Assignment task:
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.
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.
Weekly Resources:
- Dang, D., Dearholt, S. L., Bissett, K., Ascenzi, J., & Whalen, M. (2021). Johns Hopkins evidence-based practice for nurses and healthcare professionals: Model and guidelines (4th ed.). Sigma Theta Tau International.
- Chapter 3, "The Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice (JHEBP) Model for Nurses and Healthcare Professionals (HCPs) Process Overview" (pp. 55-66)
- Chapter 4, "The Practice Question Phase" (pp. 73-96)
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2021). The essentials: Core competencies for professional nursing education
- 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
- Falkenberg-Olson, A. C. (2019). Research translation and the evolving PhD and DNP practice roles: A collaborative call for nurse practitionersLinks to an external site.. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 31(8), 447-453.
- Giardino, E. R., & Hickey, J. V. (2020). Doctor of nursing practice students' perceptions of professional change through the DNP program Journal of Professional Nursing, 36(6), 595-603.
- Hartjes, T. M., 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
- Kesten, K., Beebe, S., Conrad, D., Corrigan, C., Manderscheid, A., Moran, K., & Niederer, M. (2023). Alignment of DNP degree competencies with employer perspectives: The value of academic practice partnershipsLinks to an external site.. Journal of Professional Nursing, 48, 112-118.
Walden University. (n.d.). Doctor of nursing practice
Note: Be sure to familiarize yourself with the degree requirements for completing the DNP at Walden
- Walden University. (n.d.). Doctor of nursing practice (DNP) practicum manual.
- Walden University Office of Research and Doctoral Studies. (n.d.). DNP capstone resources NURS 8702 and NURS 8703
Note: Check this website for the latest version of the DNP Project Process Guide.
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 (1000 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.