BSN to DNP (with a HIV/ AIDS focus)??

[aarin80]

I will be starting my BSN soon. After this I wanted to do a ANP program with a focus on HIV/AIDS. I started to do research and found out it would be in my best interest to do the DNP instead, I still want to focus on HIV/AIDS. Is the a DNP program that has a focus on HIV/AIDS or is there a way I could still do both?

[VanLpn]

I'm interested in this as well. I believe there is a program in the bay area. if you found any others, i'd love to know.

[aarin80]

VanLpn,

You are correct, there is a program at UCSF (university of California, San Francisco) that offers a "specialty area" in HIV/ AIDS focus (http://nurseweb.ucsf.edu/www/spec-anp.htm). The problem is that the program is only at a masters level of education, so this program would make you a ANP with a focus with HIV/AIDS, if you chose that focus. Obtaining this level of education does not make sense, when now there is the DNP (Doctor of Nurse Practice) available. I say this for several reasons, first you can enter the DNP program at most universities after a completion of a BSN program, such as were I am, Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan (http://www.nursing.wayne.edu/Academic%20Programs/Doctoral/DNP/index.html [scroll to the bottom of the page and click the last word, "here"]). The DNP program is approximately double the credits of a masters program starting at post BSN (WSU College of Nursing [CoN]). The income of a DNP is about 6.5 thousand more a year (http://www.rmu.edu/OnTheMove/findoutmore.open_page?iPage=70120). Finally, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing's (AACN) made a decision in October 2004 to adopt a goal, that preparation for specialization in nursing should occur at the doctoral level by 2015 (http://www.aacn.nche.edu/DNP/pdf/DNProadmapreport.pdf). There has to be a DNP program with a focus of HIV/AIDS. I plan to call the AACN and ask this very question.