How many APNs in school for DNP???

[traumaRUs]

i am going back to the hospital where i worked for 10 years. their affiliated college of nursing is starting a dnp program in the fall of 2008 and are desperately looking for students - lol. now, the hospital will pay for my dnp. am unsure now whether it would mean a pay increase or not but want to find that out before i commit to that course of study. has anyone else gone the dnp route? i have an msn in management and leadership and then a post-msn adult health cns. thank you.

[Jamie5560]

Hi, just wanted to contribute/ask advice. I am currently in the MSN FNP program, and have reluctantly been persuaded consider the DNP route. I've done a little research and found that it is VERY LIKELY to be a requirement of entry level practice NP's by 2015. For me, it's an additional 41 credits of torture following my MSN, but am really beginning to think that this will be the norm in ten years or so. I for one, do not want to be the one unable to compete in a job market because I decided it wasn't worth it at the beginning of my career. I think that this is ultimately a move by the universities to generate money, but that's another discussion. What I do know is that this seems to be the up and coming phase for APN's. One thing to look forward to by doing this option would be knowing it is a TERMINAL DEGREE. I have struggled deciding whether it is worth it to me, or like others that have been posting, should I go to medical school instead? I think a good incentive for NP's to stick with their field, especially if the DNP is to become mandatory, is to educate the public on the credibility and role of APN's. This way APN's aren't questioning why they too are going to 8 years of school but not getting the respect they deserve! APN's may not be medical doctors, but there are a plethera of:specs: reasons for that. I think believing that this career is worth investing in is the first step to convincing practicing nurses that it is worth while. Anyway, I too am deciding whether to pursue this route. Any advice/comments from others in a similar situation would be appreciated!

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

Hello, Jamie5560,

Here is another thread about the DNP. Lots of discussion:

Doctoral degree to become an NP???

Good luck with your decisions.