Program of Study
Doctor of Nursing Practice
- Objectives — Prepare nurse leaders at the highest level of nursing practice to improve patient outcomes and translate research into practice
- Competencies — See AACN’s Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice (2006)
Doctor of Philosophy
- Objectives — Prepare nurses at the highest level of nursing science to conduct research to advance the science of nursing
- Content — See The Research-Focused Doctoral Program in Nursing: Pathways to Excellence (2010)
Students
Doctor of Nursing Practice
- Commitment to practice career
- Oriented toward improving outcomes of patient care and population health
Doctor of Philosophy
- Commitment to research career
- Oriented toward developing new nursing knowledge and scientific inquiry
Program Faculty
Doctor of Nursing Practice
- Practice or research doctorate in nursing, and expertise in area teaching
- Leadership experience in area of role and population practice
- High level of expertise in practice congruent with focus of academic program
Doctor of Philosophy
- Research doctorate in nursing or related field
- Leadership experience in area of sustained research funding
- High level of expertise in research congruent with focus of academic program
Resources
Doctor of Nursing Practice
- Mentors and/or preceptors in leadership positions across practice settings
- Access to diverse practice settings with appropriate resources for areas of practice
- Access to financial aid
- Access to information and patient-care technology resources congruent with areas of study
Doctor of Philosophy
- Mentors and/or preceptors in research settings
- Access to research settings with appropriate resources
- Access to dissertation support dollars and financial aid
- Access to information and research technology resources congruent with program of research
Program Assessment and Evaluation
Doctor of Nursing Practice
- Program Outcome — Health care improvements and contributions via practice, policy change, and practice scholarship
- Receives accreditation by nursing accreditor
Doctor of Philosophy
- Program Outcome — Contributes to health care improvements via the development of new knowledge and scholarly products that provide the foundation for the advancement of nursing science
- Oversight by the institution’s authorized bodies (i.e., graduate school) and regional accreditors