DNP Program Is Different From

¶ … DNP program is different from a traditional PhD program.

One of the distinguishing features of the advanced practice nursing discipline is the emphasis which is placed on clinical proficiency. This differs from many of the medical disciplines where educational and professional development center more directly on research aspects of any particular field. This principle has seen an elevation in importance with the 2004 initiation of the process by which Advance Practice Nursing (APN) programs begin their evolution into Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), "On October 25, 2004, the member schools affiliated with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) voted to endorse the Position Statement on the Practice Doctorate in Nursing. This decision called for moving the current level of preparation necessary for advanced nursing practice from the master's degree to the doctorate-level by the year 2015." (AACN 2010)

The result would be the creation of a new doctorate program for the nursing profession that in some ways parallels aspects of the PhD program for nursing and which, in other ways, differs considerably. Perhaps the most significant difference between them is the capacity in which the DNP program projects itself for continuing professional development and education. Its emphasis on the practical aspects of engaging clinical nursing make it an approach particularly well-suited to ongoing improvement and expansion of professional qualifications. By contrast, the PhD functions more in the formative capacity, helping individuals to establish core mentor-mentee relationships and to gain in the fundamental knowledge specific to one's intended area of study and work. So denotes Cramp (2005), who reports that a PhD program "prepares nurse scientists with focused areas of research expertise and is designed to allow students to work one on one with experienced senior researchers. Students are matched based on research interest on admission with a College of Nursing professor who is a graduate faculty fellow." (p. 1)

The DNP, instead, reflects the rising prominence of clinical nurses who are equipped with advanced skill and knowledge sets. Quite to the point, Cramp makes the case that while these aims reflect a core difference between nursing PhDs and nursing DNPs, both subsets of the nursing profession are likely to possess greater and more extensive education than is the traditional Medical Doctor (MD). That said, all indications are that the nursing profession is coming increasingly to demand a level of educational development and practical qualification that converge in the Doctor of Nursing Practice initiative.

2. Discuss your educational and professional goals, short-term and long-term, and address how earning the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) will help you reach these goals.

The provision of healthcare requires patience, compassion and dedication. In addition to possessing these qualities and desiring to share them with those in the greatest need, I am well-suited for the emotional, practical and educational rigors of a distinctly challenging occupation. Though I am driven by professional ambition, academic achievement and a degree of healthcare experience, I am also inspired by the deeply personal interest in helping others. I believe that the advanced level focus of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is particularly suited to the development of the skills and knowledge required to truly qualify as an outlet for such help.

Indeed, the DNP program appears to serve in the achievement of both my short- and long-term goals as an evolving professional. The emphasis on improving practice skills and treatment quality suggest that a DNP program will make me a better provider of healthcare services on a day-to-day basis. Thus, the education which I anticipate gaining through such a program would significantly improve my ability to bring patients comfort; ease pain; raise quality of life; provide critical life-saving services; and provide my knowledge in any capacity where need is demonstrated.