DNP's taking certification exam similar to USMLE by 2012?

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).

Forgive me if this has been posted already, but my professor mentioned this in class today. She said that by 2012, DNP graduates will be required to sit for an exam developed by the same board and very similar to the USMLE Step 3 medical licensing exam.

Anyone hear of this? Any thoughts?

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120710036831882059.html

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

I think this is what is getting all the medical students in a tizzy. How dare DNP's take the same exam as MD's take when they have so much less education is what most are saying over at the SDN. However, one should also remember that the NP associations are similarly unwelcoming of this idea. Per the official AANP statement on this new certification and I quote, "AANP is not supportive of plans for an added layer of certification for DNP's at this time, particularly one that involve the profession of medicine. It is inappropriate for one profession to credential or regulate another, as this is clearly in the purview of nursing".

I am personally as confused as everyone else. ABCC came up with this certification with seemingly no prior consultation with all NP groups. USMLE Step 3 tests knowledge as a general medical practitioner. It covers medical care across all age groups. It seems appropriate for those who trained as an FNP. But not all NP programs are geared towards this kind of clinical practice. I for one received training in the care of adults with emphasis on the acutely ill. I did not receive any training in peds, women's health, and psych. If I do get a DNP, I should not be expected to take an exam that covers more content than I had in my NP training.

It is much too early to predict how this new exam is going to be accepted. The ABCC board appears to be composed of deans and other members of the academia both in the fields of nursing and medicine. Right now I am bound to say "what are they thinking?"

For those who want to find out more about this certification, here's the weblink:

http://abcc.dnpcert.org/about.shtml

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Specializes in ICU.

It is much too early to predict how this new exam is going to be accepted. The ABCC board appears to be composed of deans and other members of the academia both in the fields of nursing and medicine. Right now I am bound to say "what are they thinking?"

For those who want to find out more about this certification, here's the weblink:

http://abcc.dnpcert.org/about.shtml

Pinoy... my thoughts on this are similar to yours...

Apparently, they weren't thinking at all! Why on earth would they even consider this?

At the same time, I wonder if they thought through the DNP all that well when they haven't changed the entry level requirements for nursing. All these years talking about abolishing the LPN degree and making all RN degrees connected with a BSN...

But that's another discussion. :mad:

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From what I can tell, the ABCC is a small, private, specialty group that has purposely organized solely to push the DNP agenda, and which is clearly "off the reservation." They don't speak for the larger nursing community -- they don't even speak for (or in chorus with) the rest of the NP community. Just their own, personal agenda, and they don't seem to care whether or not they have any buy-in from the rest of the nursing world. It will be interesting to see if they are really able to sell this idea to the rest of us ...

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From what I can tell, the ABCC is a small, private, specialty group that has purposely organized solely to push the DNP agenda, and which is clearly "off the reservation." They don't speak for the larger nursing community -- they don't even speak for (or in chorus with) the rest of the NP community. Just their own, personal agenda, and they don't seem to care whether or not they have any buy-in from the rest of the nursing world. It will be interesting to see if they are really able to sell this idea to the rest of us ...

You are right on target. This group is the DrNP group out of New York which recently switched their title to DNP. There has been no indication that this would be mandated at any time in the future. My thought is this will simply go away with time. I would be interested to know what NONPF had to say at their April meeting.

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You are right on target. This group is the DrNP group out of New York which recently switched their title to DNP.

Yes, Dr. Mundinger and her minions ... :uhoh3:

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

What really surprised me was the composition of the ABCC Board. There are members who represent the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, and someone from America's Health Insurance Plans (???). One person is actually a former CEO at the hospital system where I work. I don't know how much power these people have but they seem determined to push this agenda. Two of my co-workers who are pursuing their DNP's are just as suprised with this development as I am. At this point, these two NP's don't know anymore what they are getting themselves into as far as pursuing the DNP degree.

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The nursing groups need to focus on increasing job opportunities for me instead of the docs. The medical groups can retaliate by increasing the number of docs and PA's. Dumb idea.

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This doesn't seem like such a bad idea coming from a program that has a true PRACTICE doctorate. I think it would allow NPs to truly show what they can do and do know.

There was a proposal by one of the posters over in another nurse anesthetist forum for CRNAs to take the ABA exam. I'm sure it'll get a good fight from the ASA if it gains any traction.

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Specializes in FNP.

I haven't seen a DNP program yet that is truly a practice doctorate. Are they out there?

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check out the one at Columbia. They actually have a one year clinical residency, which should theoretically be a fellowship since the "residency" portion of training should have been completed during the MSN.

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).

PinoyNP: "USMLE Step 3 tests knowledge as a general medical practitioner. It covers medical care across all age groups. It seems appropriate for those who trained as an FNP. But not all NP programs are geared towards this kind of clinical practice."

My thoughts exactly. I'm graduating with my MSN/NNP next fall. If I decide to continue on and get my DNP with a neonatal focus, how can they expect me to take an exam designed for a general practitioner?

Mark2climb: "check out the one at Columbia. They actually have a one year clinical residency, which should theoretically be a fellowship since the "residency" portion of training should have been completed during the MSN."

My instructor said yesterday that the DNP there was designed to pull together aspects of all specialties, to graduate with a "generalist" degree with clinical and research time.

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