HELP DNP vs FNP

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Can anyone explain the advantages of going ahead and getting my DNP? What can I do clinically with a DNP and not with a FNP? Pay differences? Open my own clinic?

THANKS

Specializes in Anesthesia.

Nurses arguing over the DNP is always a stupid argument, if you don't want to get the DNP then don't get it.

You also shouldn't be disparaging a degree that nurses have worked hard to earn and was designed based on research from the IOM, AACN, and various other national organizations (See the AACN bibliography).

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Specializes in Internal Medicine.
Using your criteria where is the research to back up any of your statements. You have a lot of opinions, but not a one of them is backed up with research of any kind.

I understand what CRNAs bring to the table and that the AANA, COA, and NBCRNA felt strongly enough about the DNP that the CRNA community is making the DNP a requirement for future new CRNAs.

The IOM report about nursing brings to light some of deficiencies in nursing education and implementation of research.

MSNs can surely bring research into practice, but for a variety of reasons on average they don't and like most providers still practice the way they were taught.

What research do I need to post? My contention is there is a lack of research to justify the DNP at this time. Even a lowly MSN like myself can do a database search...and guess what...it comes up dry. How do I present research that doesn't exist when that's my whole point? The research you are linking is great, but it still isn't a head to head comparison of MSN vs DNP APRN's in a clinical setting and their head to head patient outcomes.

I want to be clear that I am not against nurses getting more education, or the DNP in general. I just don't think there is enough data out there to justify the cost of the degree. It is very expensive and unlike doctoral degrees in other fields, doesn't open up many new doors. When clinically a MSN and a DNP trained NP have the exact same scope of practice, certification, and role it's hard to justify. I will submit that in academia a DNP has a huge leg up if that's your thing. I also truly hope that one day the DNP prepared NP does equate in superior patient outcomes, because then it will be worth and understandable if it becomes a nationwide requirement. At this time however, there is no proof of that.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

It doesn't up any doors?

I have been offered several different positions/interviews based on my Doctorate. My doctorate gives me a chance to work in variety of positions including education, direct care, leadership, consulting etc. I would be limited to direct care only with my level of experience if it wasn't for my doctorate. The degree and opportunities are what you make of them.

The DNP hasn't been around long enough to have a large amount of RCTs, which seems to be what you want. Using that logic nurses would have never adopted Masters degrees for APNs if we needed to prove it was clinically better than a bachelors first through large RCTs.

I am not disparaging any APNs no matter what their degree, but it is obvious that our current system is lacking in certain areas including implementation of research. The DNP is one way to address that.

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Specializes in Internal Medicine.

Thanks for your anecdotal example.

I guess only time will tell if you're right., which I truly hope you are. Again, I and many other's here don't believe the cost justifies the end result, especially for currently existing MSN's. The jump to APRN was a whole new scope of practice. The jump to DNP offers nothing nearly that substantial, yet it costs just about the same (if not more if you have been practicing for a while).

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

The answer is so simple, if you don't believe that the DNP isn't worth it. Then don't get the DNP, but for thousands of other nurses and many national organizations the transition to APNs being doctoral prepared is worth it.

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Specializes in Internal Medicine.

If you had read my previous posts, I said I plan on getting one, and generally do believe that more education can only improve an individual. That doesn't change that cost and lack of clinical research is a problem barrier for the vast majority of APRN's that don't have a DNP.

To highlight my points further, here is a great summary article released at the end of 2014 straight from the horses mouth (AACN) that discusses the great growth of the DNP from an academic standpoint and some of it's current limitations in real world practice. The summary by the AACN is exactly what I have been saying here, more research needs to be conducted to facilitate growth and a full transition to the DNP.

"To facilitate the continued transition to the DNP, the report authors recommend that AACN conduct outcome studies to assess the impact DNP graduates are having on patient care and health care; provide outreach and data to employers showing the value-added benefits of recruiting DNP-prepared nurses; showcase success strategies that can be used by schools to overcome challenges, including securing clinical sites; and provide greater clarity and guidance around the DNP final project."

American Association of Colleges of Nursing | AACN Releases Findings from National Study on the Practice Doctorate

This is a link to the actual article that the AACN is referencing in their discussion. Again, it is a smattering of several of the talking points you and I have been discussing and basically concludes that if you want growth, back it up with data. This is again exactly what I have been stressing here.

http://www.aacn.nche.edu/DNP/DNP-Study.pdf

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

And those studies are already under way.

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Specializes in Internal Medicine.
And those studies are already under way.

You would certainly hope so. I would imagine they were already conducting it before this article was even published late last year since they're no brainers.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

The DNP outcome studies are being done and some are done.

I am still adjunct faculty at one university and all these DNP studies are a big thing at the university.

The DNP is still relatively new and even if the studies were finished today it normally takes months or even year or more sometimes to get published.

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It is so childish to keep reiterating that people who do not believe that the DNP adds value to the nursing program should not get the DNP degree. Is there anything wrong in having a different opinion?... Please have a better comeback next time around....

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