The doctorate in nursing practice: moving advanced practice nursing even closer to excellence.

One of the most significant events to affect advanced practice nursing is the practice doctorate. The doctor of nursing practice (DNP) is firmly established as an educational alternative to the traditional academic research doctoral degree. This option empowers nurses to advance knowledge and skills in clinical practice. This article reviews the historical context that led to the introduction of the DNP and the proposal of the DNP as entry into practice for advanced practice nurses, DNP program parameters, and some of the evolving issues related to nursing's practice doctorate.