IMRaD Writing Guide for DNP Projects

IMRaD stands for Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion — the fundamental structure used in health professions and biomedical research writing.

The Four Essential Sections:

• 🎯 Introduction: Why does this research matter? (Build your clinical case)
• 🔬 Methods: What exactly did you do? (Enable replication)
• 📊 Results: What did you find? (Report objectively)
• 💭 Discussion: What does it mean for practice? (Interpret for impact)
• 📝 Abstract: Summary of everything (Write this last!)

Why IMRaD Works:

• Facilitates focused reading — Busy clinicians can find exactly what they need
• Ensures research transparency — Each section has a clear, defined purpose
• Enables global communication — Universal structure transcends language barriers
• Supports evidence-based practice — Standardized format allows rapid quality assessment

📺 Essential Viewing: Introduction: What is IMRaD? (9 minutes)

From Chaos to Clarity

Before IMRAD, medical writing was inconsistent and difficult to navigate. Research by Sollaci and Pereira (2004) in the Journal of the Medical Library Association traced IMRAD's remarkable evolution in major medical journals:

The Timeline:

• 1935: 0% of articles used IMRAD structure
• 1950: 10% adoption — early pioneers recognized its value
• 1970s: 80% adoption — the tipping point reached
• 1980s: Universal adoption — IMRAD became the only acceptable format

Why the Change Happened:

• Information explosion: Growing volume of research needed better organization
• International collaboration: Scientists needed common communication standards
• Time pressures: Healthcare professionals needed efficient access to findings
• Editorial influence: Journal editors insisted on clear, standardized formatting

The Result:

By the 1980s, every major medical journal required IMRAD structure for original research. Today, it remains the global standard for communicating health sciences research.

Source: Sollaci, L. B., & Pereira, M. G. (2004). The introduction, methods, results, and discussion (IMRAD) structure: a fifty-year survey. Journal of the Medical Library Association, 92(3), 364-367.

Perfect Fit for Practice Doctorate Work

DNP projects — whether quality improvement, evidence translation, or practice-based inquiry — benefit enormously from IMRAD structure:

For Quality Improvement Projects (like our example):

• Methods: Clearly describe your intervention and measurement approach
• Results: Report outcomes honestly, including non-significant findings
• Discussion: Focus on practice implications and clinical significance

For Evidence Translation Projects:

• Introduction: Establish the research-practice gap
• Methods: Detail your implementation strategy
• Results: Show adoption rates and outcome changes
• Discussion: Address sustainability and broader application

For All DNP Projects:

• Standardized evaluation — Faculty and reviewers know what to expect
• Practice relevance — Structure emphasizes clinical applications
• Publication ready — Matches format of professional journals
• Replication support — Others can build on your work

The Marian Advantage:

Your DNP project using IMRAD structure demonstrates:

• Excellence in scholarly communication
• Respect for established professional standards
• Service to the broader nursing community
• Justice through clear, accessible knowledge sharing

❌ Common Mistake:

Most students try to write in the order sections appear in the final paper: Introduction → Methods → Results → Discussion → Abstract

✅ Smart Approach:

Experienced researchers write in this order: Methods → Introduction → Results → Discussion → Abstract

Why This Order Works:

1. Methods First:

• Easiest section to write
• Builds confidence and momentum
• Clarifies exactly what you did/plan to do

2. Introduction Second:

• Knowing your methods helps focus your background
• You can write a targeted literature review
• Your purpose statement becomes crystal clear

3. Results Third:

• Clear methods make objective reporting straightforward
• You know exactly what to report and how

4. Discussion Fourth:

• All pieces in place for meaningful interpretation
• You can connect findings back to your introduction
• Practice implications become obvious

5. Abstract Last:

• Complete picture allows perfect summary
• You can extract the best content from each section

💡 Time Savings: This approach can cut your writing time by 30-50%!

Throughout this guide, we'll use this completed Marian University DNP project as our example:

"Comparing postoperative pain scores and opioid consumption in patients receiving Lumbar Plexus block versus Fascia Iliaca block after undergoing hip arthroplasty"

Author: Mark Ritter, DNP
Project Type: Quality Improvement
Clinical Setting: Anesthesia/Pain Management

Why This Example Works Well:

• ✅ Real Marian project — not hypothetical
• ✅ Quality improvement focus — common DNP project type
• ✅ Clinical relevance — addresses patient pain and opioid use
• ✅ Clear methodology — easy to understand approach
• ✅ Mixed results — shows how to handle significant and non-significant findings
• ✅ Practice implications — demonstrates clinical impact
• ✅ Learning opportunity — shows areas for improvement alongside strengths

What You'll Learn:

See how Ritter applied IMRAD structure to:

• Build a compelling clinical case (Introduction)
• Describe methodology clearly (Methods)
• Report findings honestly (Results)
• Interpret for practice improvement (Discussion)

A Note About This Example:

This is a good example of DNP scholarly writing that demonstrates effective use of IMRAD structure. Like all scholarly work, it has both strengths to emulate and areas that could be enhanced. We'll highlight both throughout this guide to help you learn from real-world application.

Read the Complete Study: The full PDF is available below so you can see the entire project and follow along as we analyze specific sections.

Note: We'll show excerpts from Ritter's project in each section as examples of effective IMRAD writing, while also noting opportunities for improvement where relevant.

You Now Understand:

• ✅ What IMRAD is and why it became universal
• ✅ How it perfectly fits DNP scholarly projects
• ✅ The secret writing order that saves time
• ✅ How your work reflects Marian's Franciscan values

Your Next Steps:

🚀 Ready to Write?
→ Quick Start Guide — Jump right into writing today

📚 Need More Preparation?
→ Methods First — Start with the easiest section

📝 Want Resources?
→ Templates & Tools — Download organized materials

💬 Have Questions?
→ Get Help — Connect with Marian's writing experts

🎯 Pro Tip:

Don't wait until you have all the answers. Start with Methods — even if your data isn't collected yet, describing what you plan to do builds clarity and confidence.

Remember: Every published health professions article you've ever read uses IMRAD. Now it's your turn to join this tradition of clear, impactful scholarly communication.