Doctoral degree to become an NP???

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The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) is calling for the requirement of doctorate in nursing for advanced practice nurses, such as nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, clinical nurse specialists, and nurse anesthetists. This new degree will be called a Doctor of Nursing Practice and, if the AACN has its way, will become the entry level for advanced nursing practice.

AACN Position Statement on the Practice Doctorate in Nursing

Specializes in Pulmonology/Critical Care, Internal Med.

Okey is it me or does the DNP still have a ton of research, what happened to the clinical aspects......looks kind of weak...yes/no???

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so is this set in stone? that by 2015 NP will have to be DNP? I as because by 2013 or 2014 ill be done with a MSN and FNP and dont want to have to go back to school again for the dotorate, sure i might be grandfathered in but in the long run it might be better to have the DNP fore reasons already listed?

thanks in advance

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so is this set in stone? that by 2015 NP will have to be DNP? I as because by 2013 or 2014 ill be done with a MSN and FNP and dont want to have to go back to school again for the dotorate, sure i might be grandfathered in but in the long run it might be better to have the DNP fore reasons already listed?

thanks in advance

It is certainly not "set in stone." At this point, it is nothing more than a proposal; a few nursing organizations have published position papers and there is suddenly lots of discussion. That and 50 cents will buy you a cup of coffee.

Remember that we are the same occupational group that has been debating the BSN as minimum entry to RN practice for >30 years, and that ain't happened yet, despite all the nursing organizations that have pushed for it over the decades. I predict a similar trajectory for the DNP-entry-level-for-advanced-practice -- it will get talked about for many more years before anything happens.

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It is certainly not "set in stone." At this point, it is nothing more than a proposal; a few nursing organizations have published position papers and there is suddenly lots of discussion. That and 50 cents will buy you a cup of coffee.

Remember that we are the same occupational group that has been debating the BSN as minimum entry to RN practice for >30 years, and that ain't happened yet, despite all the nursing organizations that have pushed for it over the decades. I predict a similar trajectory for the DNP-entry-level-for-advanced-practice -- it will get talked about for many more years before anything happens.

The DNP will happen by 2015, look at how many programs have already switched and how many are in the process of switching. Those NPs without a DNP in 2015 wil be grandfathered in without having to return to school. I suspect by 2010 over 50% or more of FNP programs will be DNP.

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Better look again most aren't switching they are offering the DNP in addition to the regular master's NP

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

I believe that if we were to base it on history, the DNP requirement may actually become a reality. Just not sure if it will be in 2015. NP programs started out as certificate programs until the Master's degree began to gain acceptance. Now, a Master's degree is required for awarding NP certification by all the national NP specialty boards. As to the BSN as the entry requirement to nursing practice, that issue comes from a larger picture -- there are more entities at stake including community colleges vs universities and various state boards of nursing. The NP community is smaller and can accomplish such goals with less resistance.

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so assuming id be grandfathered in, eventually down the line wouldnt i have to get a DNP anyways? just like with those who got a certificate? If i have to look for another job that wants DNP (req) would that cause a problem?

My hope for this (and future jobs) would be DNP preferred but not required.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
so assuming id be grandfathered in, eventually down the line wouldnt i have to get a DNP anyways? just like with those who got a certificate? If i have to look for another job that wants DNP (req) would that cause a problem?

My hope for this (and future jobs) would be DNP preferred but not required.

Hello, EstOyLista,

Yes, you would be grandfathered in without question just like the NPs out there now who hold certificates and do not have an MSN. This will not change and will be across the board, never to change your status as NP and/or your ability to provide care.

But, you do bring up an issue that might be applicable and that is that employers may require the NP to be DNP. I base this on the NPs now who are working (with certificates only and without MSN) and desiring to change jobs. Many are now finding out that the employers are requiring MSN-prepared NPs only (APN) with Rx privileges. Some of the certificate NPs did not receive Rx privileges and are doing fine in their current positions, but if they desired to move on, might be hard-pressed to find a job.

The 2015 is a target date, not set in stone. Many programs now are adding the DNP, not replacing MSN with DNP. And, I'm certain (my opinion only) some will only offer the DNP.

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Specializes in Psych, Geri, Fam Med,Teaching,pain mgt.

As an old lady NP that has been on every rung of the Nursing career ladder (starting with CNA through MSN) Let me mention the unspoken and psychological reasons behind this push to a DNP.......... IT's the word "DOCTOR"..........

