will nurse practitioners with a doctorate get paid more?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Now that all the NP programs are switching over to DNP programs, do you think that NPs will get paid more or do you think that regardless of the change, nurse practitioners will still continue to be paid about the same? I am considering continuing my education to get my NP degree, but I dont think I'd do it unless NP salaries were increased to reflect that extra year of school.

PICUPNP

269 Posts

I can tell you that it is a very small possibility. Since the DNP adds nothing more than research to your resume. It would probably be different if it were a degree laden with advanced science instead of nursing theory and research. It really doses nothing to advance the role of the provider.

elkpark

14,633 Posts

The scope of practice will be the same, so I don't see why they would. To me, this is the same question as why don't BSN RNs get paid a lot more than ADN RNs -- they don't because they all have the same license and the same job.

If a DNP meant a significantly different/expanded set of clinical skills and responsibilities, that would be different. But I haven't heard anything in the discussion of this that suggests that will be the case.

Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

I still want my DNP, regardless of extra pay.

questionsforall

114 Posts

I think that right now the DNP will not mean an increase in pay. First off, there is controversy as to whether the degree should be called a Doctor of Nurses because in in a medical setting the term "doctor" is generally understood to refer to physicians only (so, a nurse being labeled as a "doctor" is a hit to the MD's and DO's egos) and their are inconsistensies in the current DNP programs (such as internet only coursework and differences in state DNP requirements). So, I feel that as long as these controversies still exist (and if the AMA has anything to do about it), the DNP will not be able to expand their roles in a clinical setting as of yet (they will have the skills to do so, but will kind of be restrained in the role they are allowed to play). As long as their role is not expanded, they will not see much of an increase in pay.

However, I do feel that nurse practitioners today are opening the door and increasing the standards for nurse practitioners and DNPs of tommorrow. They are having an increasing role in the clinical setting and are proving to be a important part of healthcare. I also feel that with healthcare being so expensive and with the money running out that nurse practioners may be looked at as a more efficient clinician and this will only help the DNP in the future.

danamobile

64 Posts

Specializes in GSICU, med/surg.

Where I work we have 'education pay' where diploma RNs get an extra 0.75/hr and degree RNs get 1.25/hr on top of their base pay--so it might be quite possible there will be a difference in pay depending on where you are! (I'm in Canada though)

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