nurse practioner requirements change?

serenity1 · Mar 3, 2011

Search the site...this subject has been addressed several times recently. No specific facts yet. Good Luck!!

chuckster, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Mar 3, 2011

So I have heard grumblings from a nurse friend of mine who stated that starting 2015, the entry level requirement for becoming a nurse practioner was going to be a doctorate degree. All the previous nurse practioners would be grandfathered in but starting 2015, an MSN wasn't going to cut it.
Is this true? What is actually happenning? Someone please set the record straight!
My original life plan was to start nursing school this fall (I have applied and am waiting for a letter-eek!). It is an ADN program, two years. Then I was going to work as an RN until I had children (7-8 years). I have always wanted to be home when my kids were young, so I thought that an RN-MSN program would be a great thing to work on at that time. I would then become a nurse practioner.
That was my original life plan, but this whole "you may need a doctorate thing" is throwing a wrench in my plan. Do I need a new plan?
Any light/information that you could shed on this would be EXTREMELY helpful.
Thanks!

My original plan - to get my ADN, become an RN, work for a while in nursing to get the needed experience then do an RN-MSN program with the intention of becoming an FNP - was similar to yours (except of course for the having kids part). I got the first 2 steps done without much of a problem but have been stuck for a while on the third phase. There seems to be an increasing trend in most parts of the country to require a BSN as the entry-level credential, making finding a job as ADN-RN difficult, bordering on impossible. You may want to investigate what the employment picture is for your part of the world before fully committing to an ADN program.

As far as requiring doctoral degrees for NPs, from what I've read, this is something that is under discussion and is presently a recommendation, not a requirement. It's probably likely to be implemented at some point - the question is when. In that regard, it's similar to the BSN as the entry-level nursing credential. This too has been discussed and recommended but not implemented. In my view, it's just a matter of time, which is why, despite already having 3 college degrees, I'm amending my plan and will start an RN-BSN program in the near future. That will hopefully make it easier to find a nursing job and 'll go on for the MSN-NP as planned after that.

klone, MSN, RN · Mar 3, 2011

It's something they WANT to require starting in 2015. A lot of universities are moving in that direction, and you may have difficulty finding an MSN program in the next year or so as many universities are going to straight RN-DNP programs. Whether that truly will be the REQUIREMENT is anyone's guess.

BabyLady, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2011

It's something they WANT to require starting in 2015. A lot of universities are moving in that direction, and you may have difficulty finding an MSN program in the next year or so as many universities are going to straight RN-DNP programs. Whether that truly will be the REQUIREMENT is anyone's guess.

I have found more Universities that have MSN programs than BSN-DNP-only programs...tons more.

So no, you should have no problem finding a program.

klone, MSN, RN · Mar 3, 2011

I have found more Universities that have MSN programs than BSN-DNP-only programs...tons more.
So no, you should have no problem finding a program.

That's changing. I personally know of three major universities that have already gotten rid of their MSN/NP programs. I predict that in the next few years, they will get more scarce.

BabyLady, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2011

That's changing. I personally know of three major universities that have already gotten rid of their MSN/NP programs. I predict that in the next few years, they will get more scarce.

I did not say it wasn't changing...I'm on the East Coast and I have only found two and only one of them is withhin an 8-hour driving distance of me.

Many are not making the change yet because they feel it is not going to happen by 2015..but as of now, MSN programs are not hard to find at all.

klone, MSN, RN · Mar 3, 2011

But she's not going into a MSN program right now. She hasn't even started nursing school yet, and she said she wanted to work as an RN for several years. So an MSN program is probably 5-10 years in her future.

Finding an MSN program in a couple years will be difficult. In 10 years, it will probably be well-nigh impossible.

BabyLady, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2011

But she's not going into a MSN program right now. She hasn't even started nursing school yet, and she said she wanted to work as an RN for several years. So an MSN program is probably 5-10 years in her future.
Finding an MSN program in a couple years will be difficult. In 10 years, it will probably be well-nigh impossible.

Oh, heck yeah..I agree...in 10 years, yup...if they keep pushing like they are now...MSN's will be MIA.

BrookeeLou_RN · Mar 3, 2011

I suspect alot of this goal for 2015 will depend on the baby boomers retiring when expected.. We all know this did not happen when the economy tanked, no shortage occurred but will it eventually.. statistics would indicate eventually a large number of nurses will retire.. When?? Is any one guess?

I believe it will be the new standard but not so sure when it will be implemented.

I have heard the BSN will be new minimum for RN for 23 yrs now and it seems it may closer but no legislation yet!

kyboyrn · Mar 4, 2011

I know that many organizations are supporting and pushing for the DNP to be the entry level and terminal degree for nurse practitioners. Ultimately, the requirements for licensure as an NP is up to the state boards of nursing. There is also the issue of the certification body requirements. The certification bodies in theory could make it a requirment to have a DNP in theory to be certified (the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners-AANP, who I am certified with, or the American Nurse Credentialing Center-ANCC) but I don't see that happening until all the state boards of nursing are on board because they aren't going to deny hundreds of graduates each year new certification and lose ALLL that money until it's a requirement across the board. I just don't see all of this going down by 2015, but many schools are beginning ot change to DNP programs as opposed to MSN programs already, or are at least offering MSN-DNP completion programs. It is going to happen one day, but I have my doubts about 2015. I don't necessarily agree with it, but I do see some benefits. It just seems that advanced nursing is always trying to outdo themselves which in my opinion is almost admitting that we aren't good enough as-is. That's my issue. On the other hand, to answer the person's question that began this thread, I do think that in 7-8 years you're looking at the DNP as a requirement for entry into practice as an NP. The good news is that it is a practice doctorate, so hopefully it won't be all kinds of added research and theory. Hopefully it will add education that is useful as opposed to nursing theory and other fluff classes that did not and will not add anything to my practice that I can see. Some people disagree with me, but I think many classes in NP school are kind of a waste of credit hours and money. So, if you are planning on waitiing on waiting a few years to go to NP school, you're probably looking at getting a DNP. On the other hand, I just don't know if I see it happening by 2015, but I'm sure I could be wrong, as rare as that is! LOL! :icon_roll Just kidding