive presentation of facts. Uses at least one outside scholarly reference that is relevant, less than 5 years old (use of older references requires instructor permission) and reliable for the required topic.* Uses in-text citation and full reference at end of posting when presenting another person’s thoughts as quotes or paraphrase of information.	Presentation of information is unsatisfactory in two of the following elements: Provides evidence of scholarly inquiry relevant to required TD topic(s). Presents specific information from scholarly sources to develop a comprehensive presentation of facts. Uses at least one outside scholarly reference that is relevant, less than 5 years old (use of older references requires instructor permission) and reliable for the required topic.* Uses in-text citation and full reference at end of posting when presenting another person’s thoughts as quotes or paraphrase of information.	Presentation of information is unsatisfactory in three or more of the following elements Provides evidence of scholarly inquiry relevant to required TD topic(s). Presents specific information from scholarly sources to develop a comprehensive presentation of facts. Uses at least one outside scholarly reference that is relevant, less than 5 years old (use of older references requires instructor permission) and reliable for the required topic.* Uses in-text citation and full reference at end of posting when presenting another person’s thoughts as quotes or paraphrase of information
	16 Points	14 Points	13 Points	11 Points	9 Points	0 Points
Application of Course Knowledge Demonstrate the ability to analyze and apply principles, knowledge and information learned in the outside readings and relate them to real-life professional situations	Presentation of information was exceptional and included all of the following elements: Applies principles, knowledge and information from scholarly resources to the required topic. Applies facts, principles or concepts learned from scholarly resources to a professional experience. Application of information is comprehensive and specific to the required topic.	Presentation of information was good, but was superficial in places and included all of the following elements: Applies principles, knowledge and information from scholarly resources to the required topic. Applies facts, principles or concepts learned from scholarly resources to a professional experience. Application of information is comprehensive and specific to the required topic.	Presentation of information was minimally demonstrated in the all of the following elements: Applies principles, knowledge and information from scholarly resources to the required topic. Applies facts, principles or concepts learned from scholarly resources to a professional experience. Application of information is comprehensive and specific to the required topic.	Presentation of information is unsatisfactory in one of the following elements: Applies principles, knowledge and information from scholarly resources to the required topic. Applies facts, principles or concepts learned from and scholarly resources to a professional experience. Application of information is comprehensive and specific to the required topic.	Presentation of information is unsatisfactory in two of the following elements: Applies principles, knowledge and information from scholarly resources to the required topic. Applies facts, principles or concepts learned from scholarly resources to a professional experience. Application of information is comprehensive and specific to the required topic.	Presentation of information is unsatisfactory in three of the following elements Applies principles, knowledge and information and scholarly resources to the required topic. Applies facts, principles or concepts learned scholarly resources to a professional experience. Application of information is comprehensive and specific to the required topic.
	10 Points	9 Points			6 Points	0 Points
Interactive Dialogue Initial post should be a minimum of 300 words (references do not count toward word count) The peer and instructor responses must be a minimum of 150 words each (references do not count toward word count) Responses are substantive and relate to the topic.	Demonstrated all of the following: Initial post must be a minimum of 300 words. The peer and instructor responses must be a minimum of 150 words each. Responses are substantive Responses are related to the topic of discussion.	Demonstrated 3 of the following: Initial post must be a minimum of 300 words. The peer and instructor responses must be a minimum of 150 words each. Responses are substantive Responses are related to the topic of discussion.			Demonstrated 2 of the following: Initial post must be a minimum of 300 words. The peer and instructor responses must be a minimum of 150 words each. Responses are substantive Responses are related to the topic of discussion.	Demonstrated 1 or less of the following: Initial post must be a minimum of 300 words. The peer and instructor responses must be a minimum of 150 words each. Responses are substantive Responses are related to the topic of discussion.
	8 Points	7 Points	6 Points	5 Points	4 Points	0 Points
Grammar, Syntax, APA Points deducted for improper grammar, syntax and APA style of writing. The source of information is the APA Manual 6th Edition Error is defined to be a unique APA error. Same type of error is only counted as one error.	The following was present: 0-3 errors in APA format AND Responses have 0-3 grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors AND Writing style is generally clear, focused on topic,and facilitates communication.	The following was present: 4-6 errors in APA format. AND/OR Responses have 4-5 grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors AND/OR Writing style is somewhat focused on topic.	The following was present: 7-9 errors in APA format. AND/OR Responses have 6-7 grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors AND/OR Writing style is slightly focused on topic making discussion difficult to understand.	The following was present: 10- 12 errors in APA format AND/OR Responses have 8-9 grammatical, spelling and punctuation errors AND/OR Writing style is not focused on topic, making discussion difficult to understand.	The following was present: 13 – 15 errors in APA format AND/OR Responses have 8-10 grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors AND/OR Writing style is not focused on topic, making discussion difficult to understand. AND/OR The student continues to make repeated mistakes in any of the above areas after written correction by the instructor.	The following was present: 16 to greater errors in APA format. AND/OR Responses have more than 10 grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors. AND/OR Writing style does not facilitate communication
	0 Points Deducted					5 Points Lost
Participation Requirements	Demonstrated the following: Initial, peer, and faculty postings were made on 3 separate days					Failed to demonstrate the following: Initial, peer, and faculty postings were made on 3 separate days
	0 Points Lost					5 Points Lost
Due Date Requirements	Demonstrated all of the following: The initial posting to the graded threaded discussion topic is posted within the course no later than Wednesday, 11:59 pm MT. A minimum of one peer and one instructor responses are to be posted within the course no later than Sunday, 11:59 pm MT.					Demonstrates one or less of the following. The initial posting to the graded threaded discussion topic is posted within the course no later than Wednesday, 11:59 pm MT. A minimum of one peer and one instructor responses are to be posted within the course no later than Sunday, 11:59 pm MT.