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.?
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. "
The AACN is the organization that originally came up with this brilliant idea (to the best of my knowledge), and they've been pushing it heavily for several years now. However, the AACN is a voluntary professional organization that has no statutory or regulatory authority -- it can't even make its own members do anything they don't want to. It can only make recommendations and hope that others will climb on the bandwagon. So far, there doesn't seem to be a huge amount of support for this idea outside of some of the academic nursing organizations (the NLN, which is the other most significant academic nursing organization beside the AACN, has formally come out against the idea), a lot of the nursing schools (which stand to make a lot more money from it), and DNP students. The only professional group I'm aware of that has embraced this idea is the CRNAs; however, their target date for all programs being converted to dnp programs and requiring a DNP for certification is 2025, and it remains to be seen whether that will actually happen.
And, again, the individual states control licensure and practice within their own boundaries. I haven't yet heard anything about a state planning to start requiring a doctorate for advanced practice licensure.
Keep in mind that there are many groups and organizations within nursing that have been trying to make the BSN the minimum preparation for RN licensure for >30 years -- and that is no closer to happening than it was 30 years ago.
It is only a recommendation for DNP's to be required by 2015, but so far it looks like it is going to come to be. I have looked at every college in my state that offers advanced practice tracks. Every single one either has a DNP program or is starting one next year. And I have looked at many programs in neighboring states, I have not found one single school of nursing that offers advanced tracks that is not offering, or will offer very soon, a DNP program.
Master's degrees will still exist in nursing. But not for the advanced practice specialties. My state will have CNL, certified nurse leader. A practicing RN who supposedly is able to function in many management roles. I am not completely sure what there roll is beyond basic RN.
Anesthetist's aren't planning to switch until 2025. We are waiting to see how it works for every one else, and even if it is going to happen.
I have not been able to find a single school who offers paster's degrees who have absolutely no plans of a DNP. Does anyone know of one? I am almost completely certain it is going to happen, unless there are alot of responses telling me of programs that won't do it. I haven't been able to find any programs thorugh online searches that don't plan on doing it.
elkpark
14,633 Posts
The AACN is the organization that originally came up with this brilliant idea (to the best of my knowledge), and they've been pushing it heavily for several years now. However, the AACN is a voluntary professional organization that has no statutory or regulatory authority -- it can't even make its own members do anything they don't want to. It can only make recommendations and hope that others will climb on the bandwagon. So far, there doesn't seem to be a huge amount of support for this idea outside of some of the academic nursing organizations (the NLN, which is the other most significant academic nursing organization beside the AACN, has formally come out against the idea), a lot of the nursing schools (which stand to make a lot more money from it), and DNP students. The only professional group I'm aware of that has embraced this idea is the CRNAs; however, their target date for all programs being converted to dnp programs and requiring a DNP for certification is 2025, and it remains to be seen whether that will actually happen.
And, again, the individual states control licensure and practice within their own boundaries. I haven't yet heard anything about a state planning to start requiring a doctorate for advanced practice licensure.
Keep in mind that there are many groups and organizations within nursing that have been trying to make the BSN the minimum preparation for RN licensure for >30 years -- and that is no closer to happening than it was 30 years ago.