Reconceptualizing the core of nurse practitioner education and practice
- 5 January 2009
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Wiley in Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
- Vol. 21 (1) , 11-17
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-7599.2008.00365.x
Abstract
Purpose: The movement to the doctor of nursing practice (DNP) is progressing rapidly with new programs emerging and curricular documents being developed. We argue that the implementation of the DNP is a good move for nursing, provided that we use the opportunity to reconceptualize the core of advanced practice nursing, especially nurse practitioner (NP) practice. Data sources: Theory and research articles from nursing focused on advanced practice nursing, NPs, and doctoral education. Conclusions: The foundation of NP education is currently based essentially on borrowed or shared content in assessment, pharmacology, and pathophysiology. We argue that the heart and soul of nursing is in health promotion, both in healthy persons and in those dealing with chronic illness. Current master’s programs do not prepare NPs to assume high‐level practice focused on health promotion and disease management using the latest theoretical developments in health behavior change, behavioral sciences, exercise physiology, nutrition, and medical anthropology. Although these are touched upon in most NP programs, they do not represent the core science of NP education and need to be a critical part of any DNP program. Implications for practice: Ultimately, our vision is for NP care to be consistently “different,” yet just as essential as physician care, leading to positive outcomes in health promotion and disease management.Keywords
This publication has 25 references indexed in Scilit:
- The Journey to the DNP Program and Beyond: What Can We Learn From Pharmacy?Journal of Professional Nursing, 2007
- How well are nurse practitioners prepared for practice: Results of a 2004 questionnaire studyJournal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, 2007
- 2004 AANP National Nurse Practitioner Sample Survey, Part I: An OverviewJournal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, 2005
- COGME's 16th Report to Congress: Too Many Physicians Could Be Worse Than WastedAnnals of Family Medicine, 2005
- After forty yearsJournal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, 2005
- Trends in Care by Nonphysician Clinicians in the United StatesNew England Journal of Medicine, 2003
- How do NPs make clinical decisions?The Nurse Practitioner, 2002
- Randomised controlled trial of nurse practitioner versus general practitioner care for patients requesting "same day" consultations in primary careBMJ, 2000
- Nurse Practitioners' Use of Nursing DiagnosisInternational Journal of Nursing Terminologies and Classifications, 1995
- Nursing Is Coming of Age... through the Practitioner MovementThe American Journal of Nursing, 1975