Discussion – The DNP-Prepared Nurse’s Role
DNP programs provide a pathway toward nurse excellence in healthcare. DNP-prepared nurses are health educators and play a role in influencing positive changes within the care environment through leadership and advocacy (Hartjes et al., 2019). In fast-paced healthcare systems, where the emphasis is on quality and patient safety, such courses help elevate clinical care.
Pursuing a DNP program in nursing is something I have looked forward to. Throughout my personal, education, and early professional journey, I have always yearned for progressive changes within my cycles. My belief in better systems has sometimes pushed me to explore innovative ways to become impactful. My motivation to pursue a DNP program is intertwined with my progressivistic nature. I believe that the program empowers me to assume influential roles in healthcare. Foremost, the DNP program empowers nurses to become healthcare leaders. Through leadership positions and roles, I believe I can influence more positive change in healthcare. As Beeber et al. (2019) report, nurse leaders act as change managers and are responsible for guiding meaningful changes in the healthcare space. Likewise, DNP programs prepare nurses to be health advocates. As a health advocate, I can lobby for policy changes that may ensure safety and quality improvement in healthcare (Beeber et al., 2019). Additionally, I will be able to provide my expertise on diverse healthcare topics informing apparent improvement areas.
Entering the DNP program, I am hoping to bolster my skills and expertise in diverse healthcare areas. My first goal in pursuing the degree is to improve my knowledge of my clinical area of interest. This will help me excel as a health educator and consultant. I also hope to gather specific skills in health advocacy and leadership. As a health advocate and leader, I will be at the forefront of influencing meaningful changes within the care environment.
Practice doctorate nursing and research doctorate nursing differ on several fronts. Practice doctorate nursing is geared towards clinical care. As a practice doctorate nurse, I expect to focus on nursing practice, emphasizing the integration of research into clinical practice. I will also play a more proactive role in healthcare leadership, guiding and managing quality-driven changes (Falkenberg-Olson, 2019). I also expect to be a healthcare advocate. As an advocate, I will be tasked with identifying and lobbying for improvement in healthcare. As a research doctorate nurse, I expect to be more focused on nursing research. My role, in this respect, will include advancing nursing knowledge through research. Healthcare research, policy development, teaching, and academia are some career niches for doctorate nurses aligned with research (Falkenberg-Olson, 2019).
As a DNP-prepared nurse, I hope to address organizational quality improvement needs by implementing a practice change. My early professional career has enabled me to recognize the significance of effective change processes in healthcare. Deterred change processes are often more likely to result in systems inefficiencies and an overall reduction in the effectiveness of the care process. One instance I was involved in ensuring a practice change in healthcare was during the implementation of a health information system. The process was marked with significant resistance from the team members. This resulted in unmet deadlines, a lengthened process, and financial bleeds for the organization. As a DNP-prepared nurse, I can leverage my leadership skills in managing change processes within the care environment.
DNP-prepared nurses play a role in advancing nursing practice. The programs equip nurses with the skills, knowledge, and expertise to become healthcare leaders, educators, and advocates. While practice doctorate nursing and research doctorate nursing differ in diverse areas, both play a role in ensuring nursing excellence in healthcare.
References
Beeber, A. S., Palmer, C., Waldrop, J., Lynn, M. R., & Jones, C. B. (2019). The role of doctor of nursing practice-prepared nurses in practice settings. Nursing Outlook, 67(4), 354–364. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2019.02.006
Falkenberg-Olson, A. C. (2019). Research translation and the evolving PhD and DNP practice roles: A collaborative call for nurse practitioners. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 31(8), 447–453. https://doi.org/10.1097/jxx.0000000000000266
Hartjes, T., Lester, D., Arasi-Ruddock, L., McFadden Bradley, S., Munro, S., & Cowan, L. (2019). Answering the question: Is the doctor of philosophy or doctor of nursing practice right for me? Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 31(8), 439–442. https://doi.org/10.1097/jxx.0000000000000273
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Question 
Discussion – The DNP-Prepared Nurse’s Role
The role of a nurse with a practice doctorate is multifaceted and significantly different from that of a nurse with a research doctorate. As a DNP-prepared nurse, you may serve as a clinical nurse educator, a policy and legislation advocate, an organization leader, or an advanced practice nurse responsible for tracking, installing, and monitoring initiatives aimed at improving nursing and healthcare delivery.
Discussion – The DNP-Prepared Nurse’s Role
Which role(s) are you most excited about? What do you hope to accomplish as a DNP-prepared nurse? Regardless of what the future holds for you, your Walden DNP program will help you develop the knowledge and skills necessary to enact these roles.
To prepare:
• Review this Week’s Learning Resources, paying special attention to the degree requirements for completing the Walden DNP and AACN’s The Essentials.
• Reflect on your personal motivations and goals in pursuing the DNP degree.
• Consider the expectations and role of a nurse with a practice doctorate and how they may differ from that of a nurse with a research doctorate.
• Reflect on any previous experiences you have had in addressing a gap in practice or a practice change within an organization.
• Consider what it means, as a DNP-prepared nurse, to address an organization’s quality improvement needs by attending to a gap in practice or implementing a practice change.
Post the following:
• A brief explanation of your personal motivations and goals in pursuing the DNP degree.
• A description of the expectations and role of a nurse with a practice doctorate and how they may differ from those of a nurse with a research doctorate.
• A description of how, as a DNP-prepared nurse, you hope to address an organization’s quality improvement needs by attending to a gap in practice or implementing a practice change. Include any previous experiences you have had in addressing a gap in practice or a practice change within an organization.
Note: Your posts should be a substantial (500 words minimum), supported with scholarly evidence from your research and/or the Learning Resources, and properly cited using APA Style. Personal anecdotes are acceptable as part of a meaningful post but cannot stand alone as the entire post.