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Introduction: Emergence of the DNP Degree
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), in 2004, pinpointed a necessity for nurses possessing advanced educational qualifications to offer superior clinical care, assume leadership roles, and address the acute faculty shortage in the nursing education sphere. Although a handful of Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs existed before the AACNs pivotal document (with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center initiating one in 1999 as an illustration), this critical paper accentuated the imperative for escalating the educational attainment of advanced practice nurses from Masters to the doctoral echelon. Consequently, a surge in the establishment and conferral of the DNP degree - the ultimate clinical qualification for nursing practitioners - was observed. Starting from a modest 20 programs in 2006, the count escalated to 303 by 2017, per AACNs 2018 data. Furthermore, the period post-2010 witnessed the enrolment in DNP initiatives soaring from 7,034 to 18,352 students, marking a substantial 161% augmentation, with the enrolment figures for 2016 being estimated at around 29,000 (AACN, 2018). The DNP is acknowledged as a clinical doctoral credential analogous to those in various other disciplines, including pharmacy, audiology, speech, and physical therapy, where the doctorate is recognized as the ultimate practice degree. For aspiring nurses, the journey to securing a DNP is versatile, presenting options like post-Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to DNP or post-Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) to DNP routes (Edwards et al., 2018).
Healthcare Care Strata
Primary Care forms the foundational healthcare layer within a community, providing direct access for its members. This level is staffed by general practitioners (GPs), practice nurses, and community health specialists like dentists, podiatrists, and optometrists. Accident and emergency (A&E) Departments also contribute to this layer by extending specific primary care elements.
GPs, stationed in surgeries alongside other professionals, play a pivotal role in overseeing community health. They deliver health services to nurses, healthcare assistants, and health visitors collaboratively. Every community member, including children through their parents, can enroll in a GP surgery for holistic health services.
In this essential framework, health visitors actively engage in health education and promotion, providing crucial support to individuals and families. Specialized health visitors offer their expertise to families with members suffering from unique conditions or disabilities (Beeber et al., 2019).
Every school is affiliated with a designated nurse responsible for health education and promotion among students...…like health economics, health insurance, administration, and information technology (Edwards et al., 2018).
Furthermore, individuals with DNP qualifications have begun to leave their mark in health economics, health insurance, administrative roles, and information technology within the healthcare domain. For instance, many DNP holders are now seen in administrative capacities within the health insurance sector, having a say in healthcare financing matters. They are adept at employing Electronic Health Records (EHRs) for data compilation and extraction, which aids in refining patient care processes, positively influencing patient outcomes, and facilitating the enhancement of EHR systems. The potential impact of DNP professionals on the healthcare sector is immense, with many more areas awaiting their valuable contribution and influence (Edwards et al., 2018).
Lastly, the widespread influence of DNP-educated nurses is documented through scholarly articles featured in numerous journals. An analysis of peer-reviewed DNP publications between 2005 and 2012 revealed that 80% of the articles focused on practice, while the rest (20%) were devoted to research, policy, education, and theoretical frameworks. Within the practice-centric articles, there was a distribution among topics related to clinical practice from provider and patient viewpoints, interventions in health systems, clinical strategies, and evaluation of practice guidelines (Edwards…
References
American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2018). http://www.aacnnursing.org/News-Information/Fact-Sheets/DNP-Fact-Sheet.
Beeber, A.S., Palmer, C., Waldrop, J., Lynn, M.R., & Jones, C.B. (2019, July/August). The role of Doctor of Nursing Practice-prepared nurses in practice settings. Nurs Outlook, 67(4), 354364. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2019.02.006.
Carter, M. A., & Jones, M. (2017). Nationwide Doctor of Nursing Practice/Advanced Practice registered nurse survey on roles, functions, and competencies. Journal of Doctoral Nursing Practice, 10(2), 108–112.
Edwards, N., Coddington, J., Erler, C., Kirkpatrick, J. 2018. The Impact of the Role of Doctor of Nursing Practice Nurses on Healthcare and Leadership. Medical Research Archives Vol 6 issue 4. April issue 4Institute of Medicine. (2011). The future of nursing: Leading change, advancing health. Washington, DC: Institute of Medicine.
DNP-prepared nurse, there is likelihood of encountering several different methods of disseminating the findings and implications of an evidence-based project. The existence of varying methods for presentation of findings and implications of an evident-based project is fueled by the unique benefits of each method. Therefore, the DNP-nurse should be careful when choosing his/her method of presenting findings and implications through thorough analysis and consideration of the unique benefits of
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) (2006), highlights the role of the nurse as an advocate for the patient on a level that goes beyond the individual care that the patient receives. DNP Essentials underscores the role of the nurse as a leader with a responsibility to help policymakers make good decisions about healthcare that will have a positive effect on patient outcomes (AACN, 2006). These essentials are
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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
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DNP PROJECT Final Project PlanThe proposed project seeks to address the high incidence of medication errors at the clinical site by implementing a mandatory medication safety education for clinical staff. The incidence of medication errors at the facility has risen significantly over the past year, resulting in preventable injury, death, and reputational issues. This text presents the final translation action plan to start off the implementation phase. It outlines the