UToledo DNP Student Library Research Hub

The information resources on this page serve as supplementary materials for NURS 8010. 

• Identifying a Problem & Project Idea. Resources to help you identify a clinical problem to address in your DNP project. 
• Proposal Writing. Resources to help you develop a DNP Proposal draft. 
• IRB Approval. Links to information about the Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval process

For assistance accessing and using resources, please contact your Nursing Librarian Jodi Jameson. 

Recommended Reading

• Hays, D., Milner, K. A., Farus-Brown, S., Zonsius, M. C., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2024). Clinical inquiry and problem identification. American Journal of Nursing, 124(5), 38–46. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NAJ.0001016372.73610.a0

Generating Ideas for your DNP Project

Identifying a clinical problem that can be translated into a PICO(T) question takes some brainstorming, research, and planning.

The following recommendations from the Iowa Model of EBP (Titler et al., 2001) can help in generating ideas for your PICO(T) question:

Problem-Focused or Practice-Focused Triggers:

• Patient cases you have encountered
• Clinical scenarios you have observed
• Quality improvement data
• Other internal data specific to your organization

Knowledge-Focused Triggers:

• Conduct an "exploratory" background search of the research literature to identify problems or practice recommendations
• Identify interventions that have been proven effective by previous studies
• Review clinical practice guidelines recommendations

Titler, M. G., Kleiber, C., Steelman, V. J., Rakel, B. A., Budreau, G., Everett, L. Q., et al. (2001). The Iowa model of evidence-based practice to promote quality care. Critical Care Nursing Clinics of North America, 13(4), 497-509.

Print Books & E-Books

The Institutional Review Board reviews study protocols to ensure that they are designed ethically and safely.

To learn more about the IRB approval process, visit the webpage of the UToledo Human Research Protection Program. 

Selected relevant links are provided below:

• Does Your Research Project Require IRB Review?
• Required IRB Training
• Which IRB Will Review My Research?