The 10 Strategic Points for the Prospectus and Direct Practice Improvement Project
Introduction
In the Direct Practice Improvement (DPI) Project, there are 10 key or strategic points that need to be clear, simple, correct, and aligned to ensure the project is doable, valuable, and credible. These points, which provide a guide or vision for the project. The 10 Strategic Points are defined within this document and a template provided. The ten strategic points are developed in a table format, as noted below.
The Process for Defining the 10 Strategic Points
The order of the 10 Strategic points listed below reflects the order in which the learner completes the work product. The first five strategic points focus primarily on defining the purpose or focus for the project based on a clearly defined need or gap from the project site.
Criteria for Evaluating the 10 Strategic Points: Clear, Simple, Correct, and Aligned
When developing a project, it is important to define the 10 Strategic points, so they are simple, clear, and correct in order to ensure that anyone who reviews them will easily understand the quality improvement project. It is important to align all of the 10 Strategic points to ensure it will be possible to conduct and complete the project.
Developing the 10 Strategic Points document begins in DNP-815A begins as a three-page document that can help ensure clarity, simplicity, correctness, and alignment of each of these 10 Strategic Points in the Direct Practice Improvement Project. This document is integral to learner success in the project courses. Therefore constant updates should be made through each course as you develop the project. Please see the table below regarding the development of the citation requirements expected per course.
| Course | Minimal number of articles |
| DNP-801A | Begin collecting original research to support the evidence-based practice intervention found in the research or clinical practice guidelines. MUST have 2 original research articles from the USA (or Canada if Canadian student) to support the intervention within five years of your graduation date. |
| DNP-815A | Must have a total of 5 original research articles: MUST have 2 original research articles from the USA (or Canada if Canadian student)to support the intervention within five years of your graduation date. Other 3 research articles may be added from US, Canada, UK, Denmark, India, New Zealand, Germany, or Australia. |
| DNP-820A | Must have a total of 15 original research articles: MUST have 2 original research articles from the USA (or Canada if Canadian student) to support the intervention within five years of your graduation date. Other 3 research articles may be added from US, Canada, UK, Denmark, India, New Zealand, Germany, or Australia. Any other original research can come from any of the 131 countries listed in the International Compilation of Human Research Standards 2020) found here: https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/international/compilation-human-research-standards/index.html |
| DNP-830 (A) | These points should have been completed and ready for use in DNP-830A to support the drafting of the DPI project. All criteria from DNP-820A should have been met and revised. |
Value of the 10 Strategic Points Document
The document can be used to review the proposed project with the people or organizations from whom learners need to gain permission to conduct their project, a critical step required before learners can implement their DPI project. The document also proves useful for communicating the DPI project focus with the Content Expert, as well as for reviewing the DPI project with the Project Chair, mentor, content expert, and academic quality review (AQR) process. (Delete all of the information above when submitting the document as to keep the GCU logo)
Example: 10 Strategic Points Document for a Quality Improvement Project
Ten Strategic Points
| The 10 Strategic Points | |
| Title of Project | 1) Title of Project List the title of the project/manuscript to include the intervention and no more than 12 words |
| Background Theoretical Foundation Literature Synthesis Practice Change Recommendation |
2) Background to Chosen Evidence-Based Intervention: List the primary points for six sections. i) Background of the practice problem/gap at the project site ii) Significance of the practice problem/gap at the project site iii) Theoretical Foundations (choose one nursing theory and one evidence-based change model to be the foundation for the project): iv) Create an annotated bibliography using the “Preparing Annotated Bibliographies (APA 7th)” located in the Student Success Center. https://www.gcumedia.com/lms-resources/student-success-center-content/documents/writing-center/preparing-annotated-bibliographies-apa7-mla8-turabian9.pdf utilizing the five (5) original research articles that support the evidence-based intervention. This will be the foundation of the Literature Synthesis you will have to do in DNP-820A. v) Practice Change Recommendation: Validation of the Chosen Evidence-Based Intervention vi) Summary of the findings written in this section. |
| Problem Statement | 3) Problem Statement: Describe the variables/groups to project, in one sentence. A well-written problem statement begins with the big picture of the issue (macro) and works to the small, narrower, and more specific problem (micro). It clearly communicates the significance, magnitude, and importance of the problem and transitions into the Purpose of the Project with a declarative statement such as: “It is not known if and to what degree/extent…” or “It is not known how/why and….” It is not known if the implementation of __________________would impact_______________ among ___________ (population). |
| PICOT to Evidence-Based Question | 4) PICOT Question Converts to Evidence-Based Question: (P) Among adult patients in a rural care setting, (I) how does the implementation of a telehealth program (C) compare to traditional commute-for-care (O) impact rate of follow-up with the primary care provider (T) over a period of four weeks? Evidence-Based Question: Provide the templated statement To what degree will the implementation of _______________ (intervention) impact______________(what) among _____________ (population) patients in a ______ (setting) in _______ (state)? |
| Sample Setting Location Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria |
5) Sample, Setting, Location Identify sample, needed sample size, and location (project phenomena with small numbers and variables/groups with large numbers). i) Sample and Sample Size: Population (participants whose outcomes are measured) and number based on G*power analysis or sample size calculator. Explain potential bias and mitigation of sample size. ii) Setting: Clinic, hospital, parish nursing, community center, medical-surgical,….. iii) Location: urban / rural then what state: iv) Inclusion Criteria § Who can participate? v) Exclusion Criteria § Who cannot participate |
| Define Variables | 6) Define Variables: i) Independent Variable (Intervention): ii) Dependent Variable (Measurable patient outcome): |
| Project Design | 7) Project Design: This project will use a quality improvement approach. You must be able to explain and cite the difference between research and quality improvement (one paragraph each). i) Quality Improvement ii) Research iii) Summarize |
| Purpose Statement | 8) Purpose Statement: Provide the templated statement. The purpose of this quality improvement project is to determine if the implementation of _________________ (intervention, make sure you have the evidence-base here) would impact ______________(what) _______________________ among ___________(population). The project was piloted over an eight-week period in a (rural, urban)________ (state) ________ (setting i.e.: primary care clinic, ER, OR). |
| Data Collection Approach | 9) Data Collection Approach: i) You will need data on your participants demographic information (example: age, gender, educational background, ethnicity…..etc.). What instrument would you use to measure this? (Will you use a pre-made Likert Scale? An Excel Spreadsheet?) ii) You also need data on the measurable patient outcome. What instrument will you use (survey, electronic health records, instrument) to obtain this data and how is it determined to be valid and reliable. iii) For the instruments used to measure data provide the reliability and validity (psychometric studies) for each. iv) Describe the step -by-step process you will use to collect the data, explain where the data will come from, and how you will protect the data and participants. 1. 2. v) Discuss potential ethical issues pertaining to your project. Ethical Considerations in Human Research Protection (i.e. confidentiality vs anonymity of the data, informed consent, and potential conflict of interest.) vi) Discuss how you will adhere to the principles of the Belmont Report (respect, justice, and beneficence) in the project design, sampling procedures, within the theoretical framework, clinical problem, and clinical questions. |
| Data Analysis Approach | 10) Data Analysis Approach: How will you analyze the participants’ descriptive, demographic information? What statistical analysis will be used to prepare the results? What type of data analysis will be needed to analyze the measurable patient outcomes? What statistical test will be used? (i.e. chi-square, paired t-test, Wilcoxon…) Will you use Intellectus, Laerd Statistics, or a statistician? Discuss the potential Bias and Mitigation of the data. |
| References | |
