NONPF 38th Annual Conference

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree has as its foundation the location, appraisal, translation, implementation, and dissemination of validated evidence so as to strengthen and improve practice and health care delivery. As educators, our role is to determine how to operationalize these concepts in the available courses. Consequently, this symposium addresses the issues surrounding promoting understanding, analyzing, synthesizing, and planning research for DNP students and educators. The first presentation will identify current standards and guidelines for research knowledge in DNP programs and compare the published statements and existing literature regarding scholarship expectations for DNP graduates. A discussion on the realistic expectations for DNP scholars will be included. The second presentation will provide information on the skills and competencies needed in DNP curriculum so that graduates are prepared for the tasks of translating and implementing research findings. Specific concepts necessary for enhancing DNP student mastery and building an organizing framework for research education will be identified. The final presentation in the symposium will present the expectations of a capstone project along with the role expectations of the DNP graduate in translational research and implementation science. Overall, this symposium will assist DNP faculty in integrating the research competencies needed by DNP students and recommended by national authorities with the specific research content and skills to enhance clinical practice improvement and advance the health care environment.