Assignment: Doctoral Degree in Nursing

Assignment: Doctoral Degree in Nursing
Assignment: Doctoral Degree in Nursing
Assignment: Doctoral Degree in Nursing
Week 1 -Assignment 2 Discussion Melynk and Fineout-Overholt (2011) note that there are seven steps to the evidence-based practice (EBP) process. The first step is to cultivate a spirit of inquiry. To encourage this spirit of inquiry, you are asked in this discussion to: Identify a problem or issue from within your specialty area that you feel needs to be improved upon. The Doctor of Nursing Practice site (http://www.doctorsofnursingpractice.org/resources/dnp-scholarly-projects/) provides many examples of these projects. The list below may help focus your thoughts. Educational program Evidence-based healthcare policy change Evidence-based clinical issue or protocol for specific disease/condition Discuss the relevance of the issue from your perspective (not the literature at this juncture) in relation to your selected advanced role option. What piqued your interest about this issue or problem? How does it relate to your area of specialization? What gave you the idea that evidence exists to support this change? See “note” below. Provide a rationale as to why this will be an evidence-based project to improve outcomes and not generate new evidence (research). Please remember that the project will not be implemented during this course and no data will be collected. The outcome of this course is to complete a project proposal only. Week 2 – Assignment 1 Discussion
About a doctoral degree in nursing
Completing a doctoral degree in nursing (DNP) program will take anywhere from three to five years and has the ability to propel you further in your career.
While it’s not required for all advanced nursing jobs, a DNP can help you move into nurse leadership roles. Different from a nursing PhD, which is necessary for teaching and research, a DNP can advance your career on the clinical side.
If your career plans include working at a manager or executive level, a DNP will help get you there.
There are four different types of nursing doctorate degrees to choose from and each one is specific to a certain path in the nursing field.
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP): Emphasis on clinical practice-oriented leadership training.
Doctor of Nursing (ND): Focus is on developing advanced specialist skills.
Doctor of Nursing Science (DNSc): Focus is on investigative and research skills.
Doctor of Nursing Philosophy (PhD): Emphasizes scholarly research and inquiry.
Less common, but also available, are joint programs for students who have a bachelor’s in nursing (BSN) but have not achieved their master’s (MSN) yet. Prospective students for these programs must be highly qualified and meet a program’s strict prerequisites. Potential joint programs include:
MSN/PhD: This degree combines a master’s and doctorate in an accelerated program.
BSN-PhD: Focus is on BSN-holders with plans to become researchers or .
It’s important to point out that the DNP is a practice doctorate. You’ll use research to influence your practice in a clinical setting, while a PhD is a research doctorate, where you’ll conduct independent research and report on your findings.
Why should I earn a doctorate?
Nurses who have earned doctorate degrees are expected to be in high demand through the rest of the decade. With an aging population and health care issues in the headlines, there’s a growing need for highly-trained nurses. Enrolling in a DNP program now will make you more marketable in the coming years.
With an advanced degree generally comes , which is another reason you might consider earning a doctorate. It’s important to remember that a DNP program will be incredibly challenging and take several years to complete, so you’ll certainly earn that higher salary down the road.
Finally, one of the biggest reasons nurses earn a doctorate is so they can positively impact their local community and the medical field.
How long does my program take to complete?
A doctorate in nursing degree takes, on average, four to six years to complete. You will spend a great deal of time focusing on an area of research that you choose.
For students who have the time and resources, there is the chance to finish your program sooner. This requires a lot of self-discipline and motivation.
Am I a good fit for this program?
Doctorate programs in nursing are generally not large in size. Because of the advanced level of education and the level of commitment required, only a select few earn their DNP each year.
Deciding if you’re a good fit for this program means looking at a variety of angles, including:
Career goals
Personality traits, like ability to manage stress and self-motivation
Finances
Time
For some students, taking classes on campus is the best way to learn because it gives them peer interaction. On the other hand, students with restrictions on their time or finances may be better suited for an online DNP program.