Change from MSN to DNP for NNP

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I've been told the DNP (Doctorate of Nursing Practice) is on the horizon for NNP probably within the next 5 years. Our local univ. will be starting it next year and doing away with the MSN for NNP. Anyone else heard anything similiar?

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Specializes in ICU/CCU/MICU/SICU/CTICU.

The AACN has put it into place that all advanced practice nurses have the DNP to practice, instead of the MSN. It isnt just for NNPs, includes all CRNPs. The draft states that it will be this way by the year 2015. I dont know how it will come to pass with the shortage of doctorally prepared faculty that universities have now, but that it there plan.

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The AACN paper is a recommendation that doctoral preparation become the entry level for advanced practice nursing. And, sure, all the clinical doctorate programs that are suddenly popping up like mushrooms after a spring rain are happy to jump on the bandwagon, as they are trying to drum up "business" (students) for their new programs.

This is the same as the recommendation by various groups that the BSN be the entry level into nursing practice, and we've been debating that one for at least 30 years and it ain't happened yet. I predict the same trajectory for the clinical doctorate for advanced practice nursing -- it will be debated for years to come, with little result.

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Specializes in NICU.

There's an article on the Columbia university website for anyone interested... cumc.columbia.edu

They started the program here.

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