🩺 100 DNP Project Topics with PICOT Questions to Inspire Your Nursing Project

🌟 Introduction

Selecting your Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project topic is one of the most important steps in your academic and professional journey. A strong topic should align with your interests, address a real-world clinical issue, and demonstrate measurable outcomes using evidence-based practice.

At Booksfield Nursing Hub, we understand that many DNP students—especially those juggling work, study, and family—struggle with where to start. That’s why we’ve prepared this comprehensive list of 100 DNP project topics with matching PICOT questions to help you brainstorm, focus, and start writing your proposal confidently.

These topics are grouped into categories like mental health, leadership, informatics, chronic disease management, and more—perfect for DNP, MSN, or international nursing students seeking inspiration.

🧠 1. Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing DNP Project Topics

1. Reducing Nurse Burnout Using DBT-Based Stress Management
   PICOT: In psychiatric nurses (P), does DBT-based stress management (I) compared to no training (C) reduce burnout (O) within 3 months (T)?

2. Improving Medication Adherence in Schizophrenia
   PICOT: In adults with schizophrenia (P), do mobile app reminders (I) compared to usual care (C) improve medication adherence (O) in 6 months (T)?

3. Enhancing Suicide Risk Assessment in Emergency Departments
   PICOT: In ED nurses (P), does suicide risk training (I) compared to routine triage (C) improve identification rates (O) in 3 months (T)?

4. Implementing Trauma-Informed Care Education
   PICOT: In mental health nurses (P), does trauma-informed care training (I) compared to no training (C) improve patient satisfaction (O) in 6 months (T)?

5. Reducing Aggression with De-Escalation Training
   PICOT: In psychiatric units (P), does de-escalation training (I) compared to standard safety education (C) reduce aggressive incidents (O) in 3 months (T)?

6. Enhancing Patient Engagement in Group Therapy
   PICOT: In psychiatric inpatients (P), does motivational interviewing (I) compared to usual teaching (C) improve group attendance (O) during hospitalization (T)?

7. Decreasing Readmission Rates with Post-Discharge Calls
   PICOT: In discharged psychiatric patients (P), do structured follow-up calls (I) compared to routine discharge (C) reduce 30-day readmissions (O)?

8. Improving Sleep Quality in Depression
   PICOT: In adults with depression (P), does cognitive-behavioral sleep therapy (I) compared to pharmacotherapy (C) improve sleep quality (O) in 8 weeks (T)?

9. Reducing Stigma Among Mental Health Nurses
   PICOT: In psychiatric nurses (P), does anti-stigma education (I) compared to no intervention (C) reduce stigma toward patients (O) in 8 weeks (T)?

10. Enhancing Telepsychiatry Patient Satisfaction
    PICOT: In telepsychiatry clients (P), does pre-session orientation (I) compared to no orientation (C) increase satisfaction (O) after one session (T)?

🏥 2. Quality and Patient Safety Improvement DNP Project Topics

11. Reducing CAUTIs through Nurse-Led Bundles
    PICOT: In hospitalized patients (P), does CAUTI prevention bundle (I) compared to standard care (C) reduce infection rates (O) in 6 months (T)?

12. Reducing Patient Falls through Hourly Rounding
    PICOT: In medical-surgical units (P), does hourly rounding (I) compared to usual rounding (C) reduce falls (O) in 6 months (T)?

13. Enhancing Pressure Injury Prevention
    PICOT: In immobile patients (P), does repositioning protocol (I) compared to standard care (C) lower pressure ulcer rates (O) in 3 months (T)?

14. Improving Hand Hygiene Compliance
    PICOT: In nurses (P), does electronic monitoring feedback (I) compared to standard audits (C) improve compliance (O) in 3 months (T)?

15. Reducing Medication Errors Using Barcode Scanning
    PICOT: In inpatient nurses (P), does barcode scanning (I) compared to manual verification (C) reduce errors (O) in 6 months (T)?

16. Improving Sepsis Recognition in the ED
    PICOT: In emergency nurses (P), does early sepsis screening tool (I) compared to routine assessment (C) improve detection (O) in 3 months (T)?

17. Enhancing SBAR Handoff Communication
    PICOT: In hospital nurses (P), does SBAR training (I) compared to traditional reporting (C) improve handoff accuracy (O) in 8 weeks (T)?

