DNP Nursing Capstone Project Focused on Healthcare Policy Change

DNP nursing capstone projects can focus on influencing healthcare policy change, which is an essential aspect of improving patient care at a systemic level. DNP nurses, with their advanced leadership skills, are in a unique position to advocate for policy changes that can improve care delivery, patient safety, and overall health outcomes.

2.1 Identifying Policy Issues

A DNP nursing capstone project focused on policy change starts with identifying policy issues that directly impact patient care. These could include:

• Nurse staffing ratios that affect the quality of care and patient safety.
• Access to care for underserved populations, including policy barriers to Medicaid expansion.
• Healthcare reimbursement policies that impact the ability of nurses and other healthcare providers to deliver care efficiently.

2.2 Advocacy and Stakeholder Engagement

Once the policy issue is identified, DNP nurses engage in advocacy efforts to drive change. This may include:

• Collaborating with stakeholders, including hospital administrators, healthcare organizations, government agencies, and patient advocacy groups.
• Engaging with lawmakers and regulatory bodies to educate them about the issue and its impact on healthcare delivery.
• Developing policy briefs, attending public hearings, or organizing community outreach to gather support for the policy change.

2.3 Analyzing the Policy Landscape

A crucial component of policy change is analyzing the existing policy landscape to understand the current regulations and how they affect patient care. DNP nurses may need to:

• Review existing policies, guidelines, and laws.
• Assess how the current policy fails to address the needs of healthcare providers and patients.
• Provide data-driven insights into the gaps or inefficiencies that need to be addressed.

2.4 Developing a Policy Proposal

The DNP project might involve creating a policy proposal that outlines recommended changes, backed by evidence from research and practice. This proposal should include:

• The problem or issue that needs policy attention.
• Evidence of how the policy change will improve patient care or healthcare outcomes.
• A clear plan for implementing and evaluating the new policy.

2.5 Promoting and Implementing Policy Change

Once a proposal is developed, DNP nurses work to promote and implement the policy change. This could involve presenting findings to policymakers, healthcare organizations, or at public hearings. Successful implementation involves collaboration with healthcare systems to ensure that new policies are put into practice and effectively integrated into healthcare organizations.