shelly_BSN

ANCC, or American Nurses Credential Center, which offers certification exams for various NP and CNS specialties, conducted a survey regarding the DNP and its implications on the certification process. After providing the survey results, which can be obtained by clicking on the link above, ANCC made the following statement: Ultimately ANCC believes that the movement from the master’s level graduate programs to doctoral level programs will evolve over several years with nurses educated at two different levels and credentialed at one for certification purposes. Differences if any between MS and DNP prepared grads will evolve over time. I have interpreted this to mean that MSN and DNP graduates will be credentialed using the same ANCC certification exam until differences in preparation necessitate separate exams. The ANCC could revise its position at any time and require advanced practice candidates to have a DNP in order to sit for the certification examination. The AANP, or American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, which certifies Family, Adult, and Geriatric Nurse practitioners, has not stated that a DNP is required to sit for its exams in 2015; however, this organization's position might change by 2015. The following is an excerpt of a letter that the AANP sent to the American Academy of Family Physicians in 2009: The DNP degree is just that – a doctoral degree; the DNP credential represents that an individual has completed this degree. It is not a clinical but an educational option available to nurse administrators, nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists, clinical nurse specialists ,NPs and others. It is confusing when the DNP is linked to primary care, as many practice in various other roles. In fact,completion of this degree is not now and is not anticipated to be necessary for NPs to continue to meet the needs of the millions of patients they serve now and will continue to serve as their numbers grow.

Credentialing agencies are beginning to provide insight into requirements for licensing in 2015 and beyond. The following question was submitted to Pediatric Nursing Certification Board, which certifies pediatric nurse practitioners. "Will the PNCB require an earned DNP as an exam eligibility requirement for CPNP® certification in 2015?" This board's responses was as follows: "In the next ten to fifteen years as the DNP eventually becomes established as the majority framework for PNP education, the PNCB will continue to conduct its national role delineation on research to determine the influence of DNP education on the changing nature of PNP clinical practice. When our national PNP practice analysis research reveals that DNP education has influenced the knowledge and skills linked to PNP practice, then the PNCB will remodel its national elgibility requirements to require documentation of an earned DNP as an exam eligibility requirement. This would apply to new graduates taking the exam for the first time. " Source: http://www.pncb.org/ptistore/resource/content/forms/DNP.pdf In other words, the PNCB will not require a DNP in order for candidates to sit for the pediatric nurse practitioner certification exam in 2015. The board will make a decision after reviewing ten to fifteen years worth of data. Ultimately, the state boards and national credentialing agencies will determine how soon the DNP becomes a requirement for advanced practice. Educational institutions will have a significant role as well, as they will determine what degrees will be conferred 2015-DNP or MSN. I am reviewing the websites of various advanced practice credentialing agencies for this information, and I post the results.

At this point, the DNP is a recommendation, not a requirement. Member institutions ultimately have to decide whether or not to comply with the recommendation. Many institutions are offering post-MSN entry options, while continuing advanced practice MSN programs. The post-MSN options will likely be phased out as the post-BSN entry options are conceptualized. Eventually, the DNP will be required for entry level advanced practice, but until this occurs, institutions have to decide what is best for their students. UNC Charlotte, a premier institution that is a part of the UNC system, will accept its last cohort of MSN students in 2016. This document provides additional insight into the DNP implementation in North Carolina. Currently, there are two post MSN-DNP programs in NC- one is at Duke and the other one is at Gardner Webb University. In 2016, UNC Charlotte and Western North Carolina will offer a Post-BSN DNP program. http://provost.uncc.edu/planning/degrees/RTP/NursingPractice.pdf