Post a brief explanation of the role of the nurse with a practice doctorate. Be specific. Explain the expectations associated with obtaining this degree, including how these expectations might be different for a nurse who holds a different degree. Then, explain how these considerations relate to your motivation to pursue a DNP, including a brief description of how your role as a DNP-prepared nurse will meet a potential organization’s need to address a gap in practice or implement a practice change. Discuss any experiences you have had in addressing a gap in practice or a practice change within an organization. Be specific. TO PREPARE: Review the Learning Resources and reflect on the reasons you have chosen to pursue a DNP degree. How do you anticipate that earning this degree will support your professional goals? Reflect on the differences between DNP and PhD degrees. How may this relate to your decision to pursue the DNP degree? Review the degree requirements for completing your DNP at Walden. Specifically, consider the focus of the Doctoral Project and practicum experiences as discussed in the DNP Essentials document. Keep in mind that you will be required to identify a site or sites for completion of your DNP project and your practicum hours required for the degree. Review the Field Experience requirements for submitting documents for practicum approval https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/fieldexperience/sonLinks to an external site. DNP programs require 1000 practicum hours post baccalaureate degree. 400 of those hours are earned while in the DNP program. 600 or more hours are earned in the MSN or in NURS 8601 during the DNP program. If you have not obtained the verification of hours form and sent it to your MSN institution, contact your student success advisor for assistance at After reviewing the DNP Essentials document and the DNP Project Process Guide for the DNP project, reflect on what it means to address an organization’s needs to attend to a gap in practice or implement a practice change. What is the difference between a gap in practice and a practice change? How does your role as the DNP-prepared nurse contribute to meeting a stakeholder need? American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2006). The essentials of doctoral education for advanced nursing practice. DNPEssentials.pdf Beeber, A. S., Palmer, C., Waldrop, J., Lynn, M. R., & Jones, C. B. (2019). The role of Doctor of Nursing Practice-prepared nurses in practice settingsLinks to an external site.. Nursing Outlook, 67(4), 354–364. Falkenberg-Olson, A. C. (2019). Research translation and the evolving PhD and DNP practice roles: A collaborative call for nurse practitioners.Links to an external site. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 31(8), 447–453. Fiset, V. J., Davies, B. L, Graham, I. D., Gifford, W., & Woodend, K. (2019). Developing guideline-based quality indicators: Assessing gaps in pain management practice.Links to an external site. International Journal of Evidence-Based Healthcare, 17(2), 92–105. Giardino, E. R., & Hickey, J. V. (2020). Doctor of Nursing Practice students’ perceptions of professional change through the DNP programLinks to an external site.. Journal of Professional Nursing, 36(6), 595–603. Hartjes, T. M., Lester, D., Arasi-Ruddock, L., McFadden Bradley, S., Munro, S., & Cowan, L. (2019). Answering the question: Is the Doctor of Philosophy or Doctor of Nursing Practice right for me?Links to an external site. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 31(8), 439–442. Rew, L., Cauvin, S., Cengiz, A., Pretorius, K., & Johnson, K. (2020). Application of project management tools and techniques to support nursing intervention researchLinks to an external site.. Nursing Outlook, 68(4), 396–405. Tussing, T., Brinkman, B., Francis, D., Hixon, B., Labardee, R., & Chipps, E. (2018). The impact of the Doctorate of Nursing practice nurse in a hospital settingLinks to an external site.. The Journal of Nursing Administration, 48(12), 600–602. Walden University. (2021). DNP capstone resources NURS 8702 and NURS 8703Links to an external site.. Office of Research and Doctoral Studies. Walden University. (n.d.). Field experience: College of nursingLinks to an external site.. Field Experience. APA format with references and citation please
