The doctor of nursing practice (DNP) and Ph.D. in nursing are terminal degrees with different focuses. But both allow nurses to put their expertise to work helping patients — and when nursing professionals with these degrees draw on their complementary skills in providing care, the result often is improved outcomes for patients and nurses alike.
A study published in the Journal of Nursing Management in 2021 shows that collaboration in nursing leads to greater patient safety, enhanced health care outcomes and increased nursing job satisfaction. The coordination of care among various disciplines, a practice known as interprofessional collaboration, allows advanced nursing professionals to draw on the similarities and differences of their educational backgrounds to achieve the common goal of high-quality health care.
For nursing leaders, the positive effects of collaboration are so significant that a 2019 article in the Journal of Professional Nursing advocates for encouraging this type of teamwork through Ph.D. and DNP degree programs. In 2022, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) joined this call by issuing a position statement that recommends collaboration between DNP and Ph.D. faculty and students.
Types of Degrees for Nursing Professionals
DNP and Ph.D. in nursing degrees seek to address the changing needs of patients and in health care overall — but from different perspectives. The characteristics that set these degrees apart from each other underscore the many facets of the nursing profession.
Ph.D. in Nursing Degree
The Ph.D. in nursing provides a pathway for nurses to conduct research that can lead to breakthroughs in medical care. Ph.D. nurses also can serve as faculty members who educate nursing students about the latest trends and techniques in providing health care.
The overall goal for the Ph.D.-educated nurse is to develop, use and share new scientific approaches that improve patient care. Graduates of nursing Ph.D. programs are qualified to work in research or teaching positions for schools, health care organizations or the government.
DNP Degree
The DNP degree focuses on evidence-based practice in patient care, leadership, and policy. DNP-educated nurses typically work in roles such as health care program directors, chief nursing officers, and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs).
Nurse practitioners (NPs) account for the majority of the APRN workforce, according to the AACN. In fact, the organization has advocated for requiring a DNP for all nurse practitioners. Currently, nurse practitioners generally may have either a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or DNP as preparation for any of the NP practice areas.
Why Is Collaboration Important in Nursing?
A 2019 article in the Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners notes that sometimes DNP and Ph.D. in nursing degree holders are unclear about the focus of each other’s education programs. These professionals may compete for similar positions as well.
But, as the research outlined in the Journal of Nursing Management indicates, overcoming confusion and competition to collaborate in addressing patients’ needs offers a variety of benefits. The World Health Professions Alliance also has weighed in on why collaboration is important in nursing and other areas of health care. Among the benefits of collaboration in nursing are:
- Providing care that seamlessly incorporates the various facets of evidence-based practice, including clinical experience and research findings
- Coordinating efforts to provide health interventions that address the changing needs of patients
- Facilitating a holistic approach that incorporates preventive care as well as disease management and treatment
- Increasing health care providers’ job satisfaction through an environment that fosters mutual respect and provides opportunities to learn new approaches to care
Examples of Interprofessional Collaboration in Nursing
Whether in a clinical or academic setting, a variety of opportunities exist to encourage collaboration in nursing that can bolster patient outcomes and professional satisfaction. Following are some approaches that can facilitate teamwork among those with DNPs and Ph.D.s in nursing.
Collaboration in Doctoral Nursing
A 2019 article in the Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners notes an example of interprofessional collaboration in nursing, with DNP- and Ph.D.-educated nurses working together to improve care in cardiac surgery. It points out that such successes require professionals to have a clear understanding of the work’s:
- Ground rules
- Team member responsibilities
- Timelines
The following practices provide nursing professionals with DNPs and Ph.D.s an opportunity to develop this knowledge and collaborative spirit.
- Patient rounds — Conducting patient rounds with teams of professionals provide opportunities to determine approaches to care that incorporate a variety of perspectives from health care providers, patients, and their families.
- Daily goals — A worksheet that teams, patients, and families develop to target two care goals each day can help improve health outcomes and help everyone on a care team feel involved.
- Safety huddles — These opportunities to gather allow for input from all members of a team to discuss safety concerns from the previous day and then work together to develop strategies for addressing them.
- Safety rounds — Interprofessional teams can speak with various staff members to uncover concerns about patient safety and then work together to develop action plans that focus on addressing those issues instead of assigning blame.
- Discharge and care plans — Including practice- and research-based approaches in plans for patients’ discharge and at-home care allows for a holistic approach to managing medical conditions long-term.
Collaboration in Education
In its 2022 position statement, the AACN offers its vision for high-quality research-based nursing doctoral programs. The document includes an examination of why collaboration is important in nursing. It also offers suggestions for ways that Ph.D. students and faculty can collaborate and share resources with their DNP counterparts. These strategies include:
- Classroom or clinical assignments that include DNP and Ph.D. students
- Joint presentations at research- and clinical-focused conferences
- Team-based nursing literature reviews
- Partnerships in submitting papers to professional journals
- Collaborative applications for research grants
- Joint participation in organizations that advocate for health policy
Take a Collaborative Approach to High-Quality Patient Care
By drawing on the distinct areas of focus that DNPs and Ph.D.s in nursing have, nurses can provide high-quality patient care informed by the latest advances in clinical care and research. Duquesne University’s online Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program encourages collaboration through its emphasis on leadership, teamwork, and appreciation of diverse perspectives.
With tracks that focus on clinical leadership as well as executive nurse leadership and health care management, the program offers opportunities to analyze patient outcomes and develop solutions to health care issues. It also offers the flexibility and convenience of 100% online study as well as the support of a one-on-one faculty mentor.
Discover how the Duquesne University online Doctor of Nursing Practice degree can help you lead the way to collaborative, quality health care.
Recommended Reading
How DNPs Develop Situational Awareness in Healthcare
Nine Leadership Qualities in Nursing
Sources:
American Association of Colleges of Nursing, DNP Education
American Association of Colleges of Nursing, PhD Education
American Nurse, “Interprofessional Collaboration Made Easy”
Indeed Career Guide, “13 Doctorate in Nursing Practice Jobs You Can Pursue”
Indeed Career Guide, “Interprofessional Collaboration in Healthcare (Plus Benefits)”
Indeed Career Guide, “What Can You Do with a Ph.D. in Nursing?”
Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, “A Model of Successful DNP and PhD Collaboration”
Journal of Nursing Management, “Interprofessional Collaboration as a Mediator in the Relationship Between Nurse Work Environment, Patient Safety Outcomes and Job Satisfaction Among Nurses”
Journal of Professional Nursing, “DNP and PhD Scholarship: Making the Case for Collaboration”
World Health Professions Alliance, Interprofessional Collaborative Practice