As medical professionals, Doctors of Nursing Practice (DNPs) have the opportunity to use their role as leaders to make meaningful differences in the lives of the patients they serve.
In a medical setting, nurses are the unsung heroes of patient care. From monitoring a patient’s vital signs to distributing medication, dressing wounds and injuries, or communicating with patients, nurses from Registered Nurses (RNs) to DNPs are a critical backbone to the healthcare system in the United States.
Within this profession, the higher qualification of DNP means that these professionals are able to serve as leaders and authority figures within clinical environments (and beyond). DNPs typically command teams, delegating responsibilities, identifying and addressing key concerns, and maintaining a high quality of care.
In the following article, we explore a few ways in which DNPs are using their role in the medical workforce to powerfully, and positively, impact healthcare in California.
Intersectionality Counts: DNPs Addressing Social Issues Through Healthcare
Intersectionality is a concept that helps us understand how different aspects of a person’s identity—such as race, gender, religion, or socioeconomic status—intersect and create unique experiences, particularly regarding discrimination and privilege.
In the realm of healthcare, this concept is crucial because it acknowledges that health disparities are often a result of these overlapping identities.
Today, some qualified DNPs in California have taken an intersectional approach to the healthcare they provide, working to simultaneously address medical and social issues.
Take, for instance, Dr. William Glasser, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. During his DNP studies at the CSU Southern California DNP Consortium, he noticed that caregivers and spouses of veterans with PTSD often developed similar symptoms, known as compassion fatigue.
But when Dr. Glasser conducted his studies, he didn’t just see patients. In fact, he saw the interconnected web of their lives, and how these relationships influenced mental health. By developing a screening tool for compassion fatigue, Dr. Glasser provided a practical solution to help these caregivers, demonstrating how DNPs can create social change within healthcare settings.
Similarly, Dr. Lisa Baughman focused her DNP project on a different but equally impactful issue: dental care for foster youth in Los Angeles. Dental health might seem straightforward, but for foster children—who often face instability and lack of access to regular healthcare—it becomes a significant concern linked to broader health issues.
By conducting focus groups with social workers and public health nurses, Dr. Baughman was able to revise policies and improve dental care processes, leading to better health outcomes for these children. Her work highlights how DNPs can use their skills to tackle health disparities that intersect with social and systemic issues.
These stories illustrate that DNPs are not just healthcare providers, but also innovators and advocates who address the broader social determinants of health. By considering the intersectionality of their patients’ lives, they can implement solutions that go beyond treating symptoms to improving overall quality of life. This holistic approach is essential in creating a more equitable healthcare system, where every individual’s unique circumstances are acknowledged and addressed.
DNPs Making A Difference During Capstone Projects: It’s Never Too Early
While DNPs in the field are executing ambitious projects, some DNP students are proving that it’s never too early to start making a positive impact on the California healthcare system. In these cases, several students are using their capstone project—a mandatory component of DNP programs—to tackle real-world problems and implement solutions that have a lasting effect.
One impressive story comes from Dr. Merry Taheri. During her DNP studies at UCSF, Dr. Taheri focused on applying her knowledge to influence health policy and administration. Unlike the previous example, which focused on dental health care, Dr. Taheri’s approach was more systemic and advocacy-based. In this way, her work serves as a powerful example for the ways in which DNPs can serve patients both within and beyond traditional medical settings.
Another example is Frances Akubuilo, a graduate of the California State University (CSU) DNP program. Dr. Akubuilo’s project focused on the Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation initiative by the American Nurses Association. Like Dr. Taheri, Dr. Akubuilo looked within the healthcare system itself to see how it could best serve patients. Interestingly, Dr. Akubuilo’s work became focused on the health and well-being of nurses themselves. After conducting a cross-sectional study to identify barriers to physical activity among nurses, Dr. Akubuilo developed educational interventions, such as a self-care video, to raise awareness about the importance of healthy nurses for a robust healthcare system. Her work highlights the role of DNPs in promoting nurse wellness and ultimately improving patient care through healthier healthcare providers.
What’s A Capstone Project?
A DNP capstone project is an in-depth, evidence-based project that aspiring DNPs design and execute over the course of their DNP degree program. The goal is to address a real-world issue in healthcare by applying the clinical expertise and research skills developed during your studies and professional experience in nursing. The project involves several stages:
- Topic Selection: Often, students choose their capstone topic based on their areas of interest or a specific problem they’ve identified in their clinical practice. While the topic is usually self-chosen, it must be approved by faculty advisors who ensure that it’s relevant, feasible, and aligns with the program’s objectives.
- Proposal Development: Once you’ve selected your topic, you’ll write a proposal outlining the problem, your research question, objectives, methodology, and how you plan to implement and evaluate your project. This proposal is typically reviewed by a committee.
- Implementation: This is where you put your plan into action. Depending on your project, this could involve working directly with patients, healthcare staff, or community organizations. You’ll collect data, implement interventions, and make adjustments as needed.
- Evaluation and Analysis: After implementation, you’ll assess the outcomes of your project. This often involves analyzing data to see if the project met its objectives and had the intended impact.
- Final Report and Presentation: You’ll compile your findings into a comprehensive report and present your work to faculty and possibly other stakeholders in the healthcare community. This is an opportunity to showcase your work and its potential impact on practice.
The capstone project is a core requirement of DNP programs. It’s designed to demonstrate your ability to apply research to practice and to lead initiatives that improve healthcare outcomes. Completing the capstone is essential for graduation and earning your DNP degree.
While capstone projects are typically individual endeavors, some programs may allow or even encourage collaboration with peers or healthcare professionals, especially if the project is large in scope or if it’s part of a broader institutional initiative.
Whether you’re working alone or in a group, you won’t be alone during your capstone process. All throughout your work, you’ll receive guidance from faculty mentors and advisors, who will help you refine your project and provide support. While you have a lot of autonomy in choosing your topic and direction, the structured guidance ensures that your project both meets academic standards and has practical relevance.
Being A DNP Can Take Many Forms
As you can see, DNP roles can take many forms, offering a wide range of opportunities in various healthcare settings.
In some cases, DNPs can specialize in direct patient care roles, such as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). These positions allow senior-level nurses to provide advanced clinical care, diagnose and treat patients, and even prescribe medications. For example, DNPs in these roles often manage chronic diseases, perform health assessments, and create treatment plans, all while integrating evidence-based practice into their daily routines.
Beyond direct patient care, DNPs can also take on leadership and administrative roles. Positions such as Chief Clinical Officer, Director of Nursing, or Director of Clinical Operations allow DNPs to influence healthcare policies, improve patient care standards, and lead clinical teams. These roles often involve strategic planning, budgeting, and implementing quality improvement initiatives.
Moreover, DNPs can pursue careers in academia, teaching future nurses, conducting research, and contributing to the advancement of the nursing profession through scholarly work.
Additionally, DNPs have the flexibility to work in non-traditional settings such as healthcare consulting, public health, and even entrepreneurship. They can consult for healthcare organizations, develop health programs, and lead initiatives to address public health challenges. Some DNPs choose to open their own practices or start health-related businesses, leveraging their expertise to innovate and drive change in the healthcare landscape.
This diversity in career paths underscores the versatility and expansive potential that a DNP degree offers, allowing professionals to tailor their careers to their passions and strengths while making significant impacts on patient care and healthcare systems.