DNP Required???

Specialties CNM

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I have read rumors that a DNP will likely be required for all NPs in the future. Does anyone know how likely this is? Or how quickly they would put this into affect? I am currently saving up money to go back to school to become a CNM. (I have a bachelors and masters in social work) My husband and I would like to pay off debt from our first degrees before we both return to school for our second careers. I was planning on the slower, more economical route in order to incur as little debt as possible (ADN-BSN-MSN/CNM). However, if this is going to mean I will miss the cutoff for being grandfathered in with a MSN, I may try to hurry up this process a little more. Does anyone know when or if they will begin requiring a DNP?

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

CNMs have a different governing body than NPs, and there is no suggestion that the AMCB is going to require a doctorate anytime in the near future that I'm aware of.

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Specializes in OB.

At this time, there is no requirement for midwives to obtain a DNP and no talk of making it a requirement.

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Thank you!

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Specializes in NICU.

There is no requirement, but schools may not offer a MSN in the future. I doubt boards of nursing will make it a requirement; there are some states that allow you to just practice on a certificate, not even a MSN required, for example. The most likely scenario is that eventually schools just won't offer the MSN anymore and the profession switches over that way, like the certificate to MSN change.

There are already some schools that only offer DNP, not MSN. Most likely you'll be able to find a school if you're flexible that will offer you just the MSN, but keep it in mind while planning.

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What is the thinking behind schools discontinuing the MSN and moving towards a DNP degree if it's not a requirement?

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
What is the thinking behind schools discontinuing the MSN and moving towards a DNP degree if it's not a requirement?

Money?

It's happening more and more with NP programs because the NP legislative body is continuing to threaten to make the DNP the point of entry. The CNM legislative body makes no such threats, so I don't see MSN/CNM programs going away any time soon.

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Money?

It's happening more and more with NP programs because the NP legislative body is continuing to threaten to make the DNP the point of entry. The CNM legislative body makes no such threats, so I don't see MSN/CNM programs going away any time soon.

Which NP legislative body/bodies are doing this?

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

The AACN has been threatening it for over a decade. I guess they're not the NP legislative body, sorry for the misspeak.

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Specializes in Varied.

I think requiring a DNP is ridiculous, especially because jobs aren't requiring it. It's all about "status" in most organizations.

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Specializes in OB.
I think requiring a DNP is ridiculous, especially because jobs aren't requiring it. It's all about "status" in most organizations.

I will go step further than you and say that I think, for the most part, the DNP degree itself is ridiculous. It's such a new thing that I think most programs are woefully lacking compared to PhD programs, and is just another example of degree inflation. JMHO!

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I'm going through a DNP program for my NP studies. The reason I choose the DNP program was the extra clinical hours and course work pertinent to the actual day to day work of being an NP. However, the CAPSTONE part of the program (which is a great deal of work) is just silly in my opinion. It's not a real independent PhD worthy study and more of a giant pain in the butt then a term paper. I hate it and will never use it in practice I'm sure. Having said that I personally would still choose the DNP because of the extra clinical hours that I hope will help with my ability to treat my patients

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