Advice/Vent about the future for new NP's

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Ok I'm going to try and keep my thoughts and opinions in this post as organized as possible so it will be easy to follow.

Everyone that is currently practicing as an NP before 2015 knows that even though this DNP issue is a suggestion and not a mandate, "yet", that either way they will be grandfathered into the change. Which is great! :up:

But what does that mean for those of us that will be graduating or planning to go back to school after 2015?:nailbiting:

Well from the looks of it, and doing countless research and talking with hospitals and administration and colleagues, it looks like we will be pushed to pursue our DNP's and not only that but that they will be getting stricter and stricter about APRN's practicing within their scope of practice. So that means less and less FNP's will be seen in ER's and moreso in outpatient facilities and more and more ACNP's will be seen ONLY in inpatient facilities. Now of course this is not going to be enforced immediatley, and probably not even in the next 10 or 15 years BUT...just like the LPN-RN and ADN-BSN movement began and now is being pushed stronger than ever so will this "recommendation"(warning). :sniff:

My aunt who has been an LPN for over 30 years is being forced to go back to school or being worked beyond normal hours to push her out of her current position because of the LPN-RN "suggestion." Not to mention the countless number of my co-workers that are in their 50's going back to school online to get their BSN's. I love learning, but I do not intend, nor want to, go back to school when I'm in my 50's or 60's because of something that was a "recommendation" 25 years ago that everyone said not to worry about. I don't want my job security to be on the line that far into my career. ::vent over:: :no:

So back to the advice I need. I must say in my frustration over this I do appreciate this movement and as much as I hate to admit it think it is overall safer for us to be practicing within our scope of practice, not because I think FNP's aren't competent to function in the ER or ACNP's in an office, but becasue a lawyer could EASILY chew your license and professional career to shreds if you got sued. I orginally was planning on getting my FNP with a DNP due to the flexibility to work outpatient and inpatient in the ER and also to be able to teach (since that is a strong passion of mines in nursing) down the line. BUT, with this movement occuring I see as more and more ACNP's are coming out they will be the one's in the place of the FNP's (and rightfully so). So I considered getting my ACNP, but I don't think I want to work in the hospital for the rest of my career, given I can teach with my DNP-ACNP but I don't want to just be restricted to hospital hours, weekends and holidays as I start my family and kids get older. :banghead:

So needless to say I am overall confused about what path to take with this new movement occuring. FNP with mainly primary care or ACNP with hopsital care? I need some honest advice, not based on what has-been allowed with the criss-cross between roles, but what MY future looks like as a new NP post-2015. As of now I have almost given up on the idea of NP and am focusing my efforst towards my second passion and getting an MSNed with PhD in the furture (because they are pushing educators to go back for their PhD to teach on the university level now as well). So what are your thoughts and opinions. All are welcome with an open heart and ear to receive.:geek: Thank you in advance!

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Ok, well I see since I've had >200 views and no replies I'd leave an update to close this topic. :whistling:

After thinking, talking, reading other threads and thinking some more, I've thought long-term about my career options and decided that due to the inpatient vs outpatient setting and confusion over both specialities future, especially with DNP in the future, that pursuing neither would be a better option for me personally and my individual desires and goals.

I will focus on my MSNed and potential PhD in the future since teaching and being a leader among new generations of nurses is a passion of mines.;) Good luck to everyone in their future endeavors, we are all making a difference in this ever changing profession! :)

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Your "narrative" is too long, I got lost on the way. Make it short next time. Good luck.

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Specializes in Mental Health.

Graduating before or after 2015 won't really make a difference, I don't think. The 2015 recommendation is for nursing schools to begin phasing out MSN programs in favor of DNP programs, but I highly doubt MSN programs will completely disappear. You are comparing LPN-RN to MSN-DNP but that is not a fair comparison. MSN and DNP are advanced degrees with prescriptive authority. If every state's BON decides to change the requirements for prescriptive authority, they will undoubtedly have to grandfather in anyone who already has an MSN + X years of experience or else there will be a vast shortage of providers. I really wouldn't worry about this. Think about the fact that there is a shortage of NPs, more and more baby boomers are retiring, and less and less MDs going into general practice/psychiatry. There is no way that anything will happen to preclude those with MSN from being able to practice. But worst case scenario you have to go to school part-time for a couple of years. Not a big deal. The salary and flexible schedule of an NP will afford you that possibility, though I highly doubt it'll be necessary

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I do agree that the consensus model being touted as the end-all to APN practice will impact our lives. However, as ACNP can onlyy see those pts ages 13 and up, there will be a need for dual-certification IMHO. To that end, PACNP and ACNP will be working in the ER, while FNPs and PNPs will be in the offices.

I do disagree though that going back to school in your 50s and 60s is not a good idea. Its a sad fact that those of us in our 50s may have to go back to school to remain viable in the current workplace.

Ive gone back to school in my 30s (LPN, ADN), 40s (BSN, MSN, post MSN cert) and 50s (another post MSN cert). I plan to work until Im 70 and in order to do so, you must keep current.

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rnwichita, I will definitely keep that in mind next time, it partially was a vent but I can get a little long-winded, lol. :shy:

mzaur, thanks for your insight! :)

traumaRUs, thanks for your insight as well! :)

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