Development of the Doctor of Nursing Practice Nurse Practitioner Minimum Data Set (DNP NP MDS)

Authors

Asefeh Faraz Covelli, The George Washington University School of Nursing, 1919 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20006, USA. Electronic address: afaraz@gwu.edu.
Susan Weber Buchholz, Michigan State University College of Nursing, 1355 Bogue St., Room #C284, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. Electronic address: buchho44@msu.edu.
Leanne H. Fowler, Louisiana State University Health New Orleans School of Nursing, 1900 Gravier Street, 4th Floor, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA. Electronic address: lfowle@lsuhsc.edu.
Sharon Beasley, Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc., 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30326, USA. Electronic address: sbeasley@acenursing.org.
Mary Beth Bigley, The National Organization for Nurse Practitioner Faculties, 1200 18th Street NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20036, USA. Electronic address: mbbigley@nonpf.org.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

3-1-2022

Journal

Journal of professional nursing : official journal of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing

Volume

39

DOI

10.1016/j.profnurs.2021.12.012

Keywords

Doctor of Nursing Practice; Instrument development; Minimum data set; Nurse practitioner; Surveys

Abstract

BACKGROUND: While the number of Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs has grown steadily, there is limited data on how national organizations are collecting data on DNP-prepared nurse practitioners (NPs) and no standard instrument exists to collect data on DNP-prepared NPs. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop a universal minimum data set (MDS) for the DNP-prepared NP population. METHOD: Instrument development consisted of several sequential stages, including conceptualization and item generation, preliminary evaluation of items, field testing the survey, and analysis of scale development data. FINDINGS: A set of 16 core variables and 19 additional variables were developed to collect standardized data on the demographics, education, and practice patterns of DNP-prepared NPs. Pilot testing revealed high correlations between the activities DNP-prepared NPs are prepared for and typically participate in a typical workweek and in their career. The MDS demonstrated high reliability in our sample. DISCUSSION: The DNP NP MDS can be used for data collection by various stakeholders, including national organizations, to facilitate improved tracking of outcome data for the DNP-prepared NP workforce. It can also provide data-driven support for the need and significance of the DNP degree for NPs.

APA Citation

Faraz Covelli, Asefeh; Buchholz, Susan Weber; Fowler, Leanne H.; Beasley, Sharon; and Bigley, Mary Beth, "Development of the Doctor of Nursing Practice Nurse Practitioner Minimum Data Set (DNP NP MDS)" (2022). GW Authored Works. Paper 690.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/690

Department

Nursing Faculty Publications