DNP: Who are you?

[hancameron]

Hello DNP Professionals!I am in my first year of a DNP-FNP program, and one of my courses focuses on the DNP role. With the DNP being a fairly new degree within the scope of professional degrees (first program in 2001 in Kentucky), I am curious to know how well accepted you are in practice and in private or public settings. Do you often find yourself explaining what DNP is including the differences between it and other professional nursing designations? What do you tell people when they inquire about the DNP title and what sets it apart from others? And last, I must ask, does the "doctor" part of the title confuse people easily?I hope to field some interesting discussion on the topic, as I will write a summary of the findings for my class. I appreciate your comments and time in responding. Thank you!Hannah Cameron, MSN, RN

[BlueDevil, DNP]

I am curious to know how well accepted you are in practice and in private or public settings.

Very well. The only place I have gotten negative feedback is on AN, lol.

Do you often find yourself explaining what DNP is including the differences between it and other professional nursing designations?

I do get asked once in a while, not often. I have a closed panel and don't see patients that aren't well known to me, so I assume either they already know or don't care.

What do you tell people when they inquire about the DNP title and what sets it apart from others?

My response is brief and I get on to what I want to talk about. I just tell them that while not all NPs are doctorally prepared, I am.

Then I redirect the conversation because I don't care to waste time on this sort of thing. They can go home and google it if they like.

And last, I must ask, does the "doctor" part of the title confuse people easily?

My patients, colleagues and staff do call me "Doctor," but to my knowledge, no one is confused. That appears to have been avoided by the above explanation.

[tonet0908]

It's kind of funny and a bit frustrating but in the practice that I am in, there are 2 PA's, 1 Physician (all 3 are males) and me a female DNP. The medical Assistants and front desk employees call the PA's and the Physician "doctor" but they call me, "The Nurse." Even the patients call the PA's doctor. I do not know what it is, if it's a male-female thing or they can only wrap their heads around just the word nurse in the Doctor of Nursing Practice title. I do introduce myself as Doctor to the patients because that is my title but the office staff are having a hard time understanding titles. I try not to get upset about it, I have way more important things to worry about.

[sourapril]

Any DNPs out there who are not providing direct patient care?

[rntransition727]

Is the training for a DNP considered similar to an MD (general practice)? Or is it focused mostly towards research or teaching?