How Data Leads to Better Nursing: Improving Workflows and Patient Care

How Data Leads to Better Nursing: Improving Workflows and Patient Care

Whether nurses think their job includes data informatics or not, it does in one way or another. For almost any nurse, data is a touch point in their day, whether they work at the bedside, in an independent office, or a boardroom.ow-data-leads-to-better-nursing-improving-workflows-and-patient-care

“Data is critical,” says Andrew Awoniyi, ND, RN, NI-BC, education director and board member of the American Nursing Informatics Association (ANIA). “It underlies everything we do.” When a fellowship experience revealed the way technology could have a positive and significant impact on healthcare, Awoniyi says he developed a new understanding of how nurses can use it. “It opened my eyes to how you deliver the best healthcare,” he says. 

Many nurses hear informatics and think it does not apply to their jobs, but the opposite is true, says Awoniyi. “There’s a school of thought that all nurses are nurse informaticists,” he says. “Everyone is using data whether they fully understand it or not.”

Often, a nurse’s day includes responsibilities unrelated to numbers or patterns in data. Still, those responsibilities and the equipment or directions they rely on are a direct result of information that has been collected and analyzed. 

It’s All About Data

“When a new initiative comes out, or there is a new process or new product, that is all because of data,” says Kathleen Ulanday, MBA, MHA, BSN, RN, NI-BC, CPHIMS, and a senior clinical informatics specialist at Texas Children’s Hospital. For example, a new process that aims to solve an identified workflow issue is often found because measurements indicate needed improvement. Once implemented, the new process will be measured as well. All the data produced during those assessments reveals patterns or other information that can influence everything from how nurses dispense medication to shift adjustments.

The most basic nursing process of identifying a problem, assessing what is being done, intervening, and evaluating all relies on some collection of information, Awoniyi says. Assessing a patient uses the data produced through vitals, lab results, and tests, so everyone from a bedside nurse to a chief nursing officer knows how to check those results to help direct patient needs. “Nursing is holistic, and everything we do around that involves data,” he says. “It is not foreign to us.”

Ideally, nurses work more efficiently when any change is implemented to improve an outcome because they gain fact-based information that can be applied broadly, says Ulanday. If a new process has a more significant positive impact on a cardiovascular patient population than a gastro one, there’s an opportunity to learn why. “Nurses might notice those patients go home quicker and ask why is that,” she says. That discrepancy can trigger a deeper investigation into new areas needing attention. 

Informatics Isn’t Just Computers

Nurses who are especially drawn to the idea of working as a nurse informaticist might be happy to know that gathering data doesn’t mean sitting in front of a computer all day. Data, Awoniyi says, has a way of helping nurses when the results are interpreted and applied. And with artificial intelligence leading to advances in medical robotics and more targeted applications, nursing informatics is advancing rapidly. It can be a significant factor in closing gaps in healthcare access. The recent expansion of telehealth shows how technology expands potential. As the population shifts and more people are living longer and with more complex conditions, data, says Awoniyi, can help close the gap in healthcare because it can offer healthcare in settings that are located far from high-tech hospitals.

While data is something that nurses can point to as proof of something working (or not), there’s another unexpected benefit to using data to help guide how nurses perform their jobs and care for patients in any setting. Compliance with a new process can improve a workflow, says Ulanday. When nurses see that improvement, their motivation and morale increase.

An In-demand Career Path

As data output grows, the industry needs nurses who use data efficiently and know how to interpret and apply the data to different nursing scenarios. “There’s a lot of data that is generated,” Awoniyi says, “and we must understand that.”

Whether they want to switch careers or not, Awoniyi recommends that nurses understand how and why technology is incorporated into healthcare processes and settings. “Be willing to contribute,” he says. Partner with other nurses, look at how new systems impact nursing workflows and offer feedback on what might improve the process or quality.

Informatics opens up nursing jobs for everything from a nursing informatics specialist or clinical informatics specialist to that of a professor or educator. According to the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) 2022 Nursing Informatics Workforce Survey, 60 percent of the 1,118 respondents reported annual salaries of at least $100,000. The survey also showed how nursing informatics roles are positioned in organizations, with 34% of respondents reporting to information systems/technology, 33% to informatics, and 30% to nursing. Reflecting on this kind of role’s medical and technical aspects, most respondents said they report to two departments more often than just one.

