DNP Topic 1 Doctoral Strategies Essay and Attestation

The doctoral learning process is uniquely autonomous and requires self-imposed initiative to investigate, gather information and orient yourself to the expectations of the program. In order to be successful, it is important to develop strategies to maintain a healthy balance in your academic, professional, and personal life.

The purpose of this assignment is to reflect on the “Doctor of Nursing Orientation Webinar,” the doctoral dispositions, and the resources introduced to you in this topic in order to prepare a plan to be a successful learner.

General Requirements:

• Attend the “Doctor of Nursing Orientation Webinar.”
• Read the “Doctoral Dispositions and Acknowledgement of Review” document attached in the assignment.
• Read the “Direct Practice Improvement Project Groups and Associated Milestones,” “DNP Learner Expectations,” and “DNP Direct Practice Improvement Project Recommendations,” located in the DC Network.
• Explore the APA resources, including the APA Style Guide, located in the Writing Center in the Student Success Center.
• This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
• Doctoral learners are required to use APA style for their writing assignments. The APA Style Guide is located in the Student Success Center.
• You are not required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite.
• Learners will submit this assignment using the assignment dropbox in the digital classroom. In addition, learners must upload this deliverable to the Learner Dissertation Page (LDP) in the DNP PI Workspace for later use.

Select a family to complete a family health assessment. (The family cannot be your own.)

Before interviewing the family, develop three open-ended, family-focused questions for each of the following health patterns:

1. Values, Health Perception
2. Nutrition
3. Sleep/Rest
4. Elimination
5. Activity/Exercise
6. Cognitive
7. Sensory-Perception
8. Self-Perception
9. Role Relationship
10. Sexuality
11. Coping

 

Sample Answer for DNP Topic 1 Doctoral Strategies Essay and Attestation

According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) (2006), having scientific underpinnings for practice and clinical scholarship are two of the eight essential competencies required for Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees. The role of a DNP is to review applicable research to transform and advance practice. Research needs to be properly performed with strong evidence to be safely translated into practice. To consider the scholarly application of research into practice, information is analyzed to implement accurate and evidenced-based changes into practice. As levels of evidence increase, data is less subject to bias if the study is properly designed and is typically stronger evidence (Glasofer & Townsend, 2019).

The intention of the DPI project is the implementation of high-quality evidence to improve patient outcomes. Interventions for this project should have solid scientific underpinnings. Practice improvement projects do not generate new ideas but implement research into practice. For my DPI project, I would like to implement a communication bundle involving family members and evaluate if this shortens the length of stay in the ICU.

In the primary research conducted by Kenji et al. (2020), delirium increased when COVID visitor restrictions were implemented. Prior to COVID visitor restrictions, families and visitors were allowed to be with patients. During this time, Kenji et al. (2020) reported a delirium prevalence of 1.8% of patients. After restrictions were initiated, family visitation was limited. Without having family present, delirium incidence increased to 6.2% (Kenji et al., 2020). Lack of family involvement in patient care led to a significant increase in delirium which can negatively impact patient outcomes.

McKenzie and Joy (2018) conducted a meta-analysis of five different studies. The consensus was family involvement decreased the length of hospital stay for delirious patients. The studies included in the meta-analysis utilized various interventions to treat delirium such as establishing a daily routine, engaging in leisure activities or music. When the healthcare team partnered with families to implement the interventions, the length of hospital stay was reduced, along with family anxiety (McKenzie & Joy, 2018). Applying this toward my potential DPI project supports family engagement to reduce the length of stay.

References

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2006). The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice. Retrieved March 3, 2022 from https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/42/Publications/DNPEssentials.pdf

Glasofer, A. & Townsend, A. (2019). Determining the level of evidence experimental research appraisal. Nursing Critical Care, 14 (6), 22-25.

Kenji, K., Yohei, O., Wataru, I., Hiromichi, N., Yoshiro, M., & Ryoji, I. (2020). Association between visitation restriction during the COVID-19 pandemic and delirium incidence among emergency admission patients: a single-center retrospective observational cohort study in Japan. Journal of Intensive Care, 8 (1), 1–9.https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1186/s40560-020-00511-x

McKenzie, J., & Joy, A. (2020). Family intervention improves outcomes for patients with delirium: Systematic review and meta‐analysis. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 39 (1), 21-30. doi:10.1111/ajag.12688

