An innovative DNP post-doctorate program to improve quality improvement and implementation science skills.

Abstract

Background

Doctor of Nursing Practice programs prepare nurse leaders for unique roles to address healthcare needs across the quality spectrum. However, additional mentoring and training in implementation science and analytical skills is needed to effectively lead system-wide quality initiatives.

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to describe the planning, implementation, and evaluation of an innovative post-doctoral DNP Quality Implementation Scholars Program developed through an academic-practice partnership to address this need.

Project method

Throughout the one year post-doctoral program, we evaluated student experiences qualitatively using focus groups and quantitatively using standardized course and instructor surveys to assess overall programmatic goals. Program outcomes were evaluated from the perspective of the academic-practice partnership planning committee through a Qualtrics© survey.

Findings

Strengths of the program included the in-depth mentoring by faculty and relationships built across the larger health system. Both scholars and the planning team noted that the system-wide project implemented by the scholars was relevant, timely, and quality-focused.

Conclusions

This innovative DNP post-doctoral program leveraged the skill-sets of DNP-prepared nurse leaders to lead system-wide quality improvement initiatives tailored specifically to healthcare organizations.

Department

Description

Provenance

Subjects

Humans, Curriculum, Education, Nursing, Graduate, Mentors, Quality Improvement, Mentoring, Implementation Science

Citation

Published Version (Please cite this version)

10.1016/j.profnurs.2020.12.005

Publication Info

Reynolds, Staci S, Valerie Howard, Diane Uzarski, Bradi B Granger, Mary Ann Fuchs, Leslie Mason and Marion E Broome (2021). An innovative DNP post-doctorate program to improve quality improvement and implementation science skills. Journal of professional nursing : official journal of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 37(1). pp. 48–52. 10.1016/j.profnurs.2020.12.005 Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/26929.

This is constructed from limited available data and may be imprecise. To cite this article, please review & use the official citation provided by the journal.

Scholars@Duke

Reynolds

Staci Reynolds

Clinical Professor in the School of Nursing

Dr. Staci Reynolds is a Clinical Professor at Duke University School of Nursing (DUSON). At DUSON, Dr. Reynolds primarily teaches in the DNP program. Previously, she clinically served as a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) at Duke University Hospital within the neuroscience inpatient units and Infection Prevention and Hospital Epidemiology department. In January 2023, Dr. Reynolds was appointed the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Nursing Care Quality.  Before coming to DUSON, she was a neurocritical care nurse and a neuroscience CNS at Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital.

Dr. Reynolds received a baccalaureate degree in nursing science from Indiana University (IU) School of Nursing in Indianapolis, Indiana.  She earned a Master’s degree as a Clinical Nurse Specialist at IU in 2011, and completed her PhD at IU in May 2016.  Dr. Reynolds’ current scholarship interests include evidence-based practice implementation and evaluation, and she is an expert in quality improvement.


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