Director of Professional Nursing Practice: An Important Role in the Age of Magnet

The director of professional nursing practice (DPNP) role has certain essential functions that include communication, program management, operations, research, professional development, fiscal management, and team relations. This article defines the role of the DPNP and its importance in facilitating health care organizations' achievement of Magnet status. A discussion of nurses as knowledge workers is presented to establish the importance of the DPNP's role in fostering a milieu that supports the training and skills of nurses as knowledge workers. The steps in the process of developing a program of evidence-informed practice are discussed.