Innovative DNP Evaluation Tools.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Doctoral Education
• Competency-Based Education

Background:

• Innovative strategies are needed for faculty knowledge in teaching and advising Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students, particularly for scholarly projects.
• Diverse faculty backgrounds can lead to inconsistent student advisement and learning, with unclear expectations posing barriers.
• Addressing these challenges is crucial for effective DNP education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate tools for DNP project courses to enhance faculty instruction and student learning.
• To establish clear expectations for faculty, students, and the advising process.
• To foster student growth and success in scholarly projects.

Main Methods:

• Published reports and faculty input were used to develop evaluation tools.
• Tools were designed to clarify expectations for faculty and students.
• Evaluation tools were utilized in DNP project courses.

Main Results:

• Developed rubrics for DNP project courses facilitated diverse student learning needs.
• Evaluation tools, informed by national guidelines, ensured consistent evaluation of scholarly work.
• Tools supported student success and attainment of DNP Essentials.

Conclusions:

• Student evaluation tools aligned with national guidelines improved student learning and faculty support.
• The developed rubrics positioned the institution for a transition to competency-based doctoral education.
• These tools offer a model for other DNP programs adapting to revised Essentials (2021).