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DNP Project Resource Guide: Publishing Your Project

A guide for CON students working on their DNP projects.

Getting Started

Congratulations on making it to the writing stage of your DNP Project! The Librarians hope you will consider publishing a journal article on your project in a journal to share your contributions to the field and to engage further in the scholarly process. The purpose of this guide page is to help you navigate and select potential journals for publishing your DNP project. 

Why Publish Your DNP Project in a Scholarly Journal?

  • Benefits your career as it provides evidence that you have completed an evidence-based program and have an example of your professional writing,
  • Shares experience of a successful program so others in the field can implement it within their own workplace as well, and
  • Highlights translation of research into practice, growing the nursing field.

Simplified Journal Article Publication Process

  1. Find peer-review journal within the scope of your DNP project
  2. Explore and evaluate based on the criteria for selecting a journal
  3. Write your manuscript following the Author Guidelines of your selected journal
  4. Double-check the completed manuscript meets the Author Guidelines
  5. Submit for peer-review
  6. Receive peer-review comments
  7. Revise to address reviewers' concerns
  8. Resubmit for review
  9. Accepted for publication

Strategies for Finding Journals for your DNP Project

There are many strategies for finding a journal which fits your project. Below are some potential strategies to get you started:

  • Consult your peers or mentors on where they have published their research or quality improvement projects
    • Ask about their experiences submitting a manuscript to that journal.
    • If they have not submitted an article, ask them about the journals they read or subscribe to in the nursing discipline.
  • Review the bibliography you prepared in your proposal or manuscript for potential journals
    • Review for multiple citations from the same journal. That might be a sign that your manuscript's topic is within that journal's scope and aims.
  • Use a journal selector search like Edanz or J/ANE
    • Search using your prepared abstract or relevant keywords related to your manuscript.
  • Review a directory of nursing journals
  • Write using the SQUIRE Statement manuscript format if you are using a Quality Improvement methodology for your project.
  • Check disciplinary lists in various citation reports
    • Use the Journal Citation Report list from Web of Science or the Scimago Journal Ranking to review the potential impact of a journal

Resources for Journal Selection

Resources to Review Potential Journals Related to Your Project:
Resources to Review Journal Quality:

Carter-Templeton, H., (December 12, 2019) "Informatics: Protect Yourself and the Nursing Profession from Predatory Journals" OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing Vol. 25, No. 1. DOI: 10.3912/OJIN.Vol25No01InfoCol01

A brief article addressing unethical publication practices of predatory journals. This article will help you verify the legitimacy of the journal you are selecting.

Books on Writing for Publication

Writing an Abstract

DNP Publications

The UIC College of Nursing has had several DNP students pursue publication opportunities stemming from their scholarly project. The majority of these students were post-master's DNP candidates. The publications are grouped by DNP specialty and if published, linked to options to obtain full-text.

If you do not see a DNP student publication stemming from their scholarly project, please contact the Nursing Library Liaisons so we may add it to the list.

Bomben, M. E., Hansen, R. N., & Fitz, S. M. (2023). Transitions of Patient Care: A Standardized Tool for Provider Handoff. Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 19(4), 104544–. doi:10.1016/j.nurpra.2023.104544

Coyer, B., & Carlucci, M. (2023). Reducing Central Line Utilization by Peripherally Infusing Vasopressors. Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing, 42(3), 131–136. doi:10.1097/DCC.0000000000000576

Kim, J. S., & Carlucci, M. (2021). Reducing Unnecessary Head Computed Tomographic Scans in an Adult Emergency Department. Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 17(6), 749–752. doi:10.1016/j.nurpra.2020.12.017

O’Dell, A., Banks, K., Diegel-Vacek, L. (2018). Development of an RN training toolkit for value-based care models. AAACN Viewpoint, 40(6), 3-8. Retrieved from http://proxy.cc.uic.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rzh&AN=136737878

Sedlock, J., Green, J., & Diegel-Vacek, L. (2020). Need and rationale for geriatric fracture programs. Orthopaedic Nursing, 39(3), 162-164.

Sedlock, J., Green, J., & Diegel-Vacek, L. (2020). Implementation of a geriatric fracture program. Orthopaedic Nursing, 39(3), 165-168. (ANCC contact hour article).

