Traditional or Translational Research for Nursing: More PhDs Please

Area of Science:

• Nursing Science
• Healthcare Education

Background:

• The nursing profession faces a growing need for advanced research expertise.
• A gap exists between traditional research and its translation into clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advocate for an increase in PhD-prepared nurses.
• To explore the complementary roles of research doctorates and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degrees.
• To foster collaboration between traditional and translational research.

Main Methods:

• Historical overview of research and practice doctorates in nursing.
• Analysis of the intent and scope of each terminal degree.
• Description of traditional and translational research processes.

Main Results:

• PhD-prepared nurses are crucial for advancing nursing research.
• The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree focuses on practice-level evidence implementation.
• Collaboration can enhance the impact of nursing research.

Conclusions:

• A balanced approach incorporating both PhD and DNP-prepared nurses is vital.
• Enhanced collaboration between these distinct nursing doctorates will benefit the profession.
• Understanding the unique contributions of each degree is key to optimizing nursing's scientific and clinical advancements.