This one-of-a-kind resource is specifically designed to guide DNP students in the essentials of conducting practice-based studies. It demystifies the process by helping students to identify the methodology that best fits their project idea, envision the key elements of the project, design, set up, and run the project, and write up and disseminate the project outcome. In addition to being substantially updated throughout, the second edition includes four new chapters and reflects current literature, with updated references and suggested readings. Additionally, each chapter concludes with a Discussion Guide to assist faculty in pinpointing key points within the chapter.

The only book to address the complexities of clinical inquiry from a practice perspective rather than research perspective. The book builds on basic research concepts that, combined with the knowledge and experience gained by the APRN student, facilitate an in-depth understanding of how clinical research differs from traditional quantitative research. Packed with practical steps and tools, the book fosters the development of such skills as finding data, and reading, critiquing, and translating research to support evidenced-based practice within the health care system, either with a specific population, or for policy development. The text is based on the Scholarship of Integration and Application, one of the core DNP competencies, and is organized to build from simple to greater complexity. Each chapter features learning objectives, learning activities, and review questions.

New to the Second Edition:

Substantially updates all chapters
Includes four new chapters: The DNP Project, Finding and Critiquing the Best Evidence, Descriptive Projects, and Disseminating Results
New content reflects current literature
Offers updated references and suggested readings
Chapters conclude with a Discussion Guide to aid faculty and students to identify and explore key points


Key Features:

Delivers clear, essential guidance for clinical inquiry and research used to demonstrate practice outcomes
Written by an esteemed educator highly experienced in teaching clinical inquiry
Illustrates the application of "Scholarship of Integration and Application" , a core competency for the DNP
Guides readers in DNP student program/project design and evaluation
Presents content systematically from simple to complex