Doctor of Nursing Practice Council

The Doctor of Nursing Practice Council has as its focus support, networking, and information dissemination for nurses who have a DNP degree, students in a DNP program, and anyone interested in the DNP degree. The council members represent a variety of practice areas: advanced practice nurses (CNS, CRNA, CNM, NP), administrators/executives and educators.

Mission Statement

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Council fosters a community of education, collaboration, and advocacy for nurses with a DNP degree and those who support the profession.

Council Values

Leadership
Clinical Scholarship
Advanced Practice
Innovation

Evidence-Based Practice
Interprofessional Collaboration
Patient-Centered Care
Health Care Advocacy

Council Goals

Establish a central resource for DNP information
Enhance and maintain the council website
Expand the statewide DNP nurse directory
Offer CEUs at in-person meetings
Develop a mentoring program with clear structure
Secure funding for DNP student project expenses
Host open houses for schools and prospective students

Council Leadership

Chair: Trish West, DNP, MSN, CMSRN, PCCN-K, CEN, NEA-BC
Co-Chair: Stephanie McDonald, DNP, MSL, RN, NEA-BC

Executive Council

Practice Representative – Megan Woody, DNP, RN
PhD Collaborative – Nancy Jo Thompson, DNP, MSN, RN-BC
PhD Collaborative – Cynthia Herndon, PhD, RN, WHNP-BC
Tar Heel Nurse Collaborative – Christy Swinson ›, MSN, FNP-C, CMSRN
Student – Katie Alwes, FNP

Join the Doctor of Nursing Practice Council
Interested in joining the Doctor of Nursing Practice Council? We would love to have you! NCNA members can join any council by updating their profile:

› Click the “Account” tab.
› Choose “Personal Info” on the left-hand side.
› Scroll down to select the councils you’d like to join.
› Don’t forget to click “Save” at the bottom.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Resources

Explore these key resources to learn more about accredited programs, best practices, and professional guidelines for DNP education and practice.

CCNE Accredited Programs
Select state and DNP program:
Accredited DNP Programs in North Carolina ›

AACN White Paper
The Doctor of Nursing Practice: Current Practice and Clarifying Recommendations
Published August 2015
Read the AACN White Paper ›

Comparison Grid
DNP vs. PhD programs comparison chart
View the Comparison Grid ›

The Essentials of Doctoral Education
Key standards for advanced nursing practice education
Explore the DNP Essentials ›