Shaping the Future of Healthcare
According to Malloch (2017), the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) graduate is prepared to lead complex systems, and not only translate; but also, integrate evidence into practice. She points to three important roles including the need to advance the professional nursing role as an individual. The DNP professional must be a leader and through this pathway come new expectations. Included in this is the need to mentor others and the recruitment of future leaders. The next role of importance is facilitating knowledge through evidence along with innovation. The DNP is expected to translate evidence into practice. An interesting thing she mentions here is moving from shared governance towards professional governance as an area where DNP’s can lead. Additionally, the DNP can lead the quality measures in order to meet standards. Finally, it is imperative for DNP leaders to disseminate new knowledge into practice through the evaluation of current practices; leadership; interdisciplinary partnerships; technology evaluation and integration; and policy advocacy.
As a DNP student just passing the halfway mark in my education I already see my role changing. Especially over the last several months. I can sense how I am analyzing problems or challenges differently. I particularly notice myself looking up the research as soon as I start thinking about practice changes or wondering why something is done a certain way. It is a new way of approaching issues.
In June we will be taking over a critical access facility about 50 miles to the south of us and already our leadership team is brainstorming regarding needs and plans for the new site. I see myself growing and becoming a change agent in our new location to not only impact patient care; but also nursing practice. In the beginning there will be a thorough needs assessment, and then I can imagine multiple interventions along with evaluation in a continuous cycle. After 90 days of take-over the Joint Commission will come in and I can imagine we will have several RFI’s and action plans will be developed and implemented. I will face all of this and still have the expectation my current unit will run as smoothly in my absence. I know this is dreaming and that brings me to another literature review regarding transitions and role expansion. I am literally preparing to shape the future of a whole new hospital through collaboration with my team.
Reference
Malloch, K. (2017). Leading DNP professionals: Practice competencies for organizational excellence and advancement. Nursing Administration Quarterly, 41(1), 29-38.
Discusssion 2.. Recommendations for the Future of Nursing

Sherrod and Goda (2013) identified one of the essentials for the DNP graduate as organizational and systems leadership. This essential provides education and skills affecting population and patient outcomes through new care model development. Additionally, this essential provides an understanding of navigational importance of complex systems, as well as organizational and policy impact on patient care decisions. The DNP prepared graduate is distinctively qualified to create new care models.
Askerud and Conder (2016) described a successful long term condition (LTC) programme led by a nurse. The program uses teams of health professionals for persons with chronic conditions and frequent hospitalization. The goal was to reduce hospitalizations, reduce fragmented care, promote integrated care and provide quality health care. Another example of a coalition is an accountable care organization (ACO). This is a group of health care providers who work with patients, hospitals, and payers to provide coordinated, cost effective, and evidence-based health care to a defined population.
The ACO development was in response to the Affordable Care Act authorizing the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services to create shared Savings Programs. The program has expanded into the private sector and in New Hampshire 10 practices were developed by independent Nurse Practitioners. Rewards – payments are received based on pre-determined metrics (Wright, 2017).
Informatics can facilitate the DNP role through data accumulation. There is a software program called Geographic Information System (GIS) that allows the combination of different types of data. This data is connected through a map. The map is useful in identifying trends, summarizing patterns and electronic medical record data. Application of the GIS data is useful in research, health program development assessment of needs and success. Additional use is health outcomes and health risks in particular environments. Upon completion of assessment of the collected data, appropriate program development can be completed.
Two of the IOM recommendations most resonates with me: (1) Expand opportunities for nurses to lead and diffuse collaborative improvement efforts by teaching – showing how to articulate collaborative conversation with providers to be listened to; (2) Ensure that nurses engage in lifelong by promoting curiosity and the belief that knowledge makes a difference.
Reference
Askerud, A. & conder, J., (2016). Nurses’ role in long term conditions care. Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand, 22(10), 16 -17.
Sherrod, B. & Goda, T., (2016). DNP- prepared leaders guide healthcare system change. Nursing Management, 47(9), 13 – 16.