Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40574469›Full record

ArticleJournal of advanced nursing2026

Cultivating Nurse Leaders: Integrating Policy Analysis Projects in Doctor of Nursing Practice Programmes.

Elizabeth K Kuzma, Yasamin Kusunoki, Madison Auger, Audrey Brookins, Alexandrea Garbus, Claudia Gates, Laura Gultekin, LaShawnda McLean, Kathryn N Nelson, Kameron Torchia and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of advanced nursing, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Elizabeth K KuzmaDepartment of Health Behavior and Clinical Sciences, University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2294-6863
Yasamin KusunokiDepartment of Systems Population and Leadership, University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Madison AugerBright Future Pediatrics, Flint, Michigan, USA.
Audrey BrookinsDepartment of Health Behavior and Clinical Sciences, University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Alexandrea GarbusHenry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital-Obstetrics/Gynecology/Women's Health, West Bloomfield, Michigan, USA.
Claudia GatesDepartment of Health Behavior and Clinical Sciences, University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Laura GultekinDepartment of Health Behavior and Clinical Sciences, University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
LaShawnda McLeanDepartment of Health Behavior and Clinical Sciences, University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Kathryn N NelsonDepartment of Health Behavior and Clinical Sciences, University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Kameron TorchiaMichigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Elizabeth A DuffyDepartment of Health Behavior and Clinical Sciences, University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimTo present the process of establishing a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) policy analysis project option at one nursing school, offering examples of diverse student and graduate analyses to guide other institutions.

backgroundNurses are skilled patient advocates, and their advocacy forms a crucial foundation for influencing health policy. This, in turn, enhances population health and addresses health disparities, particularly for vulnerable groups. DNP students are educated to use innovative methods to integrate current evidence to inform practice and policy, yet some nursing schools lack resources to support comprehensive DNP policy analysis projects.

methodsThe article presents a case example of how one institution developed a pathway and instructional support to formally offer DNP students the option to perform a DNP policy analysis project. DISCUSSION: Essential elements to support students' successful completion of a DNP policy analysis project include adequate faculty expertise in health policy and a structured institutional framework. Residency activities must deepen a student's understanding and knowledge about policy and the health problem trying to be solved with policy. Clear documentation of these unique residency activities is crucial. There is a strong emphasis on the need for clear communication and guidance between programme faculty, programme mentors and students. DNP policy analysis projects enrich students' knowledge, skills and networks, fostering future policy leaders and facilitating collaboration with clinical experts across diverse research fields.

conclusionNurturing DNP students completing policy analysis projects is vital for translating evidence into practice, developing future nurse policy leaders and ensuring health equity and access to quality healthcare. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND PATIENT CARE: DNP policy projects can positively influence nursing practice and policy. Expanding upon previous DNP students' policy analysis projects also provides a unique opportunity to build and broaden nursing's impact on policy development.

Indexed as

Education, Nursing, GraduateHealth PolicyLeadershipPolicy MakingCurriculumHumansStudents, Nursingcurriculum policyevidence‐based practiceleadershipnurse education policy

Identifiers

PMID40574469
PMCPMC13069195

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.