Translational Project

The Translational Project is an in-depth and integrative experience that results in a practice-related written project that exemplifies how evidence can be used to change or improve practice or outcomes for patients, families, populations, and/or health care systems. This project is a translation of current research into a final product. The student is required to develop a brief prospectus with the Chair of the project. A prospectus is the first step in producing the project and is meant to demonstrate the topic and the beginning approach are adequate to proceed with the project proposal.

The second step is fully developing the project proposal for review by the student’s Translational Project Committee. Coursework within the DNP program supports the various Translational Project components. The student will complete the project based on AACN Essentials for Clinical Scholarship and Analytical Methods for Evidence-Based Practice (2006). At the completion of the DNP Program, the student will defend an evidence-based Translational Project that he/she has designed, implemented and evaluated during the program of study.

The project Chair will be assigned to the student and will also serve as the student’s advisor. The faculty member must hold Graduate Faculty Status as approved by the Graduate School Dean. The student should meet with the Chair to constitute a project committee, which will consist of the Chair and one community member. Additional members of the committee are considered non-voting members.

The DNP Qualifying Examination will be the student’s successful defense of the DNP Translational Project Proposal. The faculty will determine if a student is prepared and competent to implement the proposed project. To be eligible to defend the project proposal, a student must have completed the first two semesters of the DNP program. The student’s DNP Translational Project Committee and the Graduate Academic Coordinator or DNP Coordinator will evaluate the student’s defense of the project proposal. The student must receive a majority approval or conditional approval at the time of the DNP Qualifying Examinations in order to progress in the program.

Cohort 1 Translational Projects

Implementation of Motivational Interviewing Methodologies with Primary Care Providers for Patient Education - Candace J Bishop, DNP, FNP-BC
Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema - Lee A. Brown DNP, APRN, ACNP, FNP
A Collaborative Approach To Improve Communication During Transition Of Care - Julie Humble Horton, DNP, MSN
A Focused Care Program to Translate Care on an Observation Unit – Jan Keys, DNP, RN, BC
Using Social Norms Media Strategies to Affect Perceived Norms of High Risk Sexual Behaviors in College Students – Yasmine Kangles Key, DNP, FNP-BC
Open Access Endoscopy System – Rebekah Corey, DNP, FNP-BC
Improving Nursing Satisfaction in the Emergency Department - Nancy Stevens, DNP
Improving Nursing Retention Through A Formal New Graduate Preceptor Program – Lynda K. Ridley, DNP, ACNS-BC
Development of an Education Program to Improve Nurse Practitioner Knowledge Regarding the Preceptor Role and Evaluation of Care for Patients with Diabetes in a Medically Underserved Primary Care Clinic – Amber Roache, DNP, FNP-BC
Integration of the Homeostasis Model Assessment Among Advanced Nurse Practitioners as a Tool for Identifying Insulin Resistance - Kim Taylor, DNP, FNP-BC

Cohort 2 Translational Projects

Chronic Stress in the Neonatal Intensive Care - Alisha Armstrong, DNP, PNP-BC
Implementing Skin-to-Skin Contact at Deliver - Lynn Blackburn, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC
Motivational Interviewing Education of Healthcare Providers: An Evaluation of Effect of Assessment and Referral of Pregnant Women with Substance Abuse - Sharon Davis, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC
Menopause: Clinical Assessment Considerations - Wanda Hunt, DNP, FNP-BC
Text Messaging Intervention: Implicit and Explicit Effects on Medication Adherence in Adults with Congenital Heart Disease - Teresa Lyle, DNP, APRN, CPNP
Implementation of a Comprehensive Foot Care Model in Urban Inner City Dialysis Centers: A Quality Improvement Program - Stephanie Sheridan, DNP, FNP-BC
Utilizing Best Practices for Providers Who Treat Chronic Pain Patients - Dawn Trundle, DNP, FNP-BC
A Clinician’s Guide to Elder Abuse Management - Susan Wall, DNP, FNP-BC
Teen Dating Violence: A Multidisciplinary Care Provider Approach - Chris Walls, DNP, FNP-BC

Cohort 3 Translational Projects

Emotional Intelligence Training for Leadership Development in Advanced Practice Nurse Managers - Melissa Bogle, MSN, FNP-BC
Implementation of Propofol Accountability in an Operating Suite - Donnie Carter, MSN, CRNA
Chlorhexidine Bathing in the ICU to Decrease Hospital Acquired Infections - Bernadette DePrez, MSN, MBA
Shared Governance - Morella Herington, RN, MSN
Improving the Work Environment with Magnet Education - Miriam Knight, RN, MSN
Implementation of an Evidence-Based Parturient-Controlled Epidural Analgesia (PCEA) Program in a Labor & Delivery Unit - Scott Monterde, MSN, CRNA
A Multifaceted Infection Control Program for Medical and Dental Trainees - Marian Morgan, MSN, FNP-BC
Professional Quality of Life in New Graduate Pediatric Oncology Nurses Enrolled in a Nurse Residency Program - Stephanie Nikbakht, MSN, PPCNP-BC
Bowel Elimination: A TEAM Approach (Evidence-Based Management of Constipation) - Robin Zachary, Ed.S., MSN, RN

DNP Cohort 4 – graduated Dec 2015

Emily Lee – Breast is BEST: Increasing Healthcare Provide Knowledge and Confidence
Melissa Humfleet – Putting Your Best Foot Forward
Virginia Massey-Holt – Change Talk and Choice: Options for Tobacco Cessation in Primary Care
Jamey Morrison – Utilizing a Formalized Provider Education Program and a Standardized Evidence-Based Ketamine Administration Protocol to Decrease Postoperative Opioid Consumption
Stephanie Jones – Community Acquired Pneumonia: Implementation of the CURB-65 Risk Assessment Score and Education Program

