DNP Creates Infinite Possibilities for Healthcare
Greetings, DNP Answers readers! My name is Meg Carman, and I am an acute care NP practicing with Wake Emergency Physicians in Raleigh, N.C. I am also on faculty at Duke University School of Nursing, in the ABSN program. I completed my DNP program at Duke in 2010, with a capstone project on the implementation of a clinical decision support tool to improve guideline adherence in the care of patients presenting to the ED with suspected MRSA related skin and soft tissue infections (Advanced Emergency Nursing Journal, July- September 2011).
I am excited to be writing for this blog, as I see the DNP role as one with infinite possibilities in improving the care of our patients. Many people inquiring about the DNP program ask me if I did it to get a better job or more money. My answer is that the DNP has helped me to do the job I love, but to improve the care I provide to my patients. As a clinical doctorate, we are poised to implement sound, evidence-based changes, bringing research to the bedside. At the same time, what I learned in my program was that the changes we propose will only be as successful as the time we take to tailor interventions to the setting in which we hope to have them adopted.
I look forward to your thoughts and comments. I would especially like to hear from individuals who have gone through other DNP programs or who have employed specific frameworks to develop their EBP projects. What projects have evolved after graduation? How do you all see present and future roles for the DNP? We have much to discuss. May the blogging begin.
Editor's note: Here at the DNP Answers blog we take your questions about the DNP and answer them as best we can. This question is answered by blogger Meg Carman, DNP, ACNP-BC, CEN, who serves on faculty in the ABSN program at the Duke University School of Nursing in Durham, N.C. She also practices with Wake Emergency Physicians, PA in Raleigh. Comment below to discuss this topic, or send new questions to jford@advanceweb.com.
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