Practice Doctorate Resource Center

NONPF Perspective

National Forum on the Practice Doctorate

The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) co-hosted a meeting to engage the broad community of stakeholder organizations from nursing practice, education, regulation, certification, and accreditation in dialogue on the practice doctorate in nursing. Over forty national nursing organizations and academic institutions participated in the discussion of key issues during the National Forum on the Practice Doctorate in Nursing on December 8, 2003, in Washington, DC.

The agenda for the forum generated broad discussion on the advantages and challenges to the profession through the proliferation of the practice doctorate programs. Through an open forum and small group discussions, the participants addressed general questions on whether the practice doctorate benefits society and the profession and the issues to address from the perspectives of nursing education, practice, certification, regulation, and accreditation. A panel of external observers from higher education provided feedback on the discussion and insights into the professional degree in other disciplines. The stakeholders concluded that additional dialogue as a community would be beneficial.

Click here for the Executive Summary from the forum and here for the notes from the general dialogue.