Has the 2010 DNP alledged requirement for NP's already fizzled?

[justme1972]

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.

[ANPFNPGNP]

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!