The Nursing PhD and DNP:A Panel Discussion

Sponsored by the NIH Nurse Practitioners Special Interest Group

November 19, 2009 National Institutes of Health

Bethesda, Maryland

Goal of Today’sPanel Discussion

• Is:– Doctoral Education Career

• Not—to convey that all nurses need to pursue doctoral education

Is a PhD or DNP in Your Future?

Robin Newhouse, RN, PhD, CNAA, BC, CNORAssistant Dean, DNP Program

Sue Thomas, RN, PhD, CNS-P, FAANAssistant Dean, PhD Program

University of Maryland School of Nursing

Key Points of the DNP

• Practice doctorate – defined as any form of nursing intervention (Advanced Practice, Administration, Informatics)

• The DNP is the terminal practice degree that prepares graduates for the highest level of nursing practice

Key Points of the PhD

• The PhD degree is the research focused terminal degree

• Prepares the individual to conduct independent research

Contrast of Key DifferencesDNP

Prepares for the highest level of practice

Commitment to practice career

Oriented toward improving outcomes of care

Practice Intensive

PhD/DNS/DNSc

Prepares for the highest level of research

Commitment to research career

Oriented toward developing new knowledge

Research Intensive

DNP

PRACTICE

EDUCATION RESEARCH

PhD

PRACTICEEDUCATION

RESEARCH

DNP or PhD?

• Both programs require rigorous plan of study• Terminal degree• Prepare leaders in the field of nursing • Both prepare nurse educators

Resources NeededDNP

Mentors in leadership

Access to diverse practice settings

Financial aid

PhD/DNS/DNSc

Mentors in research

Access to active programs of funded research

Dissertation support

Considering Doctoral Education?

Essential Characteristics of Doctoral Candidates

Vision PassionFocus

PersistenceResourceful

Current DNP Program Status

• 92 Schools are offering DNP • 102 developing DNP• University of Maryland DNP Program

– Began September 2006

Current Status of PhD Programs

• 111 Schools offer a PhD program• 15 are developing a PhD Program• University of Maryland Program began in 1979

and it is the 16th Nursing PhD Program in the United States

Consistency Across DNP Programs

• Essentials of the Doctoral Education for Advanced Practice Nursing

• DNP Essentials• DNP tool box• http://www.aacn.nche.edu

DNP Essentials

• DNP Core: Outcome competencies deemed essential for all graduates

• Specialty Competencies/Content: Clinical and didactic learning experiences focused on preparing the DNP graduate for specialty which is defined by the specialty organizations

Eight Core Essentials

• Health Care Policy for Advocacy in Health Care

• Interprofessional Collaboration for Improving Patient and Population Health Care Outcomes

• Clinical Prevention and Population Health for Improving the Nation’s Health

• Advanced Nursing Practice

Eight Core Essentials• Scientific Underpinnings for Practice• Organizational and Systems Leadership

for Quality Improvement and Systems Thinking

• Clinical Scholarship and Analytical Methods for Evidence Based Practice

• Information Systems/Technology and Patient Care Technology for the Improvement and Transformation of Health Care

The Focus of the DNP

• Clinical decision making• Evidence based research• Research utilization in clinical practice• Organizational and systems leadership• Informations systems and technology• Health care policy • Clinical prevention and population health

Consistency Across PhD Programs

• All prepare graduates to do independent research

• Dissertations are evidence of capacity to develop, conduct and analyze complex nursing research problems

Focus of the PhD

• Acquiring the tools to do research– Theory– Research Design– Statistics

Developing their area of specialization

Education

Practice

Research

University of Maryland DNP Program

• A post-master’s option

• 38 credit program– 19 core– 15 elective– 4 capstone

• Capstone project

• Emphasis on evidence-based practice

Entry Options for Admission to PhD Program

• Post-Masters• BSN to PhD• 63 credit program• Dissertation• Emphasis on Research for discovery,

practice or education

University of Maryland PhD Program

• 60 to 63 credits • 6 credits of Theory• 3 credits of Measurement• 14 credits of Design and Statistics• 5 credits Research Rotation• 6 credits Practica• 12 credits Dissertation• 15 credits of electives

Roles of the DNP Graduate

• Practice leadership roles• Faculty positions responsible for clinical

program delivery• High level executive positions• Policy development in clinical practice

Roles of the PhD Graduates

• Independent Researcher

• Faculty positions

• Practice leadership roles

• High level executive positions

• Policy development

Money

Currently all full time PhD students have

Full tuition paid for

9 have fellowships from $9,500 to 27,000 per year

Controversy

• Evidence to support need for DNP vs MS• Extending time to graduation• Diversity in degrees• Decreased enrollment in MS and PhD

programs• Reduction in knowledge generation• BS to DNP

Conclusion• DNP programs are a solution to the

faculty shortage• Will enhance nursing science• Will prepare leaders in nursing practice• Encourage nurses to pursue advanced

degrees at earlier ages• Encourage and financially support full

time study