Abstract
The purpose is to provide information for nurses who desire continuation of nursing education, learn new skills, and understand differences in core concepts of the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) terminal nursing degrees.
Changing demands of national and global healthcare environment requires a high level of scientific knowledge and practice expertise to assure quality patient outcomes. Some factors building momentum for change in nursing education at an advanced level include: rapid expansion of knowledge underlying practice; increasing complexity of patient care; national concerns of quality of care and patient safety; shortages of nursing personnel which demands higher levels of preparation for leaders to design and assess care; shortages of doctorally-prepared nursing faculty; and increasing educational expectations. In the 2005 report Advancing the Nation's Health Needs: NIH Research Training Programs, it called for nursing to develop a non-research clinical doctorate to prepare expert practitioners. AACN has worked to advance the DNP and is consistent with this call to action.
Review of literature for terminal degrees in nursing was conducted through PubMed, Google Scholar, and websites. These focus on PhD and DNP terminal nursing degrees.
It’s important the nurse determine which type of terminal degree fits their personal and professional goals. Based on current literature findings, each type of doctoral program has different goals and competencies for students to achieve. The PhD nursing program provides knowledge and skills in theoretical, methodological, and analytical approaches that will enable conducting research to discover and apply knowledge in nursing science and health care. The DNP focuses on developing advanced knowledge, skills, and leadership roles necessary to apply research findings in clinical settings, concentrating on innovative and evidence-based practice. Attending discussion sessions help to identify personal reasons for considering a terminal degree and learn differences between the PhD and DNP. Both require students to submit a scholarly project or dissertation.
Examining the types of nursing terminal degrees (PhD vs. DNP) is the first step in determining best fit. Attending discussion sessions can assist nurses in determining a suitable pathway for their personal and professional goals. This may form additional questions and provide answers that help form rationale in selection and next steps.
Notes
References:
American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2021). The Essentials: Core competencies for professional nursing education. Retrieved 10/20/24 from https://www.aacnnursing.org/essentials.
Bal, D. (2024, April, 23) DNP vs. PhD in Nursing: What’s the Difference. NurseJournal. Retrieved 10/20/24 from https://nursejournal.org/resources/difference-between-dnp-phd-nursing/.
Giddens, J., Douglas, J., and Conroy, S. (2022). The Revised AACN Essentials: Implications for Nursing Regulation. Journal of nursing regulation, 12(4), 16-22.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The Future of Nursing 2020–2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity. The National Academies Press; 2021. https://doi.org/10.17226/25982
Southard, E. (7-2-2021). PhD vs. DNP - find fulfillment in making the right choice. Retrieved 10/17/24 from https://www.myamericannurse.com/phd-vs-dnp-2/
Sigma Membership
Nu Beta at-Large
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Literature Review
Research Approach
N/A
Keywords:
Doctoral Degrees in Nursing, PhD, DNP, Terminal Degrees
Recommended Citation
Goldstein, Nancy S. and Hunter, Melissa, "Should I Consider a Terminal Nursing Degree?" (2025). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 77.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2025/posters_2025/77
Conference Name
36th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Should I Consider a Terminal Nursing Degree?
Seattle, Washington, USA
The purpose is to provide information for nurses who desire continuation of nursing education, learn new skills, and understand differences in core concepts of the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) terminal nursing degrees.
Changing demands of national and global healthcare environment requires a high level of scientific knowledge and practice expertise to assure quality patient outcomes. Some factors building momentum for change in nursing education at an advanced level include: rapid expansion of knowledge underlying practice; increasing complexity of patient care; national concerns of quality of care and patient safety; shortages of nursing personnel which demands higher levels of preparation for leaders to design and assess care; shortages of doctorally-prepared nursing faculty; and increasing educational expectations. In the 2005 report Advancing the Nation's Health Needs: NIH Research Training Programs, it called for nursing to develop a non-research clinical doctorate to prepare expert practitioners. AACN has worked to advance the DNP and is consistent with this call to action.
Review of literature for terminal degrees in nursing was conducted through PubMed, Google Scholar, and websites. These focus on PhD and DNP terminal nursing degrees.
It’s important the nurse determine which type of terminal degree fits their personal and professional goals. Based on current literature findings, each type of doctoral program has different goals and competencies for students to achieve. The PhD nursing program provides knowledge and skills in theoretical, methodological, and analytical approaches that will enable conducting research to discover and apply knowledge in nursing science and health care. The DNP focuses on developing advanced knowledge, skills, and leadership roles necessary to apply research findings in clinical settings, concentrating on innovative and evidence-based practice. Attending discussion sessions help to identify personal reasons for considering a terminal degree and learn differences between the PhD and DNP. Both require students to submit a scholarly project or dissertation.
Examining the types of nursing terminal degrees (PhD vs. DNP) is the first step in determining best fit. Attending discussion sessions can assist nurses in determining a suitable pathway for their personal and professional goals. This may form additional questions and provide answers that help form rationale in selection and next steps.
Description
Nurses who are interested in advanced nursing education are on the rise worldwide. Understanding the similarities and differences of each type of nursing terminal degree is important. Asking questions and researching the roles and features of the PhD and DNP is essential to one’s decision for which pathway is the best fit.