As nursing education progresses into advanced practice, the focus shifts from task-oriented care to leadership, quality improvement, and professional reflection. Two essential assessments—NURS FPX 6218 Assessment 1 and Nurs Fpx 4900 Assessment 5—provide BSN and MSN students with opportunities to strengthen clinical decision-making, assess care outcomes, and evolve as transformational leaders in healthcare settings.

NURS FPX 6218 Assessment 1: Promoting Patient Safety and Quality Outcomes

The first assessment in the NURS FPX 6218: Leading Quality and Safety in Nursing Practice course centers on a core tenet of nursing leadership—ensuring patient safety and improving care quality. This graduate-level assignment challenges students to assess a safety-related issue in their current or previous clinical environment and develop an improvement plan based on best practices.

Key Elements of the Assessment

• Issue Identification: Students choose a prevalent safety issue (e.g., medication errors, hospital-acquired infections, or falls).

• Root Cause Analysis: A systematic approach, such as the Five Whys or Fishbone Diagram, helps determine underlying factors.

• Evidence-Based Strategies: Solutions are drawn from peer-reviewed literature and national quality organizations (like the IHI or AHRQ).

• Quality Metrics: Students propose measurable outcomes to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention over time.

This assessment builds core competencies in systems thinking, patient advocacy, and continuous quality improvement—critical for nurse leaders seeking to improve healthcare delivery.

NURS FPX 4900 Assessment 5: Capstone Reflection and Self-Assessment

In the final assignment of the BSN Capstone Project, students complete NURS FPX 4900 Assessment 5: Reflection on the Capstone Project. This reflective assessment allows students to evaluate their personal and professional growth throughout the project and nursing program.

Focus Areas of the Assessment

• Project Summary: A concise overview of the practice problem, intervention, evaluation, and results.

• Self-Reflection: Students discuss challenges they overcame, skills they developed, and how the project shaped their approach to nursing practice.

• Professional Growth: Emphasis is placed on the development of competencies in areas like communication, evidence-based practice, interprofessional collaboration, and leadership.

• Future Goals: Students outline their long-term professional aspirations and how the capstone has prepared them to achieve them.

This assessment serves as both a culmination of undergraduate nursing education and a personal milestone that encourages self-awareness, critical reflection, and goal setting.

Connecting Quality Improvement with Professional Reflection

While NURS FPX 6218 emphasizes identifying and correcting quality issues in clinical systems, NURS FPX 4900 focuses on the nurse’s personal journey in solving those problems. Together, they offer a comprehensive perspective:

• 6218 trains you to improve systems of care through data-driven strategies.

• 4900 reminds you to examine your growth in leadership, ethics, and professional identity.

This dual approach prepares nurses not only to advocate for better care, but also to lead the charge—intellectually, ethically, and practically.

The Real-World Value of These Assessments

Today’s healthcare organizations demand nurses who can do more than follow orders—they need professionals who can:

• Lead quality initiatives using evidence-based models.

• Assess and respond to adverse events and safety trends.

• Reflect critically to improve practice and patient engagement.

• Transition smoothly into higher levels of responsibility, including advanced practice or nurse leadership roles.

Capella University’s curriculum bridges the gap between clinical skills and leadership excellence by integrating projects like these into both undergraduate and graduate nursing programs.

Final Thoughts: From Education to Empowerment

Completing Nurs Fpx 6218 Assessment 1 and NURS FPX 4900 Assessment 5 signals a nurse’s readiness to lead change, embrace accountability, and continuously evolve. These assessments don’t just mark academic completion—they reflect a deeper commitment to lifelong learning, evidence-based practice, and ethical care delivery.

Whether you’re preparing to take on a new leadership role or continuing your education at the graduate level, these assessments are proof that you’re not just ready to practice—you’re ready to transform the healthcare system from within.