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Nursing Field Experience:
8513

Required Activities

Students must satisfactorily complete all the requirements of the practicum courses (Table 1A or 1B in accordance with the information provided in the course Syllabi. The DNP practicum consists of a series of the courses outlined in the tables below, which are taken one per term in the following sequence. The courses cannot be taken concurrently and must be taken in the prescribed sequence. The DNP Programs of Study (POSs) and course descriptions with prerequisites are found in the university catalog.

DNP Program Beginning May 31, 2021 through May 27, 2024

DNP Practicum Courses and Hours 

Total Credit Hours: 320

Traditional Track & Nurse Practitioner Tracks 

  1. NURS 8502: Evidence-Based Practice I 

Didactic: 3 credits

Practicum: 2 credit, 160 hours (1 credit=80 practicum hours) 

  1. NURS 8503: Evidence-Based Practice II

Didactic: 3 credits

Practicum: 2 credit,160 hours (1 credit=80 practicum hours) 

Executive Leadership Track

  1. NURS 8504: Evidence-Based Practice for the Executive Leader I (3 cr. didactic and 2 cr. clinical)++  

Didactic: 3 credits

Practicum: 2 credit,160 hours (1 credit=80 practicum hours) 

  1. NURS 8505: Evidence-Based Practice for the Executive Leader II

Didactic: 3 credits

Practicum: 2 credit, 160 hours (1 credit=80 practicum hours) 

DNP Program Beginning May 27, 2024

DNP Practicum Courses and Hours 

Total Practicum Hours: 400 

Traditional Track & Nurse Practitioner Tracks 

  1. NURS 8312: Leading Quality Improvement Practice Initiative 

Didactic: 4 credits 

Practicum: 1 credit, 80 hours (1 credit=80 practicum hours) 

  1. NURS 8512:  DNP Project and Practicum I 

Didactic: 3 credits 

Practicum: 2 credit, 160 hours (1 credit=80 practicum hours) 

  1. NURS 8513: DNP Project and Practicum II 

Didactic: 3 credits 

Practicum: 2 credit, 160 hours (1 credit=80 practicum hours) 

Executive Leadership Track 

  1. NURS 8312: Leading Quality Improvement Practice Initiative 

Didactic: 4 credits 

Practicum: 1 credit, 80 hours (1 credit=80 practicum hours) 

  1. NURS 8514: Executive Leadership DNP Project and Practicum I 

Didactic: 3 credits 

Practicum: 2 credit, 160 hours (1 credit=80 practicum hours) 

  1. NURS 8515: : Executive Leadership DNP Project and Practicum II 

Didactic: 3 credits 

Practicum: 2 credit, 160 hours (1 credit=80 practicum hours) 

DNP Program-Prior to May 31, 2021

Total Credit Hours: 576

  1. NURS 8410: Best Practices in Nursing Specialties

Didactic: 4 credits

Practicum: 1 credit, 72 hours

  1. NURS 8400: Evidence-Based Practice I: Assessment and Design

Didactic: 4 credits

Practicum: 1 credit, 72 hours

  1. NURS 8500: Evidence-Based Practice II: Planning and Implementation 

Practicum: 3 credit, 216 hours

  1. NURS 8510: Evidence-Based Practice III: Implementation, Evaluation, and Dissemination

Practicum: 3 credit, 216 hours

DNP Activities Guidelines

The following are general examples of practicum activities for students; however, students are not limited to these suggestions. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) 2021 Essentials list the DNP competencies that guide the practicum experience as students build upon previous knowledge to obtain advanced-level nursing education. Practicum activities should support learning outcomes from the 2021 AACN Essentials as noted by the domains and competencies listed below:

Domains

 

Domain 1: Knowledge for Nursing Practice

  • Integrate, translate, and apply nursing and interdisciplinary knowledge to the practice of professional nursing.
  • Utilize evidence-based practice to translate evidence in improving practice change or processes.
  • Lead activities with the project site related to the DNP Capstone Project (stakeholder analysis, organization readiness, SWOT analysis, meetings with project mentor and other organization stakeholders, presentations).
  • Develop tools for sustainability (toolkits, audit tools, checklists, web-based training etc.).
  • Evaluate and synthesize literature for inclusion. 
  • Attend conference/workshop related to evidenced-based practice or project topic. 
  • Construct/refine PICOT question. 
  • Translate theories from nursing and other disciplines to practice setting. 
  • Demonstrate socially responsible leadership. 

Domain 2: Person-Centered Care

Demonstrate holistic care and consideration for diversity and social determinants of health from point of care to systems-level nursing leadership. 

  • Demonstrates leadership skills to promote intra-professional and inter-professional collaboration
  • Lead activities with the project site related to the DNP Capstone Project (stakeholder analysis, organization readiness, SWOT analysis, meetings with project mentor and other organization stakeholders, presentations).
  • Participate in activities promoting social determinants of health.
  • Contribute to the development of policies and processes that promote transparency and accountability. 
  • Prioritize risk mitigation strategies to prevent or reduce adverse outcomes. 
  • Apply current and emerging evidence to the development of care guidelines/tools. 
  • Analyze data to identify gaps and inequities in care and monitor trends in outcomes. 
  • Develop strategies to optimize care coordination and transitions of care. 
  • Participate in system-level change to improve care coordination across settings.

