Purpose

This paper is intended to produce a plan for developing the database that must be submitted in Week 7 of this course. Students will gain experience in addressing key elements of a database plan.

Requirements:

This 2-to-4-page paper presents a database plan for a nursing or healthcare problem dealt with in the past or active in the present. Explain the problem and the reason(s) a database is needed. Provide a conceptual data model for the planned database. Name all the entities planned for the database and justify their selection. In an appendix, provide an E-R diagram that shows each entity, names the identifier for each entity, and illustrates the relationships between each entity, noting the cardinality. In the paper, write a narrative explanation of key parts of the E-R diagram, including how you arrived at some of the decisions on relationships and cardinality. Include three questions planned for this database (the original questions from the discussion in week 1 may be used). Provide a recap of the paper and discuss insights on databases developed as a result of working on this assignment. Support all decisions from the scholarly literature.

Preparing The Paper

Criteria for Content:

1. An introduction informs about the topic of the paper and how it is organized.
2. Explanation of the selected problem and why it needs a database as an information-management solution
3. Explanation of a conceptual data model for the planned database
4. All entities planned for the database are named.
5. A justification or rationale for each entity is provided.
6. The E-R diagram for each entity is discussed briefly in the text and is found in an appendix. The E-R diagrams can be created for individual entities mapped to all other relevant entities or a single E-R diagram showing all entities and their relationships may be provided.
7. The identifier for each entity is named. The identifier can be narrated in the paper or included with the E-R diagram in the appendix.
8. The relationships between entities are discussed briefly in text and illustrated, including cardinality, in the E-R diagram in the appendix or in a separate appendix.
9. Three questions planned for the database are provided. The original questions presented in week 1 discussion may be

1. used, or revised questions may be presented.

10. A conclusion that recaps the paper and discusses insights gained from working on this assignment is presented.

Criteria for Paper Format and Special Instructions:

1. E-R diagrams will be in an appendix with your 3 questions on the document.
2. Illustrations of entity relationships will be in an appendix
3. Drawings can be done with Microsoft Office tools, or with third-party software
4. The database project will be developed in Microsoft Excel or Access
5. All aspects of the paper must be in current APA format
6. Only scholarly literature is used to support decisions
7. The paper (excluding the title page, references, and appendices) must be 2-4 pages.
8. A minimum of 3 references are required. One of the course texts may be used as a reference.
9. Grammar, spelling, punctuation, citations, and references are consistent with formal academic writing.