I have noticed that only a precious few colleges are offering the DNP-NP programs but the MSN programs are still in full force.
2010 is only 1 1/2 years away.
I am wondering if this was just a bunch of hoopla along with the BSN-minimum-RN requirement that has been going around, oh, for probably 30 years or better.
Any opinions?
I personally don't care if I get a DNP or an MSN...I just don't want to get mid-way through a program somewhere and have everything changed.
So far I have only found ONE college that has purposely changed their curriculum to all DNP-programs and eliminated their MSN's.
DNP programs do have a HUGE clinical requirement. Remember, they are differnet from a PhD program. PhD programs are based on theory and DNP is practice focused.
That much I do know....but the following is not what I am sure about...
Someone on the board correct me if I am wrong, but isn't the NP exams national in nature? In other words, you can practice in your home state once you have passed a national exam?
First off, the DNP is supposed to be coming in 2015 and we'll all be grandfathered in. Secondly, just because you are nationally board certified in a specific specialty does NOT mean you will be able to practice in every state. For instance, I graduated from a dual ANP/GNP program and I'm board certified through the ANCC in both specialties. The TX Board of Nursing informed me that they didn't accept dual programs and I would have to choose between the two! Of course, the ANP covered more ages, so I chose it. However, I've heard recently that they are going to start accepting dual ANP/GNP programs, so it won't matter.
Also, there was a dual FNP/ERNP program in Houston and a couple of the graduates moved to another state and couldn't get licensed as a FNP. So even though they had passed the FNP boards and could practice in Texas, they were not able to practice as a FNP in those states (somewhere in the NW). It's imperative to check all this information out before enrolling in a NP program. I believe there are still a few states that won't accept online programs, but I'm not sure which ones...probably in the North West!
ANPFNPGNP
685 Posts
First off, the DNP is supposed to be coming in 2015 and we'll all be grandfathered in. Secondly, just because you are nationally board certified in a specific specialty does NOT mean you will be able to practice in every state. For instance, I graduated from a dual ANP/GNP program and I'm board certified through the ANCC in both specialties. The TX Board of Nursing informed me that they didn't accept dual programs and I would have to choose between the two! Of course, the ANP covered more ages, so I chose it. However, I've heard recently that they are going to start accepting dual ANP/GNP programs, so it won't matter.
Also, there was a dual FNP/ERNP program in Houston and a couple of the graduates moved to another state and couldn't get licensed as a FNP. So even though they had passed the FNP boards and could practice in Texas, they were not able to practice as a FNP in those states (somewhere in the NW). It's imperative to check all this information out before enrolling in a NP program. I believe there are still a few states that won't accept online programs, but I'm not sure which ones...probably in the North West!