Domain 3: Population Health

Engage in collaborative activities and develop interventions for the improvement of a population’s health status.

  • Utilize evidence-based practice to translate evidence in improving practice change or processes
  • Lead activities with the project site related to the DNP Capstone Project (stakeholder analysis, organization readiness, SWOT analysis, meetings with project mentor and other organization stakeholders, presentations).
  • Engage in policy development at the local, state, national, international levels.
  • Assess the organizational capability to serve a target population’s healthcare needs. 
  • Collaborate with relevant stakeholders to address population healthcare needs, including evaluation methods. 
  • Collaborate with appropriate stakeholders to implement or improve a sociocultural and linguistically responsive intervention plan for a target population. 
  • Participate in collaborative opportunities for organizations to improve population health. 
  • Assess preparation and readiness of partners to organize during natural and manmade disasters. 
  • Collaborate with partners to secure and leverage resources necessary for effective, sustainable interventions. 
  • Advocate for interventions that maximize cost-effective, accessible, and equitable resources for a target population. 
  • Lead change initiatives that include principles of social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion. 
  • Contribute to system-level planning, decision making, and evaluation for disasters and public health emergencies. 

Domain 4: Scholarship for the Nursing Discipline

Generate, interpret, apply, and disseminate nursing scholarship to improve health and transform health care. 

  • All Lead activities with the project site related to the DNP Capstone Project (stakeholder analysis, organization readiness, SWOT analysis, meetings with project mentor and other organization stakeholders, presentations). 
  • Serve as abstract or journal reviewer. 
  • Participate in grant writing or grant workshop. 
  • Disseminate DNP Project to diverse audiences using a variety of approaches or modalities. 
  • Collaborate in the development of new/revised policy or regulation as supported by new evidence. 
  • Identify and discuss opportunities for innovation and changes in practice. 
  • Apply IRB guidelines throughout the scholarship process. 
  • Review and incorporate appropriate applications of quality improvement and evaluation processes. 
  • Implement the translation of evidence into practice using the DNP project process. 
  • Participate in data collection and analysis.  

Domain 5: Quality and Safety 

Employ principles of safety and enhance quality of nursing practice to minimize risk of harm through system effectiveness and individual performance. 

  • Engage in professional quality and safety committee activities within healthcare organizations 
  • Engage in policy development related to quality and safety of healthcare at the local, state, national, international levels 
  • Lead activities with the project site related to the DNP Capstone Project (stakeholder analysis, organization readiness, SWOT analysis, meetings with project mentor and other organization stakeholders, presentations) 
  • Identify and integrate national safety resources to lead team-based change initiatives. 
  • Incorporate data driven benchmarks to assess, evaluate, and monitor the organization’s quality and safety performance. 
  • Collaborate in analyzing organizational process improvement initiatives. 
  • Lead the development of a business plan for quality improvement initiatives. 
  • Advance quality improvement practices through dissemination of DNP Project outcomes. 
  • Evaluate organizational data and patient safety benchmarks. 
  • Develop evidence-based interventions to mitigate risk. 
  • Evaluate emergency preparedness system-level plans to protect safety. 
  • Develop structures, policies, or processes that promote a culture of safety and prevent workplace risks and injury. 
  • Role model and lead well-being and resiliency for self and team initiatives. 

Domain 6: Interprofessional Partnerships 

Collaborate across professions and with other stakeholders to optimize care using a team-based approach. 

  • Lead activities with the project site related to the DNP Capstone Project (stakeholder analysis, organization readiness, SWOT analysis, meetings with project mentor and other organization stakeholders, presentations) 
  • Develop strategies to role model respect for diversity, equity, and inclusion in team-based communications. 
  • Provide nursing expertise for other members of the healthcare team, or organizational leadership. 
  • Demonstrate techniques to resolve interprofessional conflict. 
  • Participate in learning activities on conflict resolution; mitigating conscious and implicit biases; diversity, equity, and inclusion; team dynamics. 
  • Integrate evidence-based strategies and processes to improve team effectiveness and outcomes. 
  • Develop strategies to foster a culture of teamwork and respect in healthcare settings. 

Domain 7: Systems-Based Practice 

Engage in organizational processes, structure, finances, and regulations to provide safe, quality, and equitable care to diverse populations. 

  • Participate in organizational strategic planning. 
  • Participate in organizational initiatives that improve care delivery and/or outcomes. 
  • Lead activities with the project site related to the DNP Capstone Project (stakeholder analysis, organization readiness, SWOT analysis, meetings with project mentor and other organization stakeholders, presentations) 
  • Participate in policy development that impacts health equity within the organization, community, or target population. 
  • Analyze internal and external factors that drive healthcare costs and reimbursement. 
  • Develop practices that enhance organizational value, access, quality, and cost-effectiveness. 
  • Develop organizational strategies that improve cost-effectiveness considering structure, leadership, and workforce needs. 
  • Develop organizational improvement strategies based on performance metrics and data. 

