Community/Public Health Nursing Practice Leaders Views of the Doctorate of Nursing Practice

The American Association of College of Nursing (AACN) has recommended the practice doctorate (DNP) as a way to recognize the complexity of care provided by nurses in advanced practice roles, as well as elevate nurses to a parity status with other disciplines that have a practice doctorate. While AACN is providing important leadership in this area, the benefits of and rationale for moving all advanced practice nursing (APN) to the DNP is less clear to Community/Public Health Nursing (C/PHN) educators. The practice doctorate raises several issues for our specialty. What do our practice partners identify as educational preparation for advanced practice in C/PHN? What are our practice partners' needs to assure a competent C/PHN workforce? Will positions be available that recognize this level of practice? Will the extension of programs to educate advanced practice nurses in C/PHN cause nurses to seek graduate degrees in public health rather than nursing, as a shorter route to similar employment opportunities? Where do the multiple specialties of C/PHN such as school nursing, occupational health nursing, and home health nursing stand with respect to APN education? The importance of education for the public health workforce has not been adequately addressed in the debate and the emergence of new DNP programs for C/PHN illustrates the unresolved controversy in our specialty. The authors interviewed leaders in C/PHN to obtain their perspective on the DNP, the skills required in the DNP, and how this degree would address the advanced nursing practice skills needed in their specialty area. Interview participants included nurse leaders in home health care, hospice, public health, school nursing and occupational health nursing. Similarities and differences in advanced practice needs and skills across these areas are presented, as well as in relation to the AACN DNP essentials.