DNP

Meleis, A.I., & Dracup, K. (2005). The case against the DNP: History, timing, substance, and marginalization. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 10(3), 1-8.

Ever since the establishment of nursing as a distinct profession, nurses have worked hard and long to make a case that they are healthcare professionals who have a unique contribution to make to the field of medicine. Nurses are not merely the helpmates of doctors -- they offer their own distinct brand of caritas to patients. One component of the effort in garnering respect for nurses has been the effort to institutionalize nursing theory at an advanced level in academia. To expand the potential for nurses to gain advanced certification, the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is currently offered at many academic institutions. However, according to Meleis & Dracup (2005), nursing is ultimately about performing in the field, and it can be detrimental to...
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