Strategies for Strengthening Ethics Education in a DNP Program

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Bioethics

Background:

• Nurse practitioners frequently encounter complex ethical dilemmas.
• Effective identification and resolution of ethical issues are crucial for quality patient care.
• Graduate nursing programs require robust ethics education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore an innovative approach to ethics education for graduate nursing students.
• To investigate the synergy between Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) faculty in teaching ethics.
• To enhance the ethical practice of future nurse practitioners.

Main Methods:

• A collaborative teaching strategy was implemented involving DNP and PhD faculty.
• Realistic case studies were developed and utilized as a primary teaching tool.
• The approach was integrated into a graduate nursing program curriculum.

Main Results:

• The collaboration fostered a broader understanding of integrating diverse educational backgrounds.
• Faculty synergy enhanced the translation and delivery of evidence-based practices in ethical contexts.
• Students demonstrated improved ethical reasoning through case study analysis.

Conclusions:

• Collaborative faculty models enrich nursing ethics education.
• The use of case studies effectively promotes ethical practice among Doctor of Nursing Practice students.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration is vital for preparing nurses to navigate complex ethical challenges.