The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) capstone project is a culminating experience that demonstrates the student’s advanced skills and knowledge in nursing practice. The project is typically a quality improvement initiative aimed at improving patient care, nursing practice, or healthcare systems.
Choosing a capstone project topic can be challenging. It is important to select a topic that is relevant to your nursing practice, interests, and goals. It is also important to select a topic that is feasible to complete within the given timeframe.
This guide provides a comprehensive list of DNP nursing capstone project ideas, organized by topic area. Hopefully, this list will help you to identify a topic that is both interesting and feasible for your capstone project.
Topic areas:
- General nursing:
- Improving patient safety
- Reducing healthcare costs
- Improving patient satisfaction
- Enhancing nursing practice
- Addressing health disparities
- Population health:
- Chronic disease management
- Preventive care
- Community health promotion
- Public health policy
- Mental health:
- Access to mental health care
- Mental health stigma
- Mental health promotion
- Treatment of specific mental health disorders
- Leadership and management:
- Nurse leadership development
- Nursing workforce issues
- Healthcare quality improvement
- Healthcare systems reform
- Technology:
- Telemedicine
- Electronic health records
- Big data in healthcare
- Wearable devices and mobile health
Example capstone project ideas:
General nursing:
- Developing a patient education program to reduce falls in the elderly
- Evaluating the effectiveness of a new pain management protocol
- Implementing a program to improve patient satisfaction with hospital care
- Developing a toolkit to help nurses provide culturally competent care
- Conducting a study to identify factors associated with healthcare disparities among racial and ethnic minorities
Population health:
- Developing a chronic disease management program for patients with diabetes mellitus
- Evaluating the effectiveness of a school-based obesity prevention program
- Conducting a community assessment to identify health needs and priorities
- Advocating for changes to public policy to improve public health
Mental health:
- Expanding access to mental health care in rural areas
- Developing a program to reduce mental health stigma among adolescents
- Promoting mental health awareness and well-being in the workplace
- Evaluating the effectiveness of a new treatment for depression
Leadership and management:
- Developing a mentorship program for new nurses
- Conducting a study to identify factors associated with nurse turnover
- Implementing a program to improve nurse satisfaction with their workplace
- Developing a strategic plan for improving healthcare quality at a local hospital
Technology:
- Evaluating the effectiveness of telemedicine for providing mental health care to children in rural areas
- Implementing a new electronic health record system at a community clinic
- Using big data to identify patients at risk for developing chronic diseases
- Developing a mobile app to help patients manage their diabetes
Conclusion:
This is just a small sample of the many possible DNP nursing capstone project ideas. When choosing a topic, it is important to consider your interests, expertise, and the resources available to you. You should also discuss your ideas with your faculty advisor to ensure that your project is feasible and meets the requirements of your program.
FAQs:
Q:What are the criteria for a good DNP capstone project topic?
A good DNP capstone project topic should be:
- Relevant to your nursing practice, interests, and goals
- Feasible to complete within the given timeframe
- Original and innovative
- Significant to nursing practice or healthcare systems
Q:How do I find a mentor for my DNP capstone project?
You can find a mentor for your DNP capstone project by:
- Asking your faculty advisor for recommendations
- Contacting local nursing leaders or researchers
- Networking with other DNP students
Q:What resources are available to me to help me complete my DNP capstone project?
Most DNP programs provide students with access to a variety of resources to help them complete their capstone projects, including:
- Faculty mentorship
- Library resources
- Statistical consulting services
- Research grants
Q:What should I include in my DNP capstone project report?
Your DNP capstone project report should typically include the following sections:
- Introduction
- Literature review
- Methodology
- Results
- Discussion
