Proposal Writing for Clinical Nursing and DNP Projects

by Wanda Bonnel PhD, APRN, ANEF, Katharine V. Smith PhD, RN, CNE

Overview

Amazon, 11 reviews for 5-star average:

"Excellent, very helpful, to the point, concise without leaving out important details."

"Really helps and is easy to understand."

This practical, concise, and accessible guide for graduate students and advanced clinicians delivers step-by-step guidelines for integrating research and best evidence to produce concise, well-written project proposals. Health care professionals in advanced practice are increasingly being asked to be able to deliver clinical project proposals using best evidence for advancing quality patient care. With the same “must know” clinical scholarship tools of the first edition, this revision provides practical guidelines of common project models for developing and writing a tight proposal from start to finish while leaving room for the unique nature of most clinical project topics.

The second edition includes a completely new chapter on quality improvement concepts, new project proposal abstracts, and new information specific to the DNP project from the AACN. Using the same three-part organization to walk through the intricacies of planning, writing, and completing scholarly project proposals, this new edition also adds new key features to keep readers engaged with the text and their own ongoing or forthcoming proposal. Chapters have been updated to include websites for additional learning, as well as advice from DNP students who have themselves successfully completed project proposals. Reflective questions, tips for completing proposals, exemplars, and reader activities throughout the book facilitate readers’ greater understanding of projects and subsequent proposals.

New to the Second Edition:

• A new chapter on quality improvement concepts
• Advice from DNP students who have themselves completed proposals
• Chapter updates and edits for enhanced clarity
• Websites for additional learning
• New information specific to the DNP project based on guidance from the AACN
• Increased emphasis on the Project Triangle, an important foundational structure

Key Features:

• Provides topflight guidance in proposal writing for DNP and other nursing clinical projects
• Details parameters for integrating scholarship with clearly communicated professional objectives
• Contains numerous writing prompts and questions that guide students in reflective scholarly writing
• Offers examples of good writing, reflective questions, and tools for self-assessment
• Offers helpful tips for making proposals concise yet complete

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780826144430
Publisher:	Springer Publishing Company
Publication date:	07/28/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	280
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Wanda Bonnel, PhD, APRN, ANEF, is associate professor at the University of Kansas School of Nursing, Kansas City, Kansas.

Katharine V. Smith, PhD, RN, CNE, is associate professor emeriti at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Nursing and Health Studies.

Table of Contents

Section I: Writing Your Proposal: Putting Your “Problem” in Context

Chapter 1. Introduction: Why a Scholarly Proposal for the Clinical Project Proposal?

Chapter 2. Using the Writing Plan as a Developmental Tool for the Advanced Clinical Project

Chapter 3. Writing a Good Clinical Problem Statement and Placing the Clinical Problem in Context

Chapter 4. Clinical Projects and Quality Improvement: Thinking Big Picture

Chapter 5. Into the Literature: Gaining Best Evidence and Relevant Literature

Chapter 6. Synthesizing Best Evidence and Literature Review

Chapter 7. Framing the Advanced Clinical Project with Relevant Clinical Frameworks

Section II: Writing Your Proposal: Designing and Setting the Stage for Your Project

Chapter 8. Addressing Outcomes Evaluation in the Advanced Clinical Project Proposal

Chapter 9. Guiding the Advanced Clinical Project: The Purpose of a Purpose Statement

Chapter 10. Mapping It Out, From Problem to Advanced Clinical Project Plan

Chapter 11. Writing the Methods Section: Organizing the Advanced Clinical Project Proposal

Chapter 12. Gaining Credible Clinical Project Data: Being Systematic and Objective

Section III: Writing Your Proposal: Adding the Detail for Proposal Completion

Chapter 13. Writing the Data-Analysis Plans for Advanced Clinical Projects

Chapter 14. Keeping Clinical Projects Ethical and Dependable

Chapter 15. Finalizing the Proposal as a Professional Document: Reviewing, Editing, and Revising

Section IV: Finalizing Your Proposal and Project: Next Steps

Chapter 16. Moving Your Project Proposal to Completed Project

Chapter 17. Moving your Project to Written Final Report

Chapter 18. Moving your Completed Project to Dissemination and Further Scholarship

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Constance L Shay-Hadley, MS in Nursing Administration(Rush University Medical Center)
Description: This book is a complete guide to writing a DNP project proposal. The chapters contain a multitude of information explained using an elementary style, which allows readers to digest the information in an organized manner. Each chapter features "random thoughts" and reflective questions. Common terms are presented and explained to ensure understanding. There is a model of the Clinical Project Triangle, which illustrates the purpose, methods, and outcomes. The Project Checklist further delineates the questions that are relevant to the concept. This Checklist is a helpful guide in organizing a thought process. A particularly interesting section in each chapter is "Advice from DNP Students." Each chapter also has a section that summarizes the chapter and highlights relevant websites. The book contains a preview of the next chapter, which assists the readers in knowing what to expect. Learning activities simulate a workbook design in which the readers can document information about an individual project. The chapters also have a section dealing with goal setting that will eventually lead to a plausible outcome. References are plentiful and relevant to the chapter.
Purpose: The purpose of the book, as stated by the authors, is to provide a set of tools and necessary steps needed to write a scholarly project proposal. The book has practical guidelines that assist in organizing and focusing on the information needed for project completion. The authors hope to provide readers the opportunity to achieve quality patient care, which will in turn lead to positive outcomes. The book can be used to perform all research projects, not just those related to DNP projects. There is an added benefit in providing an online version of the book, especially for those who are technologically proficient. Having an online version may enhance the presentation for some, but many of us still prefer the information via the "published (print) word." The guides and templates assist in meeting the objective of the book, which is to provide the steps needed to author a clinical proposal and project. Information is constantly reinforced, which is a worthy goal for understanding the intent of projects. The main objectives of the book concentrate on writing the proposal problem in context, designing and setting the stage for the project, adding the detail for the proposal completion, and finalizing the proposal and project.
Audience: The book is primarily written for graduate students in academic settings who are interested or required to complete a research or quality project that leads to a quality outcome. The book gives a comprehensive step-by-step process to achieve a relevant proposal that can be studied and detailed for healthcare professionals. The book serves as a workbook for clinicians and allows for reflection and questions in order to create a project. The book is a tool to reach an outcome. The authors are uniquely qualified to write this book due to their educational backgrounds, publications, and presentations. Both authors practice in academic settings and serve as mentors for DNP students. They facilitate clinical projects while taking students through the conceptual phases.
Features: The book concentrates on writing clinical nursing projects and DNP projects. There are several major areas of focus: writing the problem, designing the project, analyzing and providing data, and denoting the steps to achieve the final version of the project. The authors' presentation and writing skills are easy to read and understand. The illustrations, especially those related to data collection and analysis, are clear and concise. The sections concerning advice from the DNP students provide sound information. Many of the illustrations and tables are written in blue ink, which provides a "soothing" visual. I think it would have been helpful to provide examples of a "finished" product, e.g., several completed DNP and/or clinical projects.
Assessment: This book is an excellent resource for any healthcare professional who has to produce a clinical project. It is one of the most valuable reference books I have seen regarding project completion. I applaud the authors for taking the time to add information to each edition. This book will be a valuable tool for graduate students and should be a required resource for graduate school.

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