According to data presented by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) at the January 2012 Doctoral Education Conference, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program growth has been extraordinary. The number of programs grew from 20 in 2006 to 182 in 2011, and over 100 additional schools are considering starting a DNP program. Between 2002 and 2011, enrollments in DNP programs spiked from 70 students to 8,973! Graduations have soared from 15 new nursing clinical doctorates in 2002 to 1,581 in 2011.1 Although the number of research-focused PhD programs has grown modestly between 2006 and 2011 (from 103 to 126), there has been a slow but steady rise in the number of enrollments from 3,229 students in 2003 to 4,907 in 2011. At this rate of growth for both DNP and PhD programs, will we realize the Future of Nursing's recommendation to double the number of nurses with doctorates by 2020?
DNPs in the literature
This month, The Nurse Practitioner marks its Third Annual DNP Issue featuring three articles in which at least one author is a recent DNP graduate. The authors earned their degrees within the last 2 years--Jane Champion, DNP (coauthor Jennifer Collins, PhD); Andrea Parsons Schram, DNP; and Nida Merchant, MSN (coauthor Julee Waldrop, DNP). Drs. Champion and Collins provide a summary of the 2010 CDC guidelines for sexually transmitted infections. They include assessment and treatment options plus evidence-based interventions that have been effective in counseling patients. Dr. Parsons Schram discusses the concept and history of the patient-centered medical home, a collaborative model for delivering healthcare to improve access, quality, continuity of care, outcomes, patient satisfaction, and cost containment. The author petitions primary care nurse practitioners to prepare to become leaders in transforming today's healthcare delivery system. Ms. Merchant and Dr. Waldrop have written an integrative review presenting evidence about the safety and effectiveness of pentavalent vaccines for children. They conclude that combination vaccines can be used confidently by patients and providers to improve immunization completion rates for children.
Informing the stakeholders
DNP-prepared advanced practice nurses (APNs) are challenged to maximize opportunities to inform stakeholders of the value-added roles for which they have been trained through their advanced learning. As the number of DNP-prepared APNs increases and the role continues to evolve, their influence on positive changes in the quality of care and improved health outcomes will command broader acknowledgment and support from key groups, including patients, nursing colleagues, other health professionals, administrators, insurers, legislators, and the public. Business as usual is not an option for DNP graduates whether they return to the same position or start a new one. Be sure to visit http://www.doctorsofnursingpractice.org/, a site developed by APNs to promote and enhance the profession and DNP degree. The stated goal is "...to provide forums for communication, share timely information, and create an online journal to demonstrate the contributions of nurses with this practice degree." DNP education will continue to elevate the nursing profession. Will it become the required degree for entry to advanced nursing practice in 2015 as proposed by the AACN? That question is yet to be answered. See my blog at http://www.tnpj.com and voice your opinion on this debate!
Jamesetta Newland, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, FAANP, FNAP
Editor-in-Chief
[email protected]
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