How to guide students through a DNP project: A practical guide for faculty

Abstract

Background: There has been a rapid increase in Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs throughout the country. As such, there are more students conducting DNP projects, necessitating the need for more faculty members to serve as DNP project team leaders (also known as chairs or mentors). However, evidence suggests some faculty may not feel comfortable or confident in guiding students through the DNP project process. Purpose: The purpose of this article is to provide faculty a template that can be adapted to their program on how to effectively guide DNP students through the DNP project. Approach: This article provides guidance, including examples of how to identify a problem in practice, develop a project, collect and evaluate data, and disseminate results. Examples are shared from a top-ranked DNP program in the southeastern United States, including a Comprehensive Guide to the DNP Project, a DNP Project Chair toolkit, and a tutorial on how to develop simple flowcharts. Conclusions: Other schools of nursing can use and modify the information presented in this article to develop robust guides for their own DNP programs.