The purpose of the portfolio is to document student achievement of the eight DNP Essentials. The DNP Essentials are the guiding principles used to create the DNP curriculum and the standards by which the Arkansas State University DNP program is accredited. The portfolio is a collection of scholarly work (exemplars), including, but not limited to, course assignments, and clinical and professional experiences that demonstrate the student’s development of knowledge and competency in their specialty area and achievement of the DNP Essentials. Students will begin developing the portfolio in NURS 8313 DNP Internship I course and will continue to add to and refine the portfolio throughout the DNP Internship II and III courses. The required sections of the portfolio are outlined below:
The introduction will be the foundation for the portfolio and show how it illustrates the trajectory of the student’s clinical scholarship. The introduction should begin with a discussion of the student’s initial interests and plans when they began the program. The goal statement the student submitted with their application to the program might be a good place to start. Discuss how those initial interests evolved throughout the program. The student should include a concise discussion of their area of specialization to preview the content of the portfolio. The student should include a concise discussion is a general discussion of the student’s area of specialization (e.g., psych, pediatrics, primary care, etc.). The focus should be on providing relevant background information and convincing readers of the importance of the student’s specialty.
Headings for 8 DNP Essentials:
The portfolio will contain a heading for each DNP Essential.
For each DNP Essential heading, the student will write a minimum of 2 paragraphs describing the Essential in the student’s own words and how they have achieved the essential. Then describe how the exemplar or exemplars included in the Essential demonstrate that achievement. The description should include a concise preview of the exemplar, as well as its relationship to the Essential. Please state the course number and name, and the assignment name.
The portfolio will include at least one exemplar (e.g. a paper or presentation completed in a course) for each DNP Essential. A single exemplar may be used to support mastery of two, but not more than two Essentials.
