Dear Nurse Beth Advice Column - The following letter submitted anonymously in search for answers. Join the conversation!
Published Jan 13
Is the nursing field moving toward wanting DNP's?
Share this post
Nurse Beth, MSN
145 Articles; 4,301 Posts
Yes, the nursing field is increasingly moving toward valuing and recognizing the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, especially for advanced practice roles. Several trends are driving this shift.
While the shift toward DNPs is growing, it's not yet universal. Many advanced practice roles hire NPs or CRNAs with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). However, as more states and employers begin to favor the DNP, the trend toward this degree is expected to continue, especially for leadership roles and advanced practice.
It's the future for advanced practice roles in our profession.
Best wishes,
Nurse Beth
FullGlass, BSN, MSN, NP
2 Articles; 1,884 Posts
It is the schools that "want" DNPs. Many have eliminated the MSN NP programs and only offer a DNP.
Frankly, the DNP offers nothing from a clinical perspective. I thought about getting one and found the curriculum ridiculous.
As for leadership, how many NPs care about this? Very few. The vast majority of NPs are going to be hands on providers. There are very few "leadership" roles available and NPs would be competing with MDs for those.
As for the market, in many parts of the US there is a dire shortage of all types of providers. So very few employers are demanding a DNP. In addition, there are a boatload of MSN NPs with a lot of experience, so any employer that is willing to overlook them is stupid.
Finally, let's talk about evidence. Nursing moved to wanting BSNs because there was actual evidence to support that BSN-trained RNs provided better care. There is no such evidence I am aware of that NPs w/DNPs provide better care. That is because the DNP is not a clinically focused degree.
JKL33
6,990 Posts
FullGlass said: Frankly, the DNP offers nothing from a clinical perspective. I thought about getting one and found the curriculum ridiculous.
Ditto x 100.
JMHO but having the powers that be tout this stupid non-clinical doctorate while constantly babbling about being on-par with physicians is an embarrassment. There is no additional intensification of 3Ps knowledge in the DNP degree. It is practically useless for clinicians other than to impress people who don't know what the degree is.
Spiker, ASN, RN, EMT-P
135 Posts
DNP for APN's is an option I can agree with, but just that: an option. For clinical practices, BSN/MSN-prepared RN's are fully capable of everything within our scope of nursing. As was previously mentioned, there are areas that already are pressed to find adequate staffing; there's no need to make it more difficult to meet those needs.
Published
Is the nursing field moving toward wanting DNP's?
Share this post