Nursing is not merely a profession. The role these healthcare providers are playing and their love for humanity has always been crucial in history. Nurses have proved their worth in all parts of the world by taking home-like care of patients while maintaining professionalism to avoid medication errors and mistakes.
Where specific diplomas could make a nurse, the one with a professional DNP degree has the edge over others in many ways. DNP-educated nurses have the skills and discipline that are the core of practicing this job.
DNP is the terminal degree that stands for Doctor of Nursing Practice. Apart from DNP, there are other terminal degrees like Ph.D., but it is more towards the research side than the practicing side of nursing.
The objective of DNP is to develop leaders among the nurses that bring reforms in the healthcare industry by implementing researches in practices. The doctorate of nursing practice has many roles for the individuals pursuing this career. They are part of the management, administration, practices, and education in the healthcare vicinity and institutes.
Roles of DNP Educated Nurses in Health Promotion
From influencing the health care policies to taking critical life-saving decisions for patients, this terminal degree in nursing exceptionally impacts the professional development of nurses. It will bring the best in the healthcare industry. In addition, skills such as collaboration, teamwork, leadership, and mentoring juniors are the bi-products of obtaining a DNP.
After getting a deep understanding of the researches and policies and the issues about the medical industry, APRNs can improve the overall system through their efforts.
The roles they play as a healthcare promoter are as follows:
- 1. Leadership That Brings Reforms
Not everyone is a born leader. But they can become one by acquiring certain qualities through training and education. After completing their degree, DNP nurses reflect a personality with all the attributes of a good leader. They form and lead coalitions with other nurses and organizations to target the flaws in the healthcare system and bring a revolution for improvement. They also head the movements to fight for the rights of the nursing community. That is because only satisfied workers can develop happy customers who are patients in this case.
- 2. Critical Thinking to Solve Potential Problems
Many times nurses have to make vital decisions and solve critical problems related to patient’s well-being. DNPs are well trained to recognize and instantly find solutions to the potential issues arising from industry changes due to research and academic evolution. They can fight the impact of negative situations proactively.
Furthermore, their knowledge and skills allow DNP nurses to challenge the policies that are not in the interests of the general public and support the patient-centric approaches. Their role is not just limited to the following of rules. Instead, they can influence the change by bringing critical issues to higher authorities.
- 3. Patient-Centric Approach
DNP nurses focus their efforts on the well-being of every patient they come through. As a result, they develop a bond with the individuals under their care and treat them with compassion. Although empathy is part of this profession, the DNP program teaches nurses to humanize treatment rather than considering each case just a number. They assist people during the procedure, taking them out of their fears and acting as an effective bridge between doctors and patients. Better communication is an attribute of excellent DNP nurses.
- 4. Train Subordinates for Better Outcomes
Teamwork is another skill that DNP nurses possess. Sometimes they act like a friend, other times instructor to mentor their subordinates. Doctorate of nursing keeps on learning new skills that originated due to the ever-changing nature of this field. They teach new and old staff about the researches to keep them updated and enhance their knowledge. Sometimes they even arrange classes to impart their wisdom through lectures. All their efforts have one motive, i.e., Improved nursing practices and better outcomes for patients.
- 5. Work for Population Health
We are talking about significant issues like addiction, mental health disorders, diabetes, cancer, heart diseases, etc. DNP nurses are specially trained for communities and groups to work on a population-level and fight these problems.
They run programs for rehabilitation, disease management, and improved mental health in the general public. Taking a collective approach to combat these problems can help to build a future with a healthy nation. DNP nurses play all the active roles by collecting data, assessing it, and making strategies to overcome flaws. Then, they make this information available widely so that everyone can benefit from their findings.
Conclusion
Nursing is a selfless profession where individuals spend their lives serving humanity. But all nurses should pursue a terminal degree to enhance their skills and learn modern ways of practicing. In this way, they can play an influential role in promoting health in society.