Enhancing Post-Baccalaureate Doctor of Nursing Practice students' analytic skills

Nurs Forum. 2019 Apr;54(2):232-237. doi: 10.1111/nuf.12322. Epub 2018 Dec 19.

Abstract

Programs with several paths to the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) face significant difficulties in preparing clinical scholars who can transform healthcare. While Post-Baccalaureate to DNP (BSN-DNP) programs are fulfilling the Institute of Medicine's mandate for seamless academic progression, several factors need to be considered for students' successful program completion. These factors include: (1) the students' stage of cognitive development for strategic thinking (metacognition); (2) students' tendency to underestimate the rigors of doctoral educational requirements; and (3) faculty challenges in helping students to acquire skills needed to complete the DNP project. The purpose of this paper is to describe learner-centered approaches to enhance analytic preparation of BSN-DNP students.

Keywords: education; evidence-based; professional issues; role development; teaching/learning.

MeSH terms

  • Clinical Competence
  • Curriculum
  • Education, Nursing, Graduate / standards*
  • Faculty, Nursing / education*
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Humans
  • Nursing Education Research
  • Professional Role
  • Students, Nursing*