18. Reducing Surgical Site Infections with Pre-Op Bathing
    PICOT: In surgical patients (P), does chlorhexidine bathing (I) compared to standard soap (C) reduce infection rates (O) in 30 days (T)?

19. Improving Pain Assessment Accuracy
    PICOT: In post-op nurses (P), does pain assessment tool training (I) compared to no training (C) improve documentation (O) in 3 months (T)?

20. Implementing Fall Risk Assessment Tools
    PICOT: In geriatric patients (P), does use of standardized fall tools (I) compared to no tool (C) reduce falls (O) in 90 days (T)?

👩‍⚕️ 3. Leadership and Organizational Change DNP Project Topics

21. Improving Nurse Retention with Mentorship Programs
    PICOT: In new nurses (P), does mentorship (I) compared to no program (C) improve retention (O) in 12 months (T)?

22. Reducing Burnout Through Mindfulness Training
    PICOT: In hospital nurses (P), does weekly mindfulness practice (I) compared to none (C) lower burnout (O) in 8 weeks (T)?

23. Enhancing Leadership Competencies in Charge Nurses
    PICOT: In charge nurses (P), does leadership development (I) compared to standard orientation (C) improve leadership scores (O) in 6 months (T)?

24. Improving Staff Engagement with Shared Governance
    PICOT: In hospital staff (P), does shared governance (I) compared to top-down management (C) increase engagement (O) in 6 months (T)?

25. Improving Team Communication
    PICOT: In multidisciplinary teams (P), does communication training (I) compared to no intervention (C) improve collaboration (O) in 3 months (T)?

26. Developing Emotional Intelligence in Nurse Leaders
    PICOT: In nurse managers (P), does EI coaching (I) compared to no coaching (C) improve leadership performance (O) in 6 months (T)?

27. Improving Conflict Resolution Skills
    PICOT: In nursing supervisors (P), does structured communication (I) compared to unstructured (C) improve conflict outcomes (O) in 3 months (T)?

28. Increasing Staff Satisfaction Through Leadership Rounding
    PICOT: In nursing units (P), does leadership rounding (I) compared to none (C) improve satisfaction (O) in 3 months (T)?

29. Reducing Turnover Intentions
    PICOT: In nurses (P), does resilience training (I) compared to no intervention (C) reduce turnover intention (O) in 12 months (T)?

30. Enhancing Evidence-Based Practice Implementation
    PICOT: In nurse leaders (P), does EBP mentorship (I) compared to standard education (C) increase EBP adoption (O) in 6 months (T)?

💻 4. Nursing Informatics and Technology DNP Project Topics

31. Using EHR Templates to Improve Documentation
    PICOT: In outpatient clinics (P), does structured EHR template (I) compared to free-text (C) improve documentation accuracy (O) in 3 months (T)?

32. Telehealth for Postoperative Follow-Up
    PICOT: In surgical patients (P), does telehealth check-in (I) compared to in-person follow-up (C) reduce readmissions (O) in 30 days (T)?

33. Improving Antibiotic Stewardship with Clinical Decision Support
    PICOT: In inpatients (P), does CDS alert (I) compared to none (C) reduce inappropriate antibiotic use (O) in 3 months (T)?

34. Using EHR Alerts to Reduce Polypharmacy
    PICOT: In older adults (P), does EHR alert (I) compared to usual prescribing (C) reduce polypharmacy (O) in 6 months (T)?

35. Improving Patient Education through Digital Platforms
    PICOT: In diabetic patients (P), does digital education (I) compared to pamphlets (C) improve self-care (O) in 3 months (T)?

36. Enhancing Nurse Informatics Competence
    PICOT: In nurses (P), does informatics training (I) compared to no training (C) improve competency (O) in 6 weeks (T)?

37. Reducing Documentation Errors with Voice Recognition
    PICOT: In hospital nurses (P), does voice-to-text documentation (I) compared to manual entry (C) reduce charting errors (O) in 3 months (T)?

38. Improving Patient Portal Utilization
    PICOT: In clinic patients (P), does portal education (I) compared to no education (C) increase portal use (O) in 2 months (T)?

