Are you planning on pursuing a practice doctorate degree in nursing? If you are, it would be best to assess the program and study your options by reading through the information we have provided for you in this section.
An Overview on Doctorate Studies in Nursing
The number of requests for admission to doctoral study in nursing has increased greatly since the early 1980s. The impetus for this movement stems from the need for advanced study for academic achievement or tenure in this educational setting and reflects the need in nursing research for the advancement of the profession as a whole.
Doctoral programs in nursing offer various degrees, such as the doctor of nursing science, the doctor of science in nursing, the doctor of nursing education, and the doctor of philosophy in nursing. Other types of doctorates are available to nurses, such as the doctor or education and the doctor of public health.
Typically, the nurse with a doctorate assumes a leadership role in education, often serving as a faculty member or the dean or director of a nursing program. These nurses also may choose to be involved in the research and development of a body of nursing knowledge.
The nurse with a doctorate assumes a leadership role in education
Points of Entry
There are two basic entry points for the DNP program. The degree base its qualifications on education and experience from nurses with masters degrees and also enable students to get into the program right after obtaining a bachelor’s degree and prepare for advanced training and practice tasks as part of the DNP program.
• Post Master’s Entry. A lot of the students who enter the DNP program have a Master’s Degree. The DNP curriculum in this transition will include higher levels of expanded content as a continuation of the student’s previous experience, education and specialization.
• Post Baccalaureate Entry. Candidates who pursue the program with a baccalaureate degree in another field or nursing would be required to go through a program with more subjects and courses including clinical experiences and more comprehensive content to complete the curriculum in the DNP including competencies in specialty.
Program Expectations
DNP graduates are expected to gain an expansive knowledge base within eight important areas as defined and outline by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses or AACN. These areas include:
• Scientific knowledge for practice
• Systems and organization leadership for quality service and systematic thinking
• Analytic methods and clinical scholarship for proof-based practice
• Patient care and information systems in improving the evolution of health care
• Health care legislation and advocacy
• Collaboration with other professionals and improving health outcomes of patients for the benefit of the nation’s health
• Advanced practice in nursing
• Increased clinical hours
What job opportunities are waiting for the DNP?
DNP programs for nursing will turn you into a leader of many disciplines within the health care industry. Your scientific knowledge, efficiency, timelessness, and ability to provide patient-centered care will be highly needed and respected.
After completing the DNP program, you will find a lot of leadership roles and positions waiting for you in the area of clinical practice. You can also assume an administrative position or teach in a university while doing clinical practice. Graduates of the program can also work as researchers in the nursing field; a area which is in demand due to the industry’s need to discover new and innovative ways of improving the quality of nursing care and modify its knowledge base to maintain and maintain relevance in an ever changing world.
Why take Doctoral Studies in Nursing?
The job opportunities is just the tip of the iceberg as far as the benefits of having a doctoral degree in nursing is concerned. A professional student like you in today’s nursing setting must be expecting a higher level of recognition. Well, you will receive such recognition with a doctorate’s degree. The amount of time and costs you will be spending for a doctorate’s degree will be worth it once you become a leader and superior in clinical practice. Better performance in clinical practice can lead to better revenues. With a doctorate’s degree you will gain the following benefits:
• Enhanced knowledge and improved clinical practice
• Sound leadership skills that strengthens health care practice and delivery
• High status within the profession
• Can offer higher compensation for services
• Better patient care results
If you are someone with a big dream and ambition in life, then you might want to acquire this degree at the shortest time possible. Whether you’re a new nursing candidate looking for the highest degree or a master’s prepared APN looking for new opportunities, the doctorate degree would be a great choice for you.
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