Designing and Implementing a Practice Change Project in FlexPath — Challenges and Successes
Designing and Implementing a Practice Change Project in FlexPath — Challenges and Successes
Designing my DNP practice change project in FlexPath was a journey of strategic planning, adaptability, and resilience. From the initial concept to full-scale implementation, I experienced both challenges and breakthroughs that shaped my growth as a doctoral-level nurse leader.
The first major step was identifying a practice gap in my clinical setting that could benefit from evidence-based intervention. Because FlexPath allowed me to self-pace, I invested additional time into gathering input from frontline staff, leadership, and patients. This collaborative approach ensured that my project was relevant and aligned with organizational goals.
One of my biggest challenges was navigating the Institutional Review Board (IRB) process. Without fixed deadlines, it was tempting to delay paperwork—but I quickly realized that a proactive approach was essential. I set my own internal deadlines for each component of the IRB submission, which kept me on track and avoided delays in project approval.
Implementation brought its own set of hurdles. Staff training schedules clashed with busy clinical workloads, and I had to adjust my rollout plan more than once. The beauty of the FlexPath format was that I could adapt my academic submissions to reflect these real-world changes in real time. This meant my project documentation was not theoretical—it was a living record of applied problem-solving in a healthcare setting.
The successes were equally memorable. By the end of the project, staff engagement had improved significantly, patient outcomes showed measurable gains, and the intervention was adopted as a permanent protocol. Completing my DNP practice change project in FlexPath didn’t just meet academic requirements—it created lasting change in my workplace, a true testament to the power of combining flexible learning with professional application.
