New DNP mandate

SDStudent1 · Jun 3, 2018

I think what would be a better move would be to improve the quality instead of increasing the quantity of NP education. There are a lot of really good online programs, and there are also some that are mostly crap. The MD's complaints about NP are usually about the lack of clinical hours and quality of programs. I agree with them on both accounts. A lot of programs out there are poor quality and we should increase the amount of clinical hours. Not doing so takes away from the profession and provides the MD community an opportunity to argue against the NP role.

djmatte, ADN, MSN, RN, NP · Jun 3, 2018

My only thought is that I am glade I will have my MSN NP prior to this pointless move by the NONPF

The only thing people have to be concerned about is expected np oversaturation. Few employers if any are requiring dnp, no examination bodies have mandated it, and this organization doesn't accredit schools who teach NPs (at least not to a level that could qualify/disqualify their education).

Dodongo, APRN, NP · Jun 3, 2018

And our reputations as droves of ill prepared new grads hit the streets. There are two hospitals in my area now that have practice restrictions on NPs. One is aimed at new grads and the other is tightening privileges on existing employees.

Requirement for new grads to complete a 6 month orientation program with no responsibilities at reduced pay. Although some might feel this is a good thing as a direct response to ill prepared new grads it is an embarrassing indication of our poor education.

Is this just for NPs or does this apply to PAs as well?

Jules A, MSN · Jun 3, 2018

Is this just for NPs or does this apply to PAs as well?

Re supervision: Both but it is a known requirement that PAs are supervised by physicians.

Re extended new grad orientation: Only NPs. I haven't heard nor encountered a memorable instance of new grad PAs struggling like many, not all, of the new NPs, although as I'm sure someone demanding evidence of such will shortly chime in this is only anecdotal.

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN · Jun 3, 2018

NONPF can make whatever recommendations they like. It has zero power to enforce them.

It must be either federal act (Congress), or refusal of both ACEN and CCNE to re-certify programs AND every and each state Board refusal to give licences to MSN grads, going on synchronously, to get it done. From what I know, it would be a snowy day in hell before ACEN snd CCNE agree on that - it took them like 20 years to come to conclusion that every NP program must include three theory courses of pharm, patho and physical exam. Considering what NPs are doing, it comes pretty close to agreement that 2+2 always equals exactly 4.0.

With LPNs/ADNs, the same type of show is going on already for like 30 years with existing (although very flimsy) evidence of BSN grads providing better quality care in certain settings only. Everything they got to so far is (virtual) elimination of "diploma programs", with LPNs still being around and coming back into acute care in some parts of the country, and the majoity of RNs still not being BSN. With MSN vs DNP grads in direct clinical care setting, there would be no even flimsy evidence because their clinical parts are very much the same and patients' experience/outcomes are only things which can be reliably compared under these condition.

So, I think we all can just relax about the issue.