DNP Essentials Mapping
A personalized overview of how my DNP coursework, leadership experience, and scholarly project align with the AACN DNP Essentials.
⭐ Essential I: Scientific Underpinnings for Practice. Applies nursing science, theory, and public health principles to guide practice improvement.
My Alignment: Integrated Benner’s Novice-to-Expert Framework, Lippitt’s Change Theory, and the Roy Adaptation Model to guide the design and implementation of the School Nurse Learning Series. Applied public health frameworks to strengthen school nurse leadership, role clarity, and confidence. Grounded my DNP project in evidence-based practice, population health, and systems thinking.
⭐ Essential II: Organizational and Systems Leadership for Quality Improvement. Uses leadership strategies to improve systems of care, outcomes, and efficiency.
My Alignment: Led the design, coordination, and implementation of the Becoming the Professional School Nurse – Learn, Lead, and Level Up learning series across Los Angeles County.Served as Director of Clinical Placement, overseeing complex systems, partnerships, onboarding structures, compliance processes, and program operations.Navigated organizational barriers (MOUs, credential program limitations, stakeholder readiness) to pivot the project and maintain forward momentum.Facilitated inter-school district collaboration and strengthened school nurse onboarding systems.
⭐ Essential III: Clinical Scholarship & Analytical Methods for Evidence-Based Practice. Utilizes evidence-based practice, evaluation methods, and outcome measurement to enhance care.
My Alignment: Designed pre- and post-series evaluation tools aligned with the Kirkpatrick Model to measure confidence, knowledge, and leadership identity.Conducted literature review on school nurse onboarding, public health leadership, and workforce development.Analyzed qualitative and quantitative feedback from school nurses to refine learning sessions. Disseminated findings through presentations, stakeholder sessions, and academic documentation.
⭐ Essential IV: Information Systems/Technology for the Improvement & Transformation of Health Care. Integrates technology, data, and informatics to enhance practice and learning.
My Alignment: Built an informatics-focused Session 3 to help school nurses use data for decision-making, documentation, and population health tracking. Applied digital learning tools (Zoom, digital resources, visual dashboards, evaluation surveys) to support accessible, scalable learning. Utilized data from evaluations and stakeholder engagement to guide continuous improvement of the learning series.
⭐ Essential V: Healthcare Policy for Advocacy in Health Care. Engages in policy analysis, advocacy, and systems-level thinking.
My Alignment: Advocated for improved school nurse onboarding structures and public health orientation within school districts.Identified policy-level barriers (credentialing, MOU approvals, workforce classifications) that affect school nurse preparation and role clarity.Engaged with district leaders, public health partners, and nursing administrators to support sustainable system improvements. Promoted alignment between school health practice and California education/health policies.
⭐ Essential VI: Interprofessional Collaboration for Improving Patient & Population Health Outcomes. Promotes teamwork and collaboration across disciplines.
My Alignment:Collaborated with LAUSD, Burbank USD, and county partners to design relevant content for diverse school nursing environments.Engaged expert panelists (school nurses, district leaders, public health professionals, educators) across all sessions.Partnered with academic and clinical stakeholders at MSMU to integrate school nursing and public health principles into leadership development. Facilitated discussions that supported shared learning, collaboration, and professional networking among participants.
⭐ Essential VII: Clinical Prevention & Population Health for Improving Health Focuses on population health strategies and prevention across the lifespan.
My Alignment:Centered the learning series on population health principles embedded in school nursing: health promotion, early identification, prevention, and health equity.Applied public health competencies from the DNP curriculum to address health needs of diverse school communities across Los Angeles County.Strengthened school nurses’ understanding of their role as population health leaders. Integrated public health topics such as equity, social determinants, and population-based decision-making.
⭐ Essential VIII: Advanced Nursing PracticeDemonstrates leadership, professionalism, and advanced practice behaviors.
My Alignment:Led multi-session educational programming that improved professional identity, confidence, and leadership capacity among school nurses.Provided mentorship, guidance, and support to nurses transitioning into school health roles.Demonstrated advanced communication, project management, curriculum design, and evaluation skills through project implementation. Modeled professional leadership as a nursing faculty member, clinical placement director, and public health DNP student.