The Middle- range nursing theorists have contributed immensely to the expansion of Nursing as a profession. These theorists have analyzed the complexity of the ever changing healthcare sector. Through their revelation and recommendation, there was a thorough understanding of nursing as a profession. This led to the formulation of nurse education expansion in specialized areas. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) provides basic foundation for curriculum of the Doctor of nursing degree (DNP). The DNP degree prepares graduates to integrate nursing science with organization, biophysical, psychological, and analytical sciences (AACN, 2006). The DNP Essentials summarize the curricular elements and skills that must be present in programs conferring the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. This was done to lay a solid foundation on nursing education as an effort to address the complexity of practice. DNP essentials emphasize …show more content…
The continuous evolving of the health care system necessitates reconceptualization of the health professions education to match the demands of the health care delivery system. More than ever before, nurses are expected to deliver quality effective, safe care that is within the ethical realm. DNP graduates are at the forefront of healthcare and therefore must assess the impact of procedures and policies on the population they serve (Zaccagnini, and White 2014). The Advanced Practice Nurse must possess both skills, knowledge and competencies in order to apply scientific knowledge to improve health outcomes. DNP graduates must think ahead and find effective ways to address current and unforeseeable complex situations. The best approach to future problem prevention begins with the deep analyzation of the current data. Good leadership provides input and feedback that guides decisions (Zaccagnini, and White
Nursing, as a crucial part of the health care system, keeps evolving while dealing with an increasingly complex clinical situation that involves quality of patient care. Therefore, to successfully handle these scenarios, nursing needs to become more advanced, clinically and academically. A DNP degree is needed in this situation because according to Dunbar- Jacob, Navito & Khalil (2013), a DNP degree is considered to have more impact on nursing than a Master’s or Bachelor’s degree due to the advanced clinical education a DNP provides (p. 425). Hence, the DNP degree has an enormous impact in nursing practice especially in terms of improving clinical care, promoting leadership roles, and improving educational status.
The national shortage of Registered Nurses (RNs) has helped generate formidable interest in the nursing profession among people entering the workforce and those pursuing a career change. According to a report issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service in 2002, the national population is continuing to grow and age and medical services continue to advance, so the need for nurses will continue to increase. They report from 2000 to 2020 the predicted shortage of nurses is expected to grow to 29 percent, compared to a 6 percent shortage in 2000. With the projected supply, demand, and shortage of registered nurses and nursing salaries ever-increasing, the nursing profession can offer countless opportunities. But first one must determine which educational path to pursue, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or Associate Degree in nursing (ADN). Most will initially be educated at the associate degree level, even though the American Organization of Nursing Executives (AONE) has recommended a baccalaureate level as a minimal for entry-level nurses. With the expanding number of RN to BSN programs available there is always the option to further one’s education at a later date. The benefits for acquiring a BSN over an ADN include a better knowledge for evidence-based practice, an increased advantage for promotion, and the necessary gateway for higher education.
Taylor, D. (2008). Should the entry into nursing practice be the baccalaureate degree?. AORN Journal, 87(3), 611-620. doi: 10.1016/j.aorn.2007.07.006
The development of ADN programs has allowed many to reach their career goals by offering a shorter and less expensive way to complete their degrees. Some believe that Associate’s degree programs lack strong nursing theory and understanding of the actual science of nursing (Auerbach, Buerhaus & Staiger,
I am delighted in my career as a professional nurse and seeking the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) gives me the opportunity to expand my knowledge base in order to practice at a higher level, and obtain the terminal degree in my profession. My goal is to become an adult nurse practitioner, with primary focus to improve the practice of nursing. The Doctor of Nursing Practice will equip me with knowledge and skills needed to understand and appreciate research and facilitate the process of putting evidence into practice, with the overall goal of achieving improve patient safety, satisfaction and outcomes. The Doctor of Nursing Practice will enable me to assume more leadership role, in practice and in research. I should be able to participate in research and formulate nursing models guided by evidence based practice models of care. Having practiced as a professional nurse for five years, obtaining the Doctor of Nursing Practice gives me the opportunity to foster my professional growth and development.
