DNP 815 Week 7 DQ 2: applying a change theory
The leader perspective is the constraint that shapes everything: you are the person who has to unfreeze the unit, not the person being asked to change.
Editorial process
Last reviewed · August 15, 2026
Develop a scenario means you build the case
Two instructions shape the post. Develop a scenario means construct one — a realistic but invented case is expected, so you can design the situation to exercise the theory rather than hunting for a real one that happens to fit. And the perspective is an advanced practice nurse leader, which means you are the person responsible for making the change happen rather than the person receiving it. That changes what the post is about: not whether the change is a good idea, but how you would move a group of people who do not currently do the thing toward doing it reliably. Choose a scenario with real friction — a new sepsis screening tool that adds minutes to a triage assessment, a handover format change, a deprescribing protocol that requires prescribers to undo their own decisions. A change nobody would object to leaves the theory idle and the post with nothing to demonstrate, so pick something that costs somebody time or authority.
Then apply one theory properly rather than three superficially. Lewin gives you unfreezing, moving and refreezing, and its value is that it forces you to say what creates the dissatisfaction that makes change possible in the first place and what will hold the new practice in place afterwards. Rogers's diffusion of innovations gives you adopter categories and the attributes that determine uptake — relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, observability — which is the better frame when the change is optional. Kotter's eight steps suit a larger organisational programme. Walk your scenario through the stages of whichever you choose, naming what you would actually do at each. Then address resistance as information rather than as obstruction: staff resisting a screening tool usually have a reason involving time or false positives, and a leader who treats that as data changes the implementation, while one who treats it as opposition changes nothing.
Likely learning objectives
Inferred from the brief — check these against your own rubric.
- 01Construct a scenario designed to exercise a change theory.
- 02Adopt a leadership rather than a recipient perspective.
- 03Walk a scenario through the stages of one theory.
- 04Treat resistance as information about implementation.
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Course-wide instructions that accompany this question
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You could also respond to these as it would count towards your required SIX discussion posts for the week. I understand this is a lot of information to cover in 5 weeks, however, the Bible says in Philippians 4:13 that we can do all things through Christ that strengthens us. Even in times like this, we are encouraged by God’s word that we have that ability in us to succeed with His strength. I pray that each and every one of you receives strength for this course and life generally as we navigate through this pandemic that is shaking our world today. Relax and enjoy the course! Name: Discussion Rubric Grid View List View Excellent 90–100 Good 80–89 Fair 70–79 Poor 0–69 Main Posting: Response to the Discussion question is reflective with critical analysis and synthesis representative of knowledge gained from the course readings for the module and current credible sources. 40 (40%) – 44 (44%) Thoroughly responds to the Discussion question(s). Is reflective with critical analysis and synthesis representative of knowledge gained from the course readings for the module and current credible sources. No less than 75% of post has exceptional depth and breadth. Supported by at least three current credible sources. 35 (35%) – 39 (39%) Responds to most of the Discussion question(s). Is somewhat reflective with critical analysis and synthesis representative of knowledge gained from the course readings for the module. 50% of the post has exceptional depth and breadth. Supported by at least three credible references. 31 (31%) – 34 (34%) Responds to some of the Discussion question(s). One to two criteria are not addressed or are superficially addressed. Is somewhat lacking reflection and critical analysis and synthesis. Somewhat represents knowledge gained from the course readings for the module. Cited with fewer than two credible references. 0 (0%) – 30 (30%) Does not respond to the Discussion question(s). Lacks depth or superficially addresses criteria. Lacks reflection and critical analysis and synthesis. Does not represent knowledge gained from the course readings for the module. Contains only one or no credible references. Main Posting: Writing 6 (6%) – 6 (6%) Written clearly and concisely. Contains no grammatical or spelling errors. Adheres to current APA manual writing rules and style. 5 (5%) – 5 (5%) Written concisely. May contain one to two grammatical or spelling errors. Adheres to current APA manual writing rules and style. 4 (4%) – 4 (4%) Written somewhat concisely. May contain more than two spelling or grammatical errors. Contains some APA formatting errors. 0 (0%) – 3 (3%) Not written clearly or concisely. Contains more than two spelling or grammatical errors. Does not adhere to current APA manual writing rules and style. Main Posting: Timely and full participation 9 (9%) – 10 (10%) Meets requirements for timely, full, and active participation. Posts main Discussion by due date. 8 (8%) – 8 (8%) Meets requirements for full participation. Posts main Discussion by due date. 7 (7%) – 7 (7%) Posts main Discussion by due date. 0 (0%) – 6 (6%) Does not meet requirements for full participation. Does not post main Discussion by due date. First Response: Post to colleague’s main post that is reflective and justified with credible sources. 9 (9%) – 9 (9%) Response exhibits critical thinking and application to practice settings. Responds to questions posed by faculty. The use of scholarly sources to support ideas demonstrates synthesis and understanding of learning objectives. 8 (8%) – 8 (8%) Response has some depth and may exhibit critical thinking or application to practice setting. 