How do I adjust the tone of my DNP project if I'm using a standard doctorate template for a hospital board presentation?

You should ditch the template structure entirely for the board presentation. A dissertation template is designed for academic rigor, peer review, and exhaustive documentation, whereas a hospital board is interested in strategic outcomes, risk management, and resource allocation. While your DNP project requires a formal academic record, the board doesn't need to see your theoretical framework or a comprehensive literature review. They want to know what the problem was, how you addressed it, and what the tangible impact is on patient care or operational costs. Instead of just rewriting the executive summary, pivot your focus toward a business-case approach. Academic writing tends to be cautious and nuanced, often using passive voice and hedging language to avoid overstating claims. In a professional board setting, this can come across as indecisive or overly dense. You'll want to switch to an active voice and lead with your results. Rather than explaining the methodology in detail, summarize the process briefly and spend the bulk of your time on the "so what" of your findings. To bridge this gap, translate your academic jargon into clinical and administrative value. If your project discusses "evidence-based interventions for glycemic control," tell the board how these changes reduced readmission rates or shortened the average length of stay. Use visual aids like charts or brief infographics to replace long paragraphs of analysis. This allows the board to grasp the data quickly without getting bogged down in the scholarly prose required for your final degree submission. If you feel the need for external guidance on polishing the tone, look for mentors or colleagues who have experience presenting to executive leadership. Evaluate any help based on their ability to translate complex clinical data into actionable administrative insights rather than their ability to edit for grammar. Focus on a narrative that emphasizes efficiency, safety, and sustainability, as these are the primary drivers for hospital leadership. This shift in perspective will transform your academic project into a professional proposal.