Examine the role of the DNP in scholarship and in policy development.
The act of obtaining a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree (DNP) is a well-respected achievement, but one must not assume that a person has earned the role of scholarship. According to Chism, it is crucial to recognize that scholarship is developed and not awarded. Scholarship flourishes during a DNP’s professional advancement. As the DNP’s career advances, the focus is on continually seeking best practices and ways to provide optimal patient care through evidence-based research. DNP is a powerful strategy to prepare nurses for the most advanced clinical nursing practice level, i.e., “providing leadership for evidence-based practice.” It focuses on advanced practice roles, including leadership, collaboration, clinical reasoning skills, and translation of scientific and theoretical knowledge into practice for solving problems and improving outcomes (Rivas et al., 2021).
Throughout the DNP’s career, avenues are assessed through evidence-based practice to implement health policies to enhance health care delivery in the populations in which they serve. The DNP utilizes critical thinking and a curious attitude to adopt more efficient and cost-effective methods to provide optimal care using models and frameworks acquired through research. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) represents the highest level of preparation in nursing practice for those seeking a career focused on the scholarship of clinical practice, application, and integration (Trautman et al., 2018). The DNP employs knowledge obtained from theory and practice while providing care to populations to develop health policies that render better health outcomes.
Describe how scholarship and policy development interrelate.
Scholarship for the DNP is acquired through theory and skills obtained during the doctoral education process and continues throughout their career. Evidence-based practice guides the DNP’s career to refine and produce health policies that promote optimal health care outcomes. They develop policy agendas, serve as expert witnesses, content experts, and garner support from legislators (Edwards et al., 2018). DNP’s often work in and oversee areas of clinical practice and initiate health care policies to problem solve and enhance healthcare. Therefore, it is the role of the DNP throughout their career cycle to become effective scholarly leaders and provide efficient, cost-effective health care through the initiation of health care policy.
References:
Chism, L. (2019). The Doctor of Nursing Practice: a guidebook for role development and professional issues. (4th ed.). Burlington: Jones & Bartlett Learning
Edwards, N., Coddington, J., Erler, C., & Kirkpatrick, J. (2018). The impact of the role of Doctor of Nursing Practice nurses on healthcare and leadership. Retrieved from http://journals.ke-i.org/index.php/mra (Links to an external site.)
Rivaz M, Shokrollahi P, Setoodegan E, Sharif F. Exploring the necessity of establishing a Doctor of Nursing Practice program from experts’ views: a qualitative study. BMC Med Educ. 2021 Jun 7;21(1):328. doi: 10.1186/s12909-021-02758-w. Erratum in: BMC Med Educ. 2021 Jul 24;21(1):398. PMID: 34098907; PMCID: PMC8183583.
Trautman, D., Idzik, S., Hammersla, M., Rosseter, R. (2018). Advancing scholarship through translational research: The role of PhD and DNP Prepared Nurses” OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing Vol. 23, No. 2, Manuscript 2.
| Discussion Board Responses Rubric | |||||
| Criteria | Ratings | Pts | |||
| This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Number of Responses
Students are expected to respond to at least 2 of their peers. |
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30 pts | |||
| This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Substance of Responses |
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45 pts | |||
| This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Grammar, Punctuation & APA |
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25 pts | |||
| Total Points: 100 | |||||
Peer Response
I agree with the approach taken by the author of the discussion post. This response, therefore, will expound on the view of the author. It is true to say that the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) prepared nurses to have a significant role in healthcare policy development (Edwards et al., 2018). DNP-prepared nurses utilize scholarships to gain skills and fill several positions in healthcare. Edwards et al. (2018) state that DNP graduates can design and evaluate innovative care models and the effectiveness of patient care strategies; as a result, they influence policy development. Evidence-based practice is a thread throughout DNP education.
It strengthens the application of research-based interventions to improve patient outcomes. DNP nurses ensure that healthcare policy supports the application of evidence-based practices. They are well informed, empowered, and prepared to support healthcare policy development and revision (Edwards et al., 2018). They often engage in policy evaluation, coalition building, and policy interventions. DNP-prepared nurses serve as expert witnesses; they develop agendas and act as content experts. Therefore, DNP nurses can influence healthcare policy.
Scholarship and policy development go hand in hand. DNP-prepared nurses have achieved scholarship through skills gained during their studies. These skills and knowledge are used during policy development and revision (Trautman et al., 2018). Evidence-based practice learned through the DNP education forms a framework for developing healthcare policy. Without attaining the kind of scholarship they have, nurses would not have the skills and knowledge to revise or develop healthcare policy.
Reference
Edwards, N. E., Coddington, J., Erler, C., & Kirkpatrick, J. (2018). The Impact of the Role of Doctor of Nursing PracticeNurses on Healthcare and Leadership. Medical Research Archives, 6(4). https://doi.org/10.18103/mra.v6i4.1734
Trautman, D. E., Idzik, S., Hammersla, M., & Rosseter, R. (2018). Advancing scholarship through translational research: The role of Ph.D. and DNP prepared nurses. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 23(2). https://doi.org/10.3912/OJIN.Vol23No02Man02