Building on their specialty practice, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) graduates design new models of care; use evidence to improve practice; evaluate outcomes; identify and manage the health care needs of individuals, communities, and populations; and use technology and information systems to improve health outcomes.

Guided by faculty mentors, DNP candidates enrich and deepen their specialty practice by engaging in transformative educational activities. Through experiential learning, self-assessment and reflection, community engagement, interprofessional relationships, and scientific inquiry, nurses emerge as leaders, transforming their practice and health care in self-identified areas of concern and influence.

The program culminates in a doctoral project that reflects a synthesis of the knowledge and skills gained throughout the candidate’s educational experience.

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DNP Projects from 2022

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Reducing Errors Through Implementation of Standardized Electronic Order sets in the Intensive Care setting, Mary Slusser

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Improving Depression Surveillance at the We Care Clinic, Kaitlin Springer and Emma Hanney

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Perioperative Tube Feeding Guidelines for the Pediatric Burn Patient, Jordan Swanberg

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Establishing Guidelines to Promote Best Practice for Common Ailments in School-Based Health Clinics, Kaitlin Sweeney and Rachael Schaefer

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Intrathecal and Epidural Dexmedetomidine for Obstetric Patients, Sarah Tobias and Addison Hohner

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Implementation of a Tele-Triage Protocol in an Emergency Department Setting, Megan Tuetken, Sierra Hamlin, and Sydney Spaulding

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Peer Support Specialist Incorporation into Collaborative Patient Centered Care, Jamie L. Wagner and Mathew Blount

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Assessing Provider Confidence of Acute Otitis Media Diagnosis and Treatment with an Optical Coherence Tomography Device in the Urgent Care Setting, Meghan Weber and Susan Wolf

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Establishing Care with a Primary Care Provider, Ashley Whitlatch

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Community Health Worker Intervention to Improve HbA1c in Adult Diabetic Patients, Megan Wojtko

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Development and Evaluation of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocols for General Abdominal and Orthopedic Surgery with Focus on Preoperative Hydration and Multimodal Management in Preoperative and Postoperative Phases, Kristin Wolff and Sadie Spilker

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Hypertension Management in Primary Care Using Target:BP; Meeting Patient Goals and Quality Measures, Hollie Yoder

DNP Projects from 2021

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Interventional Techniques for Chronic Low Back Pain and Migraine Headaches: Development of Educational Pamphlets​, Muhidin Abukar and Mathew Schilling

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Implementation of a Standardized Care Pathway for Ureteral Stents Patients Across the Continuum of the Acute and Ambulatory Setting: A Quality Improvement Project, Ibukunoluwa Afolabi

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Standardizing Evaluation Methods for Simulation, Jessica Antisdel and Leslie Artinger

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Implementing a Validated Developmental Screening Tool in a Rural Pediatric Primary Care Clinic to Enhance Early Diagnosis of Developmental Delays from Birth to 36 Months, Melissa A. Armstead

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Improving Depression Awareness and Screening in a Community College, Shelly Baldwin

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Improving Skin Cancer Screening in Primary Care, Jaclyn Barnhouse and Rebecca Baietto

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Increasing Patient Access to Medication-Assisted Treatment Programs for Opioid Use Disorder, Matthew J. Bednarchik

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Development of a Heparin Dosing Guideline for Vascular Surgery, Brittany Bertoni and Anna Holdener

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Addressing Referral Discrepancies for Hyperglycemia Diagnosis Codes, Brooke Buffington, Aubrey Parnell, and Abigail Brohammer

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Integration of the SVS WIfI Classification System for Ulcer Staging and Management in an Amputation Prevention Program, Allison Campos

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Development and Implementation of an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocol for Thoracic Surgery Procedures, Nicholas Collier

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Implementation of A Mental Health Screening in a Gastroenterology Office, Kayla Craig

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Introduction of Strong for Surgery Pre-surgical Checklist for Elective Procedures​, Dylan DeFauw

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The Impact of a Cultural Competence Assessment Tool on Teaching Strategies in the DNP Curriculum at Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville, Katarina Dobrosavljevic

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Voyage: A Passage Through Orientation, Patricia Eppel

