Proposal Writing for Nursing Capstones and Clinical Projects

While advanced practice nursing students generally have good clinical skills, many lack the clinical scholarship capabilities that are required for writing scholarly proposals. The only resource of its kind, this is a practical guide for MSN project students and DNP capstone students who must plan and organize their clinical projects into quality proposals. It provides the requisite guidelines for integrating research and best evidence with clearly communicated professional objectives. The book's "how-to" approach helps to demystify the organization and packaging of advanced practice clinical projects into tight proposals.

The text includes an overview of basic scholarly approaches required for professional communication that support a diverse array of clinical project topics. Students interact with the content via ongoing prompts and questions that guide them in the kind of reflective writing that facilitates greater understanding of their projects and subsequent proposals. Chapters are organized into three broad sections with a logical flow toward completion of planning, writing, and communicating a project proposal. Each chapter is consistently organized to include objectives, tips for making proposals concise yet complete, and tools for self-assessment. Also included are key point summaries, reflective questions, and writing prompts. Additionally, the book provides plentiful checklists, five exercises that jump-start the process, examples of good writing, and additional resources for further study.

Key Features:

• Provides topflight guidance in proposal writing for nursing capstones and clinical projects
• Details parameters for integrating scholarship with clearly communicated professional objectives
• Contains numerous writing prompts and questions that guide students in reflective scholarly writing
• Includes a project triangle framework, exercises to jump-start the process, examples of good writing, reflective questions, and tools for self-assessment
• Offers helpful tips for making proposals concise yet complete

Wanda Bonnel, PhD, APRN, ANEF, is faculty emeritus at the University of Kansas School of Nursing, Kansas City, Kansas. She is a fellow of the National League for Nursing Academy and recipient of numerous awards, including both the Distinguished Nursing Alumna Award and the Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award at the University of Kansas. Dr. Bonnel has received multiple funded grants, including the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) online Health Professions Educator Certificate program. She has published numerous peer-reviewed abstracts and articles in geriatric and educator specialty journals, including Clinical Advisor and Journal of Professional Nursing. In addition to this text, she coauthored the textbook Teaching Technologies in Nursing and the Health Professions (2019). As a specialist in geriatrics and nursing education, she has taught courses in the master’s, DNP, and doctoral programs, including advanced clinical residency and project courses for DNPs. Her ongoing research interests include online learning best practices and advanced practice mentoring.

Katharine V. Smith, PhD, RN, is associate professor emeritus at the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Nursing and Health Studies. Dr. Smith has received multiple grants, most of which have focused on aspects of teaching, advanced education, and nursing traineeships. Recent scholarship includes peer viewed publications and national presentations on the use of simulation to teach legal and ethical content. She has also coauthored the textbook Teaching Technologies in Nursing and the Health Professions (2019). Dr. Smith has taught in both undergraduate and graduate nursing programs, facilitating advanced clinical projects through the early conceptual phases.