According to Nursing Link, the doctorate degrees recommended by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) include the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (Ph.D), the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and the Doctor of Nursing Science (DNSc). The AACN encourages all advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to earn their doctorate in nursing by the year 2015.
In 2002, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published statistics showing that less than 1 percent of the 2.5 million nurses in the U.S. had doctorate degrees. In 2004, data from the AACN showed that enrollment in doctorate nursing programs was up by 5.6 percent.
APRNs fulfill many needed positions in nursing. These positions include certified nurse anesthetists, clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners and certified nurse mid-wives. The current education criteria for an APRN is a master's degree. Doctorate degrees provide "evidence-based" practice and the leadership and systems training needed to secure top positions in the field of nursing. Moreover, they provide nurses with a way to take knowledge gained through research and apply it to their specific field to ensure quality patient outcomes.
Nursing Link says that doctorate degrees are preferred for facility teaching positions. With a doctorate degree, a nurse is more likely to teach nursing in the educational facility of her choice. The PhD is a general program of study. Nurses should choose a college that teaches the specific field they are interested in pursuing. Ph.D degreed nurses have an expanded understanding of nursing theory, teaching and research and nursing concepts.
A Ph.D or a DNSc degree in nursing can open the door to a rewarding career in research. DNSc degrees focus on education and research. They have much in common with Ph.D doctorate programs. DNSc programs expand on acquiring new knowledge, health care issues, as well as other areas of advanced nursing knowledge. Research nurses help expand the nursing practice and provide a means for bringing the nursing point of view, knowledge and expertise into research studies.
Nurses with doctorate degrees are more likely to advance to higher positions of authority in the nursing profession. Nurses with Nursing Doctorate (ND) degrees are specially trained in areas of clinical management, including system redesign, strategic planning, communication, data management, social policy and decision making, and application of business concepts.