Introduction
Doctoral nursing education moves beyond the practical foundation of the profession and delves deeper into either nursing leadership or nursing science. While the two paths differ in their goals, they are both designed to move nursing forward and fill in the gap in skill and knowledge in the healthcare industry (AACN, 2006). The present paper discusses the differences between practice and research doctorate, their meaning and expectations, and the personal motivation to pursue a doctoral degree.
Practice and Research Doctoral Degrees: Meaning, Expectations, and Differences
The main distinction between practice degrees (such as the Doctor of Nursing Practice, DNP) and research degrees (Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing, PhD) is the focus. To be a nurse with a DNP is to be a skilled and informed leader who is prepared to be a part of an interdisciplinary team. Such professionals master the translation of evidence into practice – they use their knowledge and their experience to better the existing systems of healthcare (Zaccagnini & Pechacek, 2021). On the other hand, nurses with a PhD are scientists that lead teams to improve and propel nursing research, addressing the problems that exist in the world through scholarship and dissemination of knowledge (Zaccagnini & Pechacek, 2021). Thus, while both types of doctoral degrees push nurses to leadership positions in their field, their central roles in the community are diverse.
The expectations placed on the nurses with these degrees vary as well. DNP education is constructed to suit working nurses who may continue applying their acquired knowledge in the field. It is also expected that a DNP student will have a significant number of hours spent in practice, observing and performing the translation of evidence into the actual work. The expectations of a PhD are different – they are not related to clinical hours but rather to the exploration of theory and philosophy behind the development of healthcare. Moreover, data and statistics analysis is much more prominent in the academic degree than the practical one. Thus, a nurse who holds a theoretic degree may not have the necessary practical experience for healthcare leadership. In contrast, a nurse with a practice degree does not have the advanced tools for theory development and philosophy.
Personal Motivations
The differences between these degrees have affected my decision to pursue a doctoral degree. At the point where one’s education greatly influences their future work in the same field, it is vital to consider each path’s objectives and the possibilities that open with them. For me, the goals of the DNP programs that balance between leadership and practice align with my wishes for a future career. The doctoral degree in practice offers a degree of research that is vital for improving population health. However, I have to keep in mind that PhD nurses have different goals, and their education has what mine may lack. This is not a point of discouragement but a call to integrate both DNP and PhD nurses into an interdisciplinary team, working to elevate healthcare of the future (Cygan & Reed, 2019). Considering these differences allowed me to better imagine and formulate my personal goals.
Conclusion
To conclude, nursing education has evolved to include various research and practice elements. DNP and PhD nurses have their study focus, and their careers grow in different fields. However, both directions are vital to population health. I thought about my professional aspirations when choosing to continue my education. Knowing the distinction between the doctoral degrees gave me a chance to evaluate my objectives to select a suitable career path.
References
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). (2006). The essentials of doctoral education for advanced nursing practice. Author.
Cygan, H. R., & Reed, M. (2019). DNP and PhD scholarship: Making the case for collaboration. Journal of Professional Nursing, 35(5), 353-357.
Zaccagnini, M. & Pechacek, J. M. (2021). The doctor of nursing practice essentials: A new model for advanced practice nursing (4th ed.). Jones & Bartlett.