School of Nursing

Graduate Program
NURS 6310: DNP Project I – 2 credit hours

Summer Semester/2022

Instructor Name: Justin R. White, DNP, MSN, MSW, PMHNP-BC, CNE, LCSW
Office: Virtual
Office Hours: By appointment
Email: CANVAS or [email protected]
Phone: 505-414-7479 (please do not text message)
Fax: 575-646-2167
Prefer CANVAS e-mail communication
Expected response time is 48 hrs.

Course Information
Course Description:
This is the first in a three-course series that culminates in the implementation, evaluation and
dissemination of scholarly work that demonstrates the student’s synthesis of the Essentials of
Doctoral Education for Advanced Practice Nursing (i.e., the DNP Essentials). The project must
use evidence to improve clinical practice, healthcare delivery and/or patient outcomes. Upon
completion of this course, students will identify a problem in healthcare, explore the existing
evidence and develop a preliminary proposal for a project that demonstrates synthesis of DNP
coursework and lays the groundwork for future scholarship.
Course Delivery Method
This course is a fully online course. The course progresses through scheduled content with
weekly readings and activities, and will include discussion posts for the student to interact and
share responses to guided prompts with classmates. Participation in course discussions and
activities is flexible to allow for posting at the student’s convenience during the scheduled time
frame for that activity. This course combines self-paced learning with a structured time frame
for assignments. See schedule for synchronous (live) web conferencing sessions.
Course Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course, the students is expected to:
1. Identify a significant clinical problem that could be the basis for a DNP project that
improves clinical practice, healthcare delivery and/or patient outcomes.
2. Systematically review the existing evidence pertaining to selected clinical problem,
generating a written review of the existing evidence.
3. Within the context of the chosen clinical problem, develop an organizational assessment
that includes identification of stakeholders, relevant institutional polices, as well as a needs
assessment based on available institutional data.

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4. Identify a theoretical framework or model that will guide the development of a solution or
intervention and/or the execution of the DNP project.
5. Produce a draft of the DNP project purpose statement with one to three project objectives.

Prerequisites: NURS 507 or 653 and NURS 508 or 652

Co-requisites: None

Required Textbooks and Materials

Title: Author: ISBN:
Doctor of Nursing Practice Moran, K. J., Conrad, D., Burson, ISBN-10: 1284079686
Scholarly Project: A Framework R. ISBN-13: 978-1284079685
for Success, Second Edition

Publication Manual of APA, 7th American Psychological ISBN-13: 978-1433832161

Ed. Association ISBN-10: 143383216X

Articles, guidelines and other

materials are posted in Canvas
under Modules.

Communication
Your NMSU email account is the official means of communicating with the
university. Information critical to your success at NMSU is delivered to you via this
account, and you are expected to follow rules and policies provided to you via this
communication method. Any email from you to the instructor should be sent either
through the CANVAS course management system or through your official NMSU email
account. Please be advisedthat due to privacy and security concerns, we are unable to
respond to emails from or aboutstudents that do not originate from an official NMSU
email address.
Emails from Dr. White and your DNP project chair will be answered within 48 hours on
businessdays, unless otherwise notified. If you do not get a response from Dr. Borges or
your project chair within this timeframe, please send a follow up communication.

Grading Criteria
Guidelines/instructions for each assignment (plus related forms) are posted under the
‘Assignment’ tool in Canvas. All assignments are due at 11:59 pm (midnight) on the due date
(Tuesdays) – unless otherwise indicated.
Assignment/Activity Percentage of Grade
Assignments (see Canvas) 80%
Meetings with Project Chair and Attendance at 20%
Zoom sessions (or review of video)

Grading Scale:
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 Points Letter Grade
80-100 S
79 and below U

Participation Guidelines
Online Preparation: Students should expect to spend approximately 6-8 hours in the course
weekly. There are tools to self-assess your readiness to take an online course. An example of a
self-assessment tool may be found at the NMSU Distance Education website using the following
link: https://distance.nmsu.edu/prospective-students/.

Written Assignments: All written work must conform to the policies and guidelines specified in
the School of Nursing Program Student Handbook

Academic Dishonesty: All work must be done individually by each student unless otherwise
specified. Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated and may result in dismissal from the
program. Please refer to the NMSU Academic Misconduct Policy in the NMSU Student
Handbook and to the School of Nursing Program Student Handbook (see below for more
details).

Make-up Policy: Missed assignments can only be made up through arrangements with course
faculty prior to the due date of the assignment. Many of the online assignments require timely
participation and will be difficult to make up. If you have an unforeseen emergency that causes
you to fall behind, talk to your instructor immediately or you may receive NO credit for the
assignments missed.

Late Assignment Policy: No late assignments will be accepted unless prior arrangements with
instructor have been made. Many of these activities require on-time participation with faculty
and students.

