31 Jan This week, you will gain

Week 1 discussion

DQ1 Why I Chose to Pursue a DNP Degree

For over a decade, the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) has been integrated as a terminal practice degree into nursing education. Reflect upon your pathway to pursuing your DNP degree to answer the following questions.

What are your short-term and long-term career goals?

Why did you decide to pursue a DNP degree?

How will your DNP degree assist you in accomplishing your career goals?

DQ2 Practice Problem in Two Distinct Statements

Clinical practice problems emerge from everyday nursing practice. Nurses identify practice problems related to (a) patient, families, and community; (b) new information/knowledge; (c) staff or practice environment issues; and/or (d) QI/practice change projects or research.

Identify a nursing practice problem from a clinical setting and not an academic setting. In this discussion, you will have the opportunity to learn the skills required to write a problem statement based on a nursing practice problem. This problem statement is not required to be used for your DNP Project although may potentially be the problem identified for your eventual DNP Project. There are many process steps you will need to complete in future courses to identify and gain approval for your practice problem.

Briefly describe the nursing practice problem.

From this problem, write a problem statement.

Identify and discuss potential etiologies contributing to the problem from nursing research literature.

Week 2 discussion

DQ1 Nursing’s Ways of Knowing

Nurses have sought to understand the art and science of nursing since the time of Florence Nightingale. Carper (1978) identified four fundamental patterns of knowing in nursing. She described these ways of knowing as (a) empirics, (b) aesthetics, (c) ethics, and (d) personal knowing. To this work, two ways of knowing were subsequently added: unknowing and socio-political knowing. Consider the nursing practice problem you identified in Week 1 to address the following.

Which two ways of knowing have provided insight into this nursing practice problem?

Compare and contrast these two ways of knowing using scholarly nursing literature.

DQ2 Formatting your Problem Statement into a PICOT Question

In this discussion, you will have the opportunity to formulate a PICOT question based on the nursing practice problem that you identified in Week 1. This PICOT question is not required to be used for your DNP Project although this may potentially be the first iteration of the PICOT question for your eventual DNP Project. There are many process steps you will need to complete in future courses to identify and gain approval for your project PICOT question. Consider the following to formulate your PICOT question.

P=Population ? What population is impacted by the problem?

I= Intervention ? What is your proposed intervention?

C=Comparison ? What is currently happening that has led to the problem?

O=Outcome ? What data will you collect to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention?

T=Time frame ? What is the proposed time frame for the intervention to achieve an outcome?

Week 3 discussion

DQ1 Nursing’s Grand Theories and Conceptual Models

Grand theories are complex and broad in scope and often incorporate various other theories. Orem, Roger, Neuman, Levine, Johnson, King and Roy are influential theorists who impacted the nursing profession through grand theories.

Select one of the above grand nursing theories or a conceptual model and explain how you do or will apply the theory/conceptual model to your nursing practice. Please note that borrowed theories, middle-range theories, and change models are not relevant to this discussion and should not be used. Consider the following in your post.

Describe the major concepts of the selected nursing grand theory.

Explain how this selected nursing theory applies to the nursing metaparadigm regarding a) person, (b) health, (c) environment and (d) nursing.

Apply this selected nursing theory to a nursing practice problem

DQ2 Use of Nursing Theory to Guide DNP Projects

As the nursing profession evolves, practice knowledge is increasing and theories are moving ever closer to the bedside. Conduct a literature search in a nursing databases to locate a research article that utilizes a nursing grand theory as a theoretical foundation and describe how this theory was operationalized.

Week 4 discussion

DQ1 Nursing Theories and Middle-Range Theories

Middle-range theory are considered essential to the structure of nursing knowledge.

Differentiate grand theories from middle-range nursing theories, including their impact on the profession and practice of nursing.

Conduct a nursing literature search to address a nursing practice problem. Identify a nursing research article that uses middle-range nursing theory as a theoretical foundation and describe how this theory was operationalized.

DQ2 Critical Appraisal Criteria for Evaluation of Theory

Fawcett’s (2005) criteria for evaluation of nursing theories involves judgments about the extent to which nursing theories meet identified criteria. Review Fawcett’s article, Criteria for Evaluation of Theory, and consider the following.

Select and describe two criteria for evaluation.

Critically appraise a nursing theory using these two appraisal criteria.

Week 5 discussion

DQ1 Application of Borrowed Theories to Advanced Nursing Practice

Borrowed theories are theoretical or conceptual models/frameworks from disciplines other than nursing that are used within the nursing profession. Select a borrowed theory and consider the following.

List the concepts that constitute the theory.

Describe how these concepts align with the profession and practice of nursing.

Provide an example of how this borrowed theoretical perspective is used within the profession and practice of nursing. Please review the Graduate Discussion Grading Guidelines and Rubric (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. for complete discussion requirements.

DQ2 Scholarship of Evidence-based Practice

Evidence-based Practice (EBP) has captured the attention of healthcare providers, healthcare organizations, and consumers to positively influence patient outcomes. However, confusion abounds about how evidence-based practice differs from research.

Compare and contrast EBP from research. How are they similar? How do they differ?

What are optimal evidence sources to use to inform nursing practice?

Week 6 discussion

DQ1 Evidence-based Practice Change and Quality Improvement Models

In Week 5, evidence-based practice was differentiated from research. Evidence-based practice is also often conflated with quality improvement. Select an evidence-based practice change model or a quality improvement model and consider the following.

Compare and contrast an evidence-based change model from a quality improvement mode How are they similar? How do they differ?

Explain how the selected model may be applied to create change within the healthcare domain.

DQ2 Evidence Supporting the Clinical Question and Suggested Interventions

Credible evidence is essential to address nursing practice problems; sources of information must provide the most appropriate answer to solve the issue. Conduct a nursing literature search to address a nursing practice problem. Select two sources of evidence and consider the following.

Identify the etiology or causative factors influencing the problem.

Describe the proposed intervention(s).

Appraise the evidence for use in nursing practice.

Week 7 discussion

DQ1 Interprofessional Collaboration for Improving Practice

Consider the reading for this week and reflect upon the role of the DNP-prepared nurse in leading interprofessional collaboration.

How will you advance interprofessional collaboration as a DNP-prepared nurse?

Give specific examples of your current actions and future plans and tell why your actions are likely to improve outcomes as a DNP graduate.

DQ2 Emerging Roles for the DNP-Prepared Nurse

Today’s complex healthcare environment requires state of the art nursing knowledge and practice expertise to assure quality patient outcomes. DNP graduates are well-positioned to improve healthcare delivery and practice. Reflect upon your future practice considering the following.

What emerging roles for the DNP-prepared nurse do you imagine yourself in upon completion of your degree?

What skills and/or competencies do you anticipate will be most beneficial to you as you take on an advanced role?Compare your role in performing traditional advanced practice actions to your future role as a DNP-prepared nurse.

Week 8 discussion

Human Flourishing

This week, you will gain theoretical and practical exposure to practices and perspectives that lead to greater happiness and human flourishing (enjoyment, engagement, being socially connected, meaning and effectiveness), or a life rich in purpose, relationship, and enjoyment.

Select one of the human flourishing resources from this week’s readings or from your own knowing and consider the following.

Identify two character strengths and describe how you use these strengths in your education and practice.

Conduct a search for literature and locate a foundational theory or research that examines practices and perspectives that lead to a happier life.

Summarize the article’s conclusions and discuss the relevancy of the findings to enhancing your health and happiness and for positively impacting your relationships and community?

How likely you are to incorporate those practices into your life?