Reports of three organizations' members about doctor of nursing practice project experiences and outcomes

Abstract

Background: Holders of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree were envisioned to improve health and health care outcomes by implementing quality improvement initiatives, applying evidence-based practice changes (EBP), and influencing policy. Little is known about the nature of the DNP project experience and its relationship with subsequent experiences of graduates. Filling these knowledge gaps is important because of the investment of time, faculty and student effort, expense, and the projects' potential long-term effects on the organizations in which they were conducted.

Purpose: (1) Describe the impetus for foci, outcomes and activities of DNP projects and (2) determine the extent to which project foci are a part of post-graduation experiences.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive survey design was used and a via mailed paper and online version was sent with return options to graduates of Doctor of Nursing Practice program. The sampling technique was designed to maximize the capture of DNP graduates. Three mailings were sent to 5,830 nurse members of three national organizations with memberships that included advanced practice registered nurses, nurse administrators and nurse educators. The 1,308 DNP prepared respondents were demographically and geographically representative of organizational members.

Findings: Most (65.2%) reported the topic of the project was their own idea and they sought out an organization in which to conduct it. Twenty-five percent indicated not all aspects of the reorganization/initiative/policy change were completed by graduation. Five project foci emerged with the majority reporting an EBP initiative or an EBP project involving reorganization in the setting (57.7%) There was also a wide variation in the number, types and combinations of activities reported to be a part of the project. There was wide variation in the relationship of project foci and activities with reports of post-graduation experience by position title.

Discussion/conclusion: Findings suggest potential avenues for innovations during the DNP project experience innovations. Long term effects of projects on organizations in which they were conducted and the relationship of project activities with post-graduation roles should be considered.

Keywords: Doctor of nursing practice; advanced practice; nursing education; outcomes; scholarship.