Benchmark assignment – comprehensive assessment part two: outcomes
- What are the core and specialty DNP competencies?
The core and specialty DNP competencies are a set of knowledge and skills that all Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) graduates should possess in order to provide high-quality and effective patient care. The core competencies include:
- Scientific underpinnings for practice: This competency involves using evidence-based practice and research to inform decision-making and improve patient outcomes.
- Organizational and systems leadership: DNP graduates must be able to lead and collaborate with other healthcare professionals to improve healthcare delivery systems.
- Clinical scholarship and analytical methods for evidence-based practice: This competency requires DNP graduates to have strong analytical and research skills to evaluate and implement evidence-based practices.
- Information systems/technology and patient care technology for the improvement and transformation of healthcare: DNP graduates must be proficient in using healthcare technology to improve patient care and outcomes.
- Healthcare policy for advocacy in healthcare: This competency involves understanding healthcare policy and advocacy to improve healthcare access and outcomes.
- Interprofessional collaboration for improving patient and population health outcomes: DNP graduates must be able to work effectively with other healthcare professionals to improve patient and population health outcomes.
In addition to these core competencies, DNP graduates also have specialty competencies based on their chosen specialty track. For example, a DNP graduate in the Family Nurse Practitioner specialty track would have competencies related to primary care, health promotion, and disease prevention.
- How does the comprehensive assessment evaluate learners’ achievement of these competencies?
The comprehensive assessment evaluates learners’ achievement of these competencies by requiring them to collect and review coursework deliverables and practice immersion hours completed in the program, as well as synthesize and reflect on their learning and prioritize work for their DPI project. This process allows learners to demonstrate their ability to integrate and synthesize knowledge within the context of their scholarly and practice interests.
Part One of the assessment involves reviewing and analyzing the coursework deliverables and practice immersion hours completed throughout the program. This allows learners to assess their progress towards achieving the core and specialty competencies. By reviewing their coursework and immersion experiences, learners can identify areas where they have excelled and areas where they may need additional development.
Part Two of the assessment requires learners to synthesize and reflect on their learning and prioritize work for their DPI project. This involves integrating the knowledge and skills gained throughout the program and applying them to a real-world healthcare issue. By demonstrating their ability to synthesize and apply their knowledge, learners can show their readiness to complete the DPI project and their achievement of the programmatic outcomes.
In summary, the comprehensive assessment evaluates learners’ achievement of the core and specialty DNP competencies by requiring them to collect and review their coursework deliverables and practice immersion hours, synthesize and reflect on their learning, and prioritize work for their DPI project. By completing this process, learners can demonstrate their readiness to complete the program and their ability to provide high-quality and effective patient care.