Sample Answer 2 for DNP Topic 1 Doctoral Strategies Essay and Attestation

Doctoral learning represents the final and the highest level of an academic journey where a person targets to attain the highest qualification. As such, it is uniquely autonomous and challenging to doctoral learners. The candidates have to undertake various activities and be proactive in every approach to boost their chances of completing the program. Just like any other doctoral course, Doctor of Nursing Practice entails a rigorous process that enables the candidates to be established and be voices of authority in their areas of specialty. The implication is that a DNP candidate needs to develop strategies to help in striking a healthy balance between academic life, professional life, and personal life (Taylor & Terhaar, 2018). As such, the purpose of this doctoral strategy essay and attestation is to explore different aspects of a doctoral journey, including potential concerns regarding matriculating through the DNP program and how the insights obtained from the orientation webinar were key in helping solve the concerns, the program’s challenges and expectations and a plan that will help in becoming a successful DNP learner.

Concerns Regarding Matriculation and The Insights Obtained from Webinar

I couldn’t wait to be a doctoral learner; therefore, I have been waiting for an opportunity to be one. The wish was eventually fulfilled when I got registered. However, I have been having concerns regarding matriculation through the DNP program. Among the concern is the complexity of balancing the study and family. By its nature, the program is a demanding one; therefore, it was worrying how I would create the right balance between my family and study life. The other concern was if I would be able to achieve the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) competencies since I was not well conversant with them.

The other concern was strategies for obtaining the needed resources to be used during the DNP journey. These fears were alleviated when I attended the orientation webinar. From the webinar, it was clear what kind of activities I should be involved in to help me succeed, including the completion of class assignments, discussions, and writing reflection papers. In addition, it was also clear that I needed to choose a good mentor since mentors are essential during a doctoral journey (GCU, 2019).

The Expectations and Potential Challenges

One of the expectations is being proactive and taking self-initiative for self-directed learning for better achievement of the program requirements. Another expectation is that I be an autonomous learner to enable me to accomplish the research requirements. I am also expected to manage my time well so that I beat the set deadlines. Among the expected challenges are feeling of being overwhelmed, loneliness, and lack of appropriate time management (Zaccagnini & Pechacek, 2019). Various personal strengths are likely to help me, including flexibility and willingness to learn. These will be important in managing the DNP program’s demands and meeting the program objectives.

Plan for Being a Successful Learner

Addressing various aspects of DNP learning such as time management, autonomy, and self-directed learning is key to being a successful DNP learner. One of the plans is to participate in mentorship programs which will be key in guiding me through the project aspect of the journey. I will also formulate a reasonable timetable and come up with routines for better learning (Zaccagnini & Pechacek, 2019).  Participating in peer discussion and using the available online resources will also be important. Resources will be used for better outcomes, including the DNP practice immersion workspace and the reading and study resources, which will be helpful in gaining the required knowledge.

Conclusion

Successful matriculation through the uniquely autonomous DNP program calls for appropriate and early preparation from the DNP candidate. Programs and plans have to be created to enhance success. Therefore, this write-up has identified possible challenges and barriers to successful completion and the potential solutions. The orientation webinar was timely, and online communities like the DNP practice immersion workspace will be vital during this journey.

References

Grand Canyon University (2019, Aug 1). Doctor of Nursing Orientation Webinar. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iauwp7-5cO0&feature=youtu.be

Taylor, L. A., & Terhaar, M. F. (2018). Mitigating barriers to doctoral education for nurses. Nursing education perspectives, 39(5), 285-290. Doi: 10.1097/01.NEP.0000000000000386.

Zaccagnini, M., & Pechacek, J. M. (2019). The Doctor of nursing practice essentials: A new model for advanced practice nursing. Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Sample Answer 3 for DNP Topic 1 Doctoral Strategies Essay and Attestation

One of the most challenging and uniquely autonomous programs is doctoral learning, as it requires a student to take personal initiative to learn and participate in activities and programs necessary for the successful completion of the program. As such, it is key that a DNP student develops strategies that can effectively help them maintain an appropriate and healthy balance between personal, professional, and academic life (Taylor & Terhaar, 2018). Therefore, the purpose of this assignment is to explore various aspects of the doctoral learning journey, such as the concerns regarding matriculating through the DNP program and how the insights gained from the orientation webinar helped mitigate the concerns, the program’s expectations and challenges, and a plan to be used to be a successful DNP learner.

Concerns about Matriculating

I had been looking forward to becoming a doctoral learner at one moment in my life—however, the reality of being one set in when I finally registered as a doctoral student. However, interaction with peers, friends, and family made me have various concerns regarding matriculating through the DNP program. One of the concerns is family and study life balance. Doctoral learning is a rigorous process, and I was concerned about how I would have the right balance between my study life and family. Another concern was how I would meet the AACM core competencies, as the activities and strategies were not clear to me.

