DNP Project

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The DNP Project is a core requirement of the DNP degree and the culminating scholarly endeavor that demonstrates the student’s mastery of the DNP Program Outcomes and their ability to bridge the gap between new knowledge and the translation of that knowledge to practice. The DNP Project is completed according to the student's plan of study over four courses. The DNP project should address a significant, complex practice, process, or systems problem in the student’s area of practice expertise and scholarship, meet the objectives for the four courses, and must align with the mission of the organization in which the project will be developed and implemented. Over the course of the four project courses, students work with their DNP Project Team to critically analyze and use the evidence to plan and implement their project. The project culminates with the evaluation of the project outcomes, a narrative report, and dissemination of the findings. DNP projects may focus on improving health outcomes, practice outcomes, or health care policy. The DNP project also provides the foundation for future practice scholarship. Additionally, the DNP Project provides an opportunity for the student to lead an interprofessional team. 

The DNP Project Team consists of a student and a minimum of a doctoral prepared faculty member and a practice mentor who may be from outside the College. Depending on the project, the DNP Project team may also consist of informal experts/mentors/partners/facilitators as collaborators who may provide intermittent or limited support throughout the project stages as needed.

Examples of appropriate DNP projects include a practice change initiative, a pilot study, a quality improvement project, or a research utilization project.

Evaluation of the final DNP Project is the responsibility of the DNP Project Advisor.

The College will maintain a repository of DNP final projects.

The following table summarizes expectations for each of the four scholarly project courses. Additional courses and project expectations are available in the designated courses. Students will work with their DNP Project Advisor and practice partners throughout the project.

NUR 911: DNP Project Course 1

 
  • Meet with the DNP Program Coordinator or the Graduate Nursing Program director to identify a faculty mentor and DNP Project Team
  • In collaboration with the DNP Project Team identify a practice partner and stakeholders to assist with the identification of a clinically significant practice issue. 
  • Define the scope and the significance of the issue. 
  • Develop a narrative summary of the findings
  • Start DNP Program Matrix

NUR 912:  DNP Project Course 2

 
  • Analyze and synthesize the available literature to identify best practices related to the topic of interest.
  • Collect external evidence as needed.
  • Identify a theoretical framework.
  • Identify and use a quality improvement process
  • Collaborate with practice partner to develop a proposal to address the practice issue.
  • Complete Human Subjects Training
  • Develop a narrative summary of the findings and process

NUR 913/915:  DNP Project Course 3

 
  • Engage practice partner and stakeholders to develop an implementation plan 
  • Implement the project.
  • Evaluate the outcomes.
  • Develop a narrative summary of the findings and outcomes  

NUR 914/916:  DNP Project Couse 4

 
  • Engage with practice partner and stakeholders to evaluate the project.
  • Assess and make recommendations for sustainability of the practice initiative
  • Complete the final narrative summary.
  • Disseminate findings  
  • Finalize DNP Program Matrix

DNP Project courses are graded as Pass (P) or Fail (F). Passing each course is dependent upon the successful completion of the course outcomes. Students must successfully complete each course before progressing to the next course. The DNP Project and its dissemination is a condition for graduation. 

Students who do not complete a course are subject to the academic progression and dismissal policies. Students are required to maintain continuous enrollment while completing the project.  Students who require additional time to complete their project will be assessed tuition and fees. 

Institutional Review Board Information

All research at Bellin College involving human subjects conducted by faculty, staff, students, or others must comply with applicable policies for the protection of human subjects, including a review by the Bellin Institutional Review Board (IRB). Projects must be reviewed whether they are funded, unfunded, sponsored, or unsponsored. Current Human Subjects training is required for all research/project team members. Investigators may consult Bellin’s IRB for advice about whether a project must be reviewed. The final authority for making this determination rests with the IRB. All communications with the IRB should go to IRB-Coordinator@bellin.org.