2015 DNP

Specialties Doctoral

Published

I am wondering if anyone has heard any updates.

Everything I keep seeing online from the AACN is "recommendation", "strongly encouraged", "highly suggested".

I have yet to see anything, that says, "Look, either you graduate and pass your boards by January 1, 2015 or you can put the MSN you have in back of the closet and start working on your DNP, because the MSN isn't good enough anymore to sit for national certification."

There are many of us, including myself, that will be finishing probably in 2013 or 2014...now, we would all like to think that we would pass our certification the first go-round, but we all know that may or may not happen for some of us.

Example: You graduate in June 2014 with your MSN and it is January, 2015, you still cannot pass your certification exam...does that mean you have to go back to school or you cannot practice?

I have seen some colleges that have completely phased out MSN programs but I have seen MANY that have not...that makes me wonder if it is not going to be a "go" like they are claiming that it is.

I would love to hear from those that keep up with this sort of thing...that may have more insight.

I would pursue a DPT or PharmD before I would go on for a DNP as the degree is currently designed. Heck, I'd be tempted to put the time and $$$ into pursuing a DVM. I'm actually now in the position to see a DNP curriculum up close and personal...not for me, no way.

Specializes in NICU, Post-partum.
Can you name the colleges that have no plans for a DNP? I have been looking for some like that, but haven't been able to find any. Every single one I have found has plans for a DNP. Are you saying that the MSN programs that still exist have no DNP plans? Or that just by the fact the MSN track still exists you assume they have no plans to replace it? I have reviewed probably over fifty programs in the last couple of months, and haven't found a single one without DNP plans. Thanks, I would love to find programs that aren't creating a DNP program. If all programs are creating DNP degrees, then it will be a go. I would love to find out if any school are refusing to even try to switch, that would support the theory it isn't going to happen.

Most of the colleges that are "down" with the DNP plan have dropped the MSN programs altogether and have adopted a BSN-DNP pathway.

However, schools such as UAB, East Carolina...are still admitting MSN students for advanced practice programs and offering a DNP program as well....keep in mind that there is NO BSN-DNP route at these schools like they are for those that dropped their Masters program.

Keep in mind that DNP programs are not new...some schools have had them for many many years.

I did not state that I had not found had no plans for DNP programs...what I was stating is that I had not found programs to where the entire structure was around BSN-DNP...b/c that would make a Masters degree worthless unless you could finish both..which is why the ones that are already set up with the 2015 plan have went to the BSN-DNP program.

Specializes in medical surgical.

No way--become a MD or DO first. Too much school and too much money. As I am also finding out, too much fluff in the MSN.

Specializes in FNP.
Yale plans on a program in next 2-3 years, which would be before 2015 http://nursing.yale.edu/Academics/DNP_FAQs.html

:yeah:Great news, thanks!

Hmm.. a couple of months ago Penn had a link on their nursing website about transitioning to DNP in spring 2012 and now I can't find the link?!

Case Western is still keeping the MSN, for now.

Why bother with a DNP? Why not go to medical school? It's almost the same length. The fourth year of medical school is mostly for interviewing.

The NP made sense for veteran nurses looking to expand their scope. The BSN-DNP track doesn't really make much sense.

Specializes in FNP.

The beauty of the current situation is that no one is being forced into an educational program they don't find value in or desire to work through. I do think that as professionals I would expect MSN prepared NPs so support their friends and colleagues in furthering their own education, even if they themselves have no such aspirations.

hey all, since you all seem way more knowledgeable than me with this whole DNP thing, I have a question for you guys...

I recently decided to change career paths and have decided to pursue a second degree in nursing. I have applied to a few accelerated bsn programs and so far I've been accepted to binghamton and columbia's etp program which is basically a combined bsn+msn program. Columbia is going to cost me a fortune and the only reason why I'm considering columbia over binghamton is because I'll have the security of making the 2015 cutoff...

having said that, do you guys think it's worth going to columbia with a sticker price of $90k+ or should I just stick with binghamton (approx $20k), do the program, work a couple of years, and apply to an msn...?

any advice/opinions would be greattttlyyy appreciated!

Specializes in PICU, ED, Infection Control, Education, cardiology.

I am not familiar with with the DPT issue, but was there a big backlash in the health care world when this started to become more common? Granted, the DPT is not in the same role as a DNP, but I feel as though some of the same issues could arise regaarding patients misidentifying providers.

I am a FNP practicing for ~2.5yrs.

I personally haven't met many NPs that are for the DNP. Perhaps its mainly BSN students that are being convinced to progress to this path instead of NP.

I don't think getting a DNP is going to benefit a NP much unless you want to open your own practice or you want to teach, and primarily teach. Although they tout it as being a "clinical doctorate" its not really. NPs/RNs don't even come close to what MDs have to do in clinical hours for med school and residency.

I personally am going to attempt to get into med school. Getting a DNP is not going to lessen the restrictions I have as a NP. And personally I don't want patients calling me a Doctor unless i'm a Medical Doctor, I would feel like a fraud.

In my program (birthplace of the NP) they were really pushing the DNP. Mainly I think its about money, how to keep students in school longer so the schools can make more money. The classes are not really more clinical knowledge about disease, patho or management. The classes are for research, theory, policy and politics.

I think I would gain more skills and expand my marketability and knowledge if I went and obtained additional training as NNP, Nurse Anesthetist, ACNP, etc over DNP. I don't think people are going to make more money as DNP either. Perhaps it would allow you for more management position if you wanted.

Overall its not really worth the cost benefit ratio.

Specializes in ICU, oncology, orthopedics, med/surge.

emtreel,

I agree about the DNP role not being a significant benefit clinically. I spoke to several people who completed the DNP program, all said it basically involves research rather than clinical improvement. Frankly, as it is, I feel that most if not all NP programs are lacking in the clinical exposure area. NP programs focus too much on the nonclinical subjects such as advanced nursing theories, leadership BS which IMO is a waste of time & money; exposure to these subjects ONE TIME in undergrad is sufficient. I would have preferred additional classes in pathology, pharmacology, working with cadavers or more clinical hours. This is where MD & PA outshine the NP routes.

While eventually, after 3 -5 yrs of practicing under your belt, some NP may feel they are comparable to a primary MD (some probably are, but for myself, I won't pretend my NP education is equal to that of an MD).... So, for me, I won't waste my time racking up students getting a DNP just to be called Dr.

If I'm going to spend another 2 yrs in school to become a doctor, I might as well apply to an out of country NP to MD programs. I would rather be called an MD than a DNP...

Having said that, those that want to pursue the DNP route, kudos to you for having the discipline to tolerate more nursing school. Just not for me.

Note: I may eat my words down the road since I'm just a new FNP graduate, but I don't think so.

Specializes in Emergency, Critical Care Transport.
Can you name the colleges that have no plans for a DNP?

Actually some of the top ranked schools are not yet on board. Off the top of my head:

UPenn

UNC

Yale

UCSF

UCSF has a DNP:

http://nurseweb.ucsf.edu/www/ps-dc.htm

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