DNP required soon?

Published

"The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) has recently released a position statement calling for the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree to be the terminal degree awarded for advanced practice nurses."

I've been reading some articles about the recent changes to the terminal degree for a CRNA. Does this basically mean that by 2015 many CRNA programs will be DNP instead of the Masters? What will happen to all those MSN program grads...will they have to go back for the DNP? Thanks in advance for any input.

So the next logical question in my mind is, if any of you get your DNP will you call yourself doctor in the clinical setting?

Good question, as I am wondering the same thing.

Is "Hello, I'm Doctor Smith your Nurse Anesthetist" going to fly?

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Good question, as I am wondering the same thing.

Is "Hello, I'm Doctor Smith your Nurse Anesthetist" going to fly?

No!

Its stupid. And any nurse that would pass themselves off as doctor is a fraud. We can receive our doctorates but that is reserved for the academic setting. Not the clinical setting. It would be misrepresenting yourself.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
No!

Its stupid. And any nurse that would pass themselves off as doctor is a fraud. We can receive our doctorates but that is reserved for the academic setting. Not the clinical setting. It would be misrepresenting yourself.

Are you for real?

??

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No!

Its stupid. And any nurse that would pass themselves off as doctor is a fraud. We can receive our doctorates but that is reserved for the academic setting. Not the clinical setting. It would be misrepresenting yourself.

I agree with little fish. Calling yourself a doctor in the clinical setting is a sure misrepresentation to the public. There is enough confusion with patients not knowing or understanding peoples job titles in the hospital as it all ready is. No need to make it worst.:uhoh21:

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Are you for real?

??

No kidding. Especially since "little fish" answered his/her own question!

So the next logical question in my mind is, if any of you get your DNP will you call yourself doctor in the clinical setting?

No!

Its stupid. And any nurse that would pass themselves off as doctor is a fraud. We can receive our doctorates but that is reserved for the academic setting. Not the clinical setting. It would be misrepresenting yourself.

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I will add that nurses wearing white lab coats is also misrepresnting.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
I will add that nurses wearing white lab coats is also misrepresnting.

So, what...? -- you'd have nurse go back to wearing their CAPS?!

Antedeluvian.

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There are plenty of people in a hospital setting that where white lab coats. As a scientist I wear a white lab coat ( in the hospital). I also wore a white lab coat as a surgical technician and as a surgical assistant because it is policy in my hospital that if you go off of the OR floor you must have a lab coat on to cover your scrubs. If you do not, then you will have to change scrubs. Not everyone heeds to that though. Just food for thought.....

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There are plenty of people in a hospital setting that where white lab coats. As a scientist I wear a white lab coat ( in the hospital). I also wore a white lab coat as a surgical technician and as a surgical assistant because it is policy in my hospital that if you go off of the OR floor you must have a lab coat on to cover your scrubs. If you do not, then you will have to change scrubs. Not everyone heeds to that though. Just food for thought.....

Of course. I'm just giving some pet peeves of mine. They may be mine only but they are mine. I usually see the OR staff cover up with the gowns that are the same color as the scrubs.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
...... I'm just giving some pet peeves of mine. They may be mine only but they are mine. ..........

Yesterday I saw this bumper sticker:

Earth is the Insane Asylum of the Universe

Seems about right........

d

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Specializes in MICU, CVICU.

The argument of misrepresentation as a basis for lower educational requirements is asinine.

Why would anyone be against CRNAs having higher education? CRNAs are here to administer anesthesia to the public and as such we should want the public to be as well cared for as possible. Anesthesiologists also care for the public and they either believe we can do a good job now (in which additional education is not needed and as such supervision should not be required) or they think we are not educated enough (therefore they should believe in furthering education and in the mean time be for supervision). Logically, there is not a category for pro-supervisioin and anti-education. In my opinion there is no good reason to be against higher education for anyone.

As far as the title goes I understand the concern about not confusing patients and deceiving them to believe that I am a medical doctor. I am not. But PhDs go by the title Dr and they are not medical doctors. Pharmacists are now PharmDs and I have met some of them that go by Dr. What about chiropractors, optomotrists, physical therapists, lawyers (doctorate of jurisprudence). All of them have some form of a doctoral degree and could be correctly identified as Doctor. If you earn the degree, you earn the title.

Perhaps our patients just need to be better educated about our profession and qualifications.

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Are you for real?

??

I think most nurses would agree...

Calling onself (as an rn) "doctor" is a complete misrepresentation, and likely just a nurse chest thumping...

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