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The Practice Doctorate in Nursing: an idea whose time has come.

The practice-focused doctorate is an important alternative to research-focused doctorates in nursing. The goal of this article is to provide the reader with an understanding of the nature and potential benefits of the practice doctorate. After discussing the background of this doctoral degree and the development of the degree by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Task Force on the Practice Doctorate in Nursing, the article will describe patterns in practice-focused doctoral education and issues considered by the task force in developing the position paper on the practice doctorate in nursing. A look ahead provides an update on current steps being taken by AACN and others toward implementing the task force's recommendations.