The dnp/phd (doctor in nursing practice)
Similarities:
1. DNP- and PhD-level nursing programs equip nurses to take on leadership roles as well as make critical healthcare decisions.
2. Students must complete either a thesis or a culminating assignment to earn both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
3. Both degrees require completion of coursework related to research methods/design as well as evidence-based practice principles & application.
Differences:
1. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is focused on application of evidence-based practice through clinical initiatives while the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is based on knowledge creation via scholarly research efforts such as primary qualitative & quantitative studies, systematic reviews, and narratives synthesis projects.
2. The PhD program emphasizes theory more than the DNP program, which focuses on practical applications of evidence-based research results into clinical environments.
3. It is possible to earn a doctoral degree in a different time frame depending on which path you choose. For example, traditional PhD students take 4-5 years while DNP graduates typically need 3-4 years. Some institutions however offer an accelerated option for both degrees.