The “Minimum” DNP Project Elements

In this episode, we are going to review the recommendations from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) on the minimum expectations of a DNP Project.

Welcome to the DNP Project Podcast where we share tips, inspiration, and more! In today’s episode, we are going to talk about the AACN (2015) minimum requirements of a DNP Project.

In 2015, a white paper was written to clarify issues surrounding the DNP Project (AACN, 2015). It is often referred to by DNP Faculty as just, “The White Paper”. In the document, they tried to put language to some of the challenges that we are having.

Key Points: (not full list, please read the entire paper: 

• Clarification of terminology
  • Do not use “Capstone”; rather “DNP Project”
  • Do not use “Committee”; rather “DNP Team”
• Clarification on the idea of “implementation” you have to do something
• Clarification on group projects (another episode), can read more in our Workbook
• Clarification on “minimum” expectations of the project

According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2015), all DNP Projects at minimum, should:

•  "Focus on a change that impacts healthcare outcomes either through direct or indirect care. 
•  Have a systems (micro-, meso-, or macro- level) or population/aggregate focus.
•  Demonstrate implementation in the appropriate arena or area of practice. 
• Include a plan for sustainability (e.g. financial, systems or political realities, not only theoretical abstractions). 
•  Include an evaluation of processes and/or outcomes (formative or summative). DNP
• Projects should be designed so that processes and/or outcomes will be evaluated to guide practice and policy.  Clinical significance is as important in guiding practice as statistical significance is in evaluating research.
•  Provide a foundation for future practice scholarship." 

In the next episode, we will take a deeper dive into what DNP “Clinical” or DNP “Experience” hours look like or what they can look like. You can also learn more about the DNP Project through our workbook, The DNP Project Workbook: A Step by Step Process for Success available from Springer at: https://www.springerpub.com/the-dnp-project-workbook-9780826174321.html

*** Always follow the guidelines from YOUR DNP Program