Educational Opportunities for Those Not Wanting a DNP
Q: How can NPs who don't go back to get a DNP elevate their knowledge in similar ways?
A: Great question! My first suggestion is to become familiar with the Essentials for Doctoral Education for Advanced Nurisng Practice. The essentials guide the curriculum of DNP programs and will reflect much of the coursework. The essentials are:
- Scientific underpinnings for practice
- Organizational and systems leadership for quality improvement and systems thinking
- Clinical scholarship and analytical methods for evidence-based practice
- Information systems/technology and patient care technology for the improvement and transformation of healthcare
- Healthcare policy for advocacy in healthcare
- Interprofessional collaboration for improving patient and population health outcomes
- Clinical prevention and population health for improving the nation's health
- Advanced nursing practice
I would also be familiar with all of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing documents related to the DNP including the DNP task force documents. This will help you become aware of the relevance of the DNP degree and the progression toward a DNP degree in nursing.
You may also want to review the IOM documents starting with "To Err is Human" (1999). Many reports (2001, 2003, 2010) followed this report and published recommendations that have led to the development of the DNP degree.
Basically, any material that reviews the above topics, including the essentials will help you become familiar with topics discussed in a DNP program. If I had to focus on a few, I would prepare myself with leadership skills and skills in evidence-based practice. Also, there are certification programs available in Information technology which is also a recommendation of the IOM and a focus of DNP programs.
Editor's note: At the DNP Answers blog we take your questions about the DNP and answer them as best we can. This post is written by blogger Lisa Chism, NP, DNP, NCMP. Lisa was selected as the 2011 North American Menopause Society Certified Menopause Provider of the Year. Comment below to discuss this topic, or send new questions to jford@advanceweb.com.
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