FNP.. Decisions, Decision

Editorial Team / Admin · Dec 14, 2016

Other questions: Is it true that they will not allow Nurse Practitioners without their Doctorates? If so, when is that happening?

That was a recommendation put out by the AACN in 2004. If it's anything like a BSN as the entry level for the career (first recommended in 1965 and it's still not happened beyond employer requirements), it'll be a long time before it becomes legally/regulatory rules required. Best bet is to research job postings in the area where you want to work to see what they require.

lhflanurseNP, APRN · Dec 14, 2016

As a practicing NP, there is no difference between a masters or doctoral prepared NP other than additional time and money for school. There is no difference in the scope of practice or monetary reimbursement. A doctoral prepared NP will have the prestige of having a doctoral degree, but in the end...means nothing right now. Will it in the future? Maybe...but then there is this wonderful thing called "grandfathering". If one is planning on possibly teaching, then the doctoral degree will be required if one teaches at the masters or doctoral level. Hope this helps.

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN · Dec 14, 2016

Hello,
MSN:
Pros for school: I would finish school faster than if I did the DNP. I would get accepted to the program sooner. The program is made for working adults.
Cons: I would have to pay a little bit more. (They do offer tuition reimbursement if I choose to work for them.) The school isn't well known.
DNP:
Pros: I would have my DNP. I wouldn't have to pay anything for school as long as I have a strong GPA. The school is one of the top in the nation.
Cons: Schooling is so long!! The school is very hard to get into and requires a lot of essays and letters of recommendations. Even if I apply theres a chance I might wait an extra year before getting into the program.
Other questions: Is it true that they will not allow Nurse Practitioners without their Doctorates? If so, when is that happening?

As it was said just above, the agade with DNP goes on since 2004 and it is still just a "recommendation", not mandatory for anyone.

The similar agade about "eliminating" LPNs is going on for the last 30 years. There are still tons of LPNs around, and more are pumped out every semester.

Therefore, my guess - it will remain a wishful thinking for a GOOD LONG while.

There is no difference in jobs (except maybe high academia). There is no (or very minimal and not everywhere) difference in salary. There is basically no difference in CLINICAL education (I do not speak about theory and research - that's another thing, entirely). There is minimal difference in school rating levels, pretty negligible on the level of primary office jobs.

Therefore:

- if you would like to be a clinician, go for MSN. You can always complete DNP later if you feel like it.

- if you eventually want academia, teaching (beyond community college) or, to the less degree, pure research job, it might make sense to wait and push hard for that high-ranking school DNP.

P.S. I am in high-ranking school but in its satellite campus for MSN, and I am bombarded by emails offering continuation to DNP and PhD programs in the Ivy league and the like places. It doesn't looks like that people are killing each other to join even the best of the best PhD nursing programs.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Dec 14, 2016

Moved to the Student NP forum.