Anyone studying for/working as a DNP?

[Joe NightingMale, MSN, RN]

Hope this gets more responses than my CNL thread.

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone out there is presently working as a Doctor of Nursing Practice, or is studying for that role. It's something that's been suggested to me as a possible career direction, and I do find it an interesting possibility (and a natural progression from my MSN).

[deleern]

I am entering in a RN to Masters Program in the fall. I am just trying to decide which master to pursue. Options are NP with a Gerontology

Emphasis. OR Education.... tough Call. I am Leaning toward the Education.... this week... won't have to dicide until aug 08

Where would you work. would you have a specalty

[oldiebutgoodie, RN]

Hi, Joe,

I saw your original post asking if anyone was working at a CNL, and I was waiting for the responses, and I was also disappointed that you did not get any. You might try posting in the Advanced Practice Nursing forum.

I looked at the AACN's (American Association of Colleges of Nursing) of definition of the CNL, at:

http://www.aacn.nche.edu/cnl/pdf/CNLFAQ.pdf

My concern was the statement, "The need for the Clinical Nurse Leader was confirmed through discussions between AACN and health care leaders/" What health care leaders?

Right now, in the 3 hospitals I have worked at, (2 large teaching hospitals and 1 commmunity hospital), the floor nurse organization is pretty standard: Patient care techs, staff RNs, Charge Nurse, and Nurse Manager.

At my current hospital, there are also 2 clinical leaders, who also step in as charge nurses sometimes, do payroll (act as assistant managers) sometimes, give reviews sometimes, and are clinical resources. We also have a nurse educator on the floor.

So, perhaps our clinical leaders are sort of equivalent to what the AACN sees a CNL to be. However, it also seems that their definition requires a revamping of the traditional floor organization, which is a huge culture change and may take quite some time.

And as everyone has reiterated (probably ad nauseum, to you) as a new CNL you will still have to "do your time" and "pay your dues" as a floor nurse.

I also still have the nagging suspicion that these programs were partly developed because they are moneymakers for the colleges. Student going into CNL programs are probably much less likely to flunk out that in the traditional BSN programs (mine had about a 40% drop/flunk rate).

Just my 2 cents worth. I do look forward to seeing any other responses on the CNL thread and the DNP thread.

Thanks,

Oldiebutgoodie

[elkpark]

The DNP is a degree, not a job title or professional role; no one is going to be "working as a DNP," they're going to be working as an NP, CRNA, etc. -- whatever the specialty focus of their DNP degree was.

Same as, now, you don't "work as an" MSN, your MSN degree prepares you for a specific advanced practice role, nursing administration, etc., depending on the focus of your MSN program.

The DNP degrees are so new that I'm not sure there are many graduates out there in the "real world" yet; but, if they do catch on, people with DNP degrees will be working in a wide variety of roles.

BTW, I second Oldiebutgoodie's comments about the CNL.