role development for doctoral advanced nursing practice
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Nurse Education in Practice 12 (2012) e10
Contents lists avai
Nurse Education in Practice
journal homepage: www.elsevier .com/nepr
Book Review
Role Development for Doctoral Advanced Nursing Practice,M. Dreher, M.E. Smith Glasgow, New York (2011), ISBN: 978-0-8261-0556-1
This is an interesting bookwhichdiscusses thehistorical develop-ment of the differing American Advanced Nursing Practice Doctoralprogrammes. Bothauthors areestablished researchers andeducatorsin the field of advanced practice. The book has twenty-four chapterswhich are interestingly structured. Each chapter beginswith an anal-ysis of the differing historical components which have been impor-tant to the development of American Advanced Practice NursingDoctorates. Each chapter is followed by a number of reflective narra-tives from key stakeholders from nursing practice and academia.
Although the book is focussed on the American advance practicedoctorates, many of the issues are transferable and reflected ininternational nursing circles. Issues such as the tensions aroundwhether nurses should undertake research intensive Ph.Ds ormore practice based Prof. Docs, the use of the title Dr. and theacademic level required for Advanced Practice Nursing will beparticularly interesting to practitioners and academics in theUnited Kingdom. The book is rather text heavy, however the layout
doi:10.1016/j.nepr.2011.07.012
does allow for dipping in and out, if only wanting to get theperspective on a particular aspect of the advanced practicedoctorate. There is extensive reference lists at the end ofmost chap-ters which will signposts the reader to further reading. Some chap-ters also have critical thinking questions which could be used bylecturers to initiate classroom discussion.
Overall the book presents an interesting analysis of thestrengths and weaknesses of the many differing American doctoralprogrammes in an interesting format. The bookwill be of interest tofaculty looking to develop or enhance their own programmes orstimulating discussion for their own students on doctoral pro-grammes. It will also be of interest to students who are thinkingof undertaking a programme and want to get a balanced view ofthe historical development and strengths and weaknesses of eachof the programmes offered.
Evelyn McElhinneyGlasgow Caledonian University,
School of Health and Life Sciences,Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow G4 OBA, Scotland
E-mail address: [email protected].