The DNP project: Quandaries for nursing scholars

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Programs
• Scholarly Projects

Background:

• The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) movement faces ongoing challenges regarding the final scholarly project.
• A lack of consensus persists among DNP programs regarding the nature and requirements of the scholarly project.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and describe faculty practices and challenges associated with the DNP scholarly project across the United States.
• To understand the current landscape of DNP project implementation from the perspective of program directors.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive research design was employed.
• An online survey was administered to 90 Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program directors nationwide.
• The survey focused on describing the DNP program environment, with an emphasis on the final scholarly project.

Main Results:

• A significant majority of faculty (87%) reported dissatisfaction with the DNP project.
• Key contributing factors to dissatisfaction include: lack of faculty expertise in evidence-based practice and quality improvement, absence of consensus on project parameters, insufficient faculty resources, difficulties with clinical site partnerships, and students' scholarly writing skills.

Conclusions:

• Achieving consensus on DNP project title, type, depth, and outcomes is imperative.
• Ongoing dialogue regarding DNP project design, execution, and challenges is necessary.
• Models for project implementation must accommodate increasing DNP enrollment, requiring enhanced program support for institutional review board processes, student skill development, and practice site collaborations.