New Approaches in the Evaluation of the DNP Program- Linking Program Evaluations to a National Evaluation Process to Assess the Impact of DNP Graduates on Health Care Delivery

New Approaches in the Evaluation of the DNP Program-

Linking Program Evaluations to a National Evaluation Process to Assess the Impact of DNP Graduates on Health Care Delivery

With the proliferation of DNP programs and increasing numbers of DNP graduates, it is imperative that ongoing evaluation of programs and graduates’ impact of the health of the nation be conducted. This presentation will discuss the program evaluation measures that have been implemented in our DNP program.

Since the inception of our program in the fall of 2008 we have taught utilizing a hybrid model of teaching.  Students have begun the initiation of practice changes during the program necessitating re thinking of standard evaluation measures for both formative and summative evaluation of the program. Data on alumni accomplishments have also been compiled and evaluated based on the DNP Essentials. Beginning analysis suggests the graduates have implemented major shifts in their practice related to informatics, leadership, quality improvement competencies and enhanced involvement in professional organizations.

Program evaluation data and ongoing formative and summative evaluations have the potential to evaluate the collective impact of the DNP on practice change. This presentation will propose a focus on DNP program evaluation as a potential mechanism to assess the national impact of DNP students and graduates.