Incomplete Grades: The grade of "I" may only be assigned if the student is unable to complete
the course due to circumstances beyond the student's control that develop after the last day to
withdraw from the course. Examples of appropriate circumstances include documented illness,
documented death or crisis in the student’s immediate family, unexpected military deployment
and similar circumstances. Other job-related circumstances are generally not appropriate
grounds for assigning an “I” grade. Students requesting an “I” grade are responsible for
providing satisfactory evidence of such circumstances. Faculty require time of no more than 1
year before the “I” converts to an “F”.

Class Withdrawals: You must officially withdraw from any class that you intend to drop. Please
see the NMSU Academic Calendar for important dates and holidays.

Attention: The Instructor reserves the right during the semester to modify the syllabus
and/or schedule including course policies, class scheduling, and course assignments or
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 requirements. Students will be notified of any changes. There will be a written notice in
the announcement section, within Canvas, one week prior to changes made on the
syllabus.

Here are some guidelines for composing substantive postings:

What criterion meets scholarly participation in discussion forums?
The course requirements may include substantive online entries to a discussion board. A
substantive entry moves beyond summarizing reading material, rather it includes independent
critical thought, is focused on the topic at hand and avoids digression. The entry will reveal
active engagement with the topic or problem. Substantive comments will identify assumptions
and seek alternative ways of viewing the topic or problem.
One of the ways to understand the meaning of the term “substantive” is to identify its
characteristics. Among the characteristics of a substantive comment are that the comment is
supported by recognized sources. The source of the ideas is acknowledged by citation. This is
also known as corroborations, confirmation or validation. A substantive entry is clearly stated
and understandable. Comments that are substantive are useful in explaining the topic under
discussion.

Please note: a substantive comment goes beyond saying that you agree or disagree with a
group member or author. You need to explain in what way or why you agree/disagree. It is also
not enough to say the material or comment was difficult to read or understand, confusing, or
well-written. A substantive entry will specify what it was that was difficult to understand, the
nature of the confusion, or the reason you believe it was well-written. Scholarly work is
identified by its ability to provide rational and logical reasons for a position. Respect is ALWAYS
used on all postings. Your first posting should be a synthesis of the readings plus show original
critical thinking that is applicable to advanced practice and/or experience. Your independent
portion that indicates critical thinking should consist of
• At least 1 or 2 paragraphs.
• Show how you APPLY the concepts from readings (the text and articles) in your answers
to your experience or to advanced practice roles. If you are merely reporting what is in
the text, that is simply reporting or summarizing what is already written – you will
probably not earn your full points.
• You can compare and contrast various student points of view (referring to the student’s
specific posting)
• Apply APA criteria to your postings including citation(s) and reference(s).

Grading for participation is as follows:

Review these carefully!
1. Entries/discussions are substantive and demonstrate original thought.
2. Entries refer to readings or “lectures” (textbook, articles, course PowerPoints, credible
websites or online sources- and include citations! !
3. Statements make practical clinical or real life applications (if appropriate).
4. Entries are posted in a timely manner – meaning the first is posted with sufficient time
as to allow other students to read and respond.
5. Entries invite discussion or build upon entries of other students or poses critical thinking
questions from content to others. Unless otherwise stated, you are expected to have at
least 3 postings each week to earn full points.

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Expectations for Communication
I take all your questions, comments, and concerns seriously. I will respond promptly to requests
for help if the need for help is immediate, call (or skype me or try online chat if you see me
online). If you can wait, contact me via Canvas email. I usually check email daily. I like to
encourage interactions among everyone and may not respond online to every post of every
required discussion. Instead, I expect that you will work to develop a community and support
each other. I will intervene in the discussions mostly to take care of any problems or
misconceptions. Please follow the rubric when posting. I suggest you use it as a check list. I will
communicate with you about your assignments within 7-9 days of the due date. If unable to do
so, I will let you know when you can expect to receive feedback.
What is the appropriate online etiquette?
"Netiquette (neologism, a morphological blend formed from "Internet etiquette") is a catch-all
term for the conventions of politeness and respect recognized on Usenet, in mailing lists, in live
chat systems, and on other electronic forums such as Internet message boards. These
conventions address the relationship between personal behavior and group phenomena, and
outline a dynamic set of guidelines for conduct that is conducive to pleasant, efficient and
agreeable interaction."
Please follow these netiquette guidelines:
Don't flame (personally attack) someone. It is possible to disagree with an idea without
flaming the person espousing the idea. Use emoticons and acronyms to convey your
emotional intent in order to avoid misunderstandings.
Remember that "politeness" and "appropriateness" are culturally-defined concepts.
What is considered polite or appropriate communication in one culture (educational
environments are a culture as well and, as such, are also included in this statement) may
be impolite or inappropriate in another. When in doubt, err on the side of caution when
you are composing a message. And, when reading someone else's message, try to
remember that written communication is easily misconstrued: so, if you find yourself
responding poorly to someone's message, request clarification of their meaning before
you get upset and respond with a flaming message. A little more effort in this area can
result in positive responses. Acknowledgements: This part of the syllabus was developed
with guidance and recommendations from the Online Teaching and Learning Program in
the College of Extended Learning at New Mexico State University.

