Consistent scholarship standards among DNP-prepared faculty needed: Actionable insights.

DNP-prepared faculty report challenges and barriers to achieving success in academic roles when criteria for promotion includes scholarship. The purpose of this evidence-based initiative was to explore thoughtful scholarship standards for DNP-prepared faculty which can be adapted and transferred across academic institutions with the goal of elevating faculty scholarship. Given a paucity of available research evidence, a review and synthesis of non-research evidence was conducted. DNP scholarship standards from high-ranking intuitions were critically appraised, and this evidence, along with the diverse and collective expertise of the authors, was translated into recommendations for an inclusive model of rigor for DNP-prepared faculty scholarship. A template for appraising the scholarship of DNP-prepared faculty based on strategic evaluation of impact is included. Academic institutions may use this work to expand the fundamental level of evolving scholarship, determine parameters, and provide clarity and support to DNP-prepared faculty as they seek to progress in rank.

Lead Faculty Workload Model: recognizing equity and leadership in faculty.

Teaching more efficiently while maintaining quality and consistency of course offerings is imperative in nursing education. At odds with this goal for nursing faculty are increased workloads impacted by trends to provide more distance learning, the faculty shortage, and pressure to produce more nurses at all educational levels. The Lead Faculty Workload Model updates current methods of evaluating workload and formalizes the role of lead faculty members and supporting faculty members with current expectations and responsibilities for mentoring and monitoring junior faculty. As a new standard, this new model provides a more equitable way to address chronic and more recent faculty workload issues.