Lepkowski, A. M., Shannon, R. A., & Maughan, E. D. (2019). Validation of a model for developing evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for school nursing. The Journal of School Nursing. Advanced online publication. doi:10.1177/1059840519881771 

Lepkowski, A. M., & Maughan, E. D. (2018). Introducing NASN’s new evidence-based clinical guideline: Students with seizures and epilepsy. NASN School Nurse, 33(6), 345-350. doi:10.1177/1942602X18806824

Lepkowski, A. M., & Maughan, E. D. (2018). School nursing evidence-based practice clinical guideline: Students with seizures and epilepsy. Retrieved from https://www.pathlms.com/nasn/courses/8992

Moss, E., Bergren, M. D., & Maughan, E. D. (2019). School nurse websites: What do they tell us about school nurses? The Journal of School Nursing, 35(6), 395-400. doi:10.1177/1059840519843315

Reising, V. A., Bergren, M. D., & Bennett, A. (2019). Care and treatment recommendations for pregnant women with opioid use disorder. MCN, the American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing, 44(4), 212-218. doi:10.1097/NMC.0000000000000538

Ricca, P., Wahlskog, C., & Bergren, M. D. (2018). Enhancing cultural sensitivity in a community health care setting for LGBTQ patients. Journal of Community Health Nursing, 35(4), 165-178. doi:10.1080/07370016.2018.1516420

Sautter, M. & Bergren, M.D. (2019). The role of community in suicide prevention. Manuscript submitted for publication.

Shannon, R. A., & Maughan, E. D. (2019). A model for developing evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for school nursing. The Journal of School Nursing. doi:10.1177/1059840519880938

Lepkowski, A. M., Shannon, R. A., & Maughan, E. D. (2019). Validation of a model for developing evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for school nursing. The Journal of School Nursing. doi:10.1177/1059840519881771

Shannon, R. A. (2018). School nursing EBP clinical guidelines: What they are and are not, and why they matter. NASN School Nurse, 33(2), 104-105. doi:10.1177/1942602X17753602

Singer, R., Kruse, K., & Swart, S. (in press). Addressing nurses’ professional quality of life: An innovative writing workshop. International Journal for Human Caring.

Singer, R., & Kruse, K. (2019). Art and health care: A dialog about interdisciplinary collaboration. Nursing Forum, 54(3), 403-409. doi:10.1111/nuf.12347

Yonkaitis, C. F. (2018). Evidence-based practice and school nurse practice: A review of literature. The Journal of School Nursing, 34(1), 60-67. doi:10.1177/1059840517728108

Yonkaitis, C. F., & Maughan, E. D. (2018). Did your evidence-base program work? Share the news! CLUES #5/6: Assess and alert. NASN School Nurse, 33(4), 216-219. doi:10.1177/1942602X18778241

Yonkaitis, C. F., & Maughan, E. D. (2018). Evidence-based practice: Making the research relevant to your situation—CLUE #4: Apply. NASN School Nurse, 33(3), 154-157. doi:10.1177/1942602X18766475

Maughan, E. D., & Yonkaitis, C. F. (2018). What does the evidence say is best for your student? CLUE #3: Appraise. NASN School Nurse, 33(2), 99-103. doi:10.1177/1942602X17753601

Yonkaitis, C. F., & Maughan, E. D. (2018). Finding the best evidence to support care of students with chronic conditions: CLUE #2: Acquire. NASN School Nurse, 33(1), 23-26. doi:10.1177/1942602X17743985

Maughan, E. D., & Yonkaitis, C. F. (2017). Coordinating care for students with chronic conditions: CLUE #1. NASN School Nurse, 32(6), 346-349. doi:10.1177/1942602X17733513

Maughan, E. D., & Yonkaitis, C. F. (2017). What does evidence-based school nursing practice even mean? Get a CLUE. NASN School Nurse, 32(5), 287-289. doi:10.1177/1942602X17724420

Chu, M., Cotler, K., & Yingling, C. (2019). Understanding patient motivations for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis initiation and adherence. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Advanced online publication. doi:10.1097/JXX.0000000000000282

Keenan, M., Thomas, P., & Cotler, K. (2020). Increasing sexually transmitted infection detection through screening at extragenital sites. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 16(2), e27-e30. doi:10.1016/j.nurpra.2019.07.023

Vortman, R., Bergren, M. D., Baur, K., & Floyd, V. (2019). Nurse retention in the operating room after perioperative core curriculum completion. ORNAC Journal, 37(3), 13-27.

Potts, L., Ryan, C., Diegel-Vacek, L., & Murchek, A. (2018). Improving patient flow from the emergency department utilizing a standardized electronic nursing handoff process. JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration, 48(9), 432-436. doi:10.1097/NNA.0000000000000645

Vonderhaar, B., & Snyder, M. (2019). Nursing advocacy and long acting injectables to reduce high readmission rates: Quality initiative. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. doi:10.1177/1078390319865333