15-minute read

‍

The DNP Degree Controversy

Throughout nursing school, we all are encouraged to further our education. Surprisingly, upon graduation, we often find ourselves defending said degrees and education amongst our interdisciplinary colleagues and nurses alike. The utility of the DNP degree (it is a degree and not a role) has become a controversial topic of conversation. In this article, I will not be addressing that controversy, but I will share my thoughts in the future.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is one of two terminal degrees in nursing and the preferred route for those interested in specialized advanced nursing practice (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2015). Several healthcare changes in the 21st century led to the call for nurses to receive higher levels of education in new ways to prepare for the changing landscape and escalating demands. With the passage of the 2010 Affordable Care Act, more Americans received access to healthcare requiring nurses to fill expanding roles, master information systems and coordinate care with interdisciplinary teams.  Adults aged 65 and older became the fastest growing age population and were projected to become 20% of the majority by 2030. These changes shifted the focus of nursing care and education from acute illness and injury to chronic disease management of diverse communities (Institute of Medicine, 2010).

The DNP degree was created in 2004 after the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Board of Directors released the DNP position statement which called for nurses practicing at the highest level to obtain doctoral preparation. In 2005, the AACN created a task force that developed the Essentials of Nursing Education for the Doctorate of Nursing Practice which outlined the DNP curriculum and competencies (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2006). The Institute of Medicine (IOM) joined the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) in 2008 to examine the state of nursing education and subsequently made recommendations that could transform the profession moving forward. In their following report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health (2010), the IOM reported nurses were uniquely suited and positioned to meet the challenges of healthcare and the needs of the population. Their recommendations called for an increase in the number of nurses with baccalaureate degrees by 2020, to double the number of nurses with a doctorate by 2020 and to promote engagement in lifelong learning (Institute of Medicine, 2010).

Accepting the Call

As stated by the IOM, the demand for advancement is in clinical practice, which is the primary focus of the Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. The DNP program prepares advance practice nurses to influence health outcomes of individuals and populations, to manage health organizations and systems of care, and to directly impact health policy (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2006). The DNP degree prepares nurses to participate in, create, manage and evaluate the increase in nurses with baccalaureate degrees within an organization. It allows us to create and collaborate with other professional and governmental bodies in the creation of scholarship and training so we can increase the number of nurses with doctorate degrees (similar to the way we supported the transition away from diploma programs and by shifting those funds toward higher education).

The DNP program as outlined by the DNP Essentials, prepares graduates for lifelong learning regardless of their area of specialization. It provides the foundation for us to evaluate and apply research findings on the best ways to incorporate continuing education for nurses at every level in a way that is seamless, culturally sensitive and meets the needs of a diverse student body (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2006). Lastly, the curricula prepares DNP trained nurses, through clinical practicum and residencies, to guide and mentor other nurses as they pursue new advance practice careers, as they transition into new areas of care or as they navigate complex health systems (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2004).

The PhD-DNP Collaborative

In contrast to the DNP degree, nurses who earn their Doctor of Philosophy or PhD focus on generating new knowledge. The PhD track is generally referred to as a research-focused terminal nursing degree. PhD trained nurses may work in research, academia, or any setting and industry where their expertise is needed. In contrast, nurses who earn their DNP degree focus on translating that new knowledge into the setting in which the knowledge will be implemented. The DNP track is generally referred to as a clinical-focused terminal nursing degree.

During my BSN to DNP journey at The George Washington University (GWU), we learned about an initiative to encourage more collaboration between PhD and DNP trained nurses. Around the time I learned about this initiative (2019), the organization I worked for published a newsletter promoting the Doctoral Nurse Collaborative. The Doctoral Nurse Collaborative unites DNP and PhD prepared nurses and offers mentorship, scholarship, and the promotion of evidence-based practice. The contact person for the group was someone named, Dr. Danielle McCamey, DNP. I emailed Dr. McCamey who was kind enough to welcome me to the group and share the mission, goals, member expectations, and various committees. After reading Dr. McCamey’s credentials in her email signature, my curiosity led me to Google her!

Dr. Danielle McCamey, DNP, CRNP, ACNP-BC, FCCP

Dr. Danielle McCamey, DNP is a Board-Certified Acute Care Nurse Practitioner with nearly 20 years of nursing experience in perianesthesia, palliative, and critical care. She is the Assistant Dean of Strategic Partnership at the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. She is a Fellow in the American College of Chest Physicians, chair of the Palliative and End of Life Care Network, and Co-Creator and Chair of the Doctoral Nurses Collaborative. She earned her bachelor’s in nursing (BSN) from the University of Virginia, and her Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Acute Care Advanced Practice and DNP from Georgetown University. She is a renowned speaker and podcast Queen. Most notably, she founded DNPs of Color.

DNPs of Color

The Mission: To serve DNPs of Color through networking, mentorship and advocacy to increase diversity in doctoral studies, clinical practice and leadership.

