Any new NPs go directly for DNP?

Specialties Doctoral

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Specializes in FNP.

I am graduating in a few days, whoo hoo! Of course, I have no license and no job prospects, but have decided not to worry about that immediately. :lol2:

I am forging ahead and beginning the DNP coursework next semester, taking a DNP elective, the initial finance, and stats stuff. I"m planning to take the AANC exam in the spring. I'm taking the summer off because I'm going to Italy for a month for my 25th wedding anniversary :heartbeat and am also doing some medical mission work. It doesn't make any sense to look for a job when I know I'm going to be gone for 10 weeks, so I probably wont even look for a job until next fall. Question is, in the fall I will be in a cohort and into the throws of the DNP program, and my school expects to a large degree that one is working/has been working as a NP to do this level of work. There is a good chane I will not even have a job yet at that time. The doctorate work for the capstone requires that you design a protocol that will improve your practice and impact the profession. How can I improve a practice I don't have, or am only beginning t learn? Even if I have just secured a position as the semester begins, what will a NP of 2 weeks time, lol, know about impacting the profession?

I did have a sit down with the program director and she told me not to worry, but how can I not worry? I've read the course syllabi and I don't see how I'm going to have the background required to get the work done properly. Any thoughts or experience to share?

OK, this is just my own personal opinion. I have been a FNP for over 12 years and am just now looking into doing an online DNP program. From what I have been seeing, it may not be wise to jump into the program without working as a NP yet. It seems that the coursework is definitely geared toward those NPs that have experience. Maybe I am wrong, but getting a few years under the belt may be tremendously helpful in not only going for your DNP but for career advancement in the future as well. The DNP is still a relatively new concept so I may be totally off base here...but best of luck in whatever you decide!

What will we do when the DNP is required to practice as NP in 2015? From what I understand, that means there won't be any experience anyway?

Specializes in ER; CCT.

Pretty soon, the MSN for NP's will soon transition to the DNP, so as time progresses there will be little choice. In that context, there will be no gap between the two programs. MSN-DNP completion programs, however, will still be in place but I'm not sure how they will look in the future. I just graduated from the DNP and now they have already added two more units to the new class from the previous.

As far as the DNP capstone, the idea is to translate evidence into practice--not generate new science. There is a national debate now between the nuances of evaluating interventions from a scientific model versus evaluating effectiveness in terms of outcomes. Unfortunately, many in my cohort got kind of caught in the middle of this issue with IRB and are still slugging it out.

Specializes in FNP.

What are the two units Tammy?

Specializes in ER; CCT.
What are the two units Tammy?

You would think this would be an easy issue to answer, but its kind of tricky.

First they added one unit to the Leadership course. It's a good thing because it was a 2 unit deal when I did it but the workload felt like 4 units. To make things more challenging, it's offered in the short summer term.

Then, they subtracted a unit from N650 (4 to 3 units). I hope they modify that workload, because that feels like a 6 unit deal.

Then, they added another three unit course, N656 Quantitative Methods for Evaluating Health Care Practices. I think the idea here is to bridge the advanced statistics gap between 650 and 651.

Then, they subtracted a unit from Dr. Short's Health Systems 655 course.

So now, for the cohort that just started, its 35 units.

What will we do when the DNP is required to practice as NP in 2015? From what I understand, that means there won't be any experience anyway?

Yes, this is true. However, OP has MSN so I think she is looking at the post MSN options(?). Again, as already pointed out from other posts, programs are still working through how to best train DNP NPs. Many of the programs seem to just be offering the post MSN right now so I think the eventual transition will be very interesting!

I think the DNP is a complete waste of time that will ultimately not matter in the real world. It will not suffice in helping your clinic practice at all unless they added clinical relevant course work to the degree... More theory and subjective classes are a joke and a waste peoples time and money. Why not just add a 1 year residency? That would be more beneficial then developing so called "leadership" skills.

