CRNA IN 2020?

[Rich_]

Hello everybody,

I am looking into CRNA Programs and am currently saving up, but I'm hearing that in 2025 DNP will be required? How will that affect me if I graduate in 2019, 2020 or 2021? Will I be grandfathered in? Will I be less desirable in the job market, considering a few years after I graduate candidates will be required to have a DNP?

THANKS

[crnahopeful2]

You will be grandfathered in, considering you will already be certified at the time the DNP requirement takes effect (IF it even takes effect by then). There is no way they could require all 50,000 CRNA's in the US that have their masters to go back to school for their DNP at once. A) There wouldn't be enough schools to educate CRNA's and B) There would be no one to provide anesthesia for the patients and the physicians would have a hayday. The deadline for the DNP has already been pushed back once partly because there weren't enough DNP prepared educators to educate the DNP candidates. To be honest, I don't see employers caring much whether or not you have your DNP or not. You'll have the option to go back and do a masters to DNP bridge program, but at this point, the only reason I would consider doing that is if you're interested in management or teaching.