Doctor of Nursing Practice Education: Impact on Healthcare & Academics

This essay discusses the impact of Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) education on healthcare systems and nursing academics. It highlights the growing need for quality care and the role of DNP graduates in bridging the gap in clinical settings. The author, drawing from experience in intensive care and emergency departments, argues that DNP education significantly benefits healthcare systems by equipping nurses with skills for organizational improvement, positive patient outcomes, and advancing the nursing profession. DNP-prepared nurses are positioned for leadership roles, enabling them to translate evidence into practice, collaborate in interdisciplinary teams, and lead other nurses. In academic settings, DNP nurses promote lifelong learning, mentor aspiring nurses, and shape nursing curricula to ensure practical applicability in clinical settings, ultimately fostering an evidence-based approach to healthcare delivery.

Running Head: DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE EDUCATION 1
DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE EDUCATION
Name
Institution

DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE EDUCATION 2
Doctor of Nursing Practice Education
For years now, healthcare system has been under scrutiny by healthcare professionals and
the federal government in regards to provision of quality care. As follows, there has been a call
to professionals to implement systems and initiatives aimed at improving quality care. The
Doctor of Nursing Practice is one such program that was implemented to close the gap in quality
care experienced in clinical settings. Therefore, individuals seeking to affect significant change
for both the health care system and patients in actual clinical settings are encouraged to pursue
the degree. Having worked as a nurse in the intensive care unit and senior transporter in an
emergency department, I am of the opinion that the degree could impact the nursing practice on
both long term and short term basis.
Whilst there are numerous benefits that can be attributed to the degree, it is my belief that
the two areas that are likely to greatly benefit from the DNP program are the healthcare systems
and nursing academics. The program serves as an alternative to research-focused doctoral
programs, as such, nurses with this qualification are expected to affect practical changes in the
advancement of workforce and the way healthcare is delivered. Moreover, nurses will be
equipped with skills that are geared towards achieving organizational, positive patient outcomes,
and advancing nursing profession.
Notably, individuals in possession of the DNP degree possess competencies that can see
them placed in leadership capacities as nurses in institutions of healthcare delivery. This is
because the program enhances a person’s skills for the advancement of personal practices and
successful application of research evidence to support changes in clinical settings in order to
enhance outcomes. Besides, the new skill sets will see the inclusion of nurses in affecting
fundamental changes within healthcare settings. According to Dunbar-Jacob, Nativio, & Khalil,

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(2013), these changes range over policies changes or updates, design of electronic record
systems, and design of nursing procedures and interventions among others DNP nurse leader
roles in healthcare systems include translation of evidence into practice, collaboration with
interdisciplinary teams, and leading other nurses.
In their role in academic settings DNP nurses are expected to utilize their skills
knowledge, and attitudes in the promotion of life-long learning in others in the healthcare setting.
This is primarily because they possess a diversified view of health care enhanced by possession
of integrated knowledge on health care and clinical systems. In a sense, DNP nurses will be able
to take on mentorship roles allowing them to model aspiring nurses to apply knowledge into
practice for improved outcomes (Dunbar-Jacob, Nativio, & Khalil, 2013). This will undoubtedly
have a greater impact in nursing practice as nurses at all levels develop an evidence-based
approach in healthcare delivery. Similarly, DNP nurses will be able to take up faculty roles
where they will be involved in shaping the nursing curriculum to ensure that nurses acquire an
all-inclusive education that will be applicable in clinical settings. This will be aided by their
input on health care delivery in a clinical setting, management strategies, and program
interventions.

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References
Dunbar-Jacob, J., Nativio, D. G., & Khalil, H. (2013). Impact of doctor of nursing practice
education in shaping health care systems for the future. Journal of Nursing Education,
52(8), 423-427.