The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) set forth a set of standards, the DNP

Essentials, that define the foundational competencies that should be acquired and focused

throughout a DNP degree program’s curriculum. Additionally, the DNP Essentials represent

those competencies and areas that will inform your areas of practice as a DNP-prepared nurse.

Take special note that in addition to your personal and academic motivations for pursuing a DNP

degree, you will be required to demonstrate and enact these essentials in your daily practice.

For this Assignment, review the AACN DNP Essentials document and reflect on the

competencies presented. Reflect on your personal and academic goals and consider how those

goals align with both Walden University’s mission and vision and with the AACN DNP

Essentials. Reflect on the social determinants of health framework and consider how your

academic and professional goals might align with addressing these elements as a DNP-prepared

nurse.

To prepare:

 Review The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice (AACN,

2006) in this week’s Learning Resources and reflect on the competencies presented.

 Review Walden University’s mission, vision, and university outcomes.

 Reflect on your professional and academic goals. Consider how Walden’s mission and

vision as well as the AACN’s perspective may fit with your goals. How might you

incorporate a commitment to social change into your academic and professional plans?

 How might your academic and professional goals align with addressing the social

determinants of health?

The Assignment: (2–3 pages)

 Explain how your academic and professional goals align with Walden’s vision, mission,

social change message, social determinants of health, and university outcomes as well

asand the AACN DNP Essentials. Be specific.

 Explain how you plan to incorporate social change throughout your program of study and

in professional practice. Be sure to include how social change may contribute to your

practicum/field experience and your role in professional practice.

Reminder: The College of Nursing requires that all papers submitted include a title page,

introduction, summary, and references. The Sample Paper provided at the Walden Writing

Center provides an example of those required elements (available

at https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/templates/general#s-lg-box-20293632). All

papers submitted must use this formatting.