Examining the Influence of Academic Nurse Educator Doctoral Degree Preparation on National League for Nursing Core Competency Skill Acquisition.

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine the influence of academic nurse educator doctoral degree preparation on National League for Nursing (NLN) core competency skill acquisition. Doctor of nursing practice (DNP) and doctor of philosophy (PhD) graduates frequently seek faculty positions, yet neither degree exclusively prepares graduates for careers in academia. A descriptive, correlational design was utilized to examine the influence of doctoral degree preparation on NLN core competency skill acquisition. A randomized, nationwide sample (N = 160) of full-time nurse educators teaching in American Association of Colleges of Nursing member schools across the United States completed the Nurse Educator Skill Acquisition Assessment. PhD-prepared educators reported higher NLN core competency skill acquisition scores than DNP-prepared nurse educators. There were statistically significant differences in overall skill acquisition scores between DNP- and PhD-prepared nurse educators and for the "use assessment and evaluation" and "engage in scholarship" domains. These findings provide opportunities for NLN core competency skill acquisition among DNP- and PhD-prepared faculty.