39. Using Data Dashboards for Quality Tracking
    PICOT: In nurse managers (P), does use of dashboards (I) compared to reports (C) improve decision-making (O) in 3 months (T)?

40. Evaluating AI Tools in Clinical Decision-Making
    PICOT: In primary care providers (P), does AI-assisted CDS (I) compared to manual review (C) improve diagnostic accuracy (O) in 6 months (T)?

👶 5. Maternal and Child Health DNP Project Topics

41. Increasing Exclusive Breastfeeding Rates
    PICOT: In postpartum mothers (P), does nurse-led breastfeeding education (I) compared to standard care (C) increase exclusive breastfeeding (O) in 6 weeks (T)?

42. Reducing Postpartum Depression
    PICOT: In new mothers (P), does early screening (I) compared to routine follow-up (C) reduce depression rates (O) in 6 weeks (T)?

43. Enhancing Prenatal Care Attendance
    PICOT: In adolescent mothers (P), do text reminders (I) compared to no reminders (C) increase prenatal attendance (O) in 3 months (T)?

44. Implementing Safe Sleep Education
    PICOT: In new parents (P), does safe sleep training (I) compared to standard discharge education (C) improve adherence (O) in 2 months (T)?

45. Improving Fetal Monitoring Accuracy
    PICOT: In labor nurses (P), does simulation-based fetal monitoring training (I) compared to lecture (C) improve accuracy (O) in 4 weeks (T)?

46. Reducing Preterm Births with Prenatal Education
    PICOT: In high-risk mothers (P), does prenatal education (I) compared to routine care (C) reduce preterm deliveries (O) in 6 months (T)?

47. Improving Postpartum Hemorrhage Response
    PICOT: In labor units (P), does team simulation (I) compared to standard drills (C) improve response time (O) in 3 months (T)?

48. Enhancing Maternal Safety Through Checklists
    PICOT: In obstetric nurses (P), does safety checklist use (I) compared to no checklist (C) reduce adverse events (O) in 6 months (T)?

49. Promoting Immunization Adherence in Pediatrics
    PICOT: In children under 5 (P), do SMS vaccine reminders (I) compared to no reminders (C) improve vaccination rates (O) in 3 months (T)?

50. Improving Parental Education on Nutrition
    PICOT: In parents of toddlers (P), does online nutrition education (I) compared to printed material (C) improve knowledge (O) in 2 months (T)?

❤️ 6. Chronic Disease and Primary Care DNP Project Topics

51. Improving Hypertension Control with Nurse-Led Clinics
    PICOT: In adults with hypertension (P), does nurse-led care (I) compared to physician-only care (C) improve BP control (O) in 6 months (T)?

52. Enhancing Diabetes Self-Management
    PICOT: In adults with diabetes (P), does self-management education (I) compared to usual care (C) lower HbA1c (O) in 3 months (T)?

53. Improving COPD Self-Management
    PICOT: In COPD patients (P), does telemonitoring (I) compared to clinic visits (C) reduce exacerbations (O) in 6 months (T)?

54. Reducing Heart Failure Readmissions
    PICOT: In heart failure patients (P), does post-discharge telehealth follow-up (I) compared to no follow-up (C) reduce 30-day readmissions (O)?

55. Enhancing Medication Reconciliation Accuracy
    PICOT: In primary care (P), does pharmacist-nurse collaboration (I) compared to nurse-only review (C) improve accuracy (O) in 3 months (T)?

56. Improving Physical Activity in Diabetic Patients
    PICOT: In adults with diabetes (P), does wearable activity monitoring (I) compared to self-reporting (C) increase exercise adherence (O) in 3 months (T)?

57. Improving Lipid Management
    PICOT: In hyperlipidemic adults (P), does patient education (I) compared to standard care (C) improve lipid levels (O) in 6 months (T)?

58. Improving Asthma Control in Children
    PICOT: In pediatric asthma patients (P), does school-based education (I) compared to clinic-only teaching (C) improve control (O) in 3 months (T)?

59. Improving Adherence in HIV Care
    PICOT: In adults with HIV (P), does mobile text reminders (I) compared to usual care (C) increase medication adherence (O) in 6 months (T)?