How Data and Healthcare Work Together

Even as informatics helps nurses and patients, it does require time and investment, so backing from leadership is critical, say Awoniyi and Ulanday. At Texas Children’s Hospital, Ulanday says the Magnet® status of the hospital requires that the perspective and experiences of bedside nurses, who give hands-on patient care and know how a workflow is helping or not, are included in leadership’s decision-making.

Nurses who are interested in learning more can start by reaching out to their organization’s technical team to ask questions and gain insight into how technology impacts healthcare, says Ulanday. She says to join a professional organization like ANIA to hear about the latest developments and bring those back to leadership.

Ulanday says nurses know it takes time to learn and adapt to new technology, but they also find it will save them time in the long run. It also has a significant safety impact, as data can improve how something is done. Implementing a new workflow based on those findings can eliminate outdated processes and improve patient safety and outcomes.

“As we look to the future, data needs to be a critical part of that,” says Awoniyi. “Understand how data is collected, analyzed, and interpreted. It’s then about how to leverage that data to bring about change.”

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Evidence-based Practice in Nursing: Why It Matters to Nurses and Their Patients

Evidence-based Practice in Nursing: Why It Matters to Nurses and Their Patients

Most nurses are familiar with evidence-based practice (EBP), using research-proven healthcare techniques to enhance patient care and the nursing environment and practices. And the benefits of EBP-led care are well documented. However, with all the positive results, EBP must consistently be taught or implemented in daily nursing practice.evidence-based-practice-in-nursing-why-it-matters-to-nurses-and-their-patients

Despite various studies that show the benefits of evidence-based practice for nurses, patients, and healthcare organizations, adopting the practice could be more widespread. Whether or not they work in an environment that supports EBP, nurses can learn more to apply EBP.

Why Use Evidence-based Practice?

What exactly is evidence-based practice? Kim M. Bissett PhD, MBA, RN, and director of the Center for Evidence-based Practice at the Johns Hopkins Institute, specializes in evidence-based practice and says, “At the most basic level, evidence-based practice (EBP) is a problem-solving approach to the decision-making process that uses the best available scientific and experiential evidence, coupled with critical thinking, to improve care.”

The method works, says Bernadette Melnyk, PhD, APRN-CNP, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN, vice president for Health Promotion and the Helene Fuld Health Trust Professor of Evidence-based Practice at The Ohio State University. “We have such a strong body of evidence that when EBP is implemented, that patient outcomes and safety is better,” she says. “We know that.”

With a patient-focused nursing priority, practicing nurses find inspiration in using innovative and successful methods. “Evidence-based practice is the most essential part of the nursing profession,” says Michael Williams, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, a lead nurse practitioner at the Center for Health Empowerment-CHE in Austin, TX. “As a collective, organized workforce, it ensures we are keeping up with the demands of healthcare.” As healthcare delivery becomes more complex, Williams says evidence-based practice helps nurses answer their questions. “It allows us to be in a position to keep up with the demands and always be innovating.” 

Patient care is only enhanced when identified and proven practices are followed. “EBP ensures patients are receiving the most current care using the best available evidence,” says Bissett. “By implementing evidence-based interventions, nurses can enhance the quality of care patients receive. For example, implementing evidence-based guidelines and protocols minimizes errors and complications such as medication errors, risk of infections, and unnecessary procedures that could lead to complications.”

Evidence-based Practice Is Good for Nurses

As Williams notes, nurses can pause and reexamine their actions when new evidence-based practices are introduced. “It’s exciting when we have the opportunity to learn something new,” he says. “It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day, giving us a chance to reset. When new guidelines pop up, it appeals to that side of nurses that are innovators or creators.”

The kind of pause that Williams mentions also refreshes nurses. “Nurses can use EBP for a variety of reasons. Some include improving or validating current practice, identifying better ways to achieve patient outcomes, and answering clinical questions,” says Bissett.

