The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), the national voice of America's baccalaureate and higher degree granting programs, recently endorsed the Position Statement on the Practice Doctorate in Nursing, which would move the current level of preparation necessary for advanced nursing practice (ANP) from the masters degree to the doctorate degree level by the year 2015. This degree would be a clinical or practice doctoral degree, and be titled the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). This session will review the AACN's Position Statement and highlight relevant portions for those APNs already in practice, and degreed at the Masters level. In addition, implications for education, practice and research will be discussed.

Section Description

We are pleased to present the abstracts from SGNA's 33rd Annual Course, SGNA on a Mission: Exceeding Expectations. The diversity of these topics certainly reflects the richness and breadth of our specialty. In keeping with the tradition of the Annual Course, we hope the following abstracts will encourage discussions for improving nursing practice and patient care outcomes.