7 (7%) – 7 (7%) Response is on topic and may have some depth. 0 (0%) – 6 (6%) Response may not be on topic and lacks depth. First Response: Writing 6 (6%) – 6 (6%) Communication is professional and respectful to colleagues. Response to faculty questions are fully answered, if posed. Provides clear, concise opinions and ideas that are supported by two or more credible sources. Response is effectively written in standard, edited English. 5 (5%) – 5 (5%) Communication is mostly professional and respectful to colleagues. Response to faculty questions are mostly answered, if posed. Provides opinions and ideas that are supported by few credible sources. Response is written in standard, edited English. 4 (4%) – 4 (4%) Response posed in the Discussion may lack effective professional communication. Response to faculty questions are somewhat answered, if posed. Few or no credible sources are cited. 0 (0%) – 3 (3%) Responses posted in the Discussion lack effective communication. Response to faculty questions are missing. No credible sources are cited. First Response: Timely and full participation 5 (5%) – 5 (5%) Meets requirements for timely, full, and active participation. Posts by due date. 4 (4%) – 4 (4%) Meets requirements for full participation. Posts by due date. 3 (3%) – 3 (3%) Posts by due date. 0 (0%) – 2 (2%) Does not meet requirements for full participation. Does not post by due date. Second Response: Post to colleague’s main post that is reflective and justified with credible sources. 9 (9%) – 9 (9%) Response exhibits critical thinking and application to practice settings. Responds to questions posed by faculty. The use of scholarly sources to support ideas demonstrates synthesis and understanding of learning objectives. 8 (8%) – 8 (8%) Response has some depth and may exhibit critical thinking or application to practice setting. 7 (7%) – 7 (7%) Response is on topic and may have some depth. 0 (0%) – 6 (6%) Response may not be on topic and lacks depth. Second Response: Writing 6 (6%) – 6 (6%) Communication is professional and respectful to colleagues. Response to faculty questions are fully answered, if posed. Provides clear, concise opinions and ideas that are supported by two or more credible sources. Response is effectively written in standard, edited English. 5 (5%) – 5 (5%) Communication is mostly professional and respectful to colleagues. Response to faculty questions are mostly answered, if posed. Provides opinions and ideas that are supported by few credible sources. Response is written in standard, edited English. 4 (4%) – 4 (4%) Response posed in the Discussion may lack effective professional communication. Response to faculty questions are somewhat answered, if posed. Few or no credible sources are cited. 0 (0%) – 3 (3%) Responses posted in the Discussion lack effective communication. Response to faculty questions are missing. No credible sources are cited. Second Response: Timely and full participation 5 (5%) – 5 (5%) Meets requirements for timely, full, and active participation. Posts by due date. 4 (4%) – 4 (4%) Meets requirements for full participation. Posts by due date. 3 (3%) – 3 (3%) Posts by due date. 0 (0%) – 2 (2%) Does not meet requirements for full participation. Does not post by due date. Total Points: 100 Name: Discussion Rubric
Turn the brief into deliverables
- 01A developed scenario with real friction in it.
- 02One named change theory.
- 03The scenario worked through the theory's stages, with your actions at each.
- 04An account of resistance and how you would respond.
Scenario, theory, application, then resistance
The scenario
Build a realistic situation in which a change is needed and resisted.
The theory
Name one change theory and say why it fits this kind of change.
Stage by stage
Work the scenario through the theory, naming your actions at each stage.
Resistance
Explain what the resistance is telling you and what you would change because of it.
Change theories with implementation evidence
Recommended databases
- CINAHL
- Implementation Science
- PubMed Central
- Journal of Nursing Administration
Search sequence
- 1.Read one primary account of the theory rather than a summary table.
- 2.Search the theory AND nursing implementation for an applied example.
- 3.Find one implementation that failed and read the stated reason.
- 4.Check whether your chosen change is mandatory or optional, since that decides the theory.
Reference shortlist
These are authoritative starting points, not a ready-made bibliography. A qualified reviewer must confirm that each source fits the assignment and supports the claim beside which it is cited.
Nothing here is cleared for citation until you have read it.
- 01
Stages of Change Theory
StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf · 2023
A stage model of change set out in full, which is the structure a stage-based application has to follow.
- 02
Assessing E-Health adoption readiness using diffusion of innovation theory
International Health · 2022
Diffusion of innovation applied prospectively to adoption readiness, the option to reach for when the change is optional.
- 03
Making sense of implementation theories, models and frameworks
Implementation Science (BMC), Per Nilsen · 2015
How implementation theories, models and frameworks differ, so the choice is informed rather than habitual.
- 04
PARIHS revisited: from heuristic to integrated framework for the successful implementation of knowledge into practice
Implementation Science (BMC), Gill Harvey and Alison Kitson · 2016
An integrated implementation framework, useful for the refreezing or sustainment stage most posts leave thin.
Review before submission
Common mistakes
- Reporting a real change instead of developing a scenario.
- Writing from the perspective of someone being changed.
- Naming three theories and applying none.
- Choosing a scenario nobody would resist, which leaves the theory idle.
- Treating resistance as something to overcome rather than to understand.
Submission checklist
- Does your scenario contain genuine friction?
- Is the perspective consistently that of the leader?
- Have you said what you would do at each stage?
- Is resistance treated as information?
- Would a different theory have produced a different plan?
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