Discussion: The Doctoral Degree and Professional Nursing Practice

A doctoral degree carries a certain set of expectations associated with the completion of

advanced educational attainment. Earning a DNP degree is no exception. What are the

expectations associated with a DNP-prepared nurse? How might these expectations differ among

nursing staff without a DNP degree?

The role of a DNP-prepared nurse is multifaceted; they can serve as nurse educators, policy and

legislation advocates, direct nursing care supervisors, or advanced practice nurses responsible for

tracking, installing, and monitoring initiatives aimed at improving nursing and healthcare

delivery. Regardless of the expectations associated with a DNP-prepared nurse, throughout your

program of study, you will hone the skills necessary to enact each of these roles. Consider which

role you are most excited about. What do you hope to accomplish in the realm of professional

nursing practice with your DNP degree?

For this Discussion, reflect on your personal motivations to pursue a DNP degree. Consider the

expectations associated with the DNP-prepared nurse, including how these may differ with a

PhD-prepared nurse. Reflect on the DNP degree requirements, including your practicum/field

experience and completion of your Doctoral Project. Then, think about how you will

demonstrate the alignment of the AACN DNP Essentials to the completion of these program-of-

study milestones.

To prepare:

 

 Review the Learning Resources and reflect on the reasons you have chosen to

pursue a DNP degree. How do you anticipate that earning this degree will support

your professional goals?

 Reflect on the differences between DNP and PhD degrees. How may this relate to

your decision to pursue the DNP degree?

 Review the degree requirements for completing your DNP at Walden.

Specifically, consider the focus of the Doctoral Project and practicum experiences

as discussed in the DNP Essentials document. Keep in mind that you will be

required to identify a site or sites for completion of your DNP project and

your practicum hours required for the degree. Review the Field Experience

requirements for submitting documents for practicum

approval https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/fieldexperience/son

 DNP programs require 1000 practicum hours post baccalaureate degree. 400 of

those hours are earned while in the DNP program. 600 or more hours are

earned in the MSN or in NURS 8601 during the DNP program. If you have

not obtained the verification of hours form and sent it to your MSN

institution, contact your student success advisor for assistance

at studentsuccess@mail.waldenu.edu 

 

 After reviewing the DNP Essentials document and the DNP Project Process Guide for the

DNP project, reflect on what it means to address an organization’s needs to attend to a

gap in practice or implement a practice change. What is the difference between a gap in

 

practice and a practice change? How does your role as the DNP-prepared nurse

contribute to meeting a stakeholder need?

Discussion

Post a brief explanation of the role of the nurse with a practice doctorate. Be specific. Explain

the expectations associated with obtaining this degree, including how these expectations might

be different for a nurse who holds a different degree. Then, explain how these considerations

relate to your motivation to pursue a DNP, including a brief description of how your role as a

DNP-prepared nurse will meet a potential organization’s need to address a gap in practice or

implement a practice change. Discuss any experiences you have had in addressing a gap in

practice or a practice change within an organization. Be specific.

 

Links

https://oce-ovid-com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/article/00005110-201812000-00005/HTML

https://oce-ovid-com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/article/01741002-201908000-00004/HTML

https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/42/Publications/DNPEssentials.pdf

https://go.openathens.net/redirector/waldenu.edu?url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti

cle/pii/S0029655418305852?via%3Dihub

https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/research-center/program-documents/dnp-8702-8703