DNP vs PhD: Its Difference in Nursing Education

There are common perceptions about the advance nursing education that are being argued by many people. Most of them are confused with choosing of the prescribed nursing education for them. They all end up with dilemma in selecting appropriate nursing program and worried with the stigma brought by dnp vs phd issues. To make it simple, the difference between the two is the field of study. The DNP or Doctorate in Nursing Practice focuses on the curriculum that provides emphasis on nursing service. It is recommended for registered nurses who are practicing their profession in the clinical area. The PhD or Doctor of Philosophy on the other hand is recommended for registered nurses who are practicing their profession in the nursing academe. Eventually, these two programs are recognized by the nurses association and department of higher education that provides accreditation and validity of the nursing programs in the country. It aims to improve the different fields of nursing that mainly focuses on the provision of health care service both in clinical and academic area. It also influences the social health status wherein current studies have been developed to formally set a specific program that can improve the nursing standards and practice. Nevertheless, it is very important for the nurses to fully distinguish the difference of the two and this article will help them to differentiate the two.

DNP vs PhD: A closer look at the DNP program

The DNP program focuses on the clinical practice. This is ideal for nurses who are in the hospital setting. The main objective of this program is to enhance the nursing knowledge and skills of nurses to serve their clients holistically. This involves with the current trends on the clinical nursing practice that involves pediatric, maternal, neonatal, medical, surgical, psychiatric, oncological and other branches of clinical nursing. The program also covers the same educational subjects to master's degree with major in clinical practice. In other words, the main key for this type of program is the nursing skills. Although there are minimal attachments to nursing theory, the DNP program aims to develop the registered nurses with master's degree. This provides a clear picture with the issue on dnp vs phd.

DNP vs PhD: A closer look at the PhD program

The PhD program concentrates on the nursing academic. This is ideal for nurses who are in the nursing education center and institution. The main objective of this program is to develop the knowledge and skills of nurses who are involved in nursing research or management of nursing education. This includes the various recent issues concerning the nursing education. Most of their program focuses on the development of their nursing strategy in providing nursing lessons to their students as well as with the different variations in the behavioral and cognitive aspect. Nursing research is very essential because most of the nursing practices are being studied based on scientific explanations and theory. This explicitly improves the nursing standards that are also taken up in the clinical and community settings. This makes a halt in the issue concerning with dnp vs phd.