International Journal of Nursing Studies· 2026Q1
The PhD in nursing and the Doctor of Nursing Practice - reflections of the past and visions of the future: a discussion paper
- 0citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is increasingly overshadowing the PhD in nursing in the US, with implications for the future of advanced nursing education and practice.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- The DNP degree has become more prevalent than the PhD in nursing in the USA in recent years.
- The paper discusses the historical evolution of both nursing doctorates internationally, starting with the USA and then the UK.
- It highlights challenges, career trajectories, and tensions between the PhD and DNP degrees.
- The authors present the latest data on program numbers and enrollments for both degrees.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in nursing has been in existence for decades. While the United States of America (USA) as the first country to offer a professional doctorate, the United Kingdom (UK) was the next country to provide such a nursing programme, but without a great deal of sustainability. In the USA, the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) has in recent years overshadowed the PhD in nursing in the number of programmes and the number of enrolments. This discussion paper will trace the evolution of both degrees internationally and highlight the challenges they face. It will deal with career developments, and tensions between both degrees. In addition, it will provide the latest data available on the number of programmes and enrolments. It will also outline what the future holds for both doctorates and what nurse leaders must do to ensure that both degrees continue to make a contribution to nursing practice that is safe and of high quality.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 2026 · DOI ↗
Continue with a free account
Ask the paper: 3 free questions a day about this paper; save it, get its citation, new summaries every day for your field. Takeaways are Premium.
Continue free on the webSign in with Google or Apple; no card needed. You come back to this paper.
On your phone:
Issues, ethics and legal aspectsNursing