DNP Scholarly Project Agency Fieldwork Worksheet

Use this worksheet to start the DNP project development process. As the name suggests fieldwork is working outside of the typical work space and incorporates opportunities to establish relationships, engage with communities and examine systems in their natural state.

This worksheet is designed to help you identify a DNP project problem/issue. Feel free to add/delete information as you work through the project development process. It is designed as a step by step process but students may work in any order that is useful.

The majority of the information you acquire will be gathered in the field (visiting sites, speaking with stakeholders). Students must visit a minimum of three potential sites, more may be necessary. All items must be completed for this to be considered a finished deliverable.

Review the DNP Scholarly Project Guide for general information on the DNP Scholarly Project.

Ensure your PIGO^* is linked to one of the agency issues or is directly related. This will cultivate ongoing team development and ensure the project receives proper attention allowing the team to quickly remove roadblocks. (*Problem, Issue, Gap, Opportunity)

DNP Scholarly Project Agency Fieldwork Worksheet.pdf

List the three agencies/organizations you visited that experience a practice problem, issue, gap, or opportunity (PIGO) of interest (may add more if needed). Name the agency/organization, practice setting or site, and provide a brief description of a problem, issue, gap, or opportunity discussed.

For the remaining fieldwork questions, select the one agency most likely to work with you on a DNP project.

In this organization, how are issues/problems (clinical, health, process, or financial) identified now and what is the current process for change?
If the agency is not currently measuring process, how would one know it needs improvement?
Is the problem, issue, gap, or opportunity (PIGO) amendable to change, in general?
1. Why or why not?
2. Describe actual or potential resources, facilitators, barriers or challenges.
How does this PIGO impact individual/population health outcomes, provider practice, system processes, or organization fiscal/capital resources? Address all relevant aspects.
1. Individual/population health
2. Provider practice
3. System processes
4. Resources
Who are the key stakeholders, and what are the benefits to these stakeholders* in addressing the issue proposed? (*organizations, providers, patients, healthcare systems)
What national initiatives, quality indicators, or research funding is currently being addressed by or allocated to your PIGO?
Provide the PIGO data:
1. Soft data: Often informal information from key stakeholders (subjective information – how do stakeholders/organization see the PIGO, what draws attention to this, what do they think is the root cause, what would they like to be improved and why, etc.)
2. Hard data: Numerical/report data from the organization (objective information – i.e. datasets of number of patients affected, amount of provider time, costs, system personnel involved etc. as related to the PIGO).