DrNP: What does it mean to you?

I did read something about that in a magazine article a few months ago. I thought it is a good idea. I don't know what is included to make one's self a DrNP as opposed to the master's programs but education isn't a bad thing right?

Oh, I think they're trying . . . There are a lot of fields where the entry-level degree used to be a master's that have begun to push the doctorate as the entry-level practice degree. Physical therapy for example. Schools are now offering the "DPT," etc. Nursing is trying to do the same, hence the ND, DrNP, etc. The confusing part is not just the name. For example, the Case Western ND degree was originally intended as a direct-entry degree for students, while the Columbia DrNP is for post-master's study.

Unlike physical therapy, occupational therapy, audiology, and all the newly "doctor-ized" fields, nursing has millions of practitioners in the US and thousands of training programs across the country. Trying to get all those people going in the same direction is like trying to herd a bunch of cats that are high on crystal meth. :)

Same thing with AACN pushing the new master's-level CNL role. Some programs are 1 year for post-BSN RN's, others are 2 year for non-nurses. And then if you want to be an advanced practice nurse, you have to do a post-master's certificate or a practice-oriented ND/DrNP/DNP/MNOQ degree. Although I'm still not clear what someone trained in the new CNL model can do clinically as a "master's level clinical generalist," that a new BSN couldn't do.

For someone trying to do a career-change into nursing, it's a little mind-boggling.

-> -> :)

Cheers,

DL

Great post. While I totally support the idea of there being clinical doctorates, I have posted my frustrations many times about how each school designs its own programs and creates a new degree. The multitude of titles is confusing to everyone -- nurses and non-nurses alike.

The confusion hurts the profession and I wish the "leaders" who keep creating new titles would start working on reaching a concensus about degree, titles, etc. Like you, I believe they are each serving their own best interest to get recognition and grant money by creating a "new" program. If they were trying to implement a program found to be successful elsewhere in the country, it might be better for nursing, but wouldn't bring them as much fame and fortune.

That said ... the DrNP is probably unique in it's emphasis on the Nurse Practitioner role at the doctoral level. But then ... that same goal could have been accomplished by offering a DNS with a focus on the NP role ... or by keeping the NP certification at the Master's level and promoting the DNS as an enhancement of that person's education, perhaps requiring the DNS, NP combination for certain types of jobs. But noooooo ... that would involve supporting existing programs and would not be something new enough to get grant money. Thus, the creation of a yet another nursing degree.

Most professions have 1 or 2 degrees for both their practice people and their academics. You get a generic Master's Degree and then a doctoral degree with only 1 or 2 variations possible. Within each generic degree, you specialize in an area of focus. Why can't nursing keep it as simple?

The lack of cooperation among our academic leaders as evident in the proliferation of all these new types of degrees, titles, etc. with little evidence of any "pulling together" within the discipline has cause me to lose a lot of respect for our academic leadership.

llg

We had this discussion last semester in my MSN program. From the way that I understood it was this........ the AACN (Amer Assoc of Colleges of Nursing) is pushing for all NPs to be doctorally prepared by 2015. All of the DrNP, or DNP programs that I have looked at are a dual NP/DNP program, not a post masters program.

I asked my instructor about the program because I would like a dcotorate that focuses on nursing practice and not research. She told me that the DNP would not be the route for me to take because I would already have my MSN/FNP. I have looked at Case Western and saw their ND program, one of my instructors in my BSN program was working on hers from CW. She told me that it was focused more toward teaching nursing. I think it is actually a 2 option program one is nursing education, and the other is nursing leadership. Who knows?!

Like someone else said the PT programs are pushing toward entry level being a DPT, instead of Master's. I have a very good friend who is a PT, and she thinks its a good thing. (She also thinks that all entry level nurses should be at least a BSN, but I digress).

All of the different doctorate levels is going to lead to more confusion in the public. I mean look at all the confusion its already causing in the nursing community.