Register Before May 1st for Early Registration Rates
!
Search Options
Skip to main content (Press Enter).
Login
Skip auxiliary navigation (Press Enter).
Join
Learning Center
Register
Give
FAQ
Skip main navigation (Press Enter).
Toggle navigation
Search Options
About
About NASN
Advertise
Affiliates
Calendar
Contact Us
Election of Officers and the Nominating Committee
Position/Office Details
Employment at NASN
FAQ
Fellows of NASN
NASN Leaders
Board of Directors
NASN Staff
Newsroom
Resources
Advocacy Tools
Bookstore
Comprehensive Text
Scope and Standards of Practice
Clinical Practice Guidelines
COVID-19 Reference
Champions for School Health
Educational Initiatives
eManuals
Employment Center
eNewsletter: NASN Weekly Digest
Fact Sheets, Education Briefs & Infographics
School Nursing Practice Framework™
Health and Practice Topics
Journals
Podcasts
Professional Practice Documents
Position Statements
Position Briefs
NASN Joint Statements
Toolkits
Training Tools
Education & Events
Accreditation
Annual Conference
NASN2024
Call for Conference Presentation Submissions
School Emergency Triage Training (SETT)
Online Courses and Webinar Recordings
Upcoming Events and Calendar
NCPD Contact Hours | Certificates and Transcripts
School Nurses International
Membership
Affiliates [State Organizations]
Become a Member
Get Connected
Just for NASN Members
Special Interest Groups
VSP Eyes of Hope
Advocacy
Advocacy Tools
American Rescue Plan
Claim Your School
Legislative Priorities and Outreach
School Nurse Day
Virtual Hill Days
Research & Data
2015 School Nurse Survey
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Every Student Counts
Research Grants
Research Mailing Lists
Research Priorities
School Nurse Workforce Study
School Nurses Mental Health Study | CDC
SchoolNurseNet
SchoolNurseNet Home
All Communities
My Communities
Healthy School Nurse
Directory
Browse
Discussions
Peer-Shared Resources
Blogs - News
Participate
Post a Discussion
Share a Resource
SchoolNurseNet
Browse
Blogs - News
Blog Announcement Viewer
Blogs
The Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP): How Does this Degree "Fit" into School Nursing Practice?
By
Shanyn Toulouse, DNP, MEd, RN, NCSN
posted
12-05-2022 11:49
1
Like
How does a DNP "fit" into School Nursing practice? This is an interesting question, and one I'm not sure that I really could have answered prior to beginning my own DNP work. One of the main focuses of the DNP-level nurse is to gather, analyze, synthesize, and translate research into practice. Much of DNP work is quality improvement, which is one of the key principles of the
NASN Framework for 21st School Nursing Practice
!
We know that QI plays a very important role in day-to-day nursing practice in any setting. I believe that all school nurses participate in "QI" without even realizing it. For example, if a school nurse creates a new form or process, then realizes a revision would improve some part of the form or process...that's a "QI" type of project. Of course, there are formal evidence-based QI tools and processes that industry professionals use. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), Lean, and Six Sigma, for example. So many of these tools are easy to implement and using these tools makes your QI work that much more replicable, reliable, translatable, and publishable. While this type of work (QI) is important in any clinical setting, the isolating nature of our profession makes the dissemination (sharing, publishing, reading) of QI and other research related work that much more important. Even more powerful are partnerships with our PhD School Nurse colleagues who can elevate the work that much more. Strong partnerships facilitate the creation of formal research studies that our DNP colleagues will then gather, analyze, synthesize, and translate! Sound familiar? Full circle and so powerful!
If someone is considering an advanced degree (PLEASE do!) and is not sure whether a DNP program or a PhD program is a better fit, think about the type of work you like to do. If you are more of a short-term, quick-fire, pilot program, quality improvement person, a DNP is your jam! If you like designing research studies, interacting with research review boards, statistical analysis, sticking with projects long term, writing and publishing, or are considering a relationship with a college or university, maybe a PhD is a better fit. Of course, there are elements of all of this in both DNP and PhD programs, and talking with colleagues who have gone through both of these types of programs can help someone sort out which is a good fit for you. If you are asking yourself if all that work and money is worth it...the answer is a resounding, "Yes it is!" Don't hesitate to reach out to me if you're considering a DNP. I'd love to chat with you!
------------------------------
Shanyn A Toulouse, DNP(c), MEd, BSN, RN, NCSN
Massachusetts Director
shanyntoulouse@hotmail.com
shanyn.toulouse@haverhill-ps.
org
978.761.2307 Mobile
"We can't educate children who are not healthy, and we can't keep them healthy if they're not educated."
M. Jocelyn Elders, MD, Former Surgeon General of the United States
------------------------------
0 comments
4 views
Permalink
Copyright � 2022 webdev. All rights reserved.
Powered by Higher Logic