a dnp capstone project writing help

a dnp capstone project writing help

one project writing Strategies for Writing a Successful DNP Capstone Project

1. Introduction to DNP Capstone Projects

The DNP capstone project manuscript is deserving of careful attention dedicated to the process of planning and organization, as this manuscript will be the most substantial piece of writing in your academic and professional career at present. The purpose of this chapter is to assist the student to develop a plan for writing a capstone project. Our decisions about both the content and the order of the sections are based on our extensive experience with associate nurses who are earning their BSN or have already earned BSN degrees, and nurses already functioning in management and clinical positions in a variety of health care organizations who are earning MSN degrees. The purpose of the assignments in capstone courses and the expected writing outcomes are quite different from the typologies we discuss, which focus on research reports and master’s theses and doctoral dissertations.

The three approval stages for the DNP capstone project are typed in bold and centered. The following eight sections of the DNP proposal do not have section labels, but they do have first-line indents. The purpose of the capstone project is to explore and integrate information, concepts, theoretical perspectives, research evidence, and practice wisdom to solve practice problems, achieve goals, and/or to effect policies and systems that result in measurable improvements in clients, families, groups, communities, clinical care, or systems and organizations. They also encourage a systematic, organized, and timely progression of writing during the DNP capstone project process. Yes, of course. I have been applying several strategies and techniques from this book to write a proposal for a study to be conducted on my DNP project.

2. Key Components and Structure of a DNP Capstone Project

A DNP capstone is the final step on your way to earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. This full-time clinical program equips nurses with the skills to serve as clinical leaders in today’s complex healthcare environment. The culminating event of the ECO-IM program is the completion, dissemination, and defense of a practice-focused DNP project report. Along with the oral defense, the DNP project serves as the comprehensive examination of the ECO-IM program. Together, these two components allow students to showcase what they have learned, highlight their ability to use evidence-based practice to improve the delivery of care and work toward social justice within the healthcare system.

There are several important elements that distinguish the DNP project from a more traditional Master’s thesis and other final projects. Each of these items is described in depth in the ECO-IM Project Handbook. Planning the Capstone Project. There are several elements associated with the capstone project process that need to be completed before a proposal can be launched. Note specific timing as these elements must be completed the academic year before a proposal is due. The process for completing the capstone project is divided into several key steps. You will have the opportunity to receive feedback from program faculty on each proposal submission. The capstone examination guidelines are detailed on the Assessment & Evaluation page. The capstone process should be initiated at least two quarters prior to the anticipated quarter of the examination.

3. Research Methods and Data Analysis in DNP Capstone Projects

In general, the methodologies in DNP capstone projects can be either quantitative or qualitative, depending on the nature of the research question or clinical project. Projects utilizing a quantitative design require gathering data in numerical form for the purpose of using statistical tests to provide meaningful results. Research studies employing quantitative methods most often have results that are generalizable to other populations. On the other hand, qualitative study design methods tend to focus on understanding and interpreting experiences, perceptions, and meanings in the context of teaching/learning or clinical practice. Students using qualitative designs for their capstone project will look for themes and variations in the narratives from interviews, open-ended questions, or observations. Despite the philosophical underpinning guiding the research methods, the purpose of having a DNP degree is to generate new knowledge through practice that advances the discipline of nursing.

The data analysis plan for your project should align with the research question(s)/practice-focused question(s) and methodology. Failure to consider data analysis as the project is developed could result in having to re-collect data, or even worse, facing the possibility of an inconclusive study. The University Office of Research Protections and Regulatory Compliance strictly enforces ethical guidelines for conducting research, including the use and protection of human subjects. Most projects obtain IRB exemption or expedited review because they have minimal risk for data collection—one exception to this rule are projects collecting patient satisfaction surveys. It is your responsibility as a student to ensure that you obtain IRB approval/exemption or if the project will be submitted for IRB approval at a separate institution that the process is understood.

4. Writing and Formatting Tips for DNP Capstone Projects

The following tips are designed to help you write your capstone project or executive position paper, using the Web citation style for your references. Remember that scholarly writing is different than other forms of writing. In the field of nursing and healthcare, the following tips may be helpful as you begin your writing project:

Writing Tips: • Use the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Sixth Edition (2019) or Seventh Edition (2020) to ensure that your writing follows scholarly guidelines. • Begin writing by re-reading your work several times. This process may help to assure that your ideas are clearly demonstrated. • Try to set aside enough time to sleep on what you have written. After a good night’s rest, re-read your work and see if you can identify areas that need improvement. • Read your writing out loud. Sometimes, when something is read aloud instead of silently, it is easier to identify problem areas. • Ask for critical feedback on what you’ve written from friends, faculty, or mentors. • Refresh the reader’s memory in your introduction and remind the reader about the relevance of the problem statement and the identified gap in practice. The reader needs to understand why the ideas expressed in your writing are of importance in a healthcare context. In your discussion, link the findings of your work with strategies as a guide to practice. In a literature review, the reader wants to know the concepts that link the authors’ writings and how these authors’ ideas will influence healthcare practice. Each paragraph should have a topic sentence that states the purpose of that paragraph, and the commentary in the paragraph should explain and demonstrate the evidence/strengths of your argument.

5. Conclusion and Final Considerations

Conclusion

Writing a DNP capstone project can be a daunting task. Students often struggle to bring all their knowledge together to create a comprehensive and successful project. In this guide, we have provided students with guidelines and strategies to use in order to reduce anxiety and improve writing outcomes.

Throughout writing any capstone project, students must always keep the final project in mind. This can be accomplished by constant review of clinical objectives, writing chapter outlines or statements for the table of contents, and formulating sections in the design for everything that needs to be addressed within those pages.

With evidence-based nursing practice being our goal, the reader is encouraged to use some of these techniques with students and preceptees within clinical agencies in order to assist them in achieving successful project outcomes.

In conclusion, the time has come to set the plan in motion to initiate learning to write and present the first DNP capstone project. While this may be the final step in the academic program, it may be just the initial step in an academic, community, or practice career.

It is the hope that some of the facts, strategies, and techniques for producing quality studies have been a part of their formal learning. It must be reiterated that even though all of the tools have been provided in order to perform the project according to a set of standards, the study is reflective, and it is up to the individual to perform it with the Fletcher touch. In time, if the foundation has integrity, the experience and the project will too.