Nurs Educ Perspect. 2021 Jun 22. doi: 10.1097/01.NEP.0000000000000840. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
AIM: The purpose of the study was to examine the influence of academic nurse educator doctoral degree preparation on National League for Nursing (NLN) core competency skill acquisition.
BACKGROUND: Doctor of nursing practice (DNP) and doctor of philosophy (PhD) graduates frequently seek faculty positions, yet neither degree exclusively prepares graduates for careers in academia.
METHOD: A descriptive, correlational design was utilized to examine the influence of doctoral degree preparation on NLN core competency skill acquisition. A randomized, nationwide sample (N = 160) of full-time nurse educators teaching in American Association of Colleges of Nursing member schools across the United States completed the Nurse Educator Skill Acquisition Assessment.
RESULTS: PhD-prepared educators reported higher NLN core competency skill acquisition scores than DNP-prepared nurse educators. There were statistically significant differences in overall skill acquisition scores between DNP- and PhD-prepared nurse educators and for the “use assessment and evaluation” and “engage in scholarship” domains.
CONCLUSION: These findings provide opportunities for NLN core competency skill acquisition among DNP- and PhD-prepared faculty.
PMID:34155173 | DOI:10.1097/01.NEP.0000000000000840
