I'm in a BSN-RN program and one of our instructors mentioned how supposedly, there will be no more MSNs - everyone will be required to get doctorates, sort of like what happened to the physical therapy profession (they all have to get doctorates now). She said all existing MSNs and masters degree nurses will be "grandfathered" in, but for any of us looking to go into advanced practice, it's going to be a lottttt more school.
Is this true? I'm assuming it is seeing it came from one of my most knowledgeable professors, but it just seems weird to me. If it is true, does anyone have any info on new requirements/when this is going into effect/etc.?
Elkpark, you're right. I forgot the CNM in my original post. I think the CNL is a generalist type masters and not considered an advanced practice nurse. Sorry for the mistake.
Elkpark, you're right. I forgot the CNM in my original post. I think the CNL is a generalist type masters and not considered an advanced practice nurse. Sorry for the mistake.
Actually, I wasn't sure whether you meant "CNL" or it was just "CNM" with a typo. :) Anyway, no, the CNL role is not considered advanced practice.
Yeah, this came up again in clinicals today. Our new clinical instructor is a MSN CNP and says she will be grandfathered in, but they're doing away with MSNs, going the "physical therapy" way and making everyone else go straight to doctorate for advanced practice. I'm still thinking there has to be REAL data on this somewhere.... This seems more serious than just another "entry level to nursing should be BSN" Hmm...
Yeah, this came up again in clinicals today. Our new clinical instructor is a MSN CNP and says she will be grandfathered in, but they're doing away with MSNs, going the "physical therapy" way and making everyone else go straight to doctorate for advanced practice. I'm still thinking there has to be REAL data on this somewhere.... This seems more serious than just another "entry level to nursing should be BSN" Hmm...
There is data. This is a proposal by a few of the academic nursing organizations so far, nothing more. A whole lot of organizations, including the state BONs, would have to climb on the bandwagon to make this mandatory, and that doesn't seem to be happening so far. And there are plenty of people who have been v. serious about the BSN-minimum-for-licensure and have been trying to get that to happen for over 30 years now, and they're no closer to accomplishing it than they were 30 years ago.
Trying to get anything meaningful done in nursing is like trying to herd cats.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
I am highly skeptical that this is actually going to take place, at least not in the next 10 years.
IMO, the purpose of "requiring" the DNP is to make schools richer, and insecure nurses be able to call themselves "doctor". Are DNPs going to be paid as much as MDs? Nope. Will they have the same respect from the general population as MDs? Nope. Will they have the same respect from MDs, and will MDs look upon DNPs as peers? Nope.
And no, I don't think it's going to make more would-be nurses go into medicine. I didn't go into nursing because med school was too long. I went into nursing because I wanted to be a nurse, not a doctor.
Personally, I am worried. There are 3 big nursing schools where I live and one has already gotten rid of it's MSN-ACNP program. Another school is phasing out it's MSN program so that after next year it is admitting only to the DNP program. So, whether the DNP becomes required or not, many of us won't have a choice.
it's true i read it some where and was told by several schools that by 2015 you must have a docorate if you are already a np with a masters your grandfathered in. So you best get into a program soon
it's true i read it some where and was told by several schools that by 2015 you must have a docorate if you are already a np with a masters your grandfathered in. So you best get into a program soon
Again, this is still just a proposal. Lots of schools are converting their MSN advanced programs into dnp programs, but others are not. I have not yet heard of any state that has announced it will require a DNP for advanced practice licensure, and the states control licensure.
I had read this in a Nurse Week article from 2005. "Under new American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) guidelines adopted October 25, 2004, advanced practice nurses and other RNs seeking top clinical roles will be educated at the doctorate level. By 2015, all programs that prepare APNs-nurse practitioners, midwives, anesthetists, and clinical nurse specialists-will be established to grant the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Doctorates will not be required for APNs currently in practice. They will maintain authority to practice, as occurred when APN education transitioned to the master's level. "
traumaRUs, MSN, APRN
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Yeah and BSN will be the entry level into the RN profession! I wouldn't hold your breath for either eventuality.
Many threads on this subject and this is only a suggestion, nothing at all mandatory.