What I Wish Every Nurse Knew About the DNP

By: Randee Masciola, DNP, APRN-CNP, WHNP-BC, FAANP, FNAP

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree has been steadily gaining recognition in the nursing profession, yet many nurses still find its purpose and impact confusing. Understanding the value of the DNP can open doors to new opportunities for personal and professional growth and enhance the future of nursing and patient outcomes. This blog post explores what every nurse should know about the DNP degree and the role of the DNP prepared nurse and its impact on the nursing profession and the healthcare system.

What Is the DNP?

The DNP is a terminal clinical degree for nursing practice, designed for those who want to influence and lead evidence-based practice, quality improvement and policy to improve clinical outcomes. Unlike the PhD in nursing, which focuses on research and generating new knowledge, the DNP is centered on translating existing research to improve clinical practice using evidence based and quality improvement models and frameworks to impact practice and healthcare policies.

In a healthcare landscape that is growing more complex by the day, nurses with advanced education are needed to bridge the 15–17-year gap between research and practice. The DNP equips nurses with the skills to implement evidence-based strategies, lead healthcare quality improvement initiatives, and advocate for better patient care. The DNP degree provides tools to impowernurses to be key decision-makers guiding the direction of the clinical nursing profession.

Impact of DNP-Prepared Nurses

Nurses with a DNP degree have acquired knowledge, skills and abilities to hold leadership positions in academics, informatics, hospitals, clinics, professional organizations, and government agencies. By translating research into practice, DNPs enhance patient care protocols, reduce medical errors, and promote evidence-based treatments. Many DNP-prepared nurses take on executive roles, advising on healthcare policy and leadingsystem-wide changes to improve efficiency and accessibility.DNPs influence nursing education and mentorship, shaping the next generation of nurses by promoting best practices and high standards of care.

Misconceptions and What Nurses Should Know

Despite the growing popularity of the DNP degree, many nurses still hold misconceptions about the role. Here are two common myths that need to be debunked:

• "DNPs are only administrators or educators." While DNPs can lead nursing education and administration, they also serve as high-level clinical practitioners, influencing direct patient care and leading evidence-based change.

• "Bedside nurses don’t need to care about the DNP." The reality is that DNP leaders advocate for better system policies, staffing ratios, and workplace conditions that benefit all nurses.

Is the DNP right for you?

The decision to pursue a DNP depends on your career goals, interests, and aspirations within nursing. Here are a few key considerations:

• Do you want to lead and influence nursing policy, evidence-based change or quality improvement? If you're passionate about system level change, healthcare leadership, quality improvement, policy and improving patient outcomes at the highest level, a DNP may be a great option for you!

• Are you an APRN looking to deepen your clinicalexpertise? Many APRNs pursue the DNP to enhance their knowledge on health promotion, healthcare economics, policy, quality improvement, leadership and improve their ability lead evidence-based practice change.

• Do you enjoy research applications rather than research creation? If you're more interested in translating research into practice rather than conducting original research, the DNP may align better with your passion and strengths.

Conclusion

The DNP degree prepares nurses as leaders and experts in advocacy for quality patient care, transforming healthcare policy and implementing evidence-based practice. Every nurse, whether they choose to pursue the DNP degree or not, should understand the value and impact of DNP-prepared nurses contribution to the nursing profession. If you’re considering the DNP, take the time to explore all options, connect with DNP-prepared nurses, and reflect on how this degree aligns with your personal and professional aspirations. Embracing the DNP degree and role and supporting all nursing education and roleswill help propel our nursing profession to being impactful leaders in the ever-changing future of healthcare.

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References

American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2023). The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP): Current issues and clarifications. Retrieved from https://www.aacnnursing.org

Chism, L. A. (2019). The Doctor of Nursing Practice: A guidebook for role development and professional issues (4th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Goudreau, K. A., & Smolenski, M. C. (2022). Health policy and advanced practice nursing: Impact and implications (3rd ed.). Springer Publishing.

Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2019). Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: A guide to best practice (4th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.

Zaccagnini, M., & Pechacek, J. M. (2021). The Doctor of NursingPractice essentials: A new model for advanced practice nursing (4th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.

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Randee L. Masciola, DNP, APRN-CNP, WHNP-BC, FAANP, FNAP is an associate clinical professor at The Ohio State University (OSU) and is the Director of DNP Education. Dr. Masciola is an alumnus of OSU receiving her BSN and MS prior to receiving her DNP from Case Western Reserve University in the Clinical Education Track. She is a nationally certified Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner with over 28 years of clinical practice experience. She is a former Board of Director National Association of Women’s Health Nurse Practitioners and is currently on the Board of Directors of The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties. NONPF.  She received the 2024 Outstanding Service to NONPF award andwas awarded the Ohio March of Dimes 2020 Nurse of the Year Award for Academic Education. She is a fellow in American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the National Academies of Practice (Nursing). Her scholarship focuses on the role and scope of practice Nurse Practitioners and the DNP in healthcare, APRN role and education, and evidence based sexual and reproductive healthcare for all. She has written manuscripts and textbook chapters and speaks nationally as a clinical expert on APRN/DNP curriculum and evaluation, sexual and reproductive health, global health, and evidence based clinical management of sexual and reproductive health issues. Dr. Masciola lives in Alpharetta, GA with her husband of 28 years. She is a die-hard Buckeye fan, and enjoys boating and reading, but her passion is traveling with her husband and young adult children.