What Does “Doctor of Nursing Practice” Mean to You?

Nursing professionals undoubtedly comprise the largest part of the healthcare workforce. With a mix of roles, titles, degrees, and practice settings, it is little wonder that many people—including healthcare providers—become confused about how the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) fits into the nursing profession and the healthcare team. There are hundreds of millions of Google results for “Doctor of Nursing Practice,” and there seem to be more questions than answers.

What Is the DNP?

In 2004, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) published a position statement supporting the Doctor of Nursing Practice as both the terminal degree for clinical nursing education and the graduate degree for advanced nursing practice preparation. 

What Does DNP Education Entail?

The curriculum for the DNP degree, as outlined in the AACN’s Essentials of Doctoral Education, provides graduates with a wide range of nursing skills. In addition to clinical responsibilities, the DNP prepares students for organization leadership and systems change. Nurses with a DNP are ideally suited for high-level health system, academic, and policy-making roles. The practice focus of the DNP education is highly tailored to developing innovative and evidence-driven nursing experts.

Nurses seeking a DNP degree can focus their studies on advanced practice nursing (APN) or systems and organizational leadership. Those focusing on advanced practice nursing complete coursework on health and physical assessments, advanced physiology and pathophysiology, and pharmacology. Graduates are also prepared to sit for the national specialty APN certification. Those in the organizational track focus on systems-level thinking and analysis. Healthcare policy leadership, information technology, and implementing and evaluating programs are essential skills in the organizational focus. 

Roles vs. Degrees: Who Has a DNP?

Many healthcare professionals’ roles are directly connected with the letters after their name—MDs and DOs are Physicians, PharmDs are Pharmacists, etc. In nursing, however, these distinctions are not always so clear. There are several confusing terms, which are often incorrectly used interchangeably, but have different meanings.

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) 

Just like the DNP, this is a degree, not a role. If enrolled in a full-time program, Nurses can complete their MSN degree in two years; however, many choose to take courses part-time while continuing to work. 

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)

This job title is for a Nurse with advanced training in a specialized role who has passed the national certification. These Nurses most commonly have a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), but Nurses who have earned a DNP may also sit for the national examination and become APRNs. Some APRNs may have both MSN and DNP degrees, having completed both levels of education.

APRNs may also have additional specializations in their training, and use the following titles: Nurse Practitioner (NP), Certified Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), Certified Nurse Specialist (CNS), and Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM). Most APRNs are primary care providers and can treat, diagnose, and manage patients’ health conditions.

How Does the DNP Support the Nursing Workforce?

As the terminal degree in nursing practice, the DNP plays an essential role in the education, mentorship, and leadership within the nursing profession. Nurses with a DNP are exceptionally qualified to work as nursing faculty, as more academic institutions prefer to hire instructors with a doctoral degree. DNP-educated Nurses are critical in developing future Nurses and nursing leaders in a time when the demand for Nurses is rising and research predicts the U.S. will face a shortage of over 200,000 full-time Registered Nurses (RNs) by 2037.

Where Does the DNP Fit in Today’s Healthcare Environment?

In today’s era of reform focused on reducing costs, improving population health and patient care, and advancing health equity, the DNP-educated Nurse plays an integral part in a high-functioning healthcare organization. Whether spending their time directly treating patients and mentoring Nurses or developing programs to improve patient outcomes at the executive level, DNP-educated professionals have a unifying goal: to keep their communities healthy.

Key Takeaways

• The Doctor of Nursing Practice is a degree, not a role

• The DNP is the terminal degree for nursing practice

• The DNP prepares graduates for clinical and leadership roles

• Nurses with DNPs can serve as faculty and/or mentors for nursing students