Domain 8: Informatics and Healthcare Technologies 

Utilize technologies to manage and improve the delivery of healthcare services. 

  • Evaluate the organization’s information and communication technologies effectiveness on workflow processes, care management processes, healthcare outcomes, communications, and information flow across health care settings. 
  • Assess the fiscal impact of information and communication technologies on health care. 
  • Lead activities with the project site related to the DNP Capstone Project and information and communication technologies. 
  • Gather pertinent information from health information technology databases. 
  • Use data to evaluate decision-making and outcomes at an organizational level and within the framework of the DNP project focus. 
  • Evaluate the use of information and communication technology to address needs, gaps, and inefficiencies in care. 
  • Develop strategies to reduce inequities in digital access to data and information. 
  • Assess best practices for the use of technologies to support patient and team communications. 
  • Develop strategies to enhance quality, ethical, and efficient patient care using information and communication technology. 
  • Apply risk mitigation and security strategies to reduce misuse, and potential ethical and legal issues associated with information and communication technology. 

 Domain 9: Professionalism 

Cultivate a professional nursing identity that aligns with characteristics and values of nursing practice. 

  • Develop strategies to enhance the organization’s nursing care to reflect nursing’s core values. 
  • Lead activities with the project site related to the DNP Capstone Project (stakeholder analysis, organization readiness, SWOT analysis, meetings with project mentor and other organization stakeholders, presentations) 
  • Identify innovative and evidence-based practices that promote person-centered care. 
  • Develop opportunities for professional and interprofessional activities within the organization. 
  • Evaluate the effect of legal and regulatory policies on the organization’s nursing practice and healthcare outcomes. 
  • Participate in the implementation of policies and regulations to improve the professional practice environment and healthcare outcomes of the organization. 
  • Structure the practice environment to facilitate care that is culturally and linguistically appropriate. 

Domain 10: Personal, Professional, and Leadership Development 

Participate in development activities to foster personal growth, expand professional expertise, and build leadership skills. 

  • Lead activities with the project site related to the DNP Capstone Project (stakeholder analysis, organization readiness, SWOT analysis, meetings with project mentor and other organization stakeholders, presentations) 
  • Evaluate the organization’s workplace environment to determine level of health and well-being. 
  • Mentor others in the development of their professional growth and accountability. 
  • Develop activities that support a culture of lifelong learning. 
  • Expand leadership skills through professional service. 
  • Evaluate the outcomes of intentional change. 
  • Evaluate strategies/methods for peer review. 

 

The following activities count toward the required practicum hours: 

Students enrolled in the DNP Program prior to May 27, 2024: 

  • Activities that are directly related to the completion of practicum goals, self-identified and Course Objectives, and Learning Outcomes 
  • Implementation activities related to the DNP course assignments 
  • Working with aggregates: populations, organizations, systems, or state- and/or national policy-level goals to define actual and emerging problems and to design aggregate-level health interventions 


Students enrolled in the DNP Program beginning to May 27, 2024: 

  • Activities that are directly related to the completion of practicum goals, self-identified and Course Objectives, and Learning Outcomes.  
  • Planning and preparation for the DNP project.   
  • Implementation activities related to the DNP project.  
  • Evaluation and dissemination activities related to the DNP project.  
  • Working with aggregates: populations, organizations, systems, or state- and/or national policy-level goals to define actual and emerging problems and to design aggregate-level health interventions 
  • Activities that demonstrate attainment of Level 2 advanced-level sub-competencies as outlined in the 2021 AACN Essentials (see above for guidelines). 

Practicum activities must be approved by the faculty of the practicum course.   

Practicum hours do not include travel. Travel time to and from the practicum site cannot be claimed as practicum hours.

Identifying a Site

“Identifying” a practicum site and a preceptor means that the student has received confirmation from a site and preceptor that the site is willing to host the practicum and the preceptor is willing to supervise the student in the practicum experience during a specific term.

Student considerations when identifying a practicum site:

  • Availability for the desired term
  • Opportunity to advance knowledge and area of specialization
  • Patient population and area of expertise
  • Specific Learning Objectives for the practicum experience
  • Ability of the site to provide a variety of advanced learning experiences
  • Opportunity to enhance leadership/professional skills

Students may complete the practicum where they work (e.g., hospital, nursing home, health organization, clinic, health department, or other health-related organization); however, the experience must be:

  • In a different setting than their usual assigned employment role or work area(s)
  • Completed outside of their normal working hours
  • Under the direction of a preceptor who is not their immediate supervisor and who does not report to them

Note: Students’ employment at their nominated practicum site does not guarantee that an Affiliation Agreement can be reached between Walden University and the site. Regardless of employment status, an Affiliation agreement and onboarding are required for all practicum sites. Students who wish to conduct their practicum at their place of employment should be aware that that loss of employment during their practicum may interfere with their ability to complete their required practicum hours.

The practicum cannot be completed in a college of nursing or other nursing education setting (except in an education department in a hospital), or in a private care or private home setting.