Community/public health nursing practice leaders' views of the doctorate of nursing practice.
OBJECTIVE
This paper presents thoughts of practice leaders in the community/public health nursing (C/PHN) specialty on advanced nursing practice (ANP) and the necessary educational preparation for such practice.


METHODS
Practice leaders were engaged in conversations specifically focused on the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) as preparation for ANP in their specialties, and asked to consider the benefits of, and challenges to, this educational program.


RESULTS
The resulting remarks were then assessed for themes by the interviewers and these are presented along with thoughts on the future of education for ANP.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, there was much agreement among the practice leaders interviewed about the importance of a broad skill set for ANP in the specialty. However, the practice leaders interviewed here also identified the practical challenges involved in educating nurses at the DNP level in the C/PHN specialty, as well as some concerns about the definitions of ANP for the future.
Swider
Susan M
SM
Department of Community, Systems and Mental Health Nursing, Rush University Medical Center, 600 S. Paulina, #1080, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. susan_m_swider@rush.edu
Levin
Pamela
P
Cowell
Julia
J
Breakwell
Susan
S
Holland
Pearl
P
Wallinder
Janet
J
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000523:psychology*; D011637:Public Health Nursing / Q000193:education