Stumbling Blocks to Widespread Adaptation

Despite all the good that comes from EBP, complex factors often result in an inconsistent application. A 2021 study found that moving research findings into regular practice takes at least 15 years. Despite medical and technological advances, that number has barely shortened in the past 20 years.

Other studies show that most nurses need to be more competent in EBP. Roadblocks to more widespread adaptation of EBP include a need for a targeted curriculum, too few mentors to show EBP in everyday work, a minimal amount of EBP investment by healthcare organizations, and a fallback to traditional nursing practices.

“In some nursing units, it is not uncommon to have practices persist even after scientific evidence has proven those practices to be ineffective,” says Bissett. “The nurses continue to practice the way they have always practiced. This persists until nurses start to question their practices and start looking for better alternatives.”

Gaining EBP Understanding

Nurses can still gain the needed knowledge even in organizations with little defined EBP work. At work, they can also bring research demonstrating the efficacy of EBP to management. “People are able to negotiate better with evidence,” says Melnyk, noting it can help nurses advocate for change or increase investment.

In general, active and involved nurses will become aware of new guidelines or evidence-based practices as these new developments emerge, and they can position themselves to gain more knowledge. If EBP isn’t part of a nurse’s training, Melnyk suggests nurses take a short, free course to familiarize themselves with the 7 steps of EBP or a more intensive course for mastery of skills.

Williams says that nurses may glean excellent information from listening to two or three podcasts in their specialty. They could also subscribe to a few nursing magazines or journals to keep abreast of the latest news. Getting involved in the nursing community by joining a professional organization is excellent. Williams is an active member of DNPs of Color. Bissett says setting up a Google alert for specific topics is an easy way to discover new information. She says conferences are also an excellent source of the most current information.

There’s also a link between nurses who practice with the most proven methods and their well-being, says Melnyk. She says that even the most highly skilled nurses can’t make much progress if they are burned out and acutely stressed. “You have to tackle this in the culture,” she says.

Attaining that additional knowledge is a powerful tool in nursing practice and a professional motivator that leads to more job satisfaction and even better work for individuals and teams. Melnyk says that if nurses negotiate for change and are met with endless pushback or flat-out denial, they may want to consider moving on to a different organization.

Bissett notes that their confidence grows when nurses are equipped to make informed decisions about patient care and have the resources to consider factors such as efficacy, safety, and patient preferences. The critical thinking that comes with EBP means nurses learn something new and have the tools to analyze why it works and then apply it to their practice, she says.

EBP as Workplace Culture

The nursing community offers exceptional learning opportunities if nurses are open to different perspectives. Williams says his position as an experienced nurse means that he learns from listening to the questions and ideas of new nurses. “That’s something that isn’t talked about enough,” he says. “Student nurses will say, ‘This is what I learned.’ And it’s different from what I learned in nursing school.”

Some questions can prompt a reexamination of practices. A workplace culture that encourages information sharing and is open to all questions is one in which nurses can learn from each other in a way that is to everyone’s advantage.

A constant rotation of new nurses and information necessitates continual evaluation of practices. “It is important to understand that once an EBP project is complete and a practice change has been implemented, it does not mean that issue is closed,” says Bissett. “Nurses must continue to verify that their practices are in line with current best evidence.”

Nurses, says Bissett, need to be active consumers of evidence. “We should be constantly looking for ways to improve our practice and to use the best evidence,” she says. “We have to stay well-informed, and that requires some action on our part.”

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Navigating the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program: Top 10 Tips for Success

Navigating the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program: Top 10 Tips for Success

Embarking on a Doctor of Nursing Practice Program (DNP) is a significant stride towards advancing your career in healthcare. Amidst the increasing demand for advanced nursing professionals, selecting the right DNP program becomes crucial. The DNP program has many options: online, hybrid, and in-person.navigating-the-doctor-of-nursing-practice-program-top-10-tips-for-success

However, before diving into the intricacies of program selection and study strategies, ask yourself this most important question: Why pursue a DNP degree?

