Complexity Science Fosters Professional Advanced Nurse Practitioner Role Emergence

Abstract

This article discusses role emergence from master's-prepared nurse practitioners to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) innovative leaders who utilize Complexity science to impact health care organizations. DNP leaders are in position to disrupt linear traditional leadership and embark on new ideas for improvements in care delivery, organizational system processes, and policies within health care. Complexity science provides the necessary theoretical framework for nurse executives and stakeholders to interact with DNP leaders by engaging in collaborative efforts, cultivating communication from point of service providers to administrators, and coordinating interdisciplinary teams to approach gaps in practice, clinical issues, health care policy, and organizational sustainability. The DNP leader is aware that health care organizations are complex adaptive systems, continuously changing. These require skilled and knowledgeable leaders to support growth within an uncertain environment, and bring evidence to practice while promoting organizational wellness.

Doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree in the United States: Reflecting, readjusting, and getting back on track

“…Their unique combination of clinical expertise and change management skills makes DNPs invaluable to employers facing a constant onslaught of industry disrupting factors (e.g., the Data Revolution, 'omics, precision health, etc.) (Shelby & Wermers, 2020;Sherrod & Goda, 2016). But it is not enough for individual DNPs to prove their value, time and again, through singular acts of leadership and clinical aptitude.…”