Discussion: The Doctoral Degree and Professional Nursing Practice

Why did you decide to enroll in graduate school? What informed your decision to pursue your chosen degree? How will earning this degree influence your career?

This week, you consider the characteristics of various programs, including the DNP and the PhD. The focus of the DNP degree is on clinical practice, whereas the focus of the PhD is on research. In conjunction with other professional colleagues, DNP- and PhD-prepared nurses often collaborate to analyze critical issues and find appropriate ways to address them.

This first Discussion provides an opportunity for you to examine what it means to earn a doctorate and how your selected degree program relates to your professional goals.

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To prepare:

Consider the reasons you have chosen to pursue an advanced degree. How do you anticipate that earning this degree will support your professional goals?

Reflect on the comments shared by the experts in this week’s media regarding the value of a DNP degree and the various roles available to DNP-prepared nurses, as well as the characteristics of the PhD program and opportunities for PhD-prepared nurses.

Based on the information presented this week, have you developed any new ideas or goals for your future? If so, what are they?

Post a cohesive response that addresses the following:( 1TO 2 PAGES )

What does it mean to be a nurse with a practice or research doctorate? What are the expectations associated with this degree? How might this be different for a nurse who holds a different degree?

How do these considerations relate to your motivation to pursue a doctoral degree right now?

References to follow

Required Readings

Zaccagnini, M. E., & White, K. W. (2014). The doctor of nursing practice essentials: A new model for advanced practice nursing (2nd ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett. [Vital Source e-reader] (DNP STUDENT ONLY)

“Imagining the DNP Role” (pp. xvii–xxviii)

Houser, J. (2015). Nursing research: Reading, using, and creating evidence (3rd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett.

[For PhD students ONLY]

Chapter 1, “The Importance of Research as Evidence in Nursing”

American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). (2006). The essentials of doctoral education for advanced nursing practice. Washington, DC: Author. Retrieved from http://www.aacn.nche.edu/DNP/pdf/Essentials.pdf

[For DNP students ONLY]

“Introduction” (pp. 3–7)

Cleary, M., Hunt, G. E., & Jackson, D. (2011). Demystifying PhDs: A review of doctorate programs designed to fulfill the needs of the next generation of nursing professionals. Contemporary Nurse: A Journal for the Australian Nursing Profession, 39(2), 273–280.

Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

[For PhD students ONLY]

Conn, V. S. (2014). Prepare to launch: Optimizing doctoral education to ensure career success. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 36(1), 3–5.

Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

Conn, V. S., Zerwic, J., Rawl, S., Wyman, J. F., Larson, J. L., Anderson, C. M., Markis, N. E. (2014). Strategies for a successful PhD program: Words of wisdom from the WJNR editorial board. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 36(1), 6–30.

Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

[For PhD students ONLY]

Foster, R. L. (2012). Doctoral education and the future of nursing. Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing, 17(2), 77–78.

Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

Sperhac, A. M., & Clinton, P. (2008). Doctorate of nursing practice: Blueprint for excellence. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 22(3), 146–151.

Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

[For DNP students ONLY]

Laureate Education (Producer). (2012g). Welcome to Walden [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

Laureate Education (Producer). (2011b). Introduction: The doctor of nursing practice [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 2 minutes.

Discussion: The Doctoral Degree and Professional Nursing Practice