Use the following resources to write your DNP Project Hours Objectives. Consider what you want to accomplish through your DNP Project Hours experience. Make sure to take into consideration the DNP Essentials as you develop your objectives.

SMART strategy for writing objectives:

Specific – outline in a clear statement precisely what is required.
Measurable – include a measure to enable you to monitor progress and to know when the objective has been achieved.
Achievable – objectives can be designed to be challenging, but it is important that failure is not built into objectives.
Realistic - focus on outcomes rather than the means of achieving them
Timely - (or time-bound) – agree the date by which the outcome must be achieved.

You can access the UCF Objective Builder Tool to help walk you through the objective development process.

Bloom's taxonomy is a classification of levels of learning or mastery.

As a doctoral student, you should be striving for what is referred to as higher-order thinking. With your DNP project hour objectives, you should strive to develop knowledge at the Analyze, Evaluate, and Synthesis (or Create) levels of Bloom's taxonomy. See links below to help you write your objectives based on Bloom's Taxonomy, try to use active, higher cognitive level verbs:

Clark, D. (2015). Bloom's taxonomy of learning domains.
UCF Faculty Center for Teaching & Learning. (n.d.). Bloom’s taxonomy.
Northeastern University. (n.d.). Revised Bloom's taxonomy action verbs.

Examples of objectives vs. activities (with associated DNP Essentials):

Objective: By the end of the semester, I will evaluate the role of the APRN in quality improvement and evidence-based practice.

Activity: I will interview 2 advanced practice nurses who practice in the specialty of palliative care.

Associated DNP Essential: Essential II: Organizational and Systems Leadership for Quality Improvement and Systems Thinking & Essential III: Clinical Scholarship and Analytical Methods for Evidence-Based Practice

Objective: By the end of the semester, I will analyze 2 pertinent quality indicators that measure process improvement related to STI prevention.

Activity: I will review evidence provided by the CDC, AHRQ and experts in the STI prevention field.

Associated DNP Essential: Essential III: Clinical Scholarship and Analytical Methods for Evidence-Based Practice & Essential VII: Clinical Prevention and Population Health for Improving the Nation's Health & Essential VIII: Advanced Nursing Practice

Objective: By the end of the semester, I will prioritize health issues that impact transgender people.

Activity: I will participate in 4 related webinars and discuss these issues with 2 experts in the field.

Associated DNP Essential: Essential VII: Clinical Prevention and Population Health for Improving the Nation's Health & Essential VIII: Advanced Nursing Practice

Objective: By the end of the semester, I will explore the process and tools necessary to complete an evidence-based quality improvement project.

Activity: I will search the literature through 3 new databases, document, and store my findings via one new citation software tool and practice using one new survey tool.

Associated DNP Essential: Essential III: Clinical Scholarship and Analytical Methods for Evidence-Based Practice & Essential IV: Information Systems/Technology and Patient Care Technology for the Improvement and Transformation of Healthcare