To those of you with PhD's or working on them.

[medicrnohio]

I have a quick question for those of you working on PhD's in nursing or have completed PhD's in nursing. What did you get your master's degree in (ex. NP, nurse educator, etc)? Do you feel that your master's degree area of study has helped or hindered you?

[llg, PhD, RN]

The DNP "clinical preceptorship" does not have to be in the NP role. It can be in just about any role. The CNS would simply do her preceptorship working on projects in line with her CNS role.

[marachne]

In some states (like Oregon) people with CNS degrees can now prescribe. The line between a CNS and an NP are becoming more blurry. One irony is I've heard some people say that the DNP program actually adds more CNS-like content (more systems level and policy stuff).

I have lots of mixed feelings about the DNP. I think it is going to shrink the pool of AP nurses, esp in rural areas when they are fill a particularly large, and growing lack of primary providers. One of the things that has been learned over the years is that, in general, the only people who will work long-term in rural areas are people who are from a rural area. If someone has to move to a city to get their DNP, how will that effect rural practitioners? And even if they don't have to move, and can do most of the work long-distance, the increased time/cost will be a problem.

OTOH, I think that we need more stong nurse voices making and influencing policy. I think the DNP gives nurses a higher level of credibility with policy makers and leaders. Other professions (pharm, respiratory therapy, etc) have gone to doctoral levels for their terminal degree, so there's precident and parallels.

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

>>>>Why does anyone do an DNP?

Hmmmmm......

Well, the reason I asked about the CNS is that the DNP degree is supposed to be clinically based with the student doing a prescribed number of hours in a precepted residency. How can a CNS do that?

I personally see a CNS in a PhD program as they are doing more formal staff education plus being a leader in evidence based care and research.

I too would like to see the CNS role continued and expanded as they have a unique skill set that is extremely valuable not only to staff but to the patients we serve.

Thanks for responding.

As have already been stated, DNP programs are not offered to NP's alone. There are programs that have more flexibility in admitting different types of advanced practice nurses. The preceptored residency can be tailored to suit the focus of each advanced practice field.

However, I feel the same way as you do that the PhD is a more appropriate transition for a master's prepared CNS to a doctorally-prepared CNS. In fact, the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) have not jumped on the DNP bandwagon wholeheartedly as per this organization's White Paper on the practice doctorate: http://www.nacns.org/nacns_dnpwhitepaper2.pdf. The document was released in 2005 but so far, NACNS have not issued a follow-up to their statement.

[LisaDNP]

PinoyNP,

I have to say you may have missed your calling. I'm sure you are a great NP, but your writing skills are amazing! You communicate so clearly and concisely in an way that makes this reader want to read all of your posts. I look forward to reading more from you in the future. Lisa