Special Note: Under no circumstances will inappropriate comments be permitted within your
discussion forums. Students engaging in racial slurs, offensive language, and/or name calling
will be dealt with individually by the instructor.

Helpful Resources
NMSU School of Nursing
NMSU Library
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NMSU Library Distance Education Services

Library Subject Specialist for Nursing:

Mariaelena De la Rosa
[email protected]
575-646-6087, (Zuhl) MSC 3475

MyNMSU login (email, grades, Canvas, registration, financial aid, add/drop)

Technical Skills
Taking an online course requires a number of technical skills as well as other soft skills.
To begin in this course, you must:
o Be able to obtain access to an internet connection, preferably broadband, and a working
computer for the duration of this course.
o Be Proficient with Microsoft© Office applications.
o Be able to conduct research searches on the Internet; see the libguide for this course,
the NMSU Library and Research Help for Students
o Find resources on the Internet; search Internet tutorials
o Be able to send and receive emails and email attachments in and out of class.
o Know how to change your Canvas Notification settings.
o Know how to read email in Canvas.
o Maintain backups of all work you create for this course.

Technology Requirements and Resources

NMSU Helpdesk Support (M-F, 8am-5pm): 575-646-4433
Call them if you have computer related issues, or visit them online at:
http://help.nmsu.edu for phone support availability and hours of operation.

Problems with your online classes should first be addressed to your instructor.
You may also contact the SON Instructional Technology Specialist for tech support @ 575-646-
5228 or via your student support site within Canvas.

Canvas System Requirements

Canvas Student Resources & Tutorials
Graduate Student Support Site within Canvas
Canvas 508 Compliance Statement
Zoom Accessibility Statement

It is recommended that you have more than one browser. Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox
will allow you the best experience in Canvas. Microsoft Edge is not compatible with Canvas.

Software and Technology Requirements:

Microsoft Office Suite 2010 or 2013 is widely used across campus. If you prefer to purchase the
media, you can do so at a student discount rate at the NMSU bookstore.
Office 365 is also free to all active NMSU students. Click here for information on how to
download: http://studenttech.nmsu.edu/microsoft-office-pro-plus-software-free/
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You may also need the following (free downloads):
• Adobe Reader
• Windows Media Player
• Quicktime Player
• Adobe Flash
• Zoom web conferencing tool

Other equipment/software requirements:

You may be required to use a synchronous web conferencing tool such as Adobe Connect,
Skype, Zoom, or the conferencing tools within Canvas, for online synchronous sessions or office
hours. If so, you may need to purchase a headset with a built in microphone to participate in
these online sessions, if your computer is not already equipped with this. This headset will
connect to your computer’s audio in and audio out jacks, or USB port. These headsets may be
purchased from your local Walmart, Walgreens, Best Buy, or online electronics stores. Ask your
instructor first if you are not sure.
(List other specific software/applications for your course here.)

Academic Honesty and Misconduct

Academic and non-academic misconduct: The Student Code of Conduct defines academic
misconduct, non-academic misconduct and the consequences or penalties for each. The
Student Code of Conduct is available in the NMSU Student Handbook online:
http://studenthandbook.nmsu.edu/
Academic misconduct is explained here:
http://studenthandbook.nmsu.edu/student-code-of-conduct/academic-misconduct/
NO *PLAGIARISM1 IS ACCEPTED as scholastic work and may result in a zero for
submitted work. Refer to APA Manual 5th Ed to identify guidelines for accurate citing
of resources.
Students are responsible for adhering to the policies and procedures in the School of Nursing
(SON) Program Student Handbook located on the SON website as well as the Graduate Catalog
and. The SON Program Student Handbook, NMSU Graduate Catalog and NMSU Student
Handbook are available online and on reserve at the library
Policies concerning written assignments:
All assignments are graded according to APA formatting criteria.
All assigned papers and projects will be typed or word-processed and double-spaced. All
students are expected to use a recognized resource as a guide to proper paper writing. The
current edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA) will
be used. Any assigned papers and projects will be considered late if they have not been
presented to the course professor at the announced time and date due. Any late papers may
have a penalty attached. Students with extenuating circumstances are expected to solve these
problems with the respective faculty member on an individual basis and prior to the established
due date and time. Students may use editors for their papers with prior approval of the course
professor. Editing of student work by others is limited to assistance with grammar, punctuation,