60. Enhancing Patient Self-Efficacy in Chronic Illness
    PICOT: In chronic disease patients (P), does nurse coaching (I) compared to standard education (C) improve self-efficacy (O) in 3 months (T)?

🌍 7. Community and Public Health DNP Project Topics

61. Increasing Flu Vaccination Uptake
    PICOT: In adults (P), do SMS reminders (I) compared to no reminders (C) increase flu vaccination (O) in 2 months (T)?

62. Improving Health Literacy in Rural Populations
    PICOT: In rural adults (P), does nurse-led education (I) compared to pamphlets (C) improve health literacy (O) in 3 months (T)?

63. Reducing Hypertension in Faith-Based Communities
    PICOT: In church members (P), does community BP screening (I) compared to no program (C) reduce uncontrolled BP (O) in 6 months (T)?

64. Promoting Cervical Cancer Screening in Underserved Women
    PICOT: In women aged 25–65 (P), does community outreach (I) compared to standard clinic visits (C) increase Pap test uptake (O) in 6 months (T)?

65. Improving Nutrition in Low-Income Populations
    PICOT: In low-income adults (P), does community nutrition program (I) compared to no intervention (C) improve diet quality (O) in 3 months (T)?

66. Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy Through Education
    PICOT: In parents of school-aged children (P), does targeted education (I) compared to standard info (C) increase vaccination rates (O) in 3 months (T)?

67. Improving Oral Health in Children
    PICOT: In elementary students (P), does school-based oral hygiene education (I) compared to no program (C) reduce cavities (O) in 6 months (T)?

68. Enhancing HIV Testing Awareness
    PICOT: In young adults (P), does peer education (I) compared to brochures (C) improve HIV testing rates (O) in 2 months (T)?

69. Improving Food Security Screening
    PICOT: In primary care patients (P), does screening tool use (I) compared to no screening (C) improve resource referral rates (O) in 3 months (T)?

70. Increasing Mammogram Screening Rates
    PICOT: In women over 40 (P), do reminder calls (I) compared to no reminders (C) increase mammogram completion (O) in 6 months (T)?

🏥 8. Emergency and Acute Care DNP Project Topics

71. Improving Sepsis Protocol Compliance
    PICOT: In ED nurses (P), does sepsis protocol education (I) compared to no training (C) improve compliance (O) in 3 months (T)?

72. Reducing Door-to-Balloon Time in MI Patients
    PICOT: In STEMI patients (P), does fast-track protocol (I) compared to standard triage (C) reduce door-to-balloon time (O) in 6 months (T)?

73. Improving Stroke Recognition by Nurses
    PICOT: In emergency nurses (P), does stroke simulation training (I) compared to no simulation (C) improve recognition accuracy (O) in 3 months (T)?

74. Reducing ED Overcrowding with Fast-Track Units
    PICOT: In ED settings (P), does implementing a fast-track unit (I) compared to standard workflow (C) reduce waiting time (O) in 3 months (T)?

75. Enhancing Pain Management in the ED
    PICOT: In ED patients (P), does nurse-initiated pain protocol (I) compared to physician-only (C) improve time to analgesia (O) in 2 months (T)?

76. Improving Triage Accuracy with ESI Training
    PICOT: In triage nurses (P), does ESI refresher training (I) compared to no training (C) improve triage accuracy (O) in 6 weeks (T)?

77. Reducing Patient Elopements from the ED
    PICOT: In psychiatric ED patients (P), does safety observation protocol (I) compared to routine monitoring (C) reduce elopements (O) in 3 months (T)?

78. Reducing IV Infiltration Rates
    PICOT: In pediatric ED patients (P), does ultrasound-guided IV insertion (I) compared to blind insertion (C) reduce infiltration (O) in 2 months (T)?

79. Improving Rapid Response Activation
    PICOT: In inpatient nurses (P), does simulation-based RRT training (I) compared to lecture (C) improve activation time (O) in 3 months (T)?

80. Enhancing Communication During Codes
    PICOT: In code teams (P), does structured debriefing (I) compared to no debrief (C) improve team communication (O) in 2 months (T)?

🌿 9. Geriatric and Long-Term Care DNP Project Topics

81. Reducing Polypharmacy in Older Adults
    PICOT: In nursing home residents (P), does pharmacist review (I) compared to standard care (C) reduce medication count (O) in 6 months (T)?

