4: HOW DOCTORAL-LEVEL ADVANCED PRACTICE ROLES DIFFER ■ 125Coupled with my achievements of becoming a Fellow of Sigma Theta Tau’s
Nurse Faculty Leadership Academy (NFLA) and the American Association of
Nurse Practitioners (FAANP), I am now the chair of a very large and successful
NP program. My education and experience empowers me to mold the future
of nursing practice! Had I kept my head to the grindstone in my clinical prac-
tice and never decided to continue on to get my DrNP, I do not believe I would
have ever dreamed such issues existed in health care, or that I could be part of
a solution. I feel as though the lenses of my clouded glasses were cleaned, and
now I can see farther and more clearly than ever before. My DNP education has
satisfied my desire for additional education, but my quest for “more” continues.
I now see a new world of endless possibilities that will continue to assist me in
my own personal and professional development, as well as help me be a better
steward of my profession and discipline.
■ CASE STUDY I: A Women’s Health NP
Who Continues to Want “More” (continued)
(continued)■ CASE STUDY II: Transitioning in Academia, Practice,
and Scholarship: One DrNP’s (DNP) Story
The second author is an APRN who, after 30- plus years of practice evolving
from a diploma- prepared registered nurse followed by a bachelor of science in
nursing (BSN) degree and master’s- level preparation as a clinical nurse special-
ist, sought and achieved post- master’s certification as a family NP. After 3 years
of competent practice in this role, at both a primary care setting and university
medical center outpatient clinic setting, I had the personal drive to “do more.”
At first this urge was satisfied with supplemental adjunct faculty responsibili-
ties in the clinical arena. This role, however, only fueled my desire to be both an
expert practitioner and educator in my own realm. After exploring both PhD
and DNP programs for more than a year, I knew that my future quest was doc-
toral education in nursing practice. As opposed to a PhD in nursing program,
which emphasizes the philosophy of science, nursing science, and research, or
the standard DNP, I chose a hybrid DrNP program as my educational pathway
due to the ability to declare a dual track as a scholar in both nursing practice
and nursing education. Coursework in the program appealed to the practitioner
within me, as it included both a clinical and role practicum that could be tailored
to expand my knowledge and translation of evidence- based practice. Specific to
the ever growing discipline of oncology nursing advanced practice, this includ-
ed such areas as genetics, multimodal treatment using a multidisciplinary team
approach, and taking an active role in prevention and early detection of dis-
ease and cancer survivorship issues often overlooked by physician peers in their
efforts to provide the latest technology based medical care. In addition to the
chance to be an active participant in coordinating my education and securing