UUM1 Task 1: Nursing Service Line Proposal

Western Governors University D030 Leadership and Management in Complex Healthcare Systems requires students to complete the UUM1 performance assessment by developing a proposal for a new nurse-managed service line that meets a demonstrated patient health need, contains a major nurse-led component, and has the potential to generate sustainable revenue.

In this performance assessment for Western Governors University course D030 Leadership and Management in Complex Healthcare Systems, students assume the role of a nurse leader who designs and justifies a new nursing service line. The proposal uses an interprofessional focus, presents business analyses that determine feasibility, and outlines a strategic plan for implementation within a complex healthcare organization.

Competencies

• 7064.1.1 Determine Leadership Skills and Approaches: The learner determines the effective leadership skills and approaches required to navigate a diverse staff in a changing healthcare environment.
• 7064.1.2 Analyze Complex Systems: The learner analyzes complex healthcare systems to identify opportunities for nurse-led innovation.
• 7064.1.3 Evaluate Feasibility: The learner evaluates the financial, operational, and interprofessional feasibility of a proposed nursing service line.
• 7064.1.6 Propose Strategic Plan: The learner proposes a strategic business plan to start a nurse-managed practice.

Introduction

Students develop a brief using the attached Nursing Service Line template. The proposed service must meet a demonstrated patient health need, contain a major nurse-led component, and show potential for sustainable revenue generation. Examples of eligible services include wellness centers, vascular access care, diagnosis-specific support clinics, wound care services, diabetes management programs, care coordination services, and home health or hospice models. The proposal must incorporate interprofessional collaboration and present the results of relevant business analyses.

Requirements

The submission must represent original work. No more than a combined total of 30 percent of the submission and no more than a 10 percent match to any one individual source may be directly quoted or closely paraphrased from sources, even if cited correctly. Use the originality report provided upon submission as a guide.

Complete the Nursing Service Line template and submit a paper of suggested length 5–7 pages in APA format that addresses the following:

1. Describe the proposed nursing service line, the demonstrated patient health need it addresses, and the major nurse-led components.
2. Explain the leadership skills and approaches required to launch and sustain the service within a diverse, changing healthcare environment.
3. Present the results of business analyses (market need, operational feasibility, financial projections, and interprofessional considerations) that determine whether the service is viable.
4. Propose a strategic plan that includes goals, key stakeholders, implementation timeline, resource requirements, and measures of success.
5. Discuss how the service aligns with organizational mission and contributes to value-based outcomes.

Rubric Criteria (Competent Performance)

• Proposed service clearly meets a demonstrated patient need, contains major nurse-led elements, and shows revenue potential.
• Leadership skills and approaches are specific to navigating diverse staff and change.
• Business analyses are complete, realistic, and support a reasoned feasibility conclusion.
• Strategic plan includes measurable goals, stakeholders, timeline, resources, and success metrics.
• Alignment with organizational mission and value-based outcomes is explicit.
• APA formatting, scholarly support, and originality thresholds are met.

Why This Matters in Practice

Nurse-led service lines expand access, improve continuity, and generate sustainable revenue while positioning nursing as a strategic partner in organizational growth. Leaders who ground proposals in market data, interprofessional realities, and clear metrics increase the likelihood of executive approval and long-term success.

FAQ

What types of services are acceptable for the D030 UUM1 proposal?
Any service that meets a demonstrated patient health need, contains a major nurse-led component, and has potential for sustainable revenue is acceptable. Examples include wound care, diabetes management, vascular access, wellness centers, and care coordination programs.

Must the service be entirely new to the organization?
The service should represent a new or substantially expanded offering. Building on an existing program is acceptable if the proposal demonstrates clear innovation and nurse leadership.

What length is expected?
The suggested length is 5–7 pages excluding title and reference pages. Complete coverage of every required element is the primary criterion.

Are financial projections required to be detailed spreadsheets?
High-level but realistic projections of start-up costs, ongoing expenses, and revenue sources are sufficient. Exact accounting-level detail is not required.

What file formats are accepted?
PDF, DOC, or DOCX only. Live links are not accepted.

Sample Writing Help

Nurse leaders who design service lines grounded in local population health data create offerings that close real gaps rather than duplicate existing capacity. A nurse-managed wound care clinic, for example, addresses rising rates of diabetic foot ulcers in a community with limited specialty access while generating revenue through facility fees and supplies. Transformational leadership skills enable the nurse executive to align diverse stakeholders, secure interprofessional buy-in from physicians and therapists, and maintain focus during the inevitable operational hurdles of launch. Market analysis that quantifies unmet need, combined with conservative financial projections and a phased implementation timeline, converts an innovative idea into an executable business case. Organizations that approve such proposals often report improved patient outcomes and stronger nursing visibility in strategic planning, consistent with evidence on nurse-led models of care.

Feasibility Analysis Depth

Strong proposals move beyond generic statements of need. They present local utilization data, competitor mapping, and payer mix information that demonstrate demand. Operational feasibility includes staffing models, space requirements, and regulatory considerations. Financial projections that show break-even within a realistic timeframe and identify primary revenue streams give executives the confidence to allocate resources. Interprofessional analysis that anticipates referral patterns and role boundaries further reduces implementation risk.

Strategic Plan Clarity

Students frequently list goals without linking them to specific metrics or owners. A complete strategic plan names the responsible leader for each major milestone, sets quarterly targets, and defines the data sources that will measure progress. Including a risk register with mitigation steps for the top three anticipated barriers adds realism and signals managerial maturity to evaluators and organizational decision-makers.

References

American Organization for Nursing Leadership. (2023). AONL nurse leader competencies. https://www.aonl.org/resources/nurse-leader-competencies

Porter-O’Grady, T., & Malloch, K. (2018). Quantum leadership: Creating sustainable value in health care (5th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Institute for Healthcare Improvement. (2023). Nurse-led models of care. https://www.ihi.org/resources/Pages/Publications/Nurse-Led-Models-of-Care.aspx

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2024). Value-based care. https://www.cms.gov/priorities/innovation/key-concepts/value-based-care

Submit the D030 Task 1 proposal of 5–7 pages for a sustainable nurse-led service line including feasibility analysis and strategic plan.

Assessment: Clinical Practice Experience (CPE) Leadership Interview and Reflection.

Students complete remaining CPE deliverables that include interviews with nurse leaders, documentation of leadership skills observed, analysis of complex system challenges, and written reflections on applying leadership approaches in changing healthcare environments. The signed CPE Record is uploaded separately while the OneNote e-portfolio link is submitted to document all required indirect clinical hours for D030.