DISCUSS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DNP AND A PhD IN NURSING NRS 440

DISCUSS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DNP AND A PhD IN NURSING NRS 440

Topic 3 DQ 2

Discuss the difference between a DNP and a PhD in nursing. Discuss which of these you would choose to pursue if you decide to continue your education to the doctoral level and explain why.

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The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) are nurse’s leaders that are at the highest level of nursing practice.  The DNP improves patient outcomes and translates research into practice. They specialize in providing information based on evidenced based practice. They also provide quality improvement, systems leadership, and among other key areas of nursing. The DNP is designed for nurses seeking a terminal degree in nursing practice and offers an alternative to research-focused doctoral programs. DNP-prepared nurses are well-equipped to fully implement the science developed by nurse researchers prepared in PhD, DNS, and other research-focused nursing doctorates. (DNP facesheet, 2022). 

The desire to apply theory and develop formal programs of research, become faculty of nursing, combine clinical practice with formal research, and advance through professional leadership in the ranks of hospitals and health systems organizations. The Phd focuses on the research and philosophy and are considered more of nurse scientists who do research and use evidence-based practice. 

If I had to choose between the two, I would definitely try to pursue a degree of DNP rather than PhD. Both seem to be very interesting and both seem to have different areas of knowledge that each contains but DNP would be my choice no doubt. 

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DNP Factsheet. American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2022). Retrieved from                          https://www.aacnnursing.org/News-Information/Fact-Sheets/DNP-Fact-Sheet 

Rice D. (2016). The Research Doctorate in Nursing: The PhD. Oncology nursing forum, 43(2),    146–148. https://doi.org/10.1188/16.ONF.146-148

Thomas, J. (2018). Professional Development in Nursing. In Trends in Health Care: A Nursing Perspective. essay, Grand Canyon University. Retrieved from https://lc.gcumedia.com/nrs440vn/trends-in-health-care-a-nursing-perspective/v1.1/#/chapter/3. 

• MM

Mary Kate Morrisette

replied toMaribel Villicana

Aug 12, 2022, 11:43 PM

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Replies to Maribel Villicana

Hi Maribel,

Great post! It definitely seems like there is a much bigger emphasis on independent research in PhD programs compared with the clinical component involved in DNP programs (Neal-Boylan, 2019). Most nurses who pursue their PhD in nursing likely have aspirations to work in academia, research or on the administration side of the healthcare field. I think this is probably a growing field because of the IOM’s recommendation that more nurses serve in leadership roles within healthcare organizations. On the other hand, nurses who wish to become advanced practice nurse will pursue the DNP.

Reference:

Neal-Boylan, L. (2019). PhD or DNP? That is the Question. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2019.11.015

JL

Joseph Lagman

Aug 12, 2022, 10:46 PM

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Replies to Maribel Villicana

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) (2011) recommended in their report on The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health in 2010 to increase education for nurses, most especially towards increasing the number of nurses with baccalaureate degrees and doubling the number of nurses with doctoral degrees (Melnyk, 2013). Confusion in the roles of PhD versus DNP still exists throughout the United States. These programs have distinct endpoints. The PhD degree prepares researchers and scholars to generate external evidence to extend science and theory and guide practice. DNP degree on the other hand prepares experts clinicians to prepare internal evidence and to translate evidence produced through rigorous research into practice to improve health care quality, patient outcomes, and organizational and health policy (Melnyk, 2013). In real world setting, the DNP focuses on providing leadership for evidence-based practice (EBP). DNP graduate will seek to engage in roles as educators, but the focus needs to be advanced practice specialization, not the process of teaching.

Given the option to expand this writer’s nursing career, he will pursue DNP. There is too much time involved and schooling to devote to finish PhD degree and at his age. This writer may not be able to enjoy and share the learned experience for very long given my age. Writer also is still completing his BSN deree and may need some break. Writer’s goal is to work as a consultant. He loves to work with application of EBPs and creating policies that will help in risk management assessment and prevention.

Melnyk, B. M. (2013). Distinguishing the Preparation and Roles of Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Nursing Practice Graduates: National Implications for Academic Curricula and Health Care Systems. Journal of Nursing Education, 52(8), 442–448. https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.3928/01484834-20130719-01

Institute of Medicine. 2011. The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12956.

• JO

Jose Ojeda Jr

replied toJoseph Lagman

Aug 13, 2022, 8:09 PM

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Replies to Joseph Lagman

Hello,

Nice information that you provided for this weeks discussion. I feel the same that I too would rather go for a DNP then a PhD. I just like the fact that I would be able to continue being at the bedside helping patients then working behind a desk. Just like a nursing there are so many specialty fields that you would be able to go into. From DNP I had worked with before they are some that work in the trauma bay in the ED or in the ICU as a critical care provider specialist. There have been some that I work with that work in an outside clinic like cardiac and they can help the surgeon in the OR and become a first assist. That’s what I would like to do because I find that the most fascinating to be.

• JM

Jennifer Manske

replied toJoseph Lagman

Aug 14, 2022, 4:06 AM

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Replies to Joseph Lagman

Joseph,

Great post, I agree with you schooling is a lot of work mentally and I would rather spend time with my loved ones and working in the nursing field makes you realize life is short and can get taken away way too early. I commend you for doing schooling now though. According to Thomas (2018) PhD-prepared nurses focus on the discovery of new knowledge, DNP-prepared nurses focus on the application of new knowledge and research into practice in order to promote better health care and patient outcomes. I think this sentence out of the book helps me to understand better what DNP vs. PhD nurses do as there is some confusion around this. I honestly didn’t know about either of these options until this class.

Jennifer

Thomas, J. (2018). Professional development in nursing. Trends in health care: A nursing perspective. https://lc.gcumedia.com/nrs440vn/trends-in-health-care-a-nursing-perspective/v1.1/#/chapter/3