10: ROLE STRAIN IN THE DAPRN ■ 245- Open doors
- Organizational value
- Role confusion
- Support from nurses/ colleagues
- Things are the same
Further and more in- depth analysis of the common forms revealed shared themes
or themes from the informant’s experiences in their current role as a DNP. The following
are the themes:
- The changing and evolutionary context and environment of the DNP role,
supported by the following common forms:
a. Emerging role, open doors, organizational value, support from nurses/
colleagues - The emerging feelings of confidence and respect in the role as a DNP, sup-
ported by the following common forms:
a. Dual roles, emerging roles, feeling different after the degree, keeping cur-
rent, organizational value, support from nurses/ colleagues - Finding a settled place in the perceived role of the DNP, supported by the fol-
lowing common forms:
a. Emerging roles, keeping current in clinical practice , nurses/ colleagues
pushback, organizational value, role confusion, support from nurses/
colleagues
Theme 1: The Changing and Evolutionary Context and Environment of the DNP Role
The first shared theme interpreted from the data was the changing and evolutionary
context and environment of the DNP advanced practice or nursing role. The context
for this theme can be defined as the changing and more positive work environment
and context of the informants. This includes hospital, school, or college of nursing, and
private and collaborative practice. Informants very clearly defined, and described the
content of their professional lives as DNP- prepared nurses. The informants in this study
described environments where they felt valued and appreciated. They were given more
responsibility and asked to engage in work that was consistent with their academic
preparation. Many in the study felt that their peers were respectful of their thoughts
and ideas mainly because of their academic preparation with a doctorate. Some infor-
mants felt that their education informed their current work and really prepared them
for their current role. One informant summarized her thoughts about the environment
of her role when she said, “People sort of celebrated the fact that I had a doctorate
around me. Other people made a big deal of it which I felt was interesting.” Overall,
there was a sense that the environment and context of their professional roles was posi-
tive and supportive. They felt that this would only make them better at what they do as
DNP- prepared nurses in their current role. Nurse executives had greater clarity about
their roles and the support of the changing environment, followed by nurse educators.
DNP’s in practice felt that the advanced practice community did not fully embrace their
doctoral level role to the same degree as nurse executives. The informants felt that the
institutions in which they were employed were very accepting of the “individual nurse”
in his or her role as a DNP but were not necessarily prepared to create roles for the
DNP- prepared nurse. However, despite the difference in individual acceptance versus
role expectations, there appeared to be pride among peers and acceptance for their new
degree.