Clarity on your motivation, the purpose of obtaining your doctorate, and your post-graduation plans sets the foundation for a successful journey. There are various potential roles for the DNP graduate, which include roles in nursing education, administration, health policy, nurse practitioner, or informatics. The DNP program prepares nurses to generate new knowledge through innovation of practice change and translating evidence to practice.

This article explores the top 10 tips for prospective DNP students, covering various aspects such as program selection, study strategies, the importance of a study partner, curriculum evaluation, cost considerations, and understanding program outcomes and final expectations.

Top 10 Tips for Success in a DNP Program

1. Research and Select the Right Program: Choosing the right DNP program is crucial. Consider factors such as accreditation, faculty expertise, and the programs alignment with your career goals. Thorough research ensures a program that meets your expectations and provides a solid foundation for your future in nursing. Speak to other nurses in the current DNP program to get a sense. Selecting a program that meets your personal needs and that is flexible is imperative for your success.

2. Understand the Curriculum: 
Please read every detail in the curriculum before committing to a DNP program. Assess if the coursework aligns with your professional interests and career goals. A well-rounded curriculum ensures a comprehensive education and equips you with the skills needed in todays complex healthcare environment. To be fully transparent, I purposely selected a doctoral program that did not have statistics because I did not want to retake it! However, the program did have a tremendously helpful economics course.

3. Evaluate Program Costs: 
Financial considerations are critical. Evaluate the overall cost of the DNP program, including tuition, fees, and any additional expenses. Look for potential scholarships, grants, or employer assistance programs to alleviate the financial burden. Most institutions have a payment plan that you can set up if needed. I did a lot of research before selecting my university. It was vital for me to have a physical university with an excellent reputation and history. I strongly recommend being strategic and not just paying extra money to have a prestigious school name on your resume.

4. Create a Realistic Study Plan: Balancing a DNP program with work and family commitments requires careful planning. Develop a realistic study plan considering your workload, responsibilities, and preferred learning pace. Creating a realistic plan can prevent burnout and reduce anxiety. I did most of my schoolwork at night because everyone was sleeping. Plus, I know that I function better at night.

5. Consider a Study Partner/Colleague support: A colleague or study partner can enhance your DNP experience. Collaborative learning fosters a supportive environment, provides different perspectives, and facilitates sharing resources and study materials. I had two close friends in the program, and having that continued support was instrumental to my success. We held each other accountable and called daily to check on each other to ensure we were ok or remind each other to submit assignments on time.

6. Utilize Online Resources: Use online resources and platforms to supplement your learning. Many DNP programs offer virtual libraries, discussion forums, and additional study materials. Embracing technology can enhance your understanding of the coursework and make your life easier. Please use all the resources you have available to you. Please learn how to do a proper library search for articles because it will save you hours of work. The librarian can be your best friend throughout the program.

7. Prioritize Self-Care: 
Balancing work, family, and a complex academic program requires self-care. Prioritize physical and mental well-being to sustain energy levels and focus throughout the DNP journey. This is harder said than done. I strongly recommend scheduling self-care time and activities. The DNP program is a rigorous program with high demands. Real talk: I cried several times and wanted to quit. However, I kept thinking of my kids, and my motivation kicked into gear.

8. Effective Time Management: 
Mastering time management is crucial for DNP success. Create a schedule that allocates dedicated time for coursework, work obligations, and personal commitments. Efficient time management ensures a well-rounded and fulfilling experience. It sounds silly, but please read the entire syllabus before your course begins.

9. Stay Proactive and Communicate with Professors: 
Maintain an open line of communication with your professors. Staying proactive ensures that you receive timely guidance, support, and feedback. I procrastinated during my DNP program, so I would not recommend it. Establishing a solid rapport with your professors can positively impact your academic journey. I sometimes found asking for sample examples for specific assignments helpful in understanding the expectations better.

10. Understand Program Outcomes and Final Expectations: Be clear about the DNP programs ultimate expectations and ask many questions. Understand whether you must implement a study or present a project proposal. I had to submit my study to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) for approval. From personal experience, I strongly recommend creating a toolkit. I created a Stress Reduction Toolkit for Nurses. I often joked about using those same stress reduction strategies during the DNP program. Knowing the program outcomes ensures you are prepared for your academic journey and can confidently meet the final expectations.

