All students enrolled in the DNP program will complete an evidence-based DNP project. The project is a culmination of the knowledge gained in the DNP courses. This project will demonstrate identification and resolution of a practice problem through translation of evidence.
The primary objective of these projects is to positively contribute to nursing and/or healthcare. These evidence-based projects may target healthcare delivery systems to improve population health, organizational changes that impact local, regional and national health, and legislation and health care policies to reduce healthcare disparities. Students will identify their project and submit it for formal approval during the first semester project course (NURS 866). The project will be further developed and implemented in subsequent DNP project courses. The project must be completed before graduation.
To complete the DNP project, each student will be assigned to a primary and secondary faculty mentor. The student will also select a practice partner(s) who will collaborate with the faculty mentors and student on the DNP project.
The DNP project plan will include:
- Needs assessment, problem statement and background information
- Feasibility of the project along with market/risk analysis
- Project goals and objectives
- Evaluation plan with methodology and measures included
- Reasonable and comprehensive timeframe
- Budget (if applicable) with funding sources identified
Types of DNP projects:
- Organizational or systems’ quality improvement processes
- Analyze and implement a policy change that positively impacts nursing, healthcare systems and/or patient populations
- Develop and implement information technologies to improve outcomes
- Design, implement, and evaluate health care or health education programs.
- Lead interprofessional collaborative projects to implement regional, state, or national
policy and evaluate care models. - Lead consumer and professional coalition projects to develop, implement or evaluate programs.
To meet graduation requirements, the project will include:
- Poster presentation of the DNP project proposal at a professional conference as part of completion of the second DNP project course
- Podium presentation of the completed project at a regional, state or national professional conference at the completion of the fourth DNP project course.
- A submitted manuscript of the completed project to a peer reviewed professional journal at the completion of the fourth DNP project course.
- A DNP project summary of the completed project submitted to the DNP project faculty
- DNP project mentor at the completion of the fifth DNP project course.
Role of the DNP practice partner, academic advisor, faculty mentors, course faculty and project review committee:
DNP Practice Partner:
- Assists the student in selecting goals that support the objectives of the DNP program
- Guides the student in the development and acquisition of leadership skills required for the project
- Meets with the student regularly and provide feedback
- Supports completion of the DNP project and communicate as needed with the DNP project faculty
DNP Academic Advisor:
- Guides the student’s program of study
- Reviews course selections each semester
- Engages in discussions with the student regarding project goals
- Meets with the student during intensive and as needed to review progress
- Reviews progress and writes progress report
- May serve as a second reader
DNP Faculty Mentors (primary and secondary):
- Reviews proposal draft (primary and secondary)
- Provides timely feedback to students on project proposal, design and implementation (primary)
- Reviews project course assignments (primary and secondary)
- Assigns project course assignment and final course grades (primary)
- Assists the student in preparing/submitting the IRB forms if applicable
- Assist the student in preparing for poster presentation (primary and secondary)
- Assists the student with publications (primary and secondary)
- Meets with the student during intensive and as needed to review progress (primary)
- Meets with practice partner along with DNP student (teleconference/in person)
- Gives final approval of DNP project (primary)
DNP Course Faculty:
- Organizes, teaches and manages the DNP project course
- Provides timely feedback to student on assignments
- Meets with students individually as needed
- Assigns the grade for the DNP project course
DNP Project Review Committee:
- Reviews project proposals submitted by students in the first DNP project course
- Provides feedback to students and DNP faculty mentors on the proposed project
- Approves DNP projects based on the DNP project proposal rubric criteria
Each DNP student will be required to complete the DNP Project Practice Partner form and comply with all terms of the agreement at the location of the project. A copy of the form may be found in Appendix C.