Department of Nursing and Health DNP PORTFOLIO GUIDELINES Introduction and Purpose The DNP Portfolio is initiated in the first DNP course and is maintained throughout the curriculum. The DNP Portfolio is intended to reflect the two major measures of outcome attainment for the DNP Program: The DeSales University DNP Program Outcomes and the competencies addressed in the Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice (AACN, 2006). It is crucial that the student become familiar with these outcomes in order to demonstrate DNP competency. Upon completion of the DNP program, the student will present the final portfolio to the Scholarly Project Committee for review. DeSales University DNP Program Outcomes The DNP Program prepares graduates to: 1. Exemplify Christian humanism through valuing and facilitating full human development via partnerships with individuals and aggregates. 2. Integrate theory and science to support ethically and legally sound practice decisions. 3. Engage in scholarly activities through the evaluation, integration and dissemination of scientific evidence to support clinical practice. 4. Synthesize strategies to promote improvement in quality outcomes in healthcare organizations, education, and clinical systems. 5. Assume leadership positions within the health care system, political arena, academic centers, and professional organizations. 6. Influence individual and population health outcomes through interdisciplinary collaboration. 7. Formulate health policy related to practice to influence health care delivery and health outcomes. 8. Evaluate the design, selection and implementation of information technology to support and improve health outcomes. 9. Evaluate strategies for planning and delivering population- based care within the context of the cultural dimensions of health. 10. Lead initiatives aimed toward improvement of health outcomes using advanced communication skills. DNP Terminal Competencies: 1. Recognizes the philosophic and scientific underpinnings essential of the complexity of nursing practice at the doctoral level. 1
2. Recognizes the competencies essential for improving and sustaining clinical care and health outcomes, eliminating health disparities, and promoting patient safety and excellence in care. 3. Recognizes competencies essential for translation of research into practice, evaluation of practice, practice improvement, and the development and utilization of evidencebased practice. 4. Recognizes competencies essential to manage, evaluate and utilize information and technology to support and improve patient care and systems. 5. Recognizes the responsibility nurses practicing at the highest level have to influence safety, quality, and efficacy of care, and the essential competencies required to fulfill this responsibility. 6. Recognizes the critical role collaborative teams play in today s complex health care systems and the competencies essential for doctorally prepared nurses to play a central role in these teams. 7. Recognizes the competencies essential to transform the clinical education of health professionals in response to the changing needs of the population and demands of practice. 8. Recognizes the essential competencies reflective of the distinct, in-depth knowledge and skills that form the basis for nursing practice at the highest level regardless of practice role. (AACN, 2006) Portfolio Content It is incumbent upon the student to clearly demonstrate that the DNP Program Outcomes and DNP Essentials have been fully met. Students are responsible for building and maintaining the required portfolio elements throughout the program. Within the portfolio, the student will include supporting evidence of outcomes achievement and a record of reflective practice, professional growth, and individual growth. Each DNP Program Outcome and DNP Essential may be addressed in multiple courses. Each DNP course syllabus denotes the specific DNP Program Outcomes and DNP Essentials addressed within the course content. The course syllabus will also note which elements of the methods of evaluation may be placed in the portfolio to demonstrate progress toward or attainment of the outcomes. In addition to required coursework, the unique elements of each student s Scholarly Project will supply evidence of having fully achieved the DNP Program Outcomes and DNP Essentials. Students are advised that they may include other exemplars of achievement that are not prescribed within a course syllabus. These exemplars may include policies, educational materials, projects, reports, service activities, or other items that demonstrate evidence of DNP outcomes attainment. Inclusion of these exemplars is contingent upon approval of the Faculty Advisor. Students are to evaluate evidence of achievement of the DNP Program Outcomes and DNP Essentials at the conclusion of each DNP course. Upon starting the DNP program, students are provided with a Portfolio Benchmarks Matrix to help maintain the targeted evidence for each 2
course. Students are encouraged to initiate consultation with the Faculty Advisor during the on-campus residency periods to review and confirm progress toward outcomes achievement. Students are to complete the Annual Review of DNP Students form prior to the Faculty Advisor appointment. Narrative formative self-evaluation of attainment of DNP Program Outcomes and DNP Essentials, as reflected in the portfolio materials, is performed at regular intervals throughout the program, in consultation with the Faculty Advisor. Upon completion of all coursework, a comprehensive narrative summative self-evaluation must be included in the final Portfolio submission. Portfolio Format The portfolio must be organized in a fashion that allows the reviewer to clearly determine attainment of DNP Program Outcomes and DNP Essentials. All portfolio materials should be free of grammatical errors, referenced when appropriate, and presented in a professional format. Students may choose to place all of the required elements in a large binder or place them on an electronic storage device. The portfolio must contain a table of contents for easy reference. The Portfolio should be organized as follows: Table of Contents Part I: Professional Development and Accomplishments Resume Copies of all advanced practice certifications, as well as other specialty certifications Copies of publications, presentations, awards, or other scholarly activities during the time frame of doctoral study Transcripts of DNP academic course work Copies of non-academic or continuing education courses which have a direct bearing on the DNP Outcomes Part II: Demonstration of Attainment of Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice and DeSales University DNP Program Outcomes Completed Course and Portfolio Benchmarking Matrix Complete collection of evaluation methods elements from all DNP courses Part III: Portfolio Evaluation and Summary Annual Review of DNP Students forms Comprehensive narrative summative self-evaluation 3
