The development of nurse practitioner preparation beyond the master's level: what is the debate about?

The nursing discipline in the United States (US) has a history of creating various doctorates. One such degree, the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), serves as an alternative to the traditional Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree for Nurse Practitioners (NPs) exploring career options. The availability of the DNP has sparked a debate within the profession: close attention to the issues is warranted for any school considering the development of a DNP program. However, some of these issues are not applicable, or apply differently to other contexts including Canada, where the highest level of education for an NP is a PhD. This article will review the history of doctoral education in both countries, compare the practice-focused and research-focused doctorates, discuss the issues of debate, and explore implications for NP practice. To fully inform the decision of the NP, we recommend further research to explore the need for a practice doctorate.