Lets face it, for some inexplicable reason over the years that word has taken on the persona/clothing/ etc. of being this "all wise" "all knowing" Dr. Welby/Daddy/Protectorate figure. Nurses and nursing have played second fiddle to this myth based American ICON named "DOCTOR" for years. So in the final act of collective professional insecurity, even though current NP practice has been documented multiple times , as just as good if not 'better' than a DR.....we have decided to allow ourselves as a profession to cave in to the popular myth that calling ourselves by the magical "DOCTOR" word will finally make us equal in the American Healthcare Mythology. Somehow, as a profession, we will have acheived that final entrance into the 'old boys' club. For Shame !

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As an old lady NP that has been on every rung of the Nursing career ladder (starting with CNA through MSN) Let me mention the unspoken and psychological reasons behind this push to a DNP.......... IT's the word "DOCTOR"..........

Lets face it, for some inexplicable reason over the years that word has taken on the persona/clothing/ etc. of being this "all wise" "all knowing" Dr. Welby/Daddy/Protectorate figure. Nurses and nursing have played second fiddle to this myth based American ICON named "DOCTOR" for years. So in the final act of collective professional insecurity, even though current NP practice has been documented multiple times , as just as good if not 'better' than a DR.....we have decided to allow ourselves as a profession to cave in to the popular myth that calling ourselves by the magical "DOCTOR" word will finally make us equal in the American Healthcare Mythology. Somehow, as a profession, we will have acheived that final entrance into the 'old boys' club. For Shame !

I'll give a somewhat cynical outsiders view of this. I largely disagree that the climb to Doctor is solely to play the good old boys club. When looking at the DNP you have to look at who benefits.

1. NPs - somewhat mixed bag here.

-There is no increased pay for having a DNP.

-There is a danger that states and medicare may mandate the DNP for practice (somewhat unlikely).

-If you work in an academic environment there may be a slight increase in pay or prestige.

-There has been some blowback from medicine over this (whether that will change hiring patterns remains to be seen).

-Implicit in the DNP is independent practice of nursing.

2. Nursing schools

-This increases the number of Doctorate level nurses which increases the departments prestige and power.

-This provides a ready pool of doctorate level nurses to provide more instructors to eventually move the entry level RN degree to BSN or even masters.

-It will serve to make the profession more restrictive. Some schools will be unable to transition to the doctorate level making the remaining schools more elite.

-The extra years provide more income at very little extra cost to the schools.

3. Nursing instructors

-This serves to make any doctorate level nurses more valuable as instructors raising instructors salaries.

-Easier to gain tenure and advancement at the doctorate level

If I read the original justifactions correctly it was mostly driven by the educational institutes and NONPF with some help by the state BON. There is very little here about the old boys club and a lot about increasing the clout of academic institutions and faculty. (just a cynics view).

David Carpenter, PA-C

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Also, physical therapy and pharmacy schools have shifted to "doctorate-level" degrees. You can enter those doctorate programs without a master's degree. You don't earn a master's degree along the way. You don't write a doctoral thesis. You aren't being trained for doctoral level research, it's a practice degree. So why the change to calling the training "doctorate" as opposed to just "PT school" or "pharmacy school"? Hmmm.... "MD=DOCTOR of medicine"....

Although, not to be completely cynical, medical care has become so much more complex, especially at the level of allied health providers, that many laypeople don't recognize the level of responsibility and complexity they are dealing with. By re-naming the level of education as 'doctorate' it does project to the public that these fields do require a significant amount of education and involve a significant degree of responsibility. However, the connotation of a doctorate degree will also eventually shift as traditionally that referred to at least 5 or more years of study beyond a baccaleaureate degree (eg at least 2 yrs for a master's degree and at least 3 yrs for the doctorate) and now one can theoretically earn a doctorate with *just* three years post-baccalearate education.

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Better look again most aren't switching they are offering the DNP in addition to the regular master's NP

Your right, most are adding the DNP to the Master's degree. But most of these are in a transition phase and intend to offer only the DNP for the NP, they (Academia) may retain the Master's degree for Nurse Educator or CNS tracks. See http://www.aacn.nche.edu/DNP/DNPProgramList.htm you will see a significant # of dnp programs with plans for 140 more. I still think this will happen sooner than later.

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