Formative Evaluation narratives Summary Portfolio Review The student will submit the completed final Portfolio to his/her Scholarly Project Committee for review. The review process may take up to 30 days. The Scholarly Project Committee will determine if the Portfolio meets the established outcomes criteria. A grade of Pass or Fail will be assigned. If the Portfolio does not meet the established program outcomes criteria, students will have 30 days from the date of notification by the Committee to amend the Portfolio. If a subsequent review results in a second failure notice, the student may be required to perform additional coursework to meet the required DNP Program Outcomes and DNP Essentials. Students who successfully pass the Portfolio Review process will be notified by their Scholarly Project Committee and the approved portfolio will be available for pick up in the Nursing Office. Costs of mailing the Portfolio will be charged to the student. COURSE AND PORTFOLIO BENCHMARKING MATRIX Course #/title NU 800 Leadership for Practice NU 802 Evidence Based Practice I NU 804 Health Outcomes Management NU 806 Applied Biostatistics for Evidence-Based Practice NU 808 Health Policy and Ethics NU 810 Translational Research Portfolio Elements/Evidence Maintain grading rubric and summary sheet for Ethics Self-Assessment and Professional Self-Development Paper. DNP Program Outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10 Maintain summary grid for of all identified references from Review of Literature. DNP Program Outcomes 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 10 Maintain grading rubric and summary sheet for Quality Management Project and Clinical Practice Guideline. DNP Program Outcomes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 Maintain grading rubric and summary sheet for the Population data interpretation, analysis, and application paper/presentation; maintain certificate of satisfactory completion of CDC Course SS1000 Final Assessment (75% or >). DNP Program Outcomes 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10 The policy brief, policy analysis, and evaluation of the team paper. DNP program outcomes: 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10. Critiques of Quantitative and Qualitative Research Articles and Model Analyses 4
related to Scholarly Project; Clinical Guideline evaluation; IRB proposal evaluation DNP Program Outcomes: 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 NU 812 Health Care Informatics NU 814 Evidence Based Practice II NU 816 Scholarly Residency NU 818 Leadership Residency NU 820 Scholarly Project and Portfolio Completion Scholarly paper; 1 Case Study DNP Program Outcomes 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10 Maintain abstract and presentation (poster, oral or manuscript). DNP Program Outcomes 1, 3, 5 Portfolio Review date scheduled; Draft #1 of Scholarly Project Proposal; Draft #2 of publishable manuscript. DNP Program Outcomes: 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10 Reflection and Summative Self Evaluation of Portfolio. Assure that all Portfolio requirements have been met, approved, and incorporated into one document (binder or electronic storage device). DNP Program Outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10 Completed and Approved by Scholarly Project Committee All DNP Program Outcomes achieved Attachments: (1) Annual Review of DNP Students 5
DeSales University Department of Nursing Annual Review of DNP Students Attachment 1 Name of Student Year of Evaluation The purpose of this form is for DNP students to document their progress toward the DNP degree during the academic year, and to serve as the basis for advisor consultation about accomplishments and future plans. For enrolled students in NU 820, this review should be conducted with your Scholarly Project Chairperson. Directions: Students should: Complete Section A before meeting with the Advisor Scholarly Project Submit the form to their Advisor or Scholarly Project Chairperson And make an appointment (in person or via telephone) to discuss their evaluation DNP Advisor/Scholarly Project Chairperson should: Complete Section B of the form prior to meeting with the student Both the students and the advisor should sign the form at the end of the conference. One copy of the signed form is kept by the student, one by the advisor, and one is placed in the student s file. SECTION A (to be completed by the student) I. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Write a brief narrative describing your professional development this year. This description should place the experiences you delineate in Section II within the context of your overall professional goals and concerns. 6
II. ACCOMPLISHMENTS In each of the following areas, please provide a brief description of experiences and examples of your accomplishments this academic year. In the ensuing discussion, compare this year with your previous year, if applicable. A. Courses taken and Scholarly Project work in progress. Indicate grades received and status of incompletes, if applicable. A brief plan of action for attending to the incompletes should be included. B. Participation in local, regional, or international research or scholarly conferences and events. (Identify the conference or event including dates and describe your participation) C. Work-related experiences 1. Clinical Practice 2. Professional Memberships D. Papers, presentations, and publications (include relevant information). E. Awards amd Honors received. F. Service (e.g. committee work within the university, community agencies and professional organization) III. AREAS OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT A. What are the areas in which you have developed and grown this year? B. What are some of the areas that need improvement or development? 7
IV. FUTURE PLANS A. Plans for the next year such as courses, work experience, etc. How do you relate to your professional growth? B. Pragmatic concerns SECTION B (to be completed by the Academic Scholarly Project) Please comment about the student s accomplishments and areas for improvement and development. Summary of Conference (to be completed by advisor and student) Status: Progress Satisfactory Consultation Required Plan Required Review Required Signature of Student & Date Signature of Faculty Advisor & Date 8