Establishing an Open Access Repository for Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Health Sciences Librarianship
• Digital Institutional Repositories

Background:

• The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) recommended establishing digital repositories for Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) projects.
• George Washington University (GW) DNP faculty initiated the creation of a digital repository in 2016 to align with these recommendations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the collaborative, two-year process of developing a digital DNP Project Repository at GW.
• To share insights, criteria, and lessons learned regarding the establishment and customization of a digital institutional repository for DNP projects.

Main Methods:

• Collaboration between DNP faculty and Health Sciences Library librarians.
• Customization of the repository, including URL creation, metadata fields, submission forms, guidelines, and embargo options.
• Pilot testing and subsequent launch with the first cohort of DNP students.

Main Results:

• Successful creation and launch of the GW DNP Project Repository.
• Completion of a pilot collection in 2017 and submission of 34 projects in 2018.
• Identification of key lessons learned and student submission experiences.

Conclusions:

• The developed DNP Project Repository serves as a valuable resource for scholarly work in nursing practice.
• The collaborative process and customization efforts provide a model for other institutions seeking to establish similar repositories.
• The repository enhances the visibility and accessibility of DNP scholarly output.