DNP Faculty
Q: How can the DNP faculty member improve nursing education?
A: A faculty member prepared as a Doctor of Nursing Practice may improve nursing education through his or her understanding of nursing practice. Although many faculty appointments now recommend or require faculty to maintain a clinical practice, the DNP degree emphasizes a set of skills beyond that of direct patient care. The skills learned in a DNP degree are specifically aimed at improving nursing practice directly or indirectly through the understanding and implementation of evidence-based practice, leadership, health policy and information technology. Additionally, a faculty member with a practice doctorate may be able to translate the use of nursing theory and science in practice through their own experiences and interpretations. Although nursing educators with PhDs are essential for the development of our discipline, faculty members with DNPs also add a rich component for students due to their ability to translate and implement our body of knowledge into practice.
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 kwolfgang@advanceweb.com.