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Developing an Educational Pamphlet for Patients Undergoing Interscalene Blocks with Liposomal Bupivacaine Exparel, Steve Fankam

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Developing a Peer Mentoring Program for SRNAs, Morgan E. Fitterer and Miranda Portwine

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Compassion Fatigue and Burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic, Gabrielle Giamanco and Tyler Tanzyus

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Increasing Low-Dose CT Screening in Primary Care, Bethany Huelskoetter

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Increasing Compliance and Patient Outcomes In Hypertensive Patients Using the Hill- Bone High Blood Pressure Compliance Scale, Lauren Huff, Allyson Barbee, and Julie Milton

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Care of the Healthcare Provider, Kari Hullinger and Emily Moscardelli

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Short Term Medical Mission Antibiotic Protocol, Greg Jennings

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The misuse of convenient care and importance of establishing a primary care provider, Bailey M. Johnston and Amanda LT Hawkins

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Improving Patient Outcomes by Preventing Airway Injuries Associated with Video Laryngoscopes, Alexis Jones and Kay Williamson

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Presurgical Optimization Videos for Patients Undergoing Elective Spine Surgery, Megan Knetzer

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Inpatient Observation Safety Assistant Practices, Jennifer Knight

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ERAS Protocol for Lower Extremity Orthopedic Procedures, Tyler McDonald and Joshua Vaughn

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Media Use Management with Toddlers and Preschoolers: Introducing Screen Time Recommendations in Pediatric Primary Care, Kaitlyn McGough

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Culturally appropriate health education: Translation of a parturient pain relief options pamphlet into French and Spanish, Francis Minor and Austin Cook

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Continuing Education Preferences Amongst CRNAs, Jamie Nichting

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Development of a Protocol for Perioperative Management of the Breastfeeding Mother, Kayla Nyseth and Kelsey Park

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Discharge Process Optimization, Erin M. O’Neal

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Physical Well-being and Healthy Lifestyle Options, Michael Perkins

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Implementing an Evidence-Based Multifactorial, Multidisciplinary Fall Prevention Program in a Nursing and Rehabilitation Center to Reduce Fall Rates among Patients, Tincy Poovathur

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IDENTIFYING BARRIERS TO KEEPING APPOINTMENTS IN MENTAL HEALTH, Shontel Ray

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Lung-Protective Ventilation Across the Lifespan: Implementation of an Intraoperative Protocol for Adults and Pediatrics, Megan Reynolds and Rachel Riddle

Improving Management of Mineral Bone Disease in Dialysis Patients with End Stage Renal Disease, Kara K Roth and Melanie Johnson

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Virtual Cadaver Dissection Prior to Clinical Experiences in Nurse Anesthesia, Hannah Ruholl and Kyle Smith

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Mental Health Resources for the Pediatric and Adolescent Populations in the Rural Setting, Devon Shafer, Kyle Aldridge, and Amy Lilly

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Evaluation of High Fidelity Simulation Debriefing Methods for Nurse Anesthesia Students, Zachary Standefer and Alex Davie

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Mindfulness and Meditation to Reduce Test and Evaluation Anxiety in Doctoral Nurse Anesthesia Students, Jenna L. Tebbenkamp

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Implementation of a Risk Assessment Tool to Increase Screening for Extragenital Gonorrhea and Chlamydia in Men Who Have Sex with Men, Andrew P. Tharp

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Evaluating Unexpected Outcomes with a Change in Practice, Justin Trexler

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Opioid Screening in the Primary Care Setting, Melissa Welge and Shelby Jones

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Pediatric Concussion Clinic: A Needs Assessment, Carrie West

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Diabetic Education in an Uninsured Patient Population, Amanda Whistler

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Improving Access to Reproductive Life Planning Following Implementation of One Key Question® in Practice, Ashley Wittler

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Utilization of Telephone Outreach and Telemedicine to Improve Diabetic Outcomes, Nicolas Yemm

DNP Projects from 2020

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Implementation of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Protocol after cystectomy: A Quality Improvement Project to Evaluate Bowel Function with implementation of ERAS Protocol, weruche agube

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Tranexamic Acid Use, Jennifer Aumann

