Dnp

Is it good for the profession or just good for the academic ego.

AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NURSE PRACTITIONERS

Discussion Paper: Doctor of Nursing Practice

In October 2004, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) published a position

paper focusing on the issue of converting the terminal degree for advanced practice nursing from

the Master's to the Doctor of Nursing Practice by the year 2015. To that end, two task forces

consisting of members of AACN have been created to develop: 1. "Essentials for the DNP",

similar to the Essentials currently in use for NP Master's Programs, and 2. the "Road Map"

which will propose a process for smoothly accomplishing this goal by 2015. The concept of a

practice or clinical doctorate has been under discussion within the nurse practitioner community

since 2001 when the National Organization of NP Faculties (NONPF) established a task force to

examine the issues from the nurse practitioner educational perspective. The American Academy

of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification

Program have been participants in these activities as they have unfolded.

The rationale for the shift in the academic preparation of nurses in advanced practice focuses on

several issues, including the observation that advanced practice nursing is currently one of only a

few health care disciplines that prepare their practitioners at the master's rather than the doctoral

level. Most disciplines that prepare licensed independent practitioners (LIPs) such as podiatrists,

psychologists, optometrists, pharmacists, osteopaths, medical doctors and dentists prepare them

at the clinical doctoral level. Moreover, it is clear that the course work currently required in NP

master's programs is equivalent to that of other clinical doctoral programs. It is important

however, that the transition to clinical doctoral preparation for nurse practitioners be conducted

so that master's prepared nurse practitioners will not be disenfranchised or denigrated in any

way.

The following issues, therefore, will need to be addressed in order for the preparation of nurse

practitioners at the clinical doctoral level to be developed in a logical and equitable fashion.

1. The quality of the preparation of current master's and post-master's nurse practitioner

programs must not be compromised. Nurse practitioners have demonstrated their skills in

providing high quality care to their patients regardless of gender, age or socioeconomic status.

The conversion of nurse practitioners programs that offer a doctorate in nursing practice should

not change that fact. Nurse practitioners provide safe, high quality care in all specialties and

practice sites in which they are involved.

2. The transition to the new title must be handled smoothly and seamlessly, so that there will not

be a negative impact on nurse practitioner practice and sound patient care and that parity will be

maintained.

3. Additional requirements, if any, made in the DNP programs should reflect areas where

increased depth has been recognized to enhance nurse practitioner practice.

4. Skilled clinical practice must be maintained as the foundation of all nurse practitioner

educational programs.

5. Issues related to parity, providing reasonable methods for currently prepared nurse

practitioners to obtain the DNP if desired and prevention of discrimination in reimbursement,

must be addressed.

6. Programs should be developed based upon agreed upon standards and guidelines. The

premature development of programs should be avoided.

7. Accreditation standards need to be maintained to ensure the preparation of safe, highly

qualified clinicians who can be certified and recognized in the regulatory arena.

8. Programs should remain accessible and affordable to qualified applicants, in order to maintain

an adequate number of highly qualified nurse practitioner clinicians to contribute to the health of

their communities.

The conversion of existing master's programs to practice doctorate programs can add strength to

programs, to nurse practitioner practice and recognition in the health care arena. The

development of such programs must be conducted in a manner that allows for smooth

transitioning.

AANP is dedicated to and continues to address these issues as steps are taken to implement

activities that would lead to the development of DNP nurse practitioner educational programs in

the future.

References*:

American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2004). AACN position statement on the practice

doctorate in nursing. Washington, D.C.: Author.

American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2005). DRAFT: DNP Essentials Revised October

12, 2005. Retrieved October, 2005 from

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