Utilize the Gap Analysis Tool Adapted from AHRQ to develop a gap analysis on an identified best practice (see template tool accessed via link below).
Adapted AHRQ Gap Analysis Tool Template [WORD]Download Adapted AHRQ Gap Analysis Tool Template [WORD]
Using evidence to support your idea, identify gaps between current practice affairs and desired practice state.
Discuss actual or potential barriers to implementing the identified best practice (this could include stakeholder issues, resource issues, personnel issues, etc.).
References should be from within 5 years. This is for a Doctorate of Nursing Practice

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your Gap Analysis easily!

This assignment requires you to identify gaps between current nursing practice and best practices using the AHRQ Gap Analysis Tool. Follow these steps to structure a thorough and scholarly analysis.

Step 1: Identify the Best Practice

Select a best practice relevant to your clinical area or population. Examples:
- Hand hygiene compliance to reduce HAIs
- Evidence-based pain management protocols
- Early sepsis recognition bundles
- Telehealth interventions for chronic disease management
Provide evidence supporting the effectiveness of the best practice. Use peer-reviewed sources published within the last 5 years.

Tip: Frame the best practice as the “desired state” for your gap analysis.

Step 2: Assess Current Practice

Identify and describe current practices in your clinical setting.
Use data if available (e.g., audit results, infection rates, compliance percentages).
Clearly state how current practice differs from the desired best practice.

Example:

Desired state: 100% hand hygiene compliance before patient contact
Current state: 78% compliance based on monthly audits

Step 3: Determine the Gap

Calculate or describe the difference between current and desired practice.
Use quantitative measures where possible (e.g., percentages, rates).
Include qualitative gaps if applicable (e.g., inconsistent documentation, lack of staff education).

Step 4: Identify Barriers

Discuss actual or potential barriers to implementing the best practice. Consider:
- Stakeholder issues: resistance to change, lack of leadership support
- Resource issues: inadequate staffing, limited technology, budget constraints
- Personnel issues: insufficient training, high turnover, workload pressures
- Policy or system issues: lack of standardized protocols or workflow integration

Tip: Cite literature showing how similar barriers have impacted best practice adoption.

Step 5: Plan for Closing the Gap

Propose strategies to address barriers and implement the best practice. Examples:
- Staff education and training programs
- Leadership engagement and accountability measures
- Workflow redesign and resource allocation
- Monitoring and feedback systems (e.g., dashboards, compliance audits)
Link strategies to evidence-based approaches in the literature.

Step 6: Populate the AHRQ Gap Analysis Tool

Use the provided Word template to organize your analysis. Sections typically include:
- Best practice (desired state)
- Current practice
- Identified gap
- Potential barriers
- Strategies for improvement
Ensure concise, clear, and evidence-supported entries for each section.

Step 7: References and Evidence

Include 3–5 peer-reviewed references published within the last 5 years.
Examples of credible sources:
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
- Journal of Nursing Care Quality
- American Journal of Infection Control
- Nursing management journals
Format references according to APA guidelines.

Step 8: Writing Tips

Maintain professional and scholarly tone throughout.
Ensure your analysis is specific to your clinical setting and patient population.
Clearly link evidence to each identified gap and proposed strategy.
Be succinct while providing enough detail to justify your conclusions.

Gap Analysis for Implementing Evidence-Based Nursing Best Practices