Frank D. Hicks, PhD, RN, CNE
As nursing education evolves, so does the debate over the most appropriate academic pathway for nurse educators. In this OpEd, Dr. Hicks argues that the DNP with a nurse educator focus is an appropriate degree for nurse educators. He asserts that the nurse educator is an advanced nursing practice role and should have the same academic and clinical rigor as advanced practice nursing roles.
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree has existed for 20-plus years (Dunbar-Jacob et al., 2023). Initially created to recognize the highest level of clinical practice for advanced practice roles such as Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, Clinical Nurse Specialist, or Nurse Practitioner, other roles (e.g., systems/executive leadership) are now offered at the DNP level, implying these roles are seen as advanced practice roles as well (American Association of Colleges of Nursing [AACN], 2022). The nurse educator role, however, has not universally been accorded the same level of recognition. This raises the question: is the DNP an appropriate degree for nurse educators? Now that most nursing accreditation organizations accredit a DNP with a nursing education focus, there is an opportunity to re-think and re-conceptualize the DNP with a nurse educator track, one goal of which should be justifying the nurse educator as an advanced nursing role, like that of systems/executive leadership.
In 2004, the AACN did not include the nurse educator role when advocating the DNP for advanced practice.They asserted that the DNP must focus on an area of practice of the discipline and not “the process of teaching” (AACN, 2006, p. 7). Although the nurse educator role is not advanced practice nursing, it is advanced nursing practice that requires highly specialized knowledge and attainment of specific competencies to effectively implement that practice (Halstead, 2018; O’Lynn, 2015). But what advanced and specialized knowledge is needed for the DNP-educated nurse educator? Is it solely advanced content in educational theory and pedagogy? Or is it something else?
I believe the DNP with a nursing education focus is the appropriate degree for nurse educators. Indeed, it should be the preferred credential for those not interested in a research-focused degree, such as the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or the Doctor of Education (EdD). Each of these degree pathways provides a different focus and preparation. A PhD in nursing provides a solid grounding in research and exposure to the discipline’s science to prepare a nurse scientist. However, many PhD programs lack substantive content in educational methods. The EdD is a professional practice degree that focuses on applying knowledge in education to prepare leaders in education. It provides a substantive background in educational pedagogy (Booth et al., 2016) but often lacks the disciplinary focus in nursing afforded by the PhD. However, neither of these degree options provide the learner with an opportunity to substantially deepen their knowledge in an area of clinical nursing practice. I assert that this substantive clinical focus is needed for DNP programs with a nurse educator track.
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