Clarification on the DNP requirement of 2015

Specialties Doctoral

Published

Hi-

I'm a bit confused about the whole 2015 DNP requirement for APRNs. Does this mean a DNP, instead an MSN, is required in order to become a Nurse Practitioner starting 2015? Is this applied uniformly in all States or do States have their own "flexibility" on how this is handle? (I live in MA.)

If DNP is required, I wonder if MSN programs will be phased out and replaced by DNP programs or maybe integrated into the DNP programs. In a clinical setting, will the scope of practice expand for someone with a DNP vs someone with an MSN? Or are they moving to DNP because they believe that MSN programs are already very much a doctoral program relative to other health professions?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

umbdude

What does the research state?..

Nurse Doctors are better at doing brain surgery...

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

How about we get back on topic and leave the snark out of the equation?

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
Nurse Doctors are better at doing brain surgery...

What does the literature state about outcomes between physicians and APRNs when doing the exact same job?

You can make fun of nurses all day long and APRNs for having their doctorate, but what you cannot do is control the massive amounts of research that shows the same or better outcomes of APRNs when compared to our physician colleagues.

APRNs do not practice in every speciality and for the most part we have no desire to. What we do do is offer efficient, safe, lower cost of care in high need areas such as primary care and anesthesia.

It is funny that it isn't considered egotistical when a physician calls themselves Doctor, but when a nurse who has earned a doctorate decides to call themselves Doctor they are considered egotistical and somehow subverting the whole healthcare system..

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What does the literature state about outcomes between physicians and APRNs when doing the exact same job?

You can make fun of nurses all day long and APRNs for having their doctorate, but what you cannot do is control the massive amounts of research that shows the same or better outcomes of APRNs when compared to our physician colleagues.

APRNs do not practice in every speciality and for the most part we have no desire to. What we do do is offer efficient, safe, lower cost of care in high need areas such as primary care and anesthesia.

It is funny that it isn't considered egotistical when a physician calls themselves Doctor, but when a nurse who has earned a doctorate decides to call themselves Doctor they are considered egotistical and somehow subverting the whole healthcare system..

Everyone in medicine knows it's not difficult to treat HTN, DM and hyperlipidemia once you can get people to adhere to tx regimen... I can design a study of RN vs MD/DO treating people with HTN/DM etc... and the outcomes will show no difference at all because it's an algorithm that they have to follow

Diagnosing complex diseases when they first present is where I would make difference b/t NP and doctors in primary care...

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
Everyone in medicine knows it's not difficult to treat HTN, DM and hyperlipidemia once you can get people to adhere to tx regimen... I can design a study of RN vs MD/DO treating people with HTN/DM etc... and the outcomes will show no difference at all because it's an algorithm that they have to follow

Diagnosing complex diseases when they first present is where I would make difference b/t NP and doctors in primary care...

Then show us the research to back up your claims. I can already tell you it has been looked at, and if there was any validity to your claims every physician organization would be shouting about those publications in every state and federal healthcare agency in the United States.

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Then show us the research to back up your claims. I can already tell you it has been looked at, and if there was any validity to your claims every physician organization would be shouting about those publications in every state and federal healthcare agency in the United States.

That's definitely a claim!

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
That's definitely a claim!

Then prove me wrong with some peer reviewed research.

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Then prove me wrong with some peer reviewed research.

The burden is on you because you made the claim... Anyway, I think we disagree on how we see NP vs MD/DO in primary care.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
The burden is on you because you made the claim... Anyway, I think we disagree on how we see NP vs MD/DO in primary care.

I have already provided peer reviewed research previously to support my claims. You on the other hand have provided no such evidence.

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I don't put too much stock on these peer reviews; they obviously have so many flaws...

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
I don't put too much stock on these peer reviews; they obviously have so many flaws...

Yes, the obvious flaw is that they don't support your opinions.

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Specializes in Adult Gerontology Primary Care NP.

We can talk about what the evidence says, which I frankly don't believe that there is enough of. However, I certainly respect what IS available. The DNP is a personal choice that depends on what kind of career you want in Nursing. The fact is that where there is cost involved, the most adamant defenders(or offenders) appear. There is money for DNP, for example, I received a grant that is paying for my DNP with the stipulation that I work with underserved populations. Isn't that the premise of NPs anyway? - health equity for all. Furthermore, I get to leave my institution's walls and see what is being said on a national level. It is not just Nursing professionals calling for my advancement in nursing, but MDs who understand the challenges our nation faces. For example, I am focused on Oncology and we are lectured by OngologISTS from a major cancer center, who are lead researchers in clinical trials. They are extremely cognizant of the value of a doctorally-prepared nurse practitioner and digress from lecture to really explain to us what value we have in the clinical setting. Some even say they trust NPs more than their residents. Is this unusual?... maybe not... it depends on who you speak to. I think that nurses are sometimes the quickest to debase conversations pertaining to advancement. When you see this advancement as a benefit for the population you serve, which is what the DNP should be focused on, even if you choose to not advance, encourage those who are willing to spend the extra time (and money) learning, growing and advocating for everyone.

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