Writing DNP Practicum Goals & Objectives

Writing
DNP Practicum Goals & Objectives
The DNP
practicum is a preceptor and faculty-guided experience and will be unique for
each student. As such, students will need to develop goals and objectives for
the practicum experience. These goals and objectives will guide the entire
experience. Things to keep in mind when developing your goals and objectives
include:
1.
They need to include all the DNP essentials in
some fashion.
2.
The DNP practicum experience is focused on
leadership in a clinical setting.
3.
You will not be providing direct care but should
be involved in activities at a higher, or executive level. Students should not provide direct patient care during the DNP
practicum.
4.
Activities can include, but are not limited to:
·
Leading
or serving on a team to direct initiatives including financial planning, new
technology, policy changes, quality, or evidenced based practice initiatives.
·
Participating in executive meetings with
preceptor
·
Researching leadership initiatives as directed
by preceptor
·
Leading staff education as directed by preceptor
·
Evaluating and reporting on quality or other
initiatives as directed by preceptor
Goals
Students
should develop at least 4-6 goals. When writing goals, keep in mind that they
should be broad enough to encompass many activities and will guide all
practicum hours. The DNP essentials should be covered in your goals statements
(see list of essentials below with link to the AACN website). Goals are written
in this form:
“By the end of the DNP practicum practicum, the student
will..”
Each goal will finish this sentence and should be
individually numbered and use Bloom’s taxonomy. Click on link below to see an
explanation of Bloom’s taxonomy. Each goal should begin with an action verb
from Bloom’s taxonomy such as “appreciate, analyze, differentiate, implement,
etc.”
Objectives
Under
each goal, there should be at least two objectives. While a goal is where you
want to be at the end of practicum, objectives are your “roadmap” or guide to
how you’ll reach a goal. Objectives should be specific, measurable, and
correspondent to the goal. If possible, specify a date by which you’ll have
completed, or met, the objective. Be sure to include which of the DNP
essentials is being addressed by objectives. The objective should be numbered
as follows:
1.
Goal
1.1
Objective
1.2
Objective
2.
Goal
2.1
Objective
2.2
Objective
(and so on)
Example
Here is an example of a goal with objectives. Keep in mind
that you’ll need, typically, at least four goals with objectives.
By the end
of the DNP practicum experience, the student will:
1.
Utilize findings from research and an
organizational assessment to facilitate opportunities to improve health care
outcomes.
1.1 Promote awareness for the use of health
literacy assessment tools in patients with chronic disease via social media and
an awareness learning module.
1.2 Chose two state health literacy
coalitions to visit.
1.3 Participate in five continuing education
experiences related to health literacy.
Timeline:
Anticipated date of completion 5/2019
Essential
I, III
(AACN,
2006)
You’ll notice in the example, the objectives are those you
would write as you begin practicum. The student doesn’t have specifics about
which state health literacy coalitions will be visited. This is okay for a
beginning objective. Students should refine their objectives as they have more
information and progress in practicum. Students will submit revised objectives
at the beginning of each practicum course. They may also revise them as needed
at any time during practicum.
You’ll also notice that the goal is broad, it could
encompass any health care outcome. The objectives are specific to health
literacy, the student’s chosen area of interest. In this way, goals stay the
same but various objectives can fit under them. It’s important for your goals
to be pertinent, yet broad enough to cover various opportunities in the
practicum setting.