I strongly recommend not comparing your DNP journey to anyone else. Please give yourself grace and be patient. I failed a DNP course, my DNP proposal course, and I was distraught. It was a long, complicated story that ended in a denied appeal from the Dean. I was distraught when it was happening; however, I realized that perhaps God had a different path for me. We know that not all paths are linear, and neither was mine. It taught me to be more patient and more precise.

I recently completed my DNP program in organizational leadership. My goal is to combine my experience in emergency medicine, education, and leadership into an exciting role where I can apply all my knowledge and skills. I am passionate about education, career development, and growth for all nurses, particularly novice nurses.

I am dedicated to improving workplace culture and wellness due to my previous experiences with toxic workplaces, discrimination, and bullying. My mission is to empower all nurses globally to pursue their personal, professional, and business goals. I started my DNP journey three years ago, and it has been a roller coaster ride. My experience of juggling a full-time job, a young family, and a business highlights that completing a DNP program is feasible and immensely rewarding with determination and a strategic approach.

Enrolling in a Doctorate Nurse Program can be overwhelming, but success is achievable with careful consideration and strategic planning. Integrating these top 10 tips into your DNP journey allows you to navigate the challenges and reap the rewards of advanced nursing education.

Remember, there is never a right” time to start; its about finding the time that works for you and committing to the journey.

Good luck! 

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Practical Strategies for Implementing Evidence-Based Practice

Practical Strategies for Implementing Evidence-Based Practice

Basing your nursing practice on the latest evidence and research remains critical to providing optimal patient care. Practicing nursing based on tradition, how weve always done it,” or outdated research can lead to poor patient outcomes, inappropriate care, or serious errors.practical-strategies-for-implementing-evidence-based-practice

No doubt you studied evidence-based practice (EBP) in school, read it in journals or attended in-service sessions about using evidence in practice. You no doubt have every intention and desire to base your nursing practice on the latest research. But how can you do that when your days quickly spin into a whirlwind of patient admissions, procedures, and more?

In this article, well offer a few perspectives and approaches on ways to help base your practice on the latest evidence. But first, a quick refresher on the importance of EBP.

The Importance of Evidence

“By integrating the latest and most robust evidence into our day-to-day nursing practices, as nurses, we ensure that our interventions are grounded on the most recent or latest advancements in healthcare and patient preferences and values, thus promoting safe, effective, and high-quality care,” according to Meredith Padilla, PhD, RN, CCRN-CMC, clinical practice specialist for practice excellence at the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). Moreover, EBP fosters a culture of continuous learning and professional development and elevates the standards of nursing practice. Additionally, a recent study reports that EBP culture and mentorship increase job satisfaction and intent to stay among nurses.”

Highlighting the importance of bringing evidence into practice, an entire field of research is now dedicated to determining the best methods and strategies (or interventions) for facilitating the implementation of research evidence in healthcare decision-making, including day-to-day nursing practice, according to Jennifer Yost, PhD, RN, FAAN, professor, M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, Villanova University. She notes that this is commonly referred to as implementation science, knowledge translation, or translational science.

Culture of Inquiry

In bringing evidence to the bedside, nurses must cultivate a culture of inquiry, notes Padilla. Asking questions is the initial step toward EBP,” she says. She suggests using the PICOT format (Patient/population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Time) to frame the question.

Also, use an EBP model to guide your work. Examples of EBP models, she notes, include the Iowa Model, the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice Model, the Advancing Research and Clinical Practice through Close Collaboration Model (ARCC), and the Stevens Star Model of Knowledge Transformation. 

All of these models, she notes:

  • Emphasize the importance of identifying and defining specific clinical questions that require EBP solutions and utilize the PICOT format guide to search for evidence.
  • Share a step of conducting a systematic and thorough review of the best available evidence related to the clinical question.
  • Have a common goal of the translation of evidence into clinical practice.
  • Emphasize evaluation of the implementation process and continuous improvement.

