Masters Vs DNP

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I have heard varying degrees of information regarding obtaining a MSN and DNP in relation to becoming a nurse practitioner in different states. I am from Nebraska, and know that doctorates will be requirement soon to fulfill the scope of an NPs practice. I wouldnt be opposed to relocating. I hear there are approx 100 DNP programs across the nation; are all states requiring a DNP to practice as a nurse practitioner, a la the RN to BSN requirement? Am I better off setting up with a DNP program, as it will become a requirement no matter where I relocate to? Any info or links are welcomed

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Specializes in Adult Nurse Practitioner.

If you do a search on this subject, you will see this is a hot topic and has been asked and discussed numerous times.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.

What makes you think Nebraska will require a DNP? I have yet to see any proof of any state actually moving forward on this.

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I am from Nebraska, and know that doctorates will be requirement soon to fulfill the scope of an NPs practice.

Would you please post a source for this?

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For Nurse Practitioners the DNP is just a recommendation by the ANCC. It is no mandatory by any state including Nebraska. However if what you wish to study is anesthesia the AANA has made the doctorate degree a requirements by 2015 for all states. Hope this helps.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

As others have said, there is no requirement that NP's and other advanced practice nurses have doctorates (except for anesthesia). However, the trend is toward doctoral education for all nurses in advanced practice roles.

Therefore ... if you are planning for a long term career as an NP ... it would be wise to go ahead and get the additional education. That way, you'll have it if you need it and won't need to go back to school later to stay competitive in the job market. If you don't ever actually need it, well, the extra education won't hurt you. It will still give you an advantage and open up additional job possibilities for you down the road.

If you have the ability to get the DNP, it makes little sense not to get it now while you can.

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For Nurse Practitioners the DNP is just a recommendation by the ANCC. It is no mandatory by any state including Nebraska. However if what you wish to study is anesthesia the AANA has made the doctorate degree a requirements by 2015 for all states. Hope this helps.

(The target date set by the CRNAs is actually 2025, not 2015. And that is a target; it remains to be seen whether it actually happens.)

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.
For Nurse Practitioners the DNP is just a recommendation by the ANCC. It is no mandatory by any state including Nebraska. However if what you wish to study is anesthesia the AANA has made the doctorate degree a requirements by 2015 for all states. Hope this helps.

Not sure if ANCC is involved in this. I know AACN is. The letters do get confusing.

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Not sure if ANCC is involved in this. I know AACN is. The letters do get confusing.

Oops thanks for the catch I meant AACN not ANCC!

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(The target date set by the CRNAs is actually 2025, not 2015. And that is a target; it remains to be seen whether it actually happens.)

I could have sworn that I read that somewhere but I couldnt find the 2015 deadline anywhere. 2025 it is!

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It is 2015, here's the link:

http://www.aacn.nche.edu/dnp/faqs

So does anyone else think that this shift from Masters to DNP's is a little out of whack? Funny this should come up in the newsletter because I was just randomly looking at Univ. of Maryland's graduate programs and they've now moved all of their advanced practice degrees to DNP.

I'm just a lowly student starting RN clinicals this Spring, so I'm a long way off, but this doesn't make a lot of sense to me for a number of reasons. The argument being made is that nurses work with other professionals that require doctoral level education (i.e. physicians, pharmacists, physical therapists, etc.), and therefore nurses are not up-to-snuff. With the exception of physical therapists, however, nurse practitioners are not getting paid nearly the amount as the other professionals and those with doctorates will still get paid the same amount as those with Masters. There's no evidence that care provided by nurses with doctorates is any better than those with a Masters degree.

Also, it just seems to add confusion to an already confusing system. An NP with a DNP wants to be called 'doctor', but so does the physician.

Here is a good article calling some of this into question as well: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/02/health/policy/02docs.html?pagewanted=all

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
(The target date set by the CRNAs is actually 2025, not 2015. And that is a target; it remains to be seen whether it actually happens.)

2025 is the requirement date for new CRNAs, and that hasn't been questioned for a while now, with most CRNA schools making the switch to DNP/DNAP well before 2025. 28 out of 113 CRNA programs are already accredited to offer a Doctorate. CRNA School Search It takes about 2 years to complete the credentialing process with the COA before a NA school can start offering a DNP/DNAP.

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