As with this recommendation and throughout the entire paper, the DNP Essentials provide a foundation to guide the knowledge development for these recommendations. DNP practice-scholarship is validated when the principles of nursing scholarship are combined with the eight DNP Essentials to prepare a graduate capable of improving health and care outcomes. Integrating new or developed skills can improve outcomes through organizational leadership, quality improvement processes, and translation of evidence into practice, to name a
The recently developed Doctorate of Nursing Practice program encourages the development of practice competencies including translating and disseminating research into practice, active involvement in health policy issues related to practice, and incorporating healthy promotion and disease prevention (Moran, Burson, & Conrad, 2014). These important leadership functions will prepare nurses for the new roles encouraged by the IOM. By facilitating these changes the report anticipates improvements across the healthcare system from a less acknowledged but important
Healthcare is a continuous emerging industry across the world. With our ever changing life styles and the increased levels of pollution across the world more and more people are suffering from various health issues. Nursing is an extremely diverse profession and among the highest educated with several levels ranging from a licensed practical nurse (LPN) to a registered nurse (RN) on up to a Doctorate in Nursing. Diane Viens (2003) states that ‘The NP is a critical member of the workforce to assume the leadership roles within practice, education, research, health systems, and health policy’.
The DNP embodies the convergence of the various practice doctorates in nursing and was adopted as the terminal practice degree in nursing by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) in 2004 (Chism, 2016). Historically, nurses have been prepared at the doctoral level through a variety of degrees both outside of and within nursing. These various degrees include, but are not limited to, the doctor of education (EdD), DNS, DNSc, DrNP, ND, and PhDs in various fields of basic or applied sciences related to nursing.
Nursing is a complex field to put oneself in and it requires a lot from a person. There are all kinds of complications to deal with, such as mental, physical, and emotional. Stress is an ongoing occurrence when dealing with patients, with co-workers, and even with the procedures themselves. Proper communication skills are a necessity when working in the health care field. This keeps people connected and open with each other. Being a nurse is not only intricate, but it is very rewarding. A nurse gets to see a patient grow and become healthier, which is quite rewarding to know that they helped make that possible; to put all of one’s effort and hard work and have it pay off in the end. Being a nurse is a complicated but a rewarding occupation that requires amazing communication skills.
What do Florence Nightingale, Clara Barton, Dorthea Dix, and Lavinia Dock all have in common? All of these women made changes in the practice of nursing in great ways and are leaders in the advancement of nursing. The nursing shortage throughout American history has changed education in the medical field. Nursing education has been determined not only by the evolution of technology and advances in science, but by the needs and development of society over time.
As healthcare advances, many new roles are becoming available to those who are willing to further their education. The Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) is becoming an increasingly popular role for nurses as they choose to advance their education and want a practice degree versus a professional degree such as in research. The main role of a DNP is to actually put into practice the research that has been done for the discipline (Zaccagnini & White, 2017).
Transitioning the nursing education from the hospital training to the university settings led to the creation of many nursing theories. A body of knowledge, distinguishable from medicine, produced by nurses had to be decided as the standard nursing curricula. Fortunately, in 1955, Alligood (2014) narrated that the federal funds were allocated to support nurse scientists and educators to advance the nursing profession. Thus, King and Levine’s theory were among the many theories introduced at the time when nursing had to be clearly defined in its concepts and practice to guide the future generation of nurses. The following paragraphs will expound the relevance of King, Levine, and Roger’s theory
With my academic, professional and volunteer experience, I have reached a point in my career where I am fully equipped to enter the advanced curriculum of the Doctor of Nursing practice, Family Nurse Practitioner program. Working in the nursing profession for the past three years has shown me that there is an increasing need for research to improve health care delivery and access to vulnerable populations. It is rewarding to be a nurse; however there are limitations in my current scope of practice that prevents me to go beyond my job requirements. Through advanced education, my aim is to provide quality patient-family
The Future of Nursing Being a registered nurse affords one the option of working in many diverse healthcare settings. In any practice setting, the climate of health care change is evident. There are diverse entities involved in the implementation and recommendation of these practice changes. These are led by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), the Institute of Medicine (IOM), nursing campaign for action initiatives, as well as individual state-based action coalitions. Nurses need to be prepared and cognizant of the transformations occurring in health care settings, as well as the plans that put them at the forefront of the future.