The 4th P: Helping Nursing Students Pitch Evidence-Informed Projects

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Innovation
• Communication Skills

Background:

• Undergraduate nursing curricula often neglect leadership and communication skills essential for healthcare change agents.
• Students face challenges in presenting concise, solution-focused pitches to healthcare leaders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the gap in leadership and communication skills among nursing students.
• To evaluate an innovative approach for teaching students to deliver effective pitches on clinical and system issues.

Main Methods:

• A single-group pretest-posttest design was employed with 19 nursing students.
• Students completed knowledge quizzes and self-assessment surveys.
• Paired pitches were presented to faculty and interdisciplinary panels.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements in skill and attitude towards pitch development and delivery were observed (p < 0.05).
• Anxiety levels related to pitch delivery did not significantly change.
• Further opportunities for rehearsal and faculty coaching are suggested to mitigate anxiety.

Conclusions:

• Integrating pitch development, termed the '4th P', strengthens communication, advocacy, and innovation in nursing education.
• This approach benefits both undergraduate and graduate nursing programs.
• Enhancing these skills prepares nurses to be effective change agents in healthcare.