NP and new requirements

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Has anyone else heard that as of 2015 you need a Phd to get your NP? I was planning on getting a masters because it could allow me to teach as well as give me the option of NP. Now that's no longer an option as I would not have my masters before 2015. The student loan debt to get a Phd not to mention the idea of a dissertation :/ makes me think its not worth it. How many others are turned off the idea of becoming an NP because of the new PhD requirements? I do like the idea of managing a patients care though from assisting with diagnosis to plan of care.

Specializes in Mental Health.

I do not see every state changing their Nursing Practice Act, especially with how much demand there currently is for NPs, and this demand will continue to rise due to more people gaining access to health insurance and the aging baby boomers. There is no way you'll need a DNP to get your license if you move states. It will remain a tiered system, just like RN with ADN and BSN.

There is no way you'll need a DNP to get your license if you move states. It will remain a tiered system, just like RN with ADN and BSN.

Don't be so sure. No one knows what is going to happen going forward with this, but we do know what happened when NP programs made the transition from certificate programs to MSN programs. Eventually, all states required an MSN for advanced practice licensure, even though there were still plenty of perfectly competent, experienced, certificate-prepared NPs "out there." Those people were able to continue practicing at their full scope of practice in their current states, but, if/when they wanted to move to another state, they found that they could not get licensed in another state because the new state required an MSN for licensure and they didn't have one. Their choices at that point were to remain a "prisoner" of their current state, give up NP practice and work as a generalist, or go back to school. I'm sure that, for a long time before that day actually came, the certificate-prepared NPs were all assured repeatedly that they had nothing to worry about, they were going to be "grandfathered in."

The way I see it, those NPs without a DNP will one day be at a disadvantage to those NPs with their DNPs. We can argue about the merits of getting a DNP, but there are a large number of NPs that have taken the necessary step to get their DNP and no matter how you cut it, they will have a leg up on the competition.

We have NP out there today who are not licensed and are having a hard time changing jobs or finding jobs once they are downsized. ALL NPs should embrace change and the inevitability of DNP requirements. One just have to look at the fact that most accredited Universities have add a DNP program to the Nursing School over the past five years and it is clear where the future lies. You either adopt or get left behind.

We have NP out there today who are not licensed and are having a hard time changing jobs or finding jobs once they are downsized.

I would certainly hope that unlicensed NPs are having difficulty changing or finding jobs, since they would be violating the law by practicing without a license. Who exactly are you talking about??

Specializes in critical care.

This thread seems to have a bit of misinformation in it.

The one thing that stands out to me at the moment is the idea that for DNP to happen, every state has to approve it. That is not true. Each state has complete jurisdiction to make this a requirement. The first state to do it, though, will probably have a heck of a time since all the new grad NPs will be able to get jobs in the neighboring states instead.

I do wonder - has a single state stated yet that they will make the change?

I do wonder - has a single state stated yet that they will make the change?

-- No.

Specializes in Mental Health.
This thread seems to have a bit of misinformation in it.

The one thing that stands out to me at the moment is the idea that for DNP to happen, every state has to approve it. That is not true. Each state has complete jurisdiction to make this a requirement. The first state to do it, though, will probably have a heck of a time since all the new grad NPs will be able to get jobs in the neighboring states instead.

I do wonder - has a single state stated yet that they will make the change?

I am not sure if anyone was stating that every state has to approve it, like an amendment to the Constitution or something. Rather, each specific state determines their own requirements. I really don't see any state passing a change to the licensure requirements since, as you said, it would alienate new grad NPs from working there, particularly when there is such a demand. I remember reading that in Wyoming (or somewhere around there), they tried to make BSN requirement for RN, and they had to change it back when RNs began leaving the state.

I have not only heard this but the school that I've applied to for my BSN (in maryland) is doing away with NP mastrrs degrees and changing to DNP programs as early as next year.

Specializes in Mental Health.
I have not only heard this but the school that I've applied to for my BSN (in maryland) is doing away with NP mastrrs degrees and changing to DNP programs as early as next year.

Of course they are. They can make more money selling the DNP due to the extra credits, so why not? Many of the top nursing schools are keeping the MSN (BC, Yale, UCSF, UPenn, Columbia, Johns Hopkins)

Specializes in critical care.
I have not only heard this but the school that I've applied to for my BSN (in maryland) is doing away with NP mastrrs degrees and changing to DNP programs as early as next year.

I'm also at a Maryland university and this year is the last year that someone could begin the masters program. Next year it's DNP only. The dean of the department will tell you very passionately that this IS where we are going and an MSN will be gone from entry level requirements completely in the next year or two. It's frustrating because I feel like she has to be reasonable enough to know this isn't happening anytime soon..... And if she does know that, she's lying to me. She is actually the reason I ultimately decided to contact our BON for clarification because first of all, she was so confident in her responses, but second of all, I graduate May 2014 with a BSN and if I want to move into advanced practice, I needed to know realistically what is happening. There is an unusual disconnect between academia and reality.

Specializes in critical care.
I am not sure if anyone was stating that every state has to approve it like an amendment to the Constitution or something. Rather, each specific state determines their own requirements. I really don't see any state passing a change to the licensure requirements since, as you said, it would alienate new grad NPs from working there, particularly when there is such a demand. I remember reading that in Wyoming (or somewhere around there), they tried to make BSN requirement for RN, and they had to change it back when RNs began leaving the state.[/quote']

You are right ☺️ I reread the post I misunderstood and realized I misunderstood.

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