In this first chapter of your Capstone Project, you are focusing on the nature of the problem, the individuals affected by the problem, and the need of a solution. A literature review will close Chapter 1 summarizing the overall evidence-based practice (or lack of) used to improve nursing practice or deliver patient-centered care.

The Problem Statement is a concise paragraph that outlines the gap in nursing practice or care. Subsequent paragraph(s) in this section demonstrates the student using information from the literature review to support the student’s argument that a gap exists with nursing care delivery for the population and care delivery setting (validation of the problem).

The Need Statement outlines what needs to change within the nursing practice or patient delivery method to improve the status quo to meet current evidence-based practice.

The Population and Setting section should include any epidemiological data that supports the student’s argument that this population requires a nursing intervention and the need for change is appropriate in the clinical setting described.

The Literature Review is a systematic review of current literature on your subject area. The literature review should provide an overview of the problem as related to your identified population and setting (examples: acute care, community care, hospice, home health). In the literature review, the student should use the literature to provide an overview of the nursing problem, the current evidence-based practice expectations for the identified population and care setting, and what gaps exist in current nursing practice that lead to problems in care delivery.