Harmonizing excellence: Crafting the nexus of competencies, standards, and degree demands in nurse practitioner education

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

1-22-2025

Journal

Nursing outlook

Volume

73

Issue

2

DOI

10.1016/j.outlook.2025.102348

Keywords

DNP degree; Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP); Nurse practitioner; Nurse practitioner education; Quality standards

Abstract

Nurse practitioner (NP) programs have a long history of producing safe and competent NPs; however, bold, transformative leadership is needed to set a minimum standard for quality NP education to support a 21st-century healthcare system. This paper is a call to action for leaders in NP education to transition NP education to the DNP degree utilizing the 2022 National Task Force Standards for Quality NP Education and a competency-based approach as defined in the 2021 AACN Essentials. There is now an opportunity to redesign healthcare systems with quality and equity as a primary consideration and DNP-prepared NPs are positioned to lead this redesign. The 2022 NTF Standards include several critical changes in clinical hours, oversight of clinical sites, and preparation of NP students to enter clinical sites. By emphasizing competency attainment within NP programs, the 2021 AACN Essentials ensure that NP graduates are practice-ready.

Department

Nursing Faculty Publications

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