Your DNP project will reflect your critical thinking skills and your ability to translate research into practice through problem identification, proposal development, implementation, and evaluation.   This is your time to shine, so don’t let the task of choosing a DNP project stress you out. Using your area of clinical expertise as a springboard, develop your project using an evidence-based process:
  1. Formulate a well-developed question: Describe an innovation or clinical inquiry; identify a problem/issue
  2. Review the literature to identify evidence-based resources that answer your question: Apply the best evidence from literature
  3. Assess the validity of your resources using evidence: Collect data using standard and acceptable methods/tools
  4. Apply that evidence: Define outcomes to be measured upon implementation
  5. Implement outcomes and/or analyze results: Re-evaluate the application and identify areas for improvement
An example of how one DNP student followed this 5-step evidence-based process to develop a change project with the goal of increasing vaccination among healthcare personnel working in a college:
Step 1. A change project was initiated to increase influenza vaccination among healthcare personnel at a college Step 2. Barriers to vaccination as well as factors that would help facilitate vaccination were identified using a pre-intervention questionnaire survey Step 3. Interventions were planned based on the findings of the pre-intervention questionnaire survey Step 4. Interventions were implemented Step 5. The effectiveness of the interventions was assessed through a post-intervention survey
An example of how one DNP student followed this 5-step evidence-based process to develop a quality improvement project with the goal of reducing delays in treatment for patients with hand trauma:
Step 1. A quality improvement project was initiated to avoid delays in care for patients with hand trauma Step 2. Over 2,000 consultations and notes from emergency room and urgent care departments were reviewed to assess adherence to guidelines for treating hand trauma Step 3. Factors associated with a lack of adherence to treatment guidelines were identified Step 4. Interventions were implemented Step 5. Outcomes were assessed

Questions to Ask

One of the best ways to ensure your DNP project accomplishes your objectives is to ask yourself questions to make sure the project meets the required standards:
  • Does my project focus on individuals, communities, populations, and/or systems?
  • What problems/issues will my project address?
  • Is my DNP project grounded in clinical practice? Will it solve problems or directly inform my practice?
  • Will my project demonstrate mastery of DNP competencies achieved through my doctoral education?
  • Is my project supported by evidence provided through existing literature?
  • Does my project address outcomes associated with patients and healthcare?
  • Does my project provide a foundation for future scholarship in nursing?