Are MSN still Grandfathered in to NP?

I am in a MSN ACNP program. I will not pursue a DNP unless it is mandated, has clinical value or increases my pay.

I agree. There is currently no further clinical component to the DNP. It's just a glorified research project and it offers no difference in pay scale. Until it is absolutely mandatory in all states, I refuse to do it. The NONPF statement is degree-inflation at its finest. I would be totally on board if it added value, especially in-depth clinical training. But I not will tack on another year of school to write papers and do a "scholarly project" to prove I can follow an EBP rubric.

To the OP: I would not pursue a CNL degree if you want to become an NP. It would be a waste of time & money.

I agree. There is currently no further clinical component to the DNP. It's just a glorified research project and it offers no difference in pay scale. Until it is absolutely mandatory in all states, I refuse to do it. The NONPF statement is degree-inflation at its finest. I would be totally on board if it added value, especially in-depth clinical training. But I not will tack on another year of school to write papers and do a "scholarly project" to prove I can follow an EBP rubric.

To the OP: I would not pursue a CNL degree if you want to become an NP. It would be a waste of time & money.

I hear ya, agree and wore the T-shirt for many years. The problem in my opinion is this has become the expected standard. My experience might also be colored due to the fact that I initially got my LPN and was exposed to that stigma. I went to a job fair years ago when I was younger, attractive and well dressed. They descended on my like flies, literally had 4 unit managers approach me at once, however when I said I was a LPN they immediately dropped me like a rock. It was disheartening especially because I knew my stuff but nursing is like academia in that the awe of alphabet soup can override the importance of actually being skilled. No shortage of book smarts and that is only getting worse.

As for the DNP I decided it was worth it to throw down the money and jump through the silly nursing hoops in an effort to avoid being marginalized or passed over for a position by a baby girl with no nursing experience, their DNP and a Johns Hopkins sized ego. The employment boards are starting to advertise for DNP although its unlikely they know what it means.

If it makes you feel any better, and to those who assert it is impossible to judge the rigor of a program by its circulium, your suspicions are correct. It wasn't unpleasant but certainly not challenging and didn't add anything to my abilities as a clinician. And before its assumed I must have went to lame schools they have all been brick and mortar with excellent reputations and rankings.

The CCNE requires a minimum of 500 direct patient clinical hours for a MSN-NP program, they require a minimum of 1,000 for an accredited DNP program.

The DNP students where I work have all had their "clinical" DNP hours related to the implementation of their scholarly project. It was nothing like NP clinicals, where you're doing actual patient care. This could certainly be dependent upon the program and specialty. I'm only speaking from my personal interaction with them.

I really think they need to make a better distinction between clinical doctoral degrees (practicing NPs) and non-clinical (MSNs in leadership, informatics, education, etc., who go on to get a doctorate). They lump everyone together as "DNP" and it is incredibly confusing to non-nurses.