Role of the Doctor of Nursing Practice
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Role of the Doctor of Nursing Practice
Introduction
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a relatively recent field in nursing practice that is aimed at producing nurses who are experts in their areas of specialization. The DNP program is aimed at building on the competencies acquired during masters training making these nurses well prepared to handle different situations with ease. They also act as agents of change as they are well prepared to identify areas where it is needed and develop programs and policies that are aimed at facilitating it. The DNP nurses also have the role of creating new knowledge through research as they are well prepared to conduct it through their training. They are also responsible for identifying best practices through evidence-based practice and recommend them to the entire health fraternity. This research paper will examine the different roles played by DNP nurses in the healthcare system.
Role of DNP in Nursing Practice
DNP nurses play an essential role in nursing practice due to their high levels of qualifications which gives them an edge over ordinary caregivers. The duty of DNP is comparable to that of registered nurses, and they play different roles depending on their areas of specialization. Those DNP nurses who decide to follow the advanced practice nursing path are trained similarly as advanced practice registered nurse and sit for the same certification exam making them equally qualified to perform the same functions. DNO nurses can offer primary healthcare services which include diagnosing illnesses, managing patients, administration of anesthesia, reproductive health services and neonatal care (LeVeck, 2019). Considering the nature and level of their training, DNP nurses are expected to offer the highest possible level of care that is free from any mistakes.
Role of DNP in Educational Settings
DNP nurses can advance nursing education both in classroom settings as well as in the healthcare facilities. DNP nurse educators play a crucial role in offering nursing education, and their high level of expertise ensures that the students get the best training. Their background in nursing practice makes it possible for them to relate theory to practice and make it easy for the learners to understand concepts that may appear complicated. DNP nurses are also responsible for researching issues in nursing practice. The findings of the studies help in adding new knowledge to the field of nursing, which is consequently taught in nursing schools. DNP nurses working as caregivers influence their colleagues positively through their experience. Other nurses will learn new approaches to care by working in the same environment with DNP nurses. The ability of DNP nurses to carry out research helps in advancing evidence-based practice in healthcare settings. It is, therefore, essential for these nurses to understand the influence they have on others and work towards helping others to gain knowledge.
Role of DNP in Healthcare Systems
DNP nurses play a crucial role in influencing healthcare systems primarily through policy formulation and initiating change. Healthcare is a dynamic field and changes arise from time to time. DNP nurses, through their training, are well prepared to deal with situations that call for change. Change in institutions can be problematic to implement as people are naturally resistant to it. DNP nurses are also well empowered and informed to deal with policy issues that are aimed at enhancing the operations in a healthcare facility (Edwards et al., 2018). Some of the policy changes are necessitated by new evidence obtained through research in an attempt to improve patient safety through the adoption of alternative approaches to care. These nurses, through their extensive training, also have the potential to evaluate existing and new policies and offer expert opinion on their effectiveness and whether changes need to be done.
DNP and Leadership
DNP nurses possess expert power that makes them influential in their different capacities. Their role in championing change calls them to take a leadership position to influence others into following and accepting the change. DNP nurses are expected to be transformational leaders with the appropriate leadership skills that will enable them to implement the changes that they advocate (Thomas, 2016). The DNP nurses should identify areas where change is needed and through their expertise, develop strategies to ensure that the followers embrace them to achieve the desired outcomes. Having the desired transformational leadership skills will prepare the nurse in the ever-changing environment in nursing practice. The nurse must have appropriate communication and collaborative skills to ensure that the message is effectively passed to the intended audience if the change is to be made.
Conclusion
DNP programs are aimed at producing nurses who are highly competent in their areas of specialization. DNP nurses who specialize in nursing practice have in-depth knowledge of the different areas of care, making them be specialists in service provision. In educations settings, the nurses help in promoting high-quality training as they are well versed on different aspects of nursing practice. In terms of leadership, DNP nurses are leaders by virtue of their expertise that makes them influential over their peers. They should act as agents of change and steer other nurses into accepting new practices that are designed at improving care in the healthcare setting.
References
Edwards, N. et al., (2018). The Impact of the Role of Doctor of Nursing Practice Nurses on Healthcare and Leadership Medical Research Archives vol 6 issue 4. April issue 4
LeVeck, D. (2019, Apr 10). Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) – What Is A DNP and Is It Worth It? Nurse.org. https://nurse.org/articles/how-to-get-a-dnp-is-it-worth-it/
Thomas, C. (2016). Transformational leadership as a Means of Improving Patient Care and Nursing Retention, Walden University ScholarWorks https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/ff9b/3de14b98376cb744de0982947a0c8c61ee0d.pdf