Awarded a 2012 American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year Award This book is written specifically for Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) graduate students by a DNP graduate. This book explores the roles and professional issues DNP students will encounter in their studies and their career. The book covers: *A description of the DNP degree, including discussion of the evolution of doctoral education in nursing and the development of the DNP. *Rationale for the development of the DNP degree, including relevant discussion of the American Association of Colleges of Nurse's (AACN) Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Practice Nursing, the AACN's Position Paper on the DNP, and the Institute of Medicine's Report calling for higher education among health care professionals *Discussion of the various roles of the DNP prepared advanced practice nurse, including role transition issues. *Other professional issues that DNP graduate students/new graduates are encountering, such as the use of the title "doctor" and educating others about the DNP degree