How DNP and PhD Nurses Can Collaborate, Coursework Example

Advanced nursing education has assumed two primary forms and supports the ability of nurses to diversify in their roles and meet new goals and expectations; therefore, the PhD and the DNP represent similar yet different disciplines that impact the nursing profession as a whole (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2006). In this capacity, nurses are able to provide a valuable contribution to nursing practice and to the overall direction of patient care and treatment. The history of the PhD began in 1934, but the DNP did not emerge until 2001, thereby supporting a new discipline in which to practice nursing and to be successful in advancing patient care and treatment (Dreher & Smith, 2011). In the DNP role, doctoral level nurses possess the ability to exercise effective support and judgment towards the application of change to the practice setting through evidence-based solutions, policies, and theoretical perspectives which are applied in a practical manner (Buchholtz et.al, 2013). DNPs must be able to demonstrate a high degree of knowledge and a greater understanding of how their roles might impact nursing daily activities and beyond (Moore, 2014). Therefore, these roles must provide an opportunity to examine common problems through a new lens and to create an application of new and creative solutions to support patient care effectively (Moore, 2014).

For nurses conducting research projects at the doctoral level, there are a number of alternatives to consider, including the systematic review, which emphasizes a specific type of research question and the prior studies that have been performed under this topic in order to achieve a successful result (Polit & Beck, 2012). The systematic review offers a positive approach to addressing a common nursing problem and in evaluating the studies that exist in this area so that new approaches might be considered to address the problem in a new context, perhaps with a higher level of research-based knowledge and support from the nursing community.

References

American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2006, October). Essentials of doctoral education for advanced nursing practice. Retrieved from http://www.aacn.nche.edu/publications/position/DNPEssentials.pdf

Buchholtz, S. W., Budd, G. M., Courtney, M. R., Neiheisel, M. B., Hammersla, M., & Carlson, D. (2013). Preparing practice scholars: Teaching knowledge application in the doctor of nursing practice curriculum. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 25(1), 473-480. doi:10.1002/2327-6924.12050

Dreher, M. H., & Smith, M. E. (2011). Doctoral advanced nursing practice (1st ed.). New York, NY: Springer.

Moore, K. (2014). How DNP and PhD nurses can collaborate to maximize patient care. American Nurse Today, 9(1), 48-49. Retrieved from https://www.questia.com/magazine/1G1-358849857/how-dnp-and-phd-nurses-can-collaborate-to-maximize

Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2012). Nursing research: Generating and assessing evidence for nursing practice (9th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.