Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)-A prepared nurse plays an important role in ensuring patients receive high-quality and safe care. Similarly, DNP-prepared nurses are directly involved in improving the healthcare system – they provide a link between health policy and practice. Beeber et al. (2019) observe that hiring practicing DNPs is crucial because “they are in an excellent position to demonstrate and educate other executive colleagues” (p. 354). DNP, as a clinical doctorate, prepares graduates to address the challenges that are common in the healthcare environment. Therefore, a DNP-prepared nurse ensures all the healthcare providers work together as a unit in addressing chaos, complexity and changes in the work area.
Firstly, the role of DNP-prepared nurses facing changes in the work area revolves around their ability to actively listen and come up with evidence-based suggestions aimed at improving patient outcomes and building a base of leadership. Most DNPs understand that the country’s healthcare system is constantly changing and, as such, is capable of leading members toward achieving a desired outcome. Frias et al. (2021) noted that most DNPs utilized a transformational leadership style to empower and encourage members to adapt to the change. With this leadership style, they are able to recognize the areas where change is necessary – they guide the process by persuading other healthcare providers to work as a team. DNPs strive to create a sense of commitment among care providers. Furthermore, doctorally prepared nurses’ ability to adopt specific qualities of transformational leadership helps them address the dynamic components of healthcare technology.
Secondly, as the healthcare system gets more complex, DNPs can use their skills in organizational planning and in analyzing how system-wide policies can be utilized to improve quality of life. The complex nature of the U.S. healthcare system is felt through high healthcare costs, which hardly translate to healthier lives. In addition to this, healthcare bills are too complex and insurance premiums are increasing steadily. To address such issues, DNPs can develop practices that aim at improving the cost-effectiveness and quality of care. As noted in Reynolds et al.’s (2021) study, DNPs have been directly involved in creating policies that help improve access to care and quality in the work area. For example, by leading collaborative teams, doctorally prepared nurses have initiated evidence-based engagement in undertaking quality programs targeting all areas of the healthcare – healthcare professionals now understand the value of multi-disciplinary partnerships. Some noticeable examples of their contributions towards overcoming the complex nature of the healthcare system include the design of electronic medical records and redesigning of systems of care (Reynolds et al., 2021). They also helped play an important role in streamlining patient flow through a healthcare system.
A practical example here was when a DNP student, guided by the skills and knowledge gained in the program, helped the facility address the complexities existing in its delivery system. The student, at the time, was working in a pain clinic, which was considering the option of building three additional examination rooms to address the problem of long waiting time. The DNP student analyzed the intake processes and later implemented system efficiencies to reduce patient wait times and, at the same time, improve patient outcomes. In addition to this, the system increased patient flow without necessarily having to build new examination rooms. Those in executive positions, such as administration, can adopt new approaches, such as exploring new technologies for efficiency and patient safety, to problems in highly complex environments.
Lastly, DNP-prepared nurses’ role in chaos is embedded in their ability to use qualitative research to come up with a framework for ensuring employees embrace collaboration and teamwork. Through research, DNPs are able to identify the root cause of chaos, such as heavy workload. They also understand others through examining their needs and wants. This, in turn, helps them tailor solutions to specific needs. According to Falkenberg-Olson (2019), DNP’s greatest responsibility is to discover what is best for others. The same extends to patients – they focus mainly on understanding them instead of reducing them to a daily routine or protocol. Ideally, DNP’s role during chaos is to direct everyone’s attention and energy in the most effective manner. They can train other nurses to understand problems on a deep level and, in the process, come up with strategies to deal with overwhelming situations.
In conclusion, DNP-prepared nurses play a critical role in the delivery of high quality and safe patient care. The DNP clinical doctorate prepares nurses to address the challenges that are common in the healthcare environment. As evidenced above, DNPs are involved directly in introducing change in the workplace by recognizing the areas which require improvement for better healthcare service. Similarly, they can use their skills in organizational planning to help care providers navigate through the complex nature of the healthcare environment. Their role was evident in the design of electronic medical records and redesigning of systems of care. Lastly, DNP’s role during chaos is to direct everyone’s attention and energy in the most effective manner.
References
Beeber, A. S., Palmer, C., Waldrop, J., Lynn, M. R., & Jones, C. B. (2019). The role of doctor of nursing practice-prepared nurses in practice settings. Nursing Outlook, 67(4), 354-364. Web.
Falkenberg-Olson, A. C. (2019). Research translation and the evolving PHD and DNP practice roles: A collaborative call for nurse practitioners. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 31(8), 447-453. Web.
Frias, A., Hampton, D., Tharp-Barrie, K., & Thomas, J. (2021). The impact of an emotional intelligence training program on transformational leadership. Nursing Management, 52(2), 18-25. Web.
Reynolds, S. S., Howard, V., Uzarski, D., Granger, B. B., Fuchs, M. A., Mason, L., & Broome, M. E. (2021). An innovative DNP post-doctorate program to improve quality improvement and implementation science skills. Journal of Professional Nursing, 37(1), 48-52. Web.