Date of Award

Winter 11-17-2025

Degree Type

Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Department

School of Nursing

First Advisor

Dr. Jerica Mason

Second Advisor

Dr. Lisa Pullen

Third Advisor

Dr. Raleigh Todd

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of mortality and disproportionately affect individuals with darker skin tones, partly due to vitamin D deficiency (Sabzmakan et al., 2014). This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project uses a scoping review methodology to examine the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and cardiovascular outcomes, with an emphasis on high-melanin populations. Guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute Framework, the review synthesizes existing evidence, identifies gaps in representation and biomarker use, and highlights social and biological contributors to disparity. Databases including PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, and Scopus were searched, and studies were screened using standardized inclusion criteria: peer-reviewed research involving adult human subjects that examined the relationship between vitamin D status and cardiovascular outcomes. A thematic synthesis will highlight gaps in literature, limitations in generalizability of findings, and opportunities for future inquiry. The anticipated outcome is an evidence map that informs nursing science and practice by supporting the development of culturally responsive, equity-focused interventions aimed at reducing cardiovascular disparities linked to vitamin D deficiency (Sabzmakan et al., 2014).

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