2015 DNP Requirement for APNs

Nursing Students NP Students

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Hey everyone,

Is it true that all NPs and other APNs will have to finish off their DNP in order to achieve NP status after 2015? I'm currently applying for FNP school and I'm getting worried about this. I may or may not finish school before 2015 and I don't want to spend an extra 2 years for something I don't want at all. Can anyone give me some insight on this situation? Will I be grandfathered in if I start school before 2015 or will I have to finish before that. Thanks in advance.

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Totally agree with you all - the DNP is just in its infancy at the moment.

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
So I guess this university is pushing for DNP. This is really scaring me... I DO NOT want to spend an extra 2 years in school with added tuition. This is really disheartening.

Fairfield University School of Nursing Frequently Asked Questions for the M.S. in Science, Family Nurse Practitioner Track

No that university is LYING. My guess is to scare nurses into paying them for a DNP program. I would love to confrond this school with their lies and fase propaganda.

Specializes in Psychiatry.
Sad day for sure if this does go through. I need to get my ass back in school ASAP.

I am relatively new here but I assumed that we had a decorum for this forum.

Specializes in LTC, Acute care.
I am relatively new here but I assumed that we had a decorum for this forum.

??????? I'm a little confused but what exactly are you referring to that has anything to do with decorum?

Specializes in ED, Telemetry,Hospice, ICU, Supervisor.

I highly doubt it. We can't even agree on an entrance level education standard for RNs.

Its like herding cats. Just going different directions contrary to one another.

Specializes in Anesthesia.
This is seriously my biggest pet peeve- people who keep insisting that you have to have a DNP by 2015. Now I understand a bit more why some people think this is the case, this school even says it on their website!! ugh. Go with a different school that actually is up to date.

I just sent the school an email about this. I will repost the response when I receive it.

Specializes in MS, Tele, CM, Informatics.

Honestly I think its a way of keeping nurses in school FOREVER!!! Along with giving nurses more and more responsibility with less pay. I'm in a MSN-Nursing Informatics program and as soon as I finish they want me to do the DNP....a year ago it was NP now they are have updated me a few months ago saying DNP will be the way to go, as nurses scope of practice continues to expand...yet my bank account doesn't. I love helping people but all this alphabet soup behind ones name isn't adding up financial. I don't want to be in school forever yet we are being pushed to excel. So I will finish this program ... do a doctorate and then whats next? EXTRA EDUCATED LOW PAID NURSE HERE.

I like the idea of a practice doctorate for nursing, I just don't think it should be the required degree for entry into advanced practice.

Someone said a four--I mean three--letter word. In regards to the decorum question.

Specializes in Adult/Ped Emergency and Trauma.

I work as a Charge or Staff RN here in MS about 40% of the 6 months I am in the States. That is simply because unless you score a spot as an associate in a practice (rare here); I can make more or equal pay as an Agency Adult/Ped ER, Trauma, and OR/PACU staff nurse.

I do have a Non-Nursing Related Doctorate Degree, but if my FNP requires more schooling (without Grandfather Clause), and a DNP or Ph.D in Nursing becomes mandatory- they can have the APN Certification back.

Specializes in ICU, transport, CRNA.
Hmm at what point can you be grandfathered in if it does go through? As long as the program starts before 2015 or you must have been licensed before 2015? It's 2013 now and I'm just applying to school this year. So if I'm lucky I may be able to start this fall and should finish just by the end of 2015.

You are not understanding what you are being told. There is no requirment for APNs to have a DNP. There is no proposal to make a DNP required for APNs. It isn't really possible for 50 states to mandate such a requirement by 2015 and I haven't even heard of any even consdiering it. The AACN can flap thier lips all they want but at the end of the day that is all it is. The AACN does NOT have the power to do more than recomend.

There are also some NP programs that are very much opposed to requiring the DNP. I know one local college with a well respected NP program has said that if the DNP was made a requirement they would drop their NP program and investigate starting a PA program. This college doesn't grant any doctorates in any field.

IndiCRNA,

What is the name of that college you are referencing?

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