Step-by-Step: How to Conduct a Literature Review for Your DNP Project

1. Start with Your PICOT Question

Your literature search should be guided by a well-formulated clinical question using the PICOT format:

  • P: Patient population

  • I: Intervention

  • C: Comparison (if applicable)

  • O: Outcome

  • T: Timeframe

? Example: In hospitalized elderly patients (P), how does hourly rounding (I) compared to usual care (C) reduce falls (O) within three months (T)?

2. Search for Scholarly Sources

Use reliable, peer-reviewed databases like:

  • PubMed

  • CINAHL

  • Cochrane Library

  • Google Scholar (for grey literature)

? Keywords and search terms:
Use combinations of keywords, synonyms, and Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT).
Example: ("hourly rounding" AND "fall prevention" AND "elderly patients")

? Focus on recent research (within the last 5 years) unless foundational theories or landmark studies are relevant.

3. Screen and Select Relevant Studies

Apply inclusion/exclusion criteria:

  • Peer-reviewed only

  • English language

  • Relevant to your PICOT

  • Study designs: RCTs, cohort studies, meta-analyses, systematic reviews, QI studies

? Tip: Use a citation manager like Zotero, EndNote, or Mendeley to stay organized.

4. Analyze and Synthesize the Evidence

This step goes beyond summarizing individual articles. You must compare, contrast, and synthesize findings across multiple sources.

Create a synthesis table that includes:

Study Design Sample Intervention Outcomes Strengths/Limitations

? Ask: What do the studies agree on? Where do they differ? What gaps exist that your project could address?

5. Organize Your Literature Review

Structure your review logically:

  • Introduction: State your topic, purpose, and PICOT

  • Thematic Sections: Group studies by themes or trends (e.g., intervention type, population, setting)

  • Gaps in Literature: Clearly highlight what’s missing

  • Conclusion: Summarize findings and link to your DNP project’s need

✅ Tips for a High-Quality DNP Literature Review

  • Use APA 7th edition formatting

  • Avoid excessive quoting—paraphrase and cite properly

  • Use academic, objective language

  • Support each claim with at least one source

  • Align your review with your project framework and goals

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Choosing irrelevant or outdated sources

  • Summarizing articles without synthesis

  • Ignoring methodological quality

  • Not tying the literature back to your PICOT and intervention

  • Plagiarism or improper citation

? Final Thoughts

Conducting a literature review for your DNP project is more than an academic exercise—it’s your chance to build a powerful case for clinical chang