Reconceptualizing the core of nurse practitioner education and practice.

Purpose: The movement to the doctor of nursing practice (DNP) is progressing rapidly with new programs emerging and curricular documents being developed. We argue that the implementation of the DNP is a good move for nursing, provided that we use the opportunity to reconceptualize the core of advanced practice nursing, especially nurse practitioner (NP) practice.

Data Sources: Theory and research articles from nursing focused on advanced practice nursing, NPs, and doctoral education.

Use of oral examinations to teach concepts of evidence-based practice to nurse practitioner students.

Evidence-based practice has become part of nurse practitioner education. One innovative approach to teaching and evaluating evidence-based practice is the implementation of oral examinations, in which students orally present their review of a research article. Prior to the examination, students are given a research article to critique and can prepare for the examination using their notes and textbooks.