1. The Doctor of Nursing Practice Experience Melanie Hardin-Pierce, RN, MSN, APRN-BC

2. Professional Background Critical Care Nurse Critical Care Nurse Clinical Nurse Specialist Clinical Nurse Specialist Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Clinical Faculty, UK CON Clinical Faculty, UK CON

3. Professional Goals Nursing faculty member Nursing faculty member Promote and implement evidence- based practice in nursing education and clinical settings Promote and implement evidence- based practice in nursing education and clinical settings Assume leadership role in practice settings to improve the health outcomes of critically ill adults Assume leadership role in practice settings to improve the health outcomes of critically ill adults –patients who require prolonged periods of mechanical ventilation and acute hospitalization

4. Professional Goals Translate research into practice settings Translate research into practice settings Program development, implementation and evaluation Program development, implementation and evaluation Conduct clinical research collaboratively and independently Conduct clinical research collaboratively and independently Manage change in organizations Manage change in organizations

5. Why the DNP? Desire to function at the highest possible level of nursing practice Desire to function at the highest possible level of nursing practice Clinically focused doctorate Clinically focused doctorate Prepares for clinical research utilization Prepares for clinical research utilization Focus on leadership, management of change at the system level Focus on leadership, management of change at the system level Focus on evidence-based practice Focus on evidence-based practice Desire to work “where the rubber meets the road” and impact health outcomes: Desire to work “where the rubber meets the road” and impact health outcomes: Translate research into practice!

6. Impact of DNP Education Ongoing critique of and search for evidence, both in classroom and clinical settings Ongoing critique of and search for evidence, both in classroom and clinical settings Improved ability to analyze existing evidence to determine need for change and to identify gaps in knowledge Improved ability to analyze existing evidence to determine need for change and to identify gaps in knowledge Ability to design and use clinical models that are evidence-based Ability to design and use clinical models that are evidence-based Ability to development, implement, and test interventions in practice Ability to development, implement, and test interventions in practice Ability to conduct project and program planning, management, and evaluation Ability to conduct project and program planning, management, and evaluation

7. Impact of DNP Education Increased expertise as a clinical faculty member with BSN and MSN students Increased expertise as a clinical faculty member with BSN and MSN students Increased clinical practice opportunities Increased clinical practice opportunities –Enhanced ability to develop & communicate clinical proposals Enhanced clinical scholarship skills: publications, national & international presentations Enhanced clinical scholarship skills: publications, national & international presentations

8. MSN vs. DNP Skills to design, implement and evaluate innovations at the systems/organizational level Skills to design, implement and evaluate innovations at the systems/organizational level Greater savvy in managing change and innovations in practice and academic settings, and policy changes Greater savvy in managing change and innovations in practice and academic settings, and policy changes Knowledge to ensure that we do the right thing for the right patient at the right time : Evidence-Based Practice Knowledge to ensure that we do the right thing for the right patient at the right time : Evidence-Based Practice

9. MSN vs. DNP Knowledge to apply and analyze biostatistical methods and principles of clinical epidemiology Knowledge to apply and analyze biostatistical methods and principles of clinical epidemiology Confidence that I have the knowledge and skills necessary to make a positive impact on the lives of others Confidence that I have the knowledge and skills necessary to make a positive impact on the lives of others

10. Would I do it again? Would I do it again? ABSOLUTELY!

11. Thank you for the opportunity to share! Questions?