The Role of the Doctor of Nursing Practice in Healthcare

This report examines the evolving role of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) within the healthcare landscape. The report begins by referencing the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and its advocacy for DNP programs. It then explores studies by Nichols, O’Connor, and Dunn (2014), and Tussing et al. (2018), which highlight the competencies and contributions of DNP-prepared nurses, emphasizing their roles in quality improvement, system leadership, and evidence-based practice. The report also addresses the existing ambiguity and debate surrounding the DNP degree, citing Udlis and Mancuso (2015) to underscore the need for clarity and integration of DNP-prepared nurses. The author reflects on their own changing perspective, acknowledging the degree's potential to address challenges in higher-degree nursing practice and promote evidence-based practice.

Running head: ROLE OF DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE
ROLE OF DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE
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1ROLE OF DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE
In 2004, the members of the American Association Colleges of Nursing (AACN) had
nominated for promoting the position statement on the Practice Doctorate in Nursing. This
had initiated for a movement of the present level of modern nursing from masters to doctorate
level by 2015 (Aacnnursing.org, 2019). According to general perception, it will help in
upholding the position of nurses in the healthcare setting and will have an influence on the
profession and my future practice. Thus, DNP is found to have a constructive impact on the
health system.
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a curriculum formulated for the expert’s
nurses and is a pinnacle of practice-based nursing degree that is developed on the master’s
course with respect to quality improvement, system leadership, evidence-based practice and
others. According to a study by Nichols, O’Connor and Dunn (2014), exploration of the early
and forthcoming use of DNP prepared nurses was evaluated in the healthcare settings. It was
found that gaps exist in knowledge about their role and outcomes expected from the
professionals. The reason for such differences is the lack of information to the nurse leader
about the role and competencies of DNP-prepared nurses. Thus, awareness needs to be
increased in order to maximize the contribution level of the care providers for enhancing
access and care quality. In another study by Tussing et al. (2018) had described the initiatives
of DNP-prepared nurses in a large healthcare setting that helped in supporting the
competencies of DNP, as stated by the AACN. The exemplars found in this case include
clinical nurse specialists, nurse administrators and nurse educators. It can be noted that DNP
is a practice-focused nursing practice as a result of which the areas of focus are vast; thus, the
nursing practitioners have more significant potential and competency levels as compared to
nurses having a master's degree. Even though the degree was introduced twenty years ago,
persistence in terms of confusion and disagreement exists with respect to the DNP degree and
its significance in the healthcare system. As examined by Udlis and Mancuso (2015), there is

2ROLE OF DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE
insufficient literature that assesses the perception of nurses on the role, capability and skill of
the DNP-prepared nurses. The nurses are found to be supportive of the degree that focuses on
the improvement of quality of care through the multifaceted role of the nurses that can be put
into practice. The ambiguity about the role of DNP-prepared nurses and confusion related to
multiple areas can be mitigated by embracing, valued and integrated the contribution of such
professionals in the healthcare sector. This is one of challenging debate in recent time in the
nursing practice and need to be mitigated because this area has the capability of enhancing
the quality of care through a collaborative approach and enhanced level of knowledge gained
from the course.
From the review of literature, my opinion related to DNP has changed. Earlier, due to
lack of information, dilemma of the importance of the degree in the real world existed;
however, this is found to have opened a new avenue of nursing practices that are
recommended by AACN. It will address the challenges of a higher degree nursing practice
program by initiated both evidence-based and practice-based studies logically and
systematically.

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References
Aacnnursing.org. (2019). DNP Fact Sheet Retrieved 11 February 2020, from
https://www.aacnnursing.org/News-Information/Fact-Sheets/DNP-Fact-Sheet
Nichols, C., O’Connor, N., & Dunn, D. (2014). Exploring early and future use of DNP
prepared nurses within healthcare organizations. JONA: The Journal of Nursing
Administration, 44(2), 74-78. Doi: 10.1097/NNA.0000000000000029.
Tussing, T. E., Brinkman, B., Francis, D., Hixon, B., Labardee, R., & Chipps, E. (2018). The
impact of the doctorate of nursing practice nurse in a hospital setting. JONA: The
Journal of Nursing Administration, 48(12), 600-602. Doi:
10.1097/NNA.0000000000000688.
Udlis, K. A., & Mancuso, J. M. (2015). Perceptions of the role of the doctor of nursing
practice-prepared nurse: Clarity or confusion. Journal of Professional Nursing, 31(4),
274-283. Doi: 10.1016/j.profnurs.2015.01.004. Epub 2015 Jan 31.