How many APNs in school for DNP???

Trauma Columnist · Oct 16, 2007

Good ideas everyone. I appreciate the thoughts. Will look into this.

carachel2 · Oct 16, 2007

This is an interesting threat. I just found out our hospital (via a mega scholarship fund endowed every year by a local couple) will pay for a DNP, but not an NP ????? Anyone know what the rationale might be on this one ?

llg, PhD, RN · Oct 16, 2007

Hey if your employer is willing to pay for it I say go! After looking at costs, many programs are very expensive.
As far as earning potential I think you are looking at more flexibility in any potential job search rather than more income.

My thoughts are along the lines of lalaxton. If your employer is willing to pay for it, I would "mildly" recommend going for it. While I doubt you will see a big financial benefit -- particularly in the short term -- it will probably give you more flexibility and more career options in the long term. Who knows what the nursing situation will be like in 10-15 years and what your specific situation will be? But with more education, you'll have more things to choose from.

Also, I have been a big critic of the proliferation of so many different academic degrees and entry levels in nursing. I think it is a big mistake for our profession to have such a confusing array of so many different pathways and titles. I have always been a strong advocate of coming to a concensus and choosing only a couple of degrees and a couple of pathways and then sticking with those. It appears that the DNP is winning that competition to become the "practice doctorate" in nursing. There is no guarantee that it will ultimately emerge as the clear winner, but it seems to have enough support at the moment to become the dominant alternative to the more academic PhD degree.

... and I doubt you will get a better offer for someone else to pay for increased education.

Let us know what you decide. Good luck with whatever you choose.

Trauma Columnist · Oct 16, 2007

Thanks llg. I just found out today that the earliest program will not even be starting until 2009. So...will just wait and see for now.

CraigB-RN, MSN, RN · Oct 17, 2007

i am going back to the hospital where i worked for 10 years. their affiliated college of nursing is starting a dnp program in the fall of 2008 and are desperately looking for students - lol. now, the hospital will pay for my dnp. am unsure now whether it would mean a pay increase or not but want to find that out before i commit to that course of study. has anyone else gone the dnp route? i have an msn in management and leadership and then a post-msn adult health cns. thank you.

if they are going to pay for it, i'd say go ahead and do it. education is always good. (despite some of my comments inthe past about the dnp) i'd be hesatant if i had to pay for it, based on cost return. but then again, what do you want to do with your life. at my age i"m not going to take any chances. i'm going the phd route so i can teach when my feet wont let me work any more.

besides if your doing then you can give us hints on what it's like. :)

Trauma Columnist · Oct 17, 2007

lol Craig! Found out yesterday they won't be starting the program until 2009. Apparently they too have some reservations about which direction to go. Will keep ya posted.

sailornurse · Oct 17, 2007

Wow what an incredible opportunity. I can understand your ? mixed feelings? about this topic. But if someone else is going to pay for it and it is a facility where you have worked, you probably have some professional connections, plus are familiar with the area so it would take some of the stress off. Still, since many details of the DNP are still being determined/debated/discussed, (& I agree with Siri) I too am hesistant. Still It is probably an opportunity to help determine the role/purpose etc of the DNP, how it should evolve as you would be a pioneer in this area.

MikeyJ, RN · Oct 19, 2007

I am merely a nursing student now but will definitely pursue my APN a few years after graduating with my BSN. But if I were to be required to pursue my DNP to practice as a mid-level practitioner, I would either a.) go to PA school or, b.) pursue my MD/DO.

I spoke with a nurse practitioner last semester who was teaching one of my classes (he was a grad student pursuing his Ph.D.) and he told me that someone who wants to practice as an NP should not have to pursue a doctoral level degree just to practice as a mid-level practitioner. Especially considering that most of the classes for a DNP have nothing to do with what a nurse practitioner does -- you take the same classes you did for the NP but more research and nursing theory classes. He explained that nurses figure a DNP will put them more on par with an MD/DO but stated that it really wouldn't. He told me the same thing I think... that if a DNP is required by the time I decide to pursue that advanced degree that I might as well just pursue the MD/DO.

prairienp · Oct 19, 2007

I am merely a nursing student now but will definitely pursue my APN a few years after graduating with my BSN. But if I were to be required to pursue my DNP to practice as a mid-level practitioner, I would either a.) go to PA school or, b.) pursue my MD/DO.
I spoke with a nurse practitioner last semester who was teaching one of my classes (he was a grad student pursuing his Ph.D.) and he told me that someone who wants to practice as an NP should not have to pursue a doctoral level degree just to practice as a mid-level practitioner. Especially considering that most of the classes for a DNP have nothing to do with what a nurse practitioner does -- you take the same classes you did for the NP but more research and nursing theory classes. He explained that nurses figure a DNP will put them more on par with an MD/DO but stated that it really wouldn't. He told me the same thing I think... that if a DNP is required by the time I decide to pursue that advanced degree that I might as well just pursue the MD/DO.

These are not the facts. "most of the classes for a DNP have nothing to do with what a nurse practitioner does " , the additional classes usually are focused on clinical application, which will have an impact on what a NP does. I have yet to find a DNP student or DNP graduate who thinks they will be on "par" with a MD/DO. If you want the academic degree you should seek the PhD, if you want the clinical degree seek the DNP. If you want a medical degree seek the MD/DO.

Trauma Columnist · Oct 19, 2007

I think both SisterMike and prairieNP have brought up an interesting point: no one seems to have a consensus of what type of courses that will be in the DNP! I too thought it was much more of a clinical focus for APNs but I could be wrong.

core0 · Oct 21, 2007

Here are the recent exemplars put out by NONPF. I believe the new DNP content is in red:

http://www.nonpf.com/NONPF2005/Buttons/DNP-NPCurricTemplates0907.pdf

There is an upcoming teleconference on 10/31:

http://www.nonpf.com/NONPF2005/Buttons/FlyerOct07.doc

kind of expensive though.

David Carpenter, PA-C

patrick1rn, MSN, RN, NP · Oct 21, 2007

The Doctorate of Nursing Practice.. good idea I guess. I just dont want to start of program and it end up just all being research. I would like a more intense clinical focus. My 2 cents worth.