Sustainability of the DNP Project: A Look at Deterring Barriers and Their Linkage to Practice

In 2006 the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Essentials were endorsed by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), and the Road to the DNP was established. Enrollment in DNP programs continues to increase, along with program availability in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia (DNP Fact Sheet AACN, 2017). Although standardization may vary from program to program, a study in 2015 by the RAND Health Organization, on behalf of the AACN, confirmed satisfaction with survey participants when the DNP program curriculum was linked to the DNP Essentials (RAND Report, 2015). An important component to the curriculum is preparing DNP graduates to bridge the gap between the discovery of new knowledge and the scholarship of translation, application, and integration of new knowledge in practice (AACN, 2006) (AACN, 2015). Scholarship development is actualized through the DNP project, even though the requirements for the project may vary by academic institutions. AACN outlined the components that should be contained within all DNP projects including sustainability (2015). The White Paper further discusses sustainability as an important component of the DNP project, however data identifying how sustainable these projects are after graduation is yet to be measured and reported. This prompted the development of a survey of DNP graduates from two universities to identify barriers to sustainability and their linkage to practice. By identifying the factors that can impede and/or facilitate the progression of the DNP Project beyond graduation, we can then provide a workable framework supporting the transition from implementation to practice; thereby transforming DNP practice, and ultimately the impact on healthcare outcomes. This article will focus on the survey data compiled from 150 post graduate DNP students as to factors that impacted the sustainability of their projects, both in a positive and/or negative manner; along with the potential implications to clinical practice .