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students presenting

Inaugural Doctor Of Nursing Practice Graduating Class Presents Capstone Projects

Aug 24, 2021
FSC Staff
by FSC Staff

Members of the inaugural graduating class of the Florida Southern College Doctor of Nursing Practice program presented their capstone scholarly project posters in the Joe K. and Alberta Blanton Nursing Building, on August 11, 2021. The seven-member cohort completed four community- and practice-based health care improvement projects. Dissemination of these projects at Florida Southern College and at the project host site is a requirement for the degree.

As part of the curriculum, DNP students are required to select a real-world health issue, examine current literature, and implement evidence-based interventions to improve population health and health care delivery. Under the guidance of Dr. Melanie Michael, Associate Professor and Director of the Graduate Nursing Program, and Dr. Tracy Magee, Assistant Professor of Pediatric Nursing, the final DNP scholarly projects represent the culmination of the six-semester program.

“I feel a sense of joy and pride, that our students were able to accomplish this,” said Dr. Michael, who began working with the Florida Southern College DNP students in 2019. “These students have faced unprecedented challenges over the past 18 months, including the COVID 19 pandemic. Their dedication and perseverance in this environment are commendable.”

Projects included:

  • Infrastructure Development and Evaluation of Telehealth Services for Advanced Care Hospitalists, presented by Kristen Milinazzo, MSN, APRN, AGNP-BC, and Elizabeth Ely Palazzi-Xirinachs, MSN, APRN, RN-BC, supervised by Dr. Melanie Michael
  • Identifying Barriers with Documentation of the HEART Score for Patients with Chest Pain, presented by Doris Thornhill, MSN, AGACNP-BC, CCRN, supervised by Dr. Tracy Magee
  • Promoting Safe Sleep Practices in Hospitals and Birthing Centers in Hardee, Highlands, and Polk Counties, presented by Carol Anderson, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, Tracie Barber, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, and Dianna Moorer, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, OCN, supervised by Dr. Tracy Magee
  • Improving Heart Failure Patent Outcomes in an Ambulatory Cardiology Practice, presented by Sara Bashyam, MSN, APRN, ANP-BC, supervised by Dr. Melanie Michael

The seven-member cohort will be hooded on August 24, 2021.