| Course | DNP 713 Analysis of Organizational Cultures in Healthcare |
|---|---|
| Module | Module 1 |
| Paper type | Photo diary with written captions and analysis |
| Length | About 430 words, 4 pages |
| Format | APA 7 student paper |
| School | Arizona State University |
| Program | Doctor of Nursing Practice |
| Updated | October 2026 |
Free sample paper for DNP 713 Module 1
What the Walls Say: A Photo Diary of Artifacts on a Progressive Care Unit
Student Name
Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University
DNP 713: Analysis of Organizational Cultures in Healthcare
Instructor Name
Month Day, Year
What the Walls Say: A Photo Diary of Artifacts on a Progressive Care Unit
How I Chose the Photos
I walked the unit at three times, day shift, night shift and a weekend, and photographed anything a newcomer would notice in the first hour. Schein and Schein (2017) describe artifacts as the visible, surface level of culture, which is easy to see but hard to decode without knowing the values and assumptions underneath. I tried to photograph first and interpret later.
The Diary
| Photo | What it shows | What it might mean | Question it raises |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A hand-drawn "days since last fall" counter at the nurses' station, reading 41 | Falls prevention is valued and tracked publicly | Does the counter encourage reporting, or hiding, a fall? |
| 2 | A hallway of framed physician portraits by the main entrance; no nurses pictured | Status flows from medical staff | Who is seen as representing the hospital? |
| 3 | A locked supply closet with a sign, "See charge nurse for key" | Control and cost concerns outweigh speed | How much time do nurses spend finding the key? |
| 4 | A "Wall of Thanks" with patient cards, many naming individual nurses | Patient gratitude is celebrated | Are cards naming the unit as a team displayed too? |
| 5 | Break room with a broken microwave and a sign from six weeks ago | Small staff needs wait | What does slow repair tell staff about their value? |
| 6 | Mission statement framed above the unit entrance, faded by sun | The mission is official but may be ignored | Could anyone on the unit recite it? |
| 7 | A night-shift group photo with handmade name tags | Night staff have their own strong identity | Is there one unit culture or two? |
| 8 | Safety huddle board with three items, last updated that morning | Daily safety conversation is routine | Do huddle items lead to change, or only discussion? |
Patterns Across the Photos
Three patterns appear. First, safety is visible but measured in ways that could discourage reporting, such as a public fall counter. Second, hierarchy is built into the walls: physicians are displayed at the entrance, nurses only in patient cards. Third, small signals of neglect, the broken microwave and the faded mission, may say more to staff than the official statements.
What Artifacts Cannot Tell Me
Hatch (1993) argues that artifacts become meaningful only when people interpret them as symbols, so the same counter might mean pride to one nurse and pressure to another. Groups within one organization often read the same symbol differently (Alvesson, 2013). My next step is to ask staff what each photo means to them before drawing conclusions.
References
Alvesson, M. (2013). Understanding organizational culture (2nd ed.). Sage.
Hatch, M. J. (1993). The dynamics of organizational culture. Academy of Management Review, 18(4), 657-693. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1993.9402210154
Schein, E. H., & Schein, P. (2017). Organizational culture and leadership (5th ed.). Wiley.
What the DNP 713 Module 1 instructions ask for
The posted syllabus grades the Photo Diary at 10 points in Weeks 1 to 3, the opening of Module 1, Understanding Culture. Students take photos of their organization's symbols and artifacts, which provide insight into its culture, and submit them with interpretation. A discussion board runs in the same weeks, and the diary often supplies examples for it. Expect to photograph items a newcomer would notice, then explain what each might reveal. Follow your organization's photography rules: avoid patients, identifiable staff without permission and confidential information. Canvas sets the number of photos and the format, so check before you start shooting. Your photos will be reused later in the course, in the discussion board, the synthesis paper and the final presentation, so keep the originals organized.
Inside the DNP 713 Module 1 example
The diary begins with a short method: when and how the photos were taken, and a source explaining why artifacts matter. The photos are laid out in a table with four columns, so each image is described, interpreted and questioned in the same way. Interpretations are framed as possibilities, not conclusions, which respects Schein's warning that artifacts are hard to decode. A patterns section finds three themes across the photos. The last section names the limit of artifact analysis and plans the next step, asking staff. Because the photos cannot appear on a web page, descriptions stand in for them. The method section also notes when the photos were taken, because shift and day of the week change what a unit looks like and who is there.
DNP 713 Module 1 rubric: what earns full marks
Photo diaries are usually graded on the relevance and range of the artifacts chosen, thoughtful interpretation linked to culture concepts, identification of patterns, appropriate use of sources and attention to privacy and permissions. Faculty look for interpretations that go beyond the obvious and that admit uncertainty. Linking artifacts to Schein's levels shows command of the course's foundation. Including both official artifacts, such as a mission statement, and informal ones, such as a break room, shows a full view. Questions raised by each photo show curiosity. Ethical photography matters as much as good photos. Faculty also value diaries that include something surprising, an artifact the student had stopped noticing until the assignment made them look again.
DNP 713 Module 1 help from the desk
Diaries often show only official symbols, such as logos and mission posters. Include informal artifacts: break rooms, signs, how people arrange their space. Another weakness is stating meanings as facts; say what an artifact might mean and how you would check. Avoid photographing patients or confidential screens, and ask before photographing colleagues. Group photos by theme if it helps. If you would like help analyzing your photo diary, send your photos and the prompt to the desk. Write captions soon after you take the photos, while you remember the context. Show a draft to a colleague and ask whether your interpretations match theirs; disagreements are often the most revealing data.
Write yours, or have the desk draft it
This paper is an original model document written by our desk, not a submitted student paper and not an official Arizona State University document. Read it for the moves, then write your own to the instructions in your classroom. If you want one built to your exact prompt and rubric, the first custom sample is free and arrives in 24 to 48 hours.
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DNP 713 Module 1 questions, answered
Where can I find a free DNP 713 Module 1 sample paper?
The photo diary above is complete: eight artifacts from a progressive care unit described and interpreted, with patterns across them and the limits of artifact analysis.
How many points is the DNP 713 Photo Diary?
The Photo Diary is worth 10 points.
What counts as an artifact of organizational culture?
Anything visible or tangible, such as signs, spaces, dress, rituals and displays, that may reflect deeper values and assumptions.
What are Schein's three levels of culture?
What you can see (artifacts), what the group says it values (espoused beliefs), and what it takes for granted (underlying assumptions).
Can I photograph patients for the DNP 713 photo diary?
No. Avoid patients, confidential information and identifiable staff without permission.