328 ■ III: ROLE FUNCTIONS OF DOCTORAL ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE
RefWorks and Endnote, the doctorally prepared nurse can write a paper while auto-
matically generating citations and reference lists in the correct format. These tools pro-
vide the option to easily switch style formats, such as from the Publication Manual of
the American Psychological Association (APA) style to the American Medical Association
(AMA) style, which is sometimes required when submitting papers for publication.
These tools/ skills are useful to the doctoral student, and can also be useful for the
clinical scholar beyond graduation given the expectation of dissemination of practice
scholarship.
Data collection tools can range from simple Excel spreadsheets or Access data-
bases, to more complex EHRs, to even more sophisticated system- wide data collection
systems such as a HIS. The key consideration for the doctoral APN is that it is impera-
tive that one has a clear understanding of how these various data collection mechanisms
operate, how databases are organized, and how these can be used to improve patient
outcomes and knowledge generation. Collecting and managing data using electronic
data collection tools can improve accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of data, conse-
quently ensuring data integrity. All of these ones then can efficiently support enhanced
clinical decisions by practitioners/ clinicians when delivering patient care or by sup-
porting the nondirect care functions of doctoral advanced nursing practice. As health
care systems amass more and more health information, the use of these sophisticated
tools to analyze big data repositories will drive changes in the health care landscape,
ranging from improved treatments to reducing hospital admissions and improving
patient outcomes (Bates, Saria, Ohno- Machado, Shah, & Escobar, 2014). The doctorally
prepared APN must be able to understand and “use available health information man-
agement tools for evidence- based care/ health education... and to improve patient
care” (AACN, 2010, p. 17).
Data analysis and report generation demands yet another skill set involving the use
of programs such as Predictive Analytics Software (PASW; formally Statistical Package
in the Social Sciences [SPSS]) or Statistical Analysis System (SAS) for quantitative data
analysis, and Atlas or NVivo for qualitative data analysis. In the past, the majority of
research conducted by APNs was quantitative. It is important to note that qualitative
research in primary care settings is gaining acceptance and is more widespread in the
literature (Aflague & Ferszt, 2010; Doherty, 2010; King, Muzaffar, & George, 2009; Tanyi,
McKenzie, & Chapek, 2009; Thrasher & Purc- Stephenson, 2007).
Products such as Crystal Reports or i- net Clear Reports permit extraction of infor-
mation from multiple data sources to create reports. A good understanding of these and
similar tools and of how to present information meaningfully is essential. Using tools
such as these can help the doctoral APN to not only manage large data sets but to con-
duct high- level analysis that can generate new knowledge.
■ PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INFORMATICS
EXPECTATIONS OF THE DOCTORAL APN
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES OF NURSING
The AACN published The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice in
2006, and some 5 years later, it is critically apparent that the original essentials must be
revisited. According to the AACN (2006) there are eight essentials comprising the follow-
ing key areas: (a) scientific underpinnings for practice; (b) organizational and systems