Tap your resources, Padilla says. Collaborate with a colleague, nurse leader, or interdisciplinary team member who can provide support and mentorship as you explore the evidence behind a clinical question.

Along those same lines, cultivating a culture of peer review and mentorship is pivotal, says Sandra Russo, PhD, RN, director of nursing and chairperson of the nursing program at Touro University. She notes that peer-reviewed journal club meetings and mentorship programs can provide a platform for exchanging knowledge and developing critical skills.

Access to Resources

Having easy access to EBP resources is key. Hospitals and healthcare agencies should support EBP by providing nursing staff with easy access to reputable nursing journals, online databases, and institutional access to academic resources, says Russo.

In addition, dont neglect to consult your institutions policies and procedures, says Pamela Barnwell-Sanders, EdD, MBA, MSN, RN, associate professor of practice at Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies, Fairfield University. She says that even if youre performing a procedure regularly, you may discover that the policy or procedure has been updated to reflect the latest evidence.

Resources to help nurses identify the best available evidence, notes Padilla, include published clinical practice guidelines research databases like PubMed, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library. 

When it comes to searching for evidence, starting a search for the already-synthesized evidence (for example, systematic reviews or clinical practice guidelines based on systematic reviews) can improve search efficiency, according to Yost. Searching repositories of evidence syntheses (for example, Epistemonikos) and databases, such as PubMed, that allow one to limit searches to systematic reviews is also helpful, she says.

Continuous Improvement

As with most aspects of healthcare, analysis and feedback are critical. Regular audits of nursing practices are necessary to assess adherence to evidence-based guidelines, notes Russo. She says constructive feedback, recognizing positive behaviors, and addressing areas requiring improvement is the cornerstone of a continuous improvement cycle.

The nurse at the bedside should always be asking why, says Barnwell-Sanders. With a firm understanding of and grounding in EBP, youll have a solid knowledge of why a practice or procedure provides the best evidence-based care for your patients.

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The Benefits of Earning Your DNP

The Benefits of Earning Your DNP

A nursing career offers many avenues for nurses of all stripes and interests to fulfill their professional goals. For some, earning a doctorate is a lifelong aspiration that they are keen to fulfill, and nursing offers three options for this accomplishment: the DNP, the PhD, and the Doctor of Nursing Science (DNS or DNSc).the-benefits-of-earning-your-dnp

Doctoral programs offer what is frequently referred to as terminal” degrees since they represent the highest possible level of educational achievement in most disciplines (some areas lack a doctoral option. Thus, the masters becomes the default terminal degree). Considering that a DNP is generally clinically oriented, and a PhD and DNS are geared towards academia and research, a nurse wishing to take their clinical knowledge and education to the highest pinnacle would do well to look at the DNP as a very promising direction.

If youre wondering about the benefits of earning your DNP, theres no time like the present to explore the career potential and professional development that such a high-level educational accomplishment can confer on your nursing career. 

A Rigorous Education 

One clear benefit of earning a DNP is that it offers an unequaled rigorous clinical training pathway. In some DNP programs, you can choose a clinical nurse specialist or educator track, or you can choose to focus on direct patient care as an expert clinician.

Your DNP program will provide a much deeper dive into the theory and science driving evidence-based advanced nursing practice. Your education may also steer you into organizational leadership, systems thinking, IT and technological advances in nursing and medicine, healthcare policy and advocacy, and quality improvement.

This form of doctoral education will enrich your understanding and professional perspective on multiple aspects of patient care, preventive medicine, population and community health, and other areas of study. Depending on the focus of the DNP program you choose, you may also gain a keener grasp of emerging ideas in nursing and medical science, the effects of climate change and the environment on populations around the world, the social determinants of health, and other trends to keep an eye on in the years to come.

With the promise of the most extensive clinical training possible for a nurse, doctoral education can open your mind and help you look at the world around you with a more discerning, critical, and perceptive eye. It will also deepen your understanding of identifying trends that can impact how you practice, the state of the broader healthcare system you are a part of, and your patients health and the well-being of larger communities and populations, including the most vulnerable.

