February 27, 2009

Debate Continues Over New Doctorate for Nurses

To the Editor:

As director of the doctor-of-nursing-practice program at Robert Morris University, I feel compelled to reply to "A New Degree and Exam Create 'Doctor Nurses,' Irking Physicians" (The Chronicle, January 16). As with all new programs that seek to advance the preparation of nurses across all levels of education, there are many misconceptions about the doctor-of-nursing-practice degree.

Let me be very clear on one essential point: This is a nursing degree that