Question

Should the DNP be the terminal degree for NPs? Choose a position (in favor of or against), and present a brief argument to support your position. Consider the following:

• The impact of the DNP on nursing education
• Pros or cons of doctoral degrees in nursing
• The importance of the DNP degree in clinical practice
• The nursing leadership roles that are emerging from the DNP degree

Answer 1

Doctorate in nursing practice an emerging doctoral programme that helps nurse to advance their nursing knowledge to meet complex health care systems. Growing demand for nurses in clinical practice plays a major barrier in rendering quality patient care.

Impact of DNP on nursing education , PROS and CONS:

PROS :

- Health care delivery system is complex . Nurses must be prudent enough to make clinical decision. Nurse with basic nursing degree find difficult in taking sound clinical judgement and patient advocacy. DNP acts as a resource for all nurse pioneers to take clinical decisions considering patient desire and alw pursuits.

- DNP can bridge the gap of nursing scarcity by teaching future nurses.

- Nursing is an inter disciplinary approach , interacting with physicians, senior consultant to need nurses to possess sound knowledge on clinical subjects and recent research practices implemented. DNP helps nurses to emphasize more on evidence based practice to handle complex health care environment.

- make nurses as critical thinkers.

- DNP graduates can formulates new theories and leadership models in nursing practice.

- can help to improve academic performance of nursing students.

Cons:

- DNP programme is expensive , only nurses who are financially independent or gain support in means of scholarship can pursue DNP.

- Duration of DNP is high

- Conflict may arise between ANP and DNP nurses in clinical scenario.

Nursing leadership roles that are emerging from DNP :

- DNP nurses can incorporate theories and leadership models into nursing practice.

- Transformational and Participative leadership can be followed by DNP to encourage nurses to be more Participative in patient care , practice must be with in the standard and ethics.