DNP Earning Power and Job Opportunities, and Professional Parity

The Doctor of Nursing Practice designation demonstrates to your colleagues, your patients, and the world that you have pushed yourself to achieve the highest possible level of education as a nurse, accumulating more extensive knowledge and expertise.

In many job markets, nurses with a doctoral degree can sometimes command higher salaries than some of their masters-prepared counterparts. According to Payscale, DNPs earn an average of $112,000 annually, and NPs earn an average of $106,413, an arguably nominal difference.

However, CRNAs can expect to earn an average annual salary of $179,343. And since a DNP will be the entry-level degree for all CRNAs as of 2025, newly enrolled CRNA students have been automatically enrolled in DNP programs since 2022.

When applying for executive leadership positions, candidates with a doctoral education can have an advantage over their masters-prepared colleagues since a DNP education provides advanced training in organizational management, systems thinking, and the leading of multidisciplinary teams. Executive leadership positions include chief nursing officer (CNO), patient care director, nursing home administrator, director of nursing, or chief nursing information officer. As far as earning power, a CNO can expect to earn an average of $141,000 per year.

Professional Parity 

Since many healthcare colleagues — including MDs, dentists, and physical therapists — are required to achieve a doctorate, earning your DNP can provide you with professional achievement and equality of standing regarding professional parity.

As a nurse with a DNP, you will find yourself collaborating with multidisciplinary colleagues, often in a leadership position. A doctoral degree can bestow a feeling of self-respect and the right to expect and demand equal treatment as a highly educated, knowledgeable, professional healthcare leader.

Achieving Your Highest Goals

Nurses are all individuals whose personal circumstances and preferences dictate what level of education will bring them a sense of achievement and satisfaction. An aversion to accumulating student loan debt can be enough of a deterrent for some nurses to advance their education. For some, an ADN, BSN, or MSN is enough to scratch their educational itch, and the idea of a doctorate feels foreign, excessive, or simply unnecessary to reach their career goals.

However, there are always some ambitious nursing professionals whose eyes have always been on the prize of a doctorate, whether for personal achievement, professional advancement, or a combination of these and other motivating factors. Doctoral education is an intense and enriching educational experience that some individuals look forward to with relish and excitement, if not a healthy dose of trepidation at the amount of work that completing their education will entail.

Whether for personal reasons, professional advancement, earning power, career mobility, professional parity, or simply as a quest for knowledge, earning a DNP can deliver a unique sense of accomplishment for each individual.

Only you can decide if the DNP pathway is right for you and your career. Before you take the plunge:

  • Do your due diligence.
  • Research your options.
  • Talk with those whove walked this route before you. 

There are many benefits to earning your DNP, and you can make a prudent decision once youre armed with enough information to choose from a place of wisdom and certainty.

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Nurse Residencies: Norm or Exception?

Nurse Residencies: Norm or Exception?

When new graduate nurses enter the labor market, many will clamor for the chance to land a position in new nurse residency programs. Presented as a game that only a lucky few can win, new nurse residencies provide great career-launching benefits for a small cohort of novice nurses. Meanwhile, their less fortunate new grad colleagues take positions where they may be subject to extremely poor (or veritably nonexistent) precepting and essentially set up to sink or swim.nurse-residencies-norm-or-exception

Why are new nurse residencies so few and far between, leaving countless thousands of new graduate nurses to fend for themselves after being thrown to the lions? Is this seriously how we want our neophyte nurses introduced to their new careers? And who does such a system serve? Indeed, not our patients or our society as a whole.

Feeding Our Young, Not Eating Our Young

When asked about new nurse residencies, some old-school nurses may gruffly say,

“When I graduated, nobody held my hand. It was trial by fire, and I had only myself to rely on. Why should these new nurses be coddled? We never were. Let them sink or swim!”

In these more enlightened times, we realize that just because something wasn’t done in the past doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do it now if it has qualifiable or quantifiable benefits. From the point of view of many nurse educators, new nurse residencies are more than worth the time and effort needed to create and administer them.

