DNP Fluff

[Malenurse1235954]

Just from comparing nurse practitioner DNP vs MSN course lists I felt these were fluff classes. I recently started the first semester of a DNP program and my opinion is evolving. Currently, I think the extra classes add some value. However, spending hours comparing various leadership frameworks, exploring personal ethics, contemplating system structures, and stressing the OCD qualities of an APA paper seems a huge misuse of time. I see no reason these topics could not be covered through a series of seminars.

In the first year, my class will spend 5x more time working on topics like this than learning something I find interesting like pathophysiology. I know many of my classmates have expressed disappointment in the agenda for this first year. Personally, I can feel a moral dip as I turn the page to another topic unrelated to learning how to diagnose and treat patients.

[WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN]

I insist that in my theory-based post for school today that I spoke of nursing borrowing from psychology and renaming the theory.

I admire my profession and its beginnings, but my nightingale blinders are long gone.

[msn10]

I admire my profession and its beginnings, but my nightingale blinders are long gone.

I am not a huge fan of theory, but Nightingale was really a rock star. Just wasn't her theories, she was a master statistician and mathematician and she worked her tail off at Crimea. Some of the other ones are not worth their weight in water.

[CraigB-RN, MSN, RN]

Education theories as well as psych. Even Benner's theory was something that someone else did (with her there helping) and her changing it to Nursing.

[CraigB-RN, MSN, RN]

There is a difference between clinical care and technical care.

If your making comparisons there is no comparison with an RN PhD. One semester of research or even 2 semesters does not make a DNP a research specialist.

I'll make a guess that the large majority of DNP aren't actually doing any knowledge translation. Most are just working as clinicians or desk jobs because the DNP was easier than getting a PhD. Just look at the number of actual articles of any real merit that are published compared to the number of actual DNP's and PhD's out there.

And for what it's woth, I AM clinical faculty at a PA program and have been at two others so I think I have an idea what I'm talking about and it's not dependent on reading someone else program.

Now you as a specific DNP may be doing a lot of knowledge translation. But then again as a CNS, that is my job description. I'd hazard the one of the differences may be that the PA's aren't always the first names on the list of authors. The PA's tend to be part of a team, which doesn't diminish their input in the process.

p.s. I'm not sure that the fact that the PA Research page on face book having 12 likes counts as deep research.

[msn10]

If your making comparisons there is no comparison with an RN PhD. One semester of research or even 2 semesters does not make a DNP a research specialist.

I'll make a guess that the large majority of DNP aren't actually doing any knowledge translation. Most are just working as clinicians or desk jobs because the DNP was easier than getting a PhD. Just look at the number of actual articles of any real merit that are published compared to the number of actual DNP's and PhD's out there.

The entire point of a DNP is to translate the research, not actually do the research. Some DNP's do, in fact, lead research projects, but the degree was meant to have a deeper understanding of research so the correct evidence can be used in the correct situation. PhD's don't often work in hospitals in a clinical position, so comparing a PhD and a DNP (which is done at nauseam) is not really helpful. A great position for a DNP in a hospital is leading a nursing practice council or EBP and QI council. They should have the expertise to understand how policies should be created, who they will affect, and if the policy change is warranted. A DNP will be using that knowledge even if it is "just a desk job" because they are treating patients and that knowledge should be used no matter what their career path.

[RockMay]

I totally agree with you there. Nobody, Imho, should be allowed into an NP without experience, but PA's graduate without experience too.

The difference is that PAs are appropriately prepared for the team-based practice of medicine. They are also not completely independent. PAs have more training than NPs and are part of a physician-based team providing medical care, which makes them better trained and invaluable.

[nietzche]

I am a student at a very well ranked DNP university, and I will say that I have gotten spectacular opportunities. Such as to be a research assistant in enterprise level research, and I have been published myself. Maybe you are the ones who need to excel, get professorships, and become the teachers at these universities that you feel are lacking, so that you can lead others so that they can have research opportunities. Research helps make changes in your current practice and allows providers and patients to help make a difference in your practice. In addition, your findings design tertiary literature which nursing students will learn down the road.