How to Format the DNP Project Paper
1. Title page
Per the standard APA format, you will be required to put in details such as the name of the project you will be addressing and your name. This will be the first page of your research paper
2. Acknowledgments
This section provides you with the opportunity to extend gratitude to all those who have helped you in one way or the other with your research project.
It is always a good gesture to show that you collaborated with people on your project, so go ahead and list all of them.
After the acknowledgments, you will have a table of contents section that helps the reader know and navigate through your work with ease.
3. Executive summary
Unlike the abstract, this section provides a little more depth to what your DNP capstone project is about. Think of it as a synopsis of your project, complete with an introduction, body, and conclusion.
4. Problem statement
This section contains an introduction to the project, the statement of the problem, the conceptual framework and lastly, the objectives and purpose of your project.
Here you are supposed to provide proof of the existing problem as well as show the effect that it will have on the healthcare systems and people. The conceptual framework should act as a guide in the development of your work.
5. Literature review
This section gives you the chance to back your information with evidence from the literature.
When using the different literary sources available, make sure to go for the ones that have proven to be reliable. These can include acclaimed articles and Meta-analyses.
Describe in detail and systematically arrange all your information.
6. Describe your Resolution Plan
This phase allows you to demonstrate your clear plan of action. You will show the data you collected as well as the tools used to collect them. Explain who the target of your chosen course of action is.
7. Results Section
Any DNP project aims to investigate the cause, implement the plan of action, and report the results. Therefore, this is the section where you break down the details of your results using the data that you present. If you arrive at a solution, this is where you list it.
8. Recommendations and conclusion
Your DNP project is winding up. This is the section where you provide a detailed summary of the project and explain the course of action. This should be based on the results that you posted, using the well-researched information from your literature review. Provide sound solutions and suggestions to be taken by the stakeholders you are targeting in your project.
9. Reference page
This is the bibliography section where you list all the references that you used in your DNP capstone project. They should be well-listed per the APA referencing style and format. All the in-text citations that appear in your project should appear in the reference section.