82. Improving Fall Prevention Education
    PICOT: In assisted living residents (P), does exercise-based fall education (I) compared to standard info (C) reduce falls (O) in 3 months (T)?

83. Enhancing Pain Assessment in Dementia
    PICOT: In dementia patients (P), does use of PAINAD tool (I) compared to no tool (C) improve pain recognition (O) in 8 weeks (T)?

84. Reducing Hospital Transfers from Nursing Homes
    PICOT: In long-term care (P), does on-site NP consultation (I) compared to physician-only (C) reduce transfers (O) in 6 months (T)?

85. Improving Nutrition in Older Adults
    PICOT: In elderly residents (P), does nutritional counseling (I) compared to no counseling (C) improve BMI stability (O) in 3 months (T)?

86. Preventing Pressure Injuries in Bedridden Residents
    PICOT: In LTC patients (P), does skin surveillance protocol (I) compared to standard checks (C) reduce pressure injuries (O) in 3 months (T)?

87. Enhancing Hydration Compliance
    PICOT: In nursing home residents (P), does hydration schedule (I) compared to routine care (C) improve hydration status (O) in 8 weeks (T)?

88. Improving Oral Care in Dependent Residents
    PICOT: In dependent elders (P), does oral hygiene protocol (I) compared to standard care (C) reduce infections (O) in 3 months (T)?

89. Reducing Depression in Long-Term Care Residents
    PICOT: In LTC residents (P), does group socialization (I) compared to routine activities (C) reduce depression (O) in 3 months (T)?

90. Improving Sleep Hygiene in Geriatric Units
    PICOT: In elderly patients (P), does non-pharmacologic sleep routine (I) compared to medication (C) improve sleep (O) in 8 weeks (T)?

🌈 10. Educational and Professional Development DNP Project Topics

91. Improving Preceptor Competence
    PICOT: In nurse preceptors (P), does preceptor development training (I) compared to no training (C) improve evaluation scores (O) in 6 months (T)?

92. Increasing EBP Knowledge Among Nurses
    PICOT: In staff nurses (P), does EBP workshop (I) compared to online learning (C) increase knowledge scores (O) in 8 weeks (T)?

93. Enhancing Simulation Confidence in Nursing Students
    PICOT: In student nurses (P), does high-fidelity simulation (I) compared to lecture (C) improve confidence (O) in 4 weeks (T)?

94. Improving Clinical Judgment in New Nurses
    PICOT: In new graduates (P), does preceptorship (I) compared to self-study (C) improve clinical judgment (O) in 6 months (T)?

95. Reducing Workplace Incivility
    PICOT: In hospital staff (P), does civility training (I) compared to none (C) reduce reported incivility (O) in 3 months (T)?

96. Improving Cultural Competence
    PICOT: In nurses (P), does cultural sensitivity training (I) compared to standard orientation (C) improve competence scores (O) in 2 months (T)?

97. Enhancing Prelicensure Student Resilience
    PICOT: In nursing students (P), does mindfulness program (I) compared to no program (C) improve resilience (O) in 8 weeks (T)?

98. Improving Time Management Skills in New Graduates
    PICOT: In new nurses (P), does structured time management training (I) compared to no intervention (C) improve performance (O) in 3 months (T)?

99. Increasing Confidence in Clinical Skills
    PICOT: In student nurses (P), does simulation-based teaching (I) compared to lecture (C) improve skill confidence (O) in 8 weeks (T)?

100. Promoting Lifelong Learning in Nursing Practice
     PICOT: In nurses (P), does professional development coaching (I) compared to routine evaluations (C) increase lifelong learning engagement (O) in 6 months (T)?

💬 Conclusion

Choosing a DNP project doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Each of these topics can be adapted to your population, setting, and personal nursing interest. Focus on clinical relevance, measurable outcomes, and evidence-based change.

At Booksfield Nursing Hub, we specialize in helping DNP and MSN students refine their topics, develop PICOT questions, and complete high-quality proposals and final manuscripts.

Ready to bring your DNP project to life?
👉 Contact Booksfield Nursing Hub for personalized guidance and editing support.