Part 1-

In order to develop a suitable description, I focused on the following projects:

"Evaluating the Effects of an Educational Lifestyle Modification."… This was a quality
improvement project that used a retrospective study to look at changes in blood
pressure (BP) of patients diagnosed with prehypertension who were educated about
changing their lifestyle behaviors in accordance with nationally accepted clinical
practice guidelines over a particular period of time. The purpose of this study was to
determine the impact of an educational lifestyle modification (LM) intervention on
blood pressure in people with prehypertension. The study focused on hypertension
as the leading cause of significant target organ damage, which included coronary
heart disease, heart failure, stroke, and kidney failure. The study found that early
diagnosis and primary treatment of prehypertension with LM can reduce the
progression and postpone the onset of hypertension-related comorbidities.
''A meta-analysis of herbal cannabis therapy for chronic pain''… The purpose of this
meta-analysis was to analyze previously published information on cannabis use as
an analgesic. Five research publications that satisfied the inclusion requirements
were identified after searching the internet, analyzing reference lists, author
correspondence, and utilizing fixed-effects modeling to analyze clinical trial
databases. The overall effect of mean reduction in pain intensity had a Z-score of -
4.895 with a p-value of 0.003, indicating a moderately significant reduction in pain
intensity for people with chronic pain. As the substance's legal status changes, more
research is needed to create evidence-based treatment guidelines for the use of
medicinal cannabis in pain management.
The last one, as a meta-analysis study (level I evidence), is more rigorous in its
methodology and credible in its findings. However, both followed the requirements
and procedures for preparing a doctoral degree project in nursing practice (Table of
Contents, Abstract, Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Results,
Discussion, Annexes and Tables, and References).
After analyzing these examples, I have a greater understanding of what I could do
for my future DNP project. My interest is in pharmacology, and my proposal focuses
on the use of pharmacometrics models to evaluate titration treatments in pain
management. Pharmacometrics can be used to build and evaluate a dose-response
model that predicts how different pain medication doses affect pain relief and
adverse effects. Using these models, practitioners may choose the starting dose
and alter it based on the patient's response, achieving a better balance between
pain alleviation and reducing the risk of overdose.
I want to use pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) models to evaluate how
drug concentrations affect pain alleviation, side effects, and adverse responses. PK-
PD models could assist in determining the best dose escalation or de-escalation
regimens, as well as the timing of re-evaluation. Furthermore, using clinical and
demographic data, pharmacometrics models could provide individualized dose
recommendations, allowing for more precise titration schedules based on each
patient's unique pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics.
Part 2-
After examining the suggested lectures from Zaccagnini and White, as well as the
AACN white paper, I would argue that there has been some debate over the
ultimate objective of a DNP project. For this reason, there are two forms of doctoral
degrees in nursing, each with a distinct function. The Doctor of Philosophy degree
(PhD) is dedicated to conducting new research, whereas the Doctor of Nursing
Practice (DNP) is dedicated to applying what has already been researched in
evidence-based practice, such as clinical practice, leadership, quality management,
or education. The DNP is a doctoral degree that focuses on practice and prepares
experts in specialized advanced nursing practice. The DNP place significant
emphasis on innovative and evidence-based practice, which reflects the application
of trustworthy research findings.
As a result, the AACN's proposals for a DNP Project framework are among those
most commonly accepted and implemented today. The DNP generally requires
knowledge of an advanced specialty within nursing practice. AACN (n.d.) defines the
DNP project as "a tangible, deliverable academic product that is derived from the
hands-on immersion experience and is reviewed and evaluated by an academic
committee."
The AACN attempted to ensure that DNP graduates met rigorous academic and
professional criteria. In nursing, where patient care is critical, establishing defined
requirements for doctoral projects can help DNP students apply evidence-based
practices, enhance patient outcomes, and make important contributions to the
healthcare system. By stating that the DNP project must focus on evidence-based
practice improvements, system reforms, or policy analysis, the AACN distinguishes
the DNP from PhD programs, which frequently focus on research and theory
development. Based on this, I believe AACN was on the correct road in clarifying its
suggestions for the DNP Project.
Furthermore, the straightforward nature of recommendations provides credibility to
the DNP degree. A well-defined structure for the DNP project facilitates the
evaluation of the degree's quality. Clear and consistent guidelines help healthcare
institutions, employers, and other parties involved realize and trust the DNP's value.
It also guarantees patients and communities that DNP graduates are fully prepared
to enhance healthcare procedures. While the clarifications were beneficial in many
ways, there are some areas where the AACN could have taken a different approach,
such as greater flexibility for diverse projects, given that the healthcare field is
diverse and DNP students work in a variety of specialties, regions, and healthcare
systems. More flexibility in project categories could result in new, community-driven
solutions. Instead of establishing specific project types, the AACN might have
promoted broader, outcome-based rules that allow students to become creative
with innovative and context-specific projects.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (n.d.). Doctor of Nursing Practice.
[Link]

Yes, I am considering an EdD in the future, since one of my goals is teaching. I was
even thinking of applying for a teaching assistant position at UNF, even if I don't get
paid, to become familiar with the teaching process, curriculum design, and
evaluation in nursing. I will look for more information about that on the UNF website.