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.
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 organizational 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.
DNP Practicum Activities Guidelines
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.
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 organizational, local, state, national level.
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
Interpret, apply, and disseminate nursing scholarship to improve health and transform health care.
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.
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.
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.
DNP Practicum Activities Guidelines
· 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.
DNP Practicum Activities Guidelines
· Develop activities that support a culture of lifelong learning.
· Expand leadership skills through professional service.
