DNP-PhD

Completing both Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing degrees offers benefits and challenges. Integrating these programs enhances nurses' skills as clinicians and scientists, necessary for nurse practitioners in academic and clinical settings. An increasing number of nurses combine DNP and PhD degrees. This descriptive review evaluates this transformative shift in nursing education and practice. It offers perspectives to understand this change and discusses the significance of the shift. The review highlights role changes and opportunities related to education, scholarship, and practice. Additionally, it addresses policy implications, theoretical considerations, and organizational changes necessary to support this transformation.