Publication patterns of graduates from a DNP program with submission of a manuscript as a degree requirement

Background: Nurses who earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree are expected to make essential contributions to the scholarship of practice and the improvement of health care outcomes. The DNP program at Duke University School of Nursing requires that students demonstrate scholarship competence by writing a manuscript based on their DNP project and submitting it for publication.

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to share an evaluation of the effectiveness of this approach.

Methods: The authors used a bibliometric study design.

Results: This study demonstrates that manuscripts authored by students based on the DNP projects they conduct while earning their DNP degree can be published and are cited by other scholars. Additionally, the majority of these authors continue to publish scholarly work in the nursing and broader health-focused literature after they graduate.

Conclusion: Nurses who developed and submit manuscripts for publication based on their DNP project contribute to the literature and evidence base for practice.