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and style only; the substance of the paper must be the student’s original work. If an editor is
used, the student must provide the course professor with the draft of the paper at the point it
is given to the editor when the final paper is submitted. Plagiarism is considered academic
misconduct and will be addressed following the policies and procedures in the NMSU Graduate
Catalog and NMSU Student Handbook.
SON faculty reserve the right to submit any and all student work, including but not limited to
course papers, discussions, presentations, and written exams, to a plagiarism checker at faculty
discretion.
Cheating or knowingly assisting another student in committing an act of cheating or other
forms of academic dishonesty
Plagiarism is using another person’s work without acknowledgment, making it
appear to be one’s own. Any ideas, words, pictures, or other source must be
acknowledged in a citation that gives credit to the source. This is true no mater
where the material comes from, including the internet, other student’s work,
unpublished materials, or oral sources. Intentional and unintentional instances of
plagiarism are considered instances of academic misconduct. It is the responsibility
of the student submitting the work in question to know, understand, and comply
with this policy. If no citation is given, then borrowing any of the following would be
an example of plagiarism:

• An idea or opinion, even when put into one’s own words (paraphrase)
• A few well-said words, if these are a unique insight
• Many words, even if one changes most of them
• Materials assembled by others, for instance quotes or a bibliography
• An argument
• A pattern or idea
• Graphs, pictures, or other illustrations
• Facts
• All or part of an existing paper or other resource

This list is not meant to include all possible examples of plagiarism. See the
University Library’s web page on plagiarism for further examples.

• Unauthorized possession of examinations, reserve library materials,

laboratory materials, or other course-related materials.
• Unauthorized changing of grades on an examination, in an instructor’s grade
book, or on a grade report; or unauthorized access to academic computer
records.
• Nondisclosure or misrepresentation in filling out applications or other
University records in, or for, academic departments or colleges.

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Discrimination and Disability Accommodation
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act
Amendments Act (ADA) covers issues relating to disability and accommodations. If a student
has questions or needs an accommodation in the classroom (all medical information is treated
confidentially), contact:
Main Campus:
Student Accessibility Services (SAS)
Corbett Center Student Union Room 208
Trudy Luken, Director
575-646-6840
[email protected]
New Mexico State University, in compliance with applicable laws and in furtherance of its
commitment to fostering an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity, does not
discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information,
national origin, race, religion, retaliation, serious medical condition, sex (including pregnancy),
sexual orientation, spousal affiliation, or protected veteran status in its programs and activities,
including employment, admissions, and educational programs and activities. Inquiries may be
directed to the Laura Castille, Executive Director, Title IX and Section 504 Coordinator, Office of
Institutional Equity, P.O. Box 30001, E. 1130 University Avenue, Las Cruces, NM 88003;
575.646.3635; 575-646-7802 (TTY); [email protected].
Title IX prohibits sex harassment, sexual assault, intimate partner violence, stalking and
retaliation. For more information on discrimination or Title IX, or to file a complaint contact:
Laura Castille, Executive Director and Title IX Coordinator
Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) – O’Loughlin House, 1130 University Avenue
Phone: (575) 646-3635
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://equity.nmsu.edu/
Other NMSU Resources:
NMSU Police Department: (575) 646-3311
www.nmsupolice.com
NMSU Police Victim Services: (575) 646-3424
NMSU Counseling Center: (575) 646-2731
NMSU Dean of Students: (575) 646-1722
For Any On-campus Emergencies: 911
Student Responsibilities:
1. Register with SAS and obtain accommodation documents early in the semester.
2. Deliver the completed accommodation and testing form(s) to the instructor(s) within
the first two weeks of beginning of classes (or within one week of the date services are
to commence).

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 3. Retrieve the signed form(s) from faculty and return to SAS within five (5) days of receipt
from faculty at least one week before any scheduled exam, and
4. Contact the SAS Office if the services/accommodations requested are not being
provided, not meeting your needs, or if additional accommodations are needed. Do not
wait until you receive a failing grade. Retroactive accommodations cannot be
considered.
Faculty Responsibilities:
1. Sign the ACCOMMODATION REQUEST FORM and TESTING ACCOMMODATION FORM
(when presented), retain a copy and return the original to the student within five (5)
working days of receipt;
2. Contact SAS immediately if there are any questions or disputes regarding
accommodation(s), disruptive behavior, etc.; and
3. Refer the students to SAS for any additional accommodations;

Accommodations: SAS office, 575-646-6840

EEO/ADA & Employee Relations, 575-646-3333
All medical information will be treated confidentially.

School of Nursing
New Mexico State University
P. O. Box 30001, MSC 3185
Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001
[email protected]
(575) 646-3812

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