The world of nursing has two terminal degrees. The first, a DNP, or Doctor of Nursing Practice, focuses on leading the practice of nursing in hospitals. They are the nursing doctors who are in the field, helping patients on a more personal basis, just as would an Infectious Disease doctor. A Nursing PhD tackles nursing on the other end. These are Nursing Scientists who study new and innovative ways to help in the practice of nursing. They do this through scientific, empirical research, just as would a microbiologist.
The two terminal degrees already work together in many ways, and will continue to tighten that relationship. This is often done though middle range theories, where empirical science meets practice (Smith, 2014). When a patient consents, a PhD can come in and perform interviews and other observations, add the information gathered to a study they are performing, and come up up with solutions to provide better care with communication with DNPs. An example of this is when a PhD is studying patients with heart failure according to Kate Moore (2014). They can take their findings to a DNP, who can then implement scientific findings into a care program for the patient.
Pluralistic views of nursing science can be good and bad. In terms of any science, taking a wide range of theories to approach a problem is seldom a bad thing. However, it is necessary to to keep these pluralistic views in their own separate compartments, so to speak, or else nursing theory, in general, runs the risk of becoming incoherent and unteachable.
Readings have been helpful to the actual practice of healthcare I provide. Discussions have helped even more; when it comes down to it, though, getting experience is the best way to do anything. One can be as book-smart as they want to be, regardless of their educational track, but it is the actual work that a nurse does in the lab or patient room that teaches them the most.
The article by Jacelon, Et al. (2011) is a pretty standard article on a how middle range theory can be implemented. In this particular case, it has to do with the care of patients who are going to need a lot of help after Acute Care, such as a potentially terminal illness or injury. Rehabilitation theories can be devised by tgheoretical research, but it needs to be checked off by DNPs and other health professionals, as it is well known that each individual body ultimately heals at its own pace.
References
Jacelon, C.S. et al. (2011). Creating A Professional Practice Model For Postacute care:
Adapting The Chronic Care Model for long-term care. Journal of Gerontological Nursing.
37(3), 53-60.
Moore, K. (2014). How DNP and PhD Nurses Collaborate to Maximize Patient Care.
American Nurse Today 9(1) 48-49.
Smith, M. (2014). Disciplinary Persectives Linked to Middle Range Theory. Middle Range
Theory for Nursing, Third Edition. Springer Publishing. New York. 3-12.
