INTRODUCTION Aligning the essentials with a gap in practice or practice change In order to fulfil your DNP degree at Walden, you will complete non-clinical coursework, practicum hours, and a DNP Project. Both the clinical hours you will complete

INTRODUCTION Aligning the essentials with a gap in practice or practice change In order to fulfil your DNP degree at Walden, you will complete non-clinical coursework, practicum hours, and a DNP Project. Both the clinical hours you will complete as part of your Practicum and your DNP Project will align with specific Domains as defined in The Essentials. Your DNP Project will focus on a gap in practice or practice change designed to improve quality within the organization at which you are doing your Practicum. The specifics of this will be decided later on, but at this early stage of your program, you should begin thinking about 1) the types of organizations you might select for your practicum experiences and 2) gaps in practice or practice changes that could be identified within these organizations. As you do this, keep in mind how the gaps in practice or practice changes will align with The Essentials. To prepare: Review the Learning Resources for this week, specifically Chapter 4 of Dang and Dearholt addressing the Practice Question, AACN’s The Essentials, the DNP Practicum Manual, and the DNP Project Process Guide. Consider the types of organizations you might select for your practicum experiences (e.g., a large acute care health system, a long-term care facility, a pediatric hospital, a community health center, etc.) Consider the kinds of gaps in practice or practice changes that could benefit such organizations, including those specific to the organization and those that relate to healthcare practices more generally. Consider how the gaps in practice or practice changes you are interested in pursuing align to The Essentials. Select one organizational type and one gap in practice or practice change on which to focus for this Assignment. Note: You may select a new organizational type and gap in practice or practice change or, if you choose, you may reuse one on which you focused for a previous Assignment, Discussion, or Blog in this course. Also Note: These may or may not be the same organizational type and gap in practice or practice change as those you will focus on for your Practicum and DNP Project. Note: Be sure to review the grading rubric for this Assignment so you fully understand what is expected of you. To access the rubric, scroll down to the bottom of the Assignment page.