DNP Essentials Application to Clinical Scholarly Project
A study presented by
Brandman University
Irvine, California
8 April 2017

Introduction 
The CSP topic was, using Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) to lower patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ - 9) scores in adult females diagnosed with depression. CBT has previously been used to manage depression in different demographic groups and the PHQ-9 tool measures depression, while the higher scores indicate the severity of depression and depressive symptoms. The psychological wellbeing of the patients improved after the CBT intervention was utilized as evidence by the lower PHQ-9 scores (Thibodeau & Asmundson, 2014). This paper highlights how the first four (4) AACN (2006) DNP essentials are applicable in the project and future practice. 
Essential 1: Scientific Underpinnings for Practice
The scientific foundation competencies require that the advanced practice nurses be able to use data and evidence to improve nursing practices. In the scholarly project, data collected and analyzed to determine whether CBT was effective in reducing PHQ-9 scores an indication of low depression and improved mental wellbeing. In integrating the use of interventions to improve patient health and the quality of outcomes nurses analyze and utilize evidence in making decisions (AACN, 2016). The scientific underpinnings for practice is applicable in the project and nursing practice a...