Want to get a DNP but need help with a research project

Specialties Doctoral

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Hi everyone!

I just finished my FNP program and want to go right into the DNP portion but I'm having a hard time coming up with a research topic. I have to have my topic prior to enrolling. I've been unemployed for a year due to my clinicals so I don't "see" anything in a work place that I could study.

When I was working, it was for an MCO who really prided themselves on the culture of the company, which I think made happier employees. I wanted to study about the process of changing the work place environment but really need to a focus and how it relates to patient care.

If anyone has any ideas they are welcomed. I would also like to hear from other DNP's about how they picked their topic. It sound like for the next couple of years I am going to be studying the same area and want to make sure I choose well.

Thanks

Epigenetics: How large a role can Nurses play in shaping healthcare outcomes.

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I do agree that most capstone projects are pointless. I know there are better things to go with our time. I have a MSN where I had to complete a capstone project much like the one that is required for my DNP. Its just frustrating that I have to spend another few years and so many dollars completing this.

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Specializes in Outpatient Psychiatry.
I do agree that most capstone projects are pointless. I know there are better things to go with our time. I have a MSN where I had to complete a capstone project much like the one that is required for my DNP. Its just frustrating that I have to spend another few years and so many dollars completing this.

Why nurse leaders haven't realized this is beyond me. I want to shake their heads and listen for loose marbles.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
I do agree that most capstone projects are pointless. I know there are better things to go with our time. I have a MSN where I had to complete a capstone project much like the one that is required for my DNP. Its just frustrating that I have to spend another few years and so many dollars completing this.

I agree that most are pretty pointless ... but I don't think it is the idea of them that is wrong. I think the problem is that too many are guided by faculty who don't give the students good guidance -- either because they don't have the time to spend providing that guidance, or they are so out-of-touch with the realities of practice that they don't have the expertise to guide students through a realistic, good project.

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I think that a lot of the problem is that college has become big profits for universities. Professors are hired to fill a spot, as I experienced in my FNP program, and don't really have much of a say so in how the class is formatted. At least that has been my experience with online classes vs traditional ones and I am finding that most DNP programs are online. So far my BSN was completed in a class setting and my MSN then post masters certificate was completed online.

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Specializes in Family Practice, Primary Care.

I am debating dropping out of my DNP program (in the first semester) and this thread is making me want to do it even more. I find the classes so....useless.

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Specializes in Outpatient Psychiatry.
I am debating dropping out of my DNP program (in the first semester) and this thread is making me want to do it even more. I find the classes so....useless.

How many more semesters?

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Specializes in Family Practice, Primary Care.

7. I'm doing an MSN-DNP program part time so it's basically 1-2 classes a semester.

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That's kinda what I'm expecting from my DNP program. I start in two days and I feel the degree maybe pointless besides being able to say "I did it" and when it is all said and done that is important to me. But to be fair, that is how I felt in my MSN; Leadership and Admin. I had to write a 50+ page thesis and learn how to do white papers while wondering when will I ever use this. Now I see that I am a better nurse after having my degrees because I approach things differently and I'm hoping after completing my DNP it will have a similar effect.

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Do you find is easy to balance school, work, and family life by taking 1-2 classes a semester? That is the type of program that I chose to use and on paper it seems easy enough I just hope I don't have a rude awakening!

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Specializes in Outpatient Psychiatry.
7. I'm doing an MSN-DNP program part time so it's basically 1-2 classes a semester.

Oh yeah that's too long.

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Love the "beer or nachos" study title, I would participate if I was male!

But back to the actual question...if you completed a FNP program I'm guessing you had to do research for that degree? My MSN program required us to actual develop a research protocol and conduct the research and publish it in order to graduate. it was quite the process. For DNP I'm going to just use the same basic topic and go further with it and 'develop' a project out of it. About half the work for the change project will already be done just based on my MSN research publication.

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