How do you explain the DNP?

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Specializes in Behavioral Health.

Serious question-how do you explain the DNP to the average layperson?

I'm not a NP (MSN-Ed) and I am currently in an education and leadership focused DNP program. I work in nursing education and am excited about the knowledge and opportunities that my advanced studies will bring. While still evolving (and rightly so), I believe that having a terminal practice degree is a great step for nursing. My question, though, is how do you explain what this means to the layperson? I thought I knew, until this week, when I attempted to explain it to my mother-in law. She asked how school was going and then said, "So...are you going to be an NP now?" I offered that it expanded my current skills and knowledge, as well as opportunities for leadership and faculty positions. She just seemed baffled that if it wasn't "seeing patients", what was it? I also made the parallel to the PhD, but pointed out the difference. It was a pretty short conversation as she lost interest quickly...

So, how do you explain the DNP to your friends and family; especially if you are considered part of the educated but non-advanced practice group?

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I would simply use the easiest comparison for the layperson, the Phd, just like you did. The non clinical option for DNP is just increasing your research and paper writing skills, formulating a large research project or thesis and maybe getting published in a journal. It's also an endurance test and commitment to the financial requirement for a terminal degree. Good for you, keep up the hard work.

I'll forewarn that lately in the advance practice threads there have been some internet trolls spraying toxin all over the threads. The opinions they give imply that they still haven't achieved their CNA yet and are determined to aggravate those in the field attaining their terminal degree's. Friendly advice would be ignore any of the negative and obviously counterproductive to the nursing field posts. Never feed the internet trolls, they'll eventually starve in their parents basement.

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You just tell them the DNP has no practical value!

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DNP is a terminal nursing degree for those interested in the clinical setting. It will allow you bigger opportunities to teach and having a doctorate versus masters is more appealing to physicians when looking for jobs (as said by various physicians I have spoken with). As the previous poster verified, there are many trolls (like the one directly above me) but in reality they may just not have the passion or integrity to go ahead with such an intensive program. DNP is the future for advanced practice nurses whether MSN NP's want to believe it or not.

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It's telling that someone does not know why he/she getting a DNP and how he/she is will use it...

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Specializes in Behavioral Health.

I agree it is the future of nursing! I think the AACN has made that pretty clear and I agree that their intent is correct, even if their vision is a bit muddied. I know exactly why I am pursuing the degree and how it will enhance my career. I just thought it was interesting that it was difficult to explain to someone outside of nursing who, as I suspect the average layperson might, had difficulty understanding the new degree and it's impact. It's hard to explain evidence based practice to some one who only watches Grey's Anatomy :p And I won't feed the silly troll-it's always amusing that some one would waste their precious time trying to argue with internet strangers! Thanks for your input APN student and to you too, Blue Bolt.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

On a couple occasions I have heard advanced practice DNP students describe themselves as going to "be just like a doctor" (in this case meaning physician).

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On a couple occasions I have heard advanced practice DNP students describe themselves as going to "be just like a doctor" (in this case meaning physician).

If they were speaking as a family practice CRNP then that is a very accurate and astute explanation. Who needs all the excess details when all they are truly wanting to know is can you diagnose, prescribe and treat? "That's right Ma'm but I'll even spend time talking with you and educating and I'll charge you half the cost!" Obama thinks CRNP>MD. Insurance companies think CRNP>MD.

The cheaper cost alone has already decided this. MD's would be smart to go into cardiology, hematology/oncology or some type of advanced surgical specialty if they want job security and enough income to pay off their $300,000 student loan debt. In 10 or 15 years all the pediatricians, OBGYN, family practice, hospitalists, almost all anesthesia etc will be provided by APRN's with a DNP and it will cost patients half the cost of todays medical expense. The times, they are a-changin as Bob Dylan would say.

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In 10 or 15 years all the pediatricians, OBGYN, family practice, hospitalists, almost all anesthesia etc will be provided by APRN's with a DNP

You are implying that none of these services will be provided by Master's prepared APRN's, which is simply not true.

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You are implying that none of these services will be provided by Master's prepared APRN's, which is simply not true.

I was simply referring to the mandate that all APRN programs will be required to be DNP by 2025. Of course that's the last year they can be fully converted, 2015 many progressive programs have already conformed to the mandate and became DNP. I'm sure they will find a way to grandfather in the older masters prepared APRN's or at least offer tuition reimbursement or incentives to go back to school. It will probably be similar to the growing pains of ADN's/ BSN's currently.

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I was simply referring to the mandate that all APRN programs will be required to be DNP by 2025.

Are you saying that all NP programs must be DNP by 2025? I thought that was for nurse anesthesia only.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Whose mandate is this?

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