DNP MANUSCRIPT

The review of relevant literature provides an analytical overview of the significant literature published on your topic of interest by comparing/contrasting the methods and major findings and by describing the relationship of each major study to others on the same topic. The literature review interprets your problem or issue within the context of existing literature by identifying the most relevant and current literature that significantly contributes to understanding your topic. The introduction offers a historical background.

The major purpose of this chapter is to discuss relative research activities that address what is known about the project topic as well as the evidence-based framework of the project. This section should support your evidence-based intervention. i.e. What has been done to solve this or a similar problem? This background information puts things in perspective. What are the major issues, controversies, etc., that impact your project? Include background on all relevant aspects. Include your search strategy here.

Search Strategy

This section should mention all databases searched during the literature review. You should mention the combination of terms and the inclusion and exclusion criteria used to limit or expand your search results. Your strategic process description should provide sufficient information so the reader can replicate your search. You must identify at least 15 high-quality levels I-III studies within the past five years) to support your intervention.

Review of the Evidence and Literature

Each study in the literature review should relate directly to the topic and the evidence-based intervention. Present an overview of the similarities and dissimilarities between studies. Identify key themes. The literature review should reflect a thorough search and consideration of available literature found within reputable scholarly search engines (CINAHL, PubMed, Cochran database, etc.). The results should support the basis for the proposed project. The review of literature is generally six to eight pages in length. Students must include their table of evidence as an appendix.

Summary of Recommendations

Based on the literature review and critical appraisal, provide a summary of the practice change recommendations. Briefly discuss recommendations based on external and internal evidence. Provide the levels of evidence for your sources (see and cite levels of evidence found here https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NAJ.0000390523.99066.b5). Identify any potential barriers to these change recommendations. Include thorough citations for any recommendations (i.e., if multiple sources support a recommendation, ensure you cite every source).

Summary

The summary should briefly discuss the key points covered and prepare the reader for the next chapter.

Chapter Three: Implementation

Open this section by reminding the reader of the purpose of the DNP Project. The rationale for your project should logically evolve from the problem under investigation, the evidence review, and the project's purpose. This section should provide sufficient details to solve the problem and support implementing new practice recommendations. This chapter will describe the chosen methodological framework and explain how it will be utilized as a framework for your project implementation. Specific project phases and steps will be discussed and presented within a timeline. This chapter will also offer a detailed discussion of other implementation-related aspects such as organizational readiness for change, resource availability, budgetary considerations, and any applicable data collection.

Key Stakeholders

Mention the agencies, departments, committees, units, and individuals required/involved to complete the project. Describe strategies to promote buy-in and sustainability of the proposed practice change.

Processes and Procedures to Be Implemented

Describe, in detail, the project processes and procedures to be implemented. Align your EBP/QI/change project with your selected theory and framework. When writing this section, be detailed and use subheadings as needed. Anyone should be able to pick up your manuscript and reproduce your project.

Evaluation Plan

Summarize the plan to evaluate the outcomes of the practice change.

Financial Implications

Identify the potential return on investment (ROI) and/or the value on investment (VOI).

Potential Barriers

Define any potential barriers and your plan to mitigate barriers.

Timeline, Resources, and Approval

Offer a specific timeline of implementation phases and activities. Implementation cannot exceed eight weeks. Identify any resources that may be needed to complete the project. Identify required approvals that may be needed, internally or externally (community, agency, IRB, etc.). Include the site permission letter as an appendix. Refer to the IRB Handbook for permission letter requirements and a Site Permission Letter Template.

Summary

The summary reminds the reader of the major points covered in the implementation section and prepares the reader for the next chapter.

Chapter Four: Outcomes and Findings

Chapter four provides the reader with the results of your project. To remind the reader why this project was important, begin the section by restating the problem that prompted your project. Also restate the purpose of the project. The outcomes section should reflect any changes that occurred from the original implementation plan. Also, explain any additions or changes to key stakeholders that were not part of the original implementation plan.

Evaluation of Project Outcome

This section should be used to report the data-related outcomes of the project. What changes did you note in your measurable outcome before and after implementation of the project? If there was no pre-implementation outcome data, simply present the post-implementation data.

Discussion of Findings

This section provides an interpretation of the major findings within the context of the overall purpose of the project. Discuss how your major findings provide new insight or support previous findings that you found in the literature. Provide some context and explain the value of your findings in terms of ROI or VOI, any relevant benchmarks, implications for patients, and any additional implications for stakeholders.

Plan for Sustainability

Provide a plan for sustaining the improvement involved in your project. This plan should include stakeholders and suggested future auditing.

Summary

This summary section provides a summary of the important points of this chapter and prepares readers for what will be covered in the next chapter.

Chapter Five: Dissemination

The fifth chapter concludes the project manuscript with a discussion and recommendations for further work. The introduction for Chapter Five reminds readers of the project purpose and the impact on nursing practice, and it describes the problem and the main issues or topic under investigation. The chapter overviews why the project was important and how it can contribute to understanding of the topic. Outcomes are discussed to inform future improvements.

Executive Summary

Create an executive summary and include it as an appendix. In this section, let readers know what is covered within the executive summary and refer to the appendix.

Plan for Dissemination to the Project Site

Describe your plan for dissemination of the executive summary to the immersion site (i.e., executive report, poster, submission to a journal, etc.).

Plan for Future Dissemination

Describe a plan for future dissemination.

Doctoral Essentials Met

Discuss the actual DNP Essentials met after project implementation and compare with the proposed DNP Essentials that were anticipated to be met.

Conclusion

Provides concluding remarks of the entire DNP project and the future.

References

Double-space all reference list entries. Use a hanging indent for all references. Author should alphabetize reference list entries. Expect to have a minimum of 35 references for this manuscript.

Tables [NOTE TABLES AND FIGURES GO WITHIN THE BODY OF MANUSCRIPT]

If included, see Chapter 7 of the APA manual for formatting guidance. Your Table of Evidence belongs here.

Figures [NOTE TABLES AND FIGURES GO WITHIN THE BODY OF MANUSCRIPT]

Refer to Chapter 7 of the APA manual for formatting guidance. You should include a diagram of your theoretical framework showing how your project aligns with the theory.

Appendices

Materials that are pertinent to the project but that would be distracting or inappropriate in the body of the paper are presented as an appendix. Appendices are created for materials such as permission letters, copies of instruments, instructions to participants, or materials created as a part of an intervention (PowerPoint presentations, brochures, handouts, etc.). If there is more than one appendix, each should be listed on a separate page and be labeled as Appendix A, Appendix B, Appendix C, etc., according to the order mentioned in the text. Use section breaks and label appendices in the order they are mentioned in the manuscript.

This is my Topic

“The purpose of this quality improvement project is to implement an evidence-based, community-based diabetes self-management and food-access support program to improve diabetes self-care behaviors and reduce food insecurity among adults with type 2 diabetes, measured using the USDA 2-Item Food Insecurity Screening Tool and Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA)”