Our Vision: To inspire, empower, and transform the landscape of nursing by increasing diversity in doctoral nursing practice.

Our Objectives: To create opportunities for engagement in academia, research, and clinical practice. To advocate for educational support for DNPs of Color. To serve as mentors and guide nurses of color to pursue doctor of nursing practice studies.

From Instagram to Membership

When I first emailed Dr. McCamey, DNP regarding the Doctoral Nurse Collaborative, it was 2019 and I had just graduated from the NP program. While I decided not to transition to a NP role during the DNP program, I still wanted to be involved in the NP community. To start, I joined the Nurse Practitioner Association of DC (NPADC) Board as the student representative. Later in 2021, I came across an Instagram page titled, DNPs of Color and low and behold, I saw Dr. McCamey was the Founder! I emailed her (once again) to see if they offered membership. At the time, she informed me they were a social media community, but they were preparing to transition to a membership-based organization that year. Fast forward to 2023.

500 Members by MLK Day

I am honored to write this article in celebration of DNPs of Color opening inaugural membership in 2023. We’re at the heels of an initiative to have the first 500 members join by MLK Day 2024! Today’s price will not be tomorrow’s price, join now! I love Dr. Danielle McCamey, DNP and you will too. She has become the mentor of my dreams and I’m not the only one! I often talk about the value of mentorship (direct and indirect), something I have experienced personally. While I have been blessed to tutor and mentor 100s of students over the years, I have often found it challenging to find someone to do the same for me at the level and caliber I need. When I first started working with DNPs of Color, I was a member of the Program Committee. We met often to plan our Virtual Commencement and Conference. They were productive meetings of the mind, but they were also collegial, empowering, and welcoming – with Dr. McCamey at the helm. Considering her intelligence, credentials, and positioning, she is humble, charismatic, boisterous, and authentic. She’s also hilarious! I have been to her place of residence and I have her phone number. I’m fangirling hard!!!

Imposter Syndrome

When I didn’t transition to a NP job right away after graduation, I struggled with whether I could consider myself a Nurse Practitioner. Enter Imposter Syndrome. It took about 2-3 years before I even recognized it. I really valued my experience with NPADC and DNPs of Color because they helped me expand my perspective of what it means to be a Nurse Practitioner. Not one time did anyone question my presence or belittle my contributions (the same can be said for Diversity in Dermatology). In fact, my fellow DNPs of Color colleague, Dr. Janice Linton, DNP, APRN, ANP-BC, CCRN-K, ACHPN took the time to walk me off the Imposter Syndrome ledge and she spoke to my purpose – a conversation I will never forget. During a time where people are charging to gain access to them and their time, I cherish being a member of an organization where there are Game Changers and Trailblazers, as well as the President of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). Instead of paying a fee to have access to one person at one time, I invest in the organization to contribute to history and people.

You’re Invited

I welcome you to join DNPs of Color and check out our different committees including the Research Committee where we are working on the DNPs of Color Journal! You do not have to have your DNP degree or even be a nurse to sit with us! All are truly welcomed. Visit www.dnpsofcolor.org to become a member and register for our upcoming conference in Philadelphia, PA from October 17-24, 2024. Join me in being one of the first 500 members and you'll receive an exclusive swag box. This is our way of saying thank you for being a vital part of this movement.

Small World

Recently, I found out Dr. McCamey’s first boyfriend was one of my best friends in college! Talk about a small world. It would appear that our paths were always destined to cross. I am so grateful they did. I hope you’re able to experience the magic of Dr. McCamey, DNP. Your life will never be the same. I am honored to recognize her and her achievements, and to give a spotlight to this milestone for DNPs of Color. Visit www.dnpsofcolor.org and become a member of DOCs today where everyone, I mean everyone, is welcomed to have a seat at the table. If you have questions please let me know or email info@dnpsofcolor.org directly. When you connect with Danielle, tell her I sent you.

‍

Kimberly Madison, DNP

Kimberly Madison is a nurse practitioner with a passion for writing, entrepreneurship, education, and mentorship. I created this blog to share my journey as source of motivation and as a blueprint as you embark on your journey. Most importantly, I’m looking forward to increasing access to dermatology education and clinical training for aspiring and practicing nurse practitioners. I invite you to view the mission and vision statement on the homepage to see how we can best partner to make our dreams align.

‍

References

American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2004). Position statement of the practice doctorate in nursing. Washington, DC.

American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2006). The essentials of doctoral education for advancing nursing practice. Washington, DC.

American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2015). The doctor of nursing practice: Current issues and clarifying recommendations. Washington, DC.

Institute of Medicine. (2010). The future of nursing: Focus on education. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

Moran, K., Burson, R., & Conrad, D. (2016). The Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Project. (2ne ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Barlett Learning.  

Pritham, U. & White, P. (2016). Assessing DNP impact. The Nurse Practitioner, 41(4), 44-53.