“Nurse residency programs are crucial for healthcare organizations to enhance new graduate nurse retention by providing a structured transition from academia to clinical practice,” shares Damion Jenkins, MSN, RN, a nursing staff development and education specialist, NCLEX prep expert, and nurse career coach and mentor.

“These programs offer a supportive environment that fosters professional development, allowing nurses to gain confidence and competence in their roles,” Jenkins adds. “Improved retention translates to a more experienced and skilled nursing workforce, positively impacting patient safety through better continuity of care.”

In terms of the long-term care environment, Jenkins states, “Residency programs often don’t exist [in long-term care], and getting administrators to allow enough staff to manage them is difficult. Long-term care facilities may often only have one nurse educator. Without qualified nurse educators to develop and manage these programs, these facilities will continue to face extremely high turnover rates.”

Jenkins is correct—with the constant threat of nurse turnover amidst a nursing shortage that never seems to go away, we need our new nurses to stay in the profession, not abandon it before they even have a chance to find their sea legs.

If 18% of new nurses leave the profession within the first year (likely a significant understatement), were losing nearly one in five of our new nurses just when we need them most. Whether the cause is overworking, stress, understaffing, bullying, incivility, or other factors, the plain fact is this: we should be feeding our young, not eating them, and one way to feed them is through the model of new nurse residencies.

A Culture of Learning

According to Jenkins, new nurse residencies serve multiple purposes, including creating the work environments we want to see in healthcare. “These programs contribute to a culture of ongoing learning and collaboration, ensuring healthcare teams stay abreast of the latest updates in the delivery of care and best practices for optimal outcomes,” Jenkins states.

If new nurse residencies are led and staffed by nurses who feel deeply about the positive aspects of education, learning, and the optimization of care, the culture of the entire workplace will feel the repercussions of that way of looking at the system of which we’re all an intrinsic part.

Back then, a nurse would attend a nursing school run by a particular hospital. In this setting, the student nurse would receive intensive hands-on training and, more often than not, be hired as a staff nurse following graduation. While these diploma programs weren’t degree-based, the clinical training was robust, and one can assume that a new nurse residency wasn’t needed based on the rigors of a hospital-based education.

In the 21st century, with varying degrees of success in integrating didactic university or college-based education with supervised clinical experiences, new graduate nurses need more high-quality hands-on training to succeed.

Healthcare is significantly more complex than in centuries past, and the amount of clinical and didactic knowledge that nursing students need to absorb is astronomical. In other words, new grads need all the help they can get, and we owe it to them, ourselves, and society to ensure our new nurses are fully prepared for the complicated 21st-century care environment we’re hoping to launch them into.

Are Universal Residencies Realistic?

As Jenkins previously shared, new nurse residencies must be fully staffed, and many facilities start from a default position of having too few nurse educators. Hospital budgets are enormous, and the line item of a new nurse residency program is easy pickings when cuts are needed.

However, if the federal government is sincere about its commitment to the nursing workforce and nurses’ central role in American healthcare, funding could be available to create a robust system of nationwide new nurse residencies. Perhaps it could be shown that a massive investment in the retention of new nurses would save even more money over time when it comes to improved quality of care, decreased workforce attrition, and a less severe nursing shortage.

And perhaps, in a historic public/private partnership between the federal government and foundations dedicated to healthcare—such as the Kaiser Family Foundation—funding sources could be found for hospitals to be incentivized to successfully create and maintain new nurse residency programs in the interest of the health of the country.

Some may say that universal new nurse residencies are an unrealistic pipe dream that could never come to fruition. Still, with creativity, forethought, and an eye toward innovation, we could create a system where every new grad nurse who wanted a spot in a residency could have one.

Do we want our new nurses to leave the profession in droves? Doesn’t it serve us all to support our recent graduates and usher them into their new careers with increased confidence and skill?

The days of throwing our novice nurses to the lions need to end. Instead, we need to feed them the educational and experiential nutrition they need for success. After all, every new nurse’s success is one that our society can share. 

Read the January issue of Minority Nurse focusing on RN-to-BSN and Nurse Residency Programs here.

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