Evaluation of an Innovative Course Developed to Guide DNP Student Project Proposals

Since implementing the DNP program in 2008, program faculty have engaged in continuous improvement for curricular enhancement.  This includes exploring strategies for improving the teaching and learning experiences for faculty and students.  As a result of these efforts, faculty identified that DNP advanced practice students displayed a wide variation in in their level of ability to develop proposals for their evidenced based projects of interest.  In addition to being a challenge for students, faculty acknowledged that this resulted in a wide range of faculty effort needed to guide projects, and a variation in project quality.  In an effort to maximize faculty efficiencies, enhance the student experience and continue to improve the quality of the DNP capstone project, a new course Tools for DNP Scholarship was developed and implemented.

Selected structure, process, and outcomes of this tools course will be shared in the presentation.  Selected structure concepts to be discussed will include the guiding Project Triangle; Proposal assignment in three parts, guided by gateway rubrics;  Modules on scholarly tools, and Templates to guide the proposal writing.  Course processes presented will include monthly Adobe sessions, Coaching circles, and Peer review assignments.  Outcomes data from concept analysis of student self-assessments, rubric use, quizzes and other course evaluative data will be shared.  Recommendations will be provided for those considering implementation of a similar course approach.