I had a concern about how I would get the right resources to enable me to complete the journey successfully. However, attending the Doctor of nursing orientation webinar helped in addressing the concerns. First, I got an insight into the necessary activities to undertake, including writing reflection papers, engaging in discussions, and completing class assignments. Insights into choosing the right and a good mentor also helped address my concerns as a mentor will be an important person in the doctoral learning process (GCU., 2019). Therefore, the webinar offered a concise outline of the expectations and requirements for effectively completing the program.

Expectations of the Program and Potential Challenges

As a doctoral learner, there are various expectations. One of the expectations is to take a proactive approach and self-initiative to undertake self-directed learning to help fulfill the requirements of the program (Zaccagnini & Pechacek, 2019). I am expected to be an autonomous learner and, therefore, carefully handle the research projects and all the learning associated with the journey. It is also expected that I manage my time well and ensure that I hand in assignments in time and use a scholarly tone and style in completing them. However, some of the challenges I might experience include a lack of proper time management, the feeling of loneliness, and being overwhelmed. However, I have various personal strengths that may help me persevere through the DNP program. I like learning and embracing change to correct my mistakes. This will be key in adapting to the demands of the program and ensuring that I correct any wrongdoing and adjust to help complete the program and meet the objectives.

The Plan to be A Successful DNP Learner

The several demands of the DNP learning mean that a student has to come up with an appropriate plan to address various aspects such as self-directed learning, autonomy, and time management. First, I will engage in mentorship programs as it will help guide me through the doctoral program, such as planning and implementing projects. In terms of time management, I will formulate a timetable that creates a routine (Zaccagnini & Pechacek, 2019). This will ensure that I create and maintain the appropriate momentum required. For self-directed learning, I am planning to participate in discussions with classmates and access online sources with appropriate resources for the program. Various resources will be key in helping me be more proficient. The DNP practice immersion workspace will be key as the online community will enable access to various information and also create and share. It also offers a good platform for collaboration which will be key to becoming more proficient. The reading resources will also be appropriate as they contain relevant information to improve proficiency.

Conclusion

The uniquely autonomous nature of the doctoral learning process requires that a student is well prepared to enhance their chances of successfully completing the program. Therefore, an individual has to come up with appropriate strategies that can enhance time management and self-directed learning. Such strategies have been explored as well as some of the ways to manage potential barriers. The learning experiences associated with the doctoral learning program majorly entail self-perseverance and the autonomous nature of this learning. The tools such as the “Doctor of Nursing Orientation Webinar” and the online communities such as the DNP practice immersion workspace should be used appropriately by the student to help them realize success and also complete the DNP program.

References

Grand Canyon University (2019, Aug 1). Doctor of Nursing Orientation Webinar. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iauwp7-5cO0&feature=youtu.be

Taylor, L. A., & Terhaar, M. F. (2018). Mitigating barriers to doctoral education for nurses. Nursing education perspectives, 39(5), 285-290. Doi: 10.1097/01.NEP.0000000000000386.

Zaccagnini, M., & Pechacek, J. M. (2019). The Doctor of nursing practice essentials: A new model for advanced practice nursing. Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Directions:

After attending the “Doctor of Nursing Orientation Webinar,” reading the doctoral dispositions, and reviewing all of the resources indicated, write a 500-750-word paper including the following:

1. Discuss what concerns you have about matriculating through a DNP program, and insights you gained from the “Doctor of Nursing Orientation Webinar” that helped mitigate those concerns.
2. Describe what your expectations are for the program and what challenges you might anticipate. Identify personal strengths and explain how these will help you persevere in the DNP program.
3. Outline a plan that you can use to be successful as a DNP learner. Include strategies for time management, autonomy, and self-directed learning. Explain how you can utilize the resources introduced in this topic to help you become more proficient.

Provide confirmation that you have attended the “Doctor of Nursing Orientation Webinar,” read the “Doctoral Dispositions and Acknowledgement of Review,” and familiarized yourself with all the listed resources, by completing the “Acknowledgement of Review” statement below and copying/pasting it to the bottom of your reflection paper.

Acknowledgement of Review:

I, (INSERT NAME), verify that I have reviewed doctoral dispositions, attended the Doctor of Nursing Orientation Webinar, and have accessed and reviewed the Direct Practice Improvement Project Group and Associated Milestones, DNP Learner Expectations, DNP Direct Practice Improvement Project Recommendations, and the APA, PowerPoint, and writing resources in the Writing Center of the Student Success Center. I agree to uphold the doctoral dispositions and comply with the expectations of the program.