DNP 801A Introduction to DNP Studies

The course will introduce learners to the mindset and skills relevant to success on their doctoral journey. The skills learned will include academic writing, navigating resources, critical thinking, and analysis at the doctoral level. Lastly, it will help students identify and understand scholarly research and their role as practitioner-scholars.

Topic 1: Becoming a Doctoral Learner

Class Introductions

Students will make their initial posts and get to know their peers.

Pre Conference Evaluation: Individual Success Plan (ISP)

In this assignment, students will find and download the Individual Success Plan (ISP) and Direct Practice Improvement (DPI) timeline documents from the DNP PI Workspace.

Students will then find specific deliverables to complete throughout the course. They should also list the expected challenges and follow the instructions to complete the ISP.

Doctoral Strategies Essay and Attestation

The significance of this assignment is to help students reflect on the “Doctor of Nursing Orientation Webinar,” the doctoral dispositions, and provide resources to prepare to be successful learners.

The paper should be 500-750 words and discuss the students’ concerns about matriculating through the DNP program and their expectations and plans to be successful DNP students.

Topic 1 DQ 1

In this paper, students will write in a few words about how their future roles as DNP leaders will serve their profession and community. They will also explain their expectations from the program.

Topic 1 DQ 2

The assignment will require students to discuss how they recognize signs of stress as a DNP learner. It will also explain the self-care activities they can use to regain their balance.

In response to peers’ students should discuss the strategies that are working for them while providing solutions to peers’ stress or imbalance.

Topic 2: Introduction to Academic Learning

Scholarly Writing Using Research

The assignment will familiarize students with the overall expectations of scholarly writing and the tools for success. Students must write a 750-1000 word essay discussing the differences between research and quality improvement. Then, they will explain what makes their DNP project a quality improvement. Also, the paper will describe a patient practice issue at one’s site that considers their DNP project. Lastly, it will support the student’s proposed intervention with one peer-reviewed article.

Topic 2 DQ 1

In this paper, students will describe their proposed practice site and a potential practice issue they seek to solve in their project. Also, it will explain why the topic is valid for their site and how their project will contribute to the nursing field.

Topic 2 DQ 2

The assessment will prompt students to focus on scholarly writing. Students will then describe the academic standards that they deem challenging and why. They will also identify tools they use to deal with the challenges. Lastly, they will identify strategies they can use to become more proficient.

Topic 3: Foundations of Doctoral Research

Selecting a Practice Problem

The assignment will help students identify a valid patient practice issue that a DPI project can address at their site.

Topic 3 DQ 1

Students should refer to the “Levels of Evidence in Research” document and explain why research articles that do not meet the required criteria cannot be utilized to support claims in a DPI project. Using the set criteria, students will also identify two primary research articles for their proposed problem, explain why they are fit for the research, and support the proposed practice issue.

Students must accompany their references with links.

Topic 3 DQ 2

In this paper, students will differentiate references and citations. It will further explain how the correct use of references and citations helps avoid plagiarism. Lastly, the learners will explain how LopesWrite helps in effective paraphrasing.

Students will also summarize and cite their primary research article that supports their proposed intervention.

Topic 4: Introduction to Critical Thinking

Topic 4 DQ 1

The assessment will require students, in their own words, to define critical thinking and explain its relevance to them as they propose DPI for their practice site. Moreover, it will discuss three critical thinking skills vital for evaluating and interpreting primary quantitative studies for a DPI project.

Topic 4 DQ 2

In the paper, students should differentiate between qualitative and quantitative research. It should also explain why the DPI project requires more quantitative articles than qualitative ones. Finally, students will search the GCU library and identify a primary research article that supports the proposed intervention while explaining how the study provides the required evidence.

Topic 5: Expanded Doctoral Research

Topic 5 DQ 1

In this assignment, students will, in their own words, describe personal and research bias while explaining why bias impacts the validity of study outcomes. It will also explain the effect of bias on a DPI project. Again, students will use the primary research articles selected for their PICOT-D to discuss potential bias and how it could affect research outcomes and validity. Lastly, they will explain the viability of the DPI project.

Topic 5 DQ 2

The paper should differentiate statistical and clinical significance and provide examples. It should also explain how the two apply to quality improvement, such as the student’s DPI project.

Topic 6: Becoming a Practitioner-Scholar

Topic 6 DQ 1

The assessment prompts students to review the “Literature Evaluation Table” and explain how it helps them evaluate the quality of a primary quantitative research article that fits their DPI project research. The paper will also explain the criteria for finding a quality study article and why. Students will finally explain other uses of the table.

Topic 6 DQ 2

In this paper, students will explain their process of using instructor feedback on assignments. They will also explain how being a reflective learner aids in keeping an open mind while avoiding resistance to feedback.

Topic 7: Christian Worldview (CWV) and Philosophical Principles

Annotated Bibliography

Students will create an annotated bibliography for their DPI project in this paper.

Topic 7 DQ 1

In this paper, students will reflect on principles that inform their worldviews. They will also explain the principles while explaining if they were developed consciously or unconsciously and if they hinder or support their critical thinking.

Topic 7 DQ 2

The assignment will discuss two principles of one’s worldview and their similarity with GSU’s Christian worldview. It will further explain how the common principles align with the aim of the student’s practice and how they foster patient care.

Topic 8: Next Steps in the Doctoral Journey

Topic 8 DQ 1

In the paper, students will discuss challenging and rewarding aspects of the course and doctoral strategies that helped them navigate the experiences successfully. They will also explain how they can use the strategies as nurse leaders to advocate for change.

Topic 8 DQ 2

Students will refer to instructor feedback and explain why they have or don’t have a feasible topic for their PICOT-D. Lastly, they will discuss changes they need to make their topic feasible for PICOT-D.