R.N., M.S.N. (N.P.), and DNP

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I'm new to this site, so I am guessing this might go under healthcare politics, workplace issues, and healthcare legislation.

The DNP is the newest degree that I have stumbled upon in reading on the vast things one can do in nursing. I believe in nursing and nurses. I have a few ideas that I wanted to share and see what my fellow students and future colleagues think about it also.

In Texas, from what I have read a N.P. can not open a private practice. In 23 states a N.P. may open his/her own practice. We now have the option of the DNP. It is brand new and I hope it brings some new changes to our health care system. I propose that in all states a nurse practitioner who completes the DNP may qualify to open their own practice. In saying this, I also propose that the N.P.'s in those 23 states, who have their own practice, be grandfathered in... its only fair. I also think that N.P.'s with masters should have the option of working in collaboration with a DNP, MD, DO, etc. Let me know what you all think. This is a new area and I think we should all be active in promoting nursing as the profession it is!

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Welcome to allnurses! :balloons: I hope you'll find the site useful and interesting.

Keep in mind that just because a state requires a collaborative relationship with a physician, that doesn't necessarily mean that an NP can't open and operate her/his own practice -- working under a physician in a professional/clinical sense doesn't have to mean that one works under a physician in a business sense. I live in a state that requires physician supervision/collaboration, but know quite a few NPs who own/operate their own practices -- and contract with (employ) a physician to provide the necessary collaboration.

There are quite a few threads here about DNP degrees and the controversy about some of the proposals being discussed "out there" these days (in addition to the one you linked). If you haven't done so already, you may want to do a search and read them.

Again, welcome! :)

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