DNP Cohort 5 – graduated Dec 2016

Angela Snyder - Compassion Fatigue Prevention Program in a Pediatric Oncology ICU
Gianna Owens - Peers educating peers: A Hepatitis C prevention intervention for women in rural Appalachia
Heather Havens - A Comprehensive QI Program to Reduce Pressure Ulcers in Children
Janice Floyd – Implementation of a Dedicated Education Unit
Kat Compton - Standardizing an Orientation Program for Non-Physician Providers Working in the Hospital Setting
Kim Holland – Implementing A Standardized, Blended Bedside Shift Report
Kelly Nunn - Palliative Care Nursing Education
Matthew Dane – Application of Lean Methodology and Training Within Industry Methods in Surgery
Megan Sticher - Motivational Interviewing in Allergy Immunotherapy
Shante Washington - Soldiers Who Return from Iraq and Afghanistan with New-Onset Respiratory Disorders
Judy Woodward – Motivational Interviewing to Improve Outcomes for Diabetes
Priscilla Simms-Roberson - An Evidence-Based Practice Protocol for Victims of Sexual Assault
Kristin Vollrath - Increasing Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Rates in Pediatric Private Practice
Judy Johnson - Implementing Menopause Standards of Care Guidelines

DNP Cohort 6 – graduated Dec 2017

Stephanie Abbu - Peer to Peer Mentoring
Christy Blount - An HPV Vaccine Protocol to Increase Education and Compliance
Penne Drake - Improving Surgical Wound Classification Accuracy
Mary Eva Dye - L.E.A.N. – Lean Efficiency Among NNPs
Angela Heatherly - Translational Care to Decrease 30-Day Hospital Readmissions for Patients Diagnosed with Heart Failure
Kristeen Hillier - Incubating Post-Partum Education Through Technology
Leslie Hughes - Got Sadness? Diagnosis & Treatment of Depression
Gary Johnson - Bridging Emotional Leadership and Transformational Leadership Components to Enhance the Job Satisfaction of Both Nurse Managers and Their Direct Reports
Jill Nielsen - Bolusing Insulin: A Tool for the Clinician, Simplified!
Jason Sasser - Facilitating Hypertension Management in a Retail Health Setting
Cynthia Shaffer - Increasing Access to Fresh Produce in Food Deserts in Chattanooga
Angela Stevens - Improving Care Transitions: Strategies for Reducing Avoidable 30-Day Hospital Readmissions in Patients with Heart Failure
Sarah Treat - An Evidence-Based Sexual History Intervention
Stacy Whitehead - Implementing an Evidence Based Program to School Nurses on Sleep Disordered Breathing in Children

DNP Cohort 7 – graduated Dec 2018

Culeta Armstrong: Use of Stepsforward Team-Based Model and RN Outreach Program to Decrease Hemoglobin AICS in Patients with Diabetes
Kim Brown: Graduate Nurse Job Satisfaction
Pamela Damron - Medication Reconciliation: A Phenomenological Qualitative Project
Sheana Fox - Peripheral Artery Disease Educational Intervention for Primary Care Staff: A Quality Improvement Initiative for Patients with Diabetes
Brittany Haskell: Standard Patient Facilitated Simulation for Behavioral Health Nurse Residents
Resha Howard - Improving Inventory of surgical supplies in the Methodist University hospital operating room
Tammy Lewis: Novice Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Nurses, Mock Codes, and Simulation
Jamie Russell - Sexual Assault Education On A College Campus: A Trauma-Sensitive Approach
Melan Smith-Francis - Group Prenatal Care: Implementing Change to Reduce Adverse Outcomes
Rebecca Thomas - Increasing Awareness of the Second Victim Phenomenon
Laura Tyndall - Implementation of an Anesthesia Specific Infection Prevention Protocol
Danielle Vandergriff - Tobacco Dependence: Screening and Treatment as Chronic Medical Condition

DNP Cohort 8

Graduated Dec 2019

Elizabeth Dyer - A Preventative Health Screening Tool
Sandra French - Chronic Pelvic Pain in Women caused by Pelvic Venous Disease
Joy Goins - Post Cesarean Multimodal Analgesia Guidelines
Susan Hammond - Pressure Injury Prevention in the Surgical ICU
Lauren Manzo - Increasing Pulmonary Rehabilitation Referrals Improves Outcomes of Care in Patients with Moderate-to-Severe COPD
Colleen Moss - Mentoring New Graduate Neonatal Nurse Practitioners
Kayla Norman - Alcohol Abuse Among College Students
Monique Rivers - A Handoff Tool to Improve Patient Safety in Dialysis Care
Kristina Wick - Reducing Burden for Caregivers of Persons Living with Dementia

Graduated May 2020

Adria Bautista - Expanding Utilization for End of Life Services in the Latino Community
Brooke Epperson - STIGMA Stopping Traumatic Incidence Through Governed Mental Health Awareness
Ken Grubbs - IMAGINE An Evidence Based Approach for Improving Employee Engagement
Lynsey Hughston - Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection Prevention and Management
Amy Jo Perry - The Role of Safety Coaches in a Culture of Safety
Christy Stubblefield - Improving Joy to Increase Job Satisfaction and Workgroup Cohesion