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DNP Nursing · Capella FlexPath

NURS-FPX9902: Nursing Doctoral Project 2

The second course in Capella's Nursing Doctoral Project sequence, where students develop strategic leadership planning, conduct a systematic literature search, synthesize that literature, and translate evidence into leadership strategies that strengthen the doctoral project's foundation.

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NURS-FPX9902 is where the doctoral project shifts from problem identification into the evidence-gathering phase that will support everything that follows. Across five linked assessments, students build a strategic leadership plan, conduct a systematic literature search, synthesize that literature into a coherent evidence base, translate findings into evidence-based leadership strategies, and close with a structured reflection. Each piece depends on the one before it — a weak literature search makes the synthesis shallow, and a shallow synthesis weakens the leadership strategies that follow. Here's what expert support for NURS-FPX9902 can do for each assessment.

Course Overview

NURS-FPX9902 builds directly on the project topic and problem statement established in earlier doctoral coursework. The course has two intertwined threads: leadership strategy development for the practice problem at the center of the doctoral project, and the literature review process that will eventually anchor the project's chapter two. Students search electronic databases using PICOT-driven search strategies, synthesize what they find into an evidence table and narrative synthesis, then apply that evidence to recommend leadership strategies for the organizational or clinical problem driving the project. The course closes with a reflection on how the literature review process shaped the student's understanding of the problem and the evidence supporting it.

Key Assessments

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Common Challenges in This Course

Assessment 2's biggest pitfall is a search strategy that's too narrow or too broad — too narrow and the evidence table is thin; too broad and the synthesis in Assessment 3 becomes unfocused. PICOT-driven searches with well-chosen MeSH terms solve both problems. Assessment 3 is where many students regress into summarizing each study individually instead of synthesizing across studies — a true synthesis groups findings by theme, identifies where the literature agrees or conflicts, and names the gaps that justify the doctoral project itself. Assessment 4 frequently disconnects from Assessment 3; leadership strategies need to cite back to specific evidence findings, not just align loosely with the general topic. Assessment 5's reflection is often written too generically — strong submissions tie the reflection to specific moments in the literature review process where understanding shifted.

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Send us your project topic, problem statement, and any PICOT question already developed, and we'll match you with a DNP specialist experienced in doctoral-level literature review and leadership strategy development.

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NURS-FPX9902 FAQ

Does the strategic leadership plan in Assessment 1 need to match my final doctoral project topic exactly?

It should align closely with the practice problem driving your project. Some sections allow refinement as the project develops, but the leadership plan, literature search, and synthesis all work best when they're anchored to the same problem from the start.

How many sources does the literature search in Assessment 2 typically need?

Requirements vary by section, but most rubrics expect a substantial, current evidence base — generally 10-15+ peer-reviewed sources published within the last five years, documented with a clear search strategy and Boolean logic.

What's the difference between Assessment 2 and Assessment 3?

Assessment 2 is the search process itself — strategy, databases, terms, and the resulting evidence table. Assessment 3 is the synthesis — analyzing and integrating what that search found into a coherent narrative that identifies themes and gaps in the evidence.

Can the leadership strategies in Assessment 4 be aspirational, or do they need to be implementable?

They need to be realistic and implementable within the organizational context of your doctoral project, with clear justification from the literature. Vague or idealistic strategies without an evidence trail typically don't meet the rubric's standard.

How does NURS-FPX9902 connect to NURS-FPX9903 and 9904?

The literature synthesis and leadership strategies developed here become the foundation for the methodology and implementation chapters built in NURS-FPX9903, which then feed into the final manuscript and defense in NURS-FPX9904. Weak groundwork in 9902 compounds in later courses.