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A Difficult Vascular Access Algorithm Using Intraosseous Devices in the Elective Pediatric Surgical Population, Cory R. Austin

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Optimizing Data Accessibility to Impact BCMA Compliance, Lucy A. Bischof and Margott Montesinos

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Cultural Competency Training for U.S. Army Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB) Brigade Medical Teams, Jacob Blount

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Improving Outcomes for Patients with OSA Receiving Anesthesia, Natalie Bram

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Development of an Emergency Preparedness Protocol in an Office Setting, Amanda Burgesen

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Implementing Quality into Practice: Nurse Driven Protocol to Reduce Unnecessary Telemetry Use, Richard Clapp

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Implementation of Crisis Checklist for Local Anesthetic Systemic Toxicity (LAST) in the Parturient Patient, Annelise Contino

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Implementation of Supplemental Oral Anticoagulant Education to Promote Medication Adherence, BLAKE CORY

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Steep Trendelenburg Associated Postoperative Vision Loss Prevention Education, Mitchell Coval

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Increasing the Completion of Advance Directives in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in the Primary Care Setting, Cynthia Davis

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Safe Sleep Modeling in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Barbara Garrison

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Improving Emotional Intelligence Skills in Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists, Kathryn M. Gratza

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Improving Health Insurance Literacy Within Our Community Through the Use of Local Libraries, Bonnie Gregg and Jenny Lieu

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Fascia Iliaca Blocks for the Treatment of Hip Fractures in the Emergency Department, Megan Hahn

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Computer Based Learning Module: Neuraxial and Peripheral Nerve Blocks, ALTAN HALICI

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Trauma Informed Care: Paving the Way to Better Patient Outcomes, Sarah Halsey and Amy L. Armstrong

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Improving Nurse Resilience, Brandon Hedgspeth

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Implementation of a Depression and Domestic Violence Screening Protocol in an Internal Medicine Setting, Laurie Hopper

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Impact of a Standardized Neurologic Exam on Diagnosis of and Referral Pattern for Neurologic Disorder in Pediatric Toe Walking, Allison Hotze

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A Pilot of Prenatal Transitional Care Services in the Urgent Care Setting, Alexandra Huddleston, Gloria Pryzgoda, and Tiffany Hazel

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Healthy Jacksonville, Erica Hunt and Alison Fornoff

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Dedicated Preceptors Improve Nurse Residency, Anne Hustad

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Pain Control Options for the Parturient: Pamphlet Development for Patient Education, Alyssa R. Jimerson

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Implementation of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale in a Midwest Primary Care Clinic, Amanda Lee

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Development and Implementation of an Orthopedic Enhanced Recovery after Surgery Protocol, Beth McCoy

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CRNA to CVICU RN: Implementation of a Standardized Patient Handoff Checklist for Post-Surgical Heart Patients, Ashley McGrath

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The Development of a Pain Medication Management Protocol, Kirstie McGrath, Jane M. Brown, and Shannon D. Walle

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Opioid Free Anesthesia, Sarah Medina

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Preoperative Assessment of Patients in an Enhanced Recovery Program, Edward Mitzelfelt

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DNP Project: Improving No-Show Rates in Primary Care, Mai-Linh T. Nguyen and Sarah M. Kuzara

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Addressing Hypertension Health Literacy in Black Individuals who English is their Second Language, Uche Olateru

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Reducing Emergence Delirium in Combat Veterans Through the Development of a Decision-Tree Utilizing Ketamine and Precedex, Joseph Oldani and Russell Arendt

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Development and Implementation of an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Screening Tool for Orthopedic Patients, Katie O'Rourke

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Evaluation of obstructive sleep apnea in veterans with coexisting psychiatric symptoms, Zenith Perpignani

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Discharge Opioid Guidelines for the Postpartum Woman, Chelsea Marie Pierce

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CVD Screening Protocol for History of Hypertension in Pregnancy, Wendy E. Rodgers, Marissa P. Mahan, and Jamie Y. Welty

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Preventing Substance Use Disorder in Anesthesia Providers, Tyson Rogers

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Patient Assessment and Provider Education Regarding Antibiotic Use in the Treatment of Viral URIs in the Urgent Care Setting, Ashlee Schoby and Candra D. Hulskotter