Specializes in ER; CCT.
I think the DNP is a complete waste of time that will ultimately not matter in the real world. It will not suffice in helping your clinic practice at all unless they added clinical relevant course work to the degree... More theory and subjective classes are a joke and a waste peoples time and money. Why not just add a 1 year residency? That would be more beneficial then developing so called "leadership" skills.

I've noticed from your other posts that you are a new RN and nursing may not have been the best choice for you as evidenced by your comments of working with patients, particularly in the southern US.

Perhaps after you have been a RN for more than year, get an idea of what it means to be a professional nurse, learn not to stereotype patients, then complete an advanced nursing degree, then attempt and even possibly complete a DNP program, you might have a different perspective on the DNP. Who knows---maybe at that time people might even care what you think.

Specializes in FNP.

As the OP, I should point out that this is not a Debate thread, this was a thread asking about others' experiences as post masters DNP students. Your impression of the import or value of my goal doesn't belong here and posts in that regard are in exceedingly poor taste. Perhaps you cold take your debate elsewhere.

Tammy, is the leadership class the one that includes legislative testimony? I am wondering which class, if any I might take over the summer. Any thoughts on that score?

Specializes in ER; CCT.
As the OP, I should point out that this is not a Debate thread, this was a thread asking about others' experiences as post masters DNP students. Your impression of the import or value of my goal doesn't belong here and posts in that regard are in exceedingly poor taste. Perhaps you cold take your debate elsewhere.

Tammy, is the leadership class the one that includes legislative testimony? I am wondering which class, if any I might take over the summer. Any thoughts on that score?

Don't feel too bad about the critism of the DNP, particulary coming from other nurses. One central concept that is reoccuring now, as it did in 1965 with the birth of the role of the NP is that nurses--not non-nurses, present as central barriers to advancing nursing. Those who scoff at the DNP now are the same as those parochial nurses back in the '60's that said nursing had no place in the role of diagnosing and prescribing medication. Instead of stating that nursing has no place other than to support the physician as they did in 1965, now the new barrier nurses are claiming that the DNP is not the ticket and is not appropriate. Different nurses--different era--same mind frame.

With the fact that DNP programs have went from an enrollment of 70 students back in 2001 to a present enrollment of over 5,100 (representing now 10% of the NP population in the US) coupled with the fact that all seven national NP organizations are in support of the DNP as the entry into practice by 2015 does little to persuade their reality of the situation.

As far as the leadership course--no. It is N652 which is transformation on a macro level where you present to lobbyists and legislators.

The only two courses offered during the summer are N653 (Data Driven Health Care Improvements) and N654 Leadership. N653 will not make much sense to take without N650 and N651. If they will let you take N653, however, I would jump all over it. It will free up huge volumes of time to clear IRB the following summer, which is one of the largest hurdles in the program for many students.

Also, just a bit of inside info: On December 10, Dr. Short is releasing to the public our DNP cohorts capstone page containing all of the projects for our class. It's in Wiki format. At the bottom, after our individual projects, there are critical information from a student's perspective about top things we wish we would have known about entering the program from each and every member of our cohort. Very helpful stuff in there that will not only save you hundreds of hours of time, but also money and aggravation, too.

Also, remember, you are permitted to transfer 6 credits in from other universities for your electives--so long as they are graduate level, from an accredited university, not part of your masters program for APN completion and are approved by the program director. Do double check this info with Dr. Turner or Eric, as things do change.

Specializes in Anesthesia, Pain, Emergency Medicine.

I agree. I will be finishing a DNP this spring and it was pretty much a total wasted of my time and money. If you want research, management, finance and such then you will enjoy it.. I would rather have more clinical education to enhance my skills, make me more competitive with the physicians.

Various residencies would be perfect; ER, intensivist, oath etc

Even better would make the first part of the DNP an FNP, then specialize into anesthesia, pees, womens health etc.

Just my two cents

Ron

I think the DNP is a complete waste of time that will ultimately not matter in the real world. It will not suffice in helping your clinic practice at all unless they added clinical relevant course work to the degree... More theory and subjective classes are a joke and a waste peoples time and money. Why not just add a 1 year residency? That would be more beneficial then developing so called "leadership" skills.
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