title: Practice doctorates in nursing: developing nursing leaders.
abstract: Over the past two decades, doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree programs have grown rapidly in the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom. The DNP has as its emphasis the preparation of leaders for clinical practice, health policy, administration and clinical research. DNP-prepared nurses are in a prime position to work with nurse researchers and to provide leadership in nursing in a variety of settings. DNP programs prepare nurses for the highest level of practice, while PhD programs will continue to prepare nurse researchers. Both PhD and DNP programs are needed to advance nursing knowledge and provide leadership in healthcare.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, T201-2211 Westbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 2B5, Canada. sacorn@interchange.ubc.ca
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Acorn
authors.forename: Kimberley
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lamarche
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Edwards
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D002321:Career Choice; D002322:Career Mobility; D003479:Curriculum; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate; D055318:Evidence-Based Nursing; D007857:Leadership; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000193:education; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000193:education; D009721:Nurse Midwives / Q000193:education; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000193:education; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000193:education