To Go for DNP or Not?

elkpark · Sep 28, 2015

The ANA hasn't said anything about it and has no control over what is or isn't required for licensure. The AACN (American Association of Colleges of Nursing) is the group that has been pushing this; they obviously have a vested interest in upping the educational requirements for nursing licensure, but they have no ability to make anything a "requirement." Shoot, they can't even "make" their own members do anything. The only professional group (that actually has some control over certification requirements) that has embraced the mandatory-DNP idea is the CRNA group, and their target date for implementation is 2025. No one else seems to be jumping on the bandwagon.

However, having said that, the current trend is obviously toward the DNP. In many parts of the country, required vs. optional has become a moot point, as all the schools in the area have converted their MSN programs to DNP programs.

As of now (anything can change in the future ...), the DNP does nothing to change the role or scope of practice for any of the advanced practice roles. Whether or not it gets you an advantage in hiring, or more money, is up to individual employers.

Jules A, MSN · Sep 28, 2015

If I were younger I would likely get one down the road just to remain competitive. Hopefully they will improve the curriculum to include more of value to someone like myself who is a clinician. I would still get a masters first since I do not believe the DNP does anything for practice so I could practice while I was getting my DNP. The fact that we can prescribe medications with only 1 or 2 pharmacology courses blows my mind and so far the "capstone projects" I have seen are rather lackluster. My personal opinion is the PhD is more respected and better understood if someone wants to climb the APRN ladder.

For me as someone with about a decade left, no way would I consider it unless it was free, actually increased my salary in a major way and was relevant to my practice which at last at this point is 0/0.

2016BSNGraduate · Sep 28, 2015

Don't know how to edit the post, but I didn't mean ANA. I did mean the AACN. Sorry for typo.

Thank you both for your responses! I think my big concern is worrying about having to go back to school later on to get a DNP if it becomes required.

rnkaytee · Sep 28, 2015

I'm in the MSN program right now and spoke directly to the AACN before starting. MSN NPs will be grandfathered in even if the DNP is required. Now, if that NP lets their license lapse or moves to a state that requires it (no states have started the legislative process this would take) that's a different story. Honestly, I can do without all the fluff classes I already have to take with the MSN. If the DNP was more clinically focused I would consider it but there's very little more clinical time with the DNP. My professor said it best - if you're a young nurse, get the DNP since you don't have as much experience; if you're older (like me) get the MSN and get into the work force. ElkPark is right, though - it's getting much harder to find MSN programs.

PG2018 · Sep 29, 2015

If you want a doctorate in a non clinical field then get a PhD in whatever it is you're wanting to learn about. (I considered miscellaneous fields of psychology and neuroscience.) At least a PhD will have a reputation in academia. This capstone-research stuff is ridiculus and nothing but a way to grab tuition dollars. It serves no real role. In life outside of nursing, in corporations across the globe, in government organizations across America, employees are routinely tasked with conducting research and implementing a policy change. This does not require a specialized degree.

I had a BS and career prior to nursing and among my college hours I had somewhere around 2/3 of a business-accounting major. In a myriad of business courses we were tasked with various projects that required a high level of collaboration, planning, research, etc. It compared to nothing I did in biology or nursing and was a much more quantitative endeavor. My wife was a state auditor, her parents MBAs and business leaders, and for a time her mother an assistant professor of economics. The world over, people are learning to adminster an organization, to find answers, to make decisions, and to impart change. For some reason, some nurse thought we'd be better off by spending more time and money to pursue a doctorate doing many of the things nonlicensed, lower degreed people are doing everywhere.

I'm a strategy-oriented guy. I like the product of my occupation. I enjoy learning about and doing the things Psych NPs are trained to do although there's certainly a lot of room for improvement in our training. Having said that, I truly believe that pursuing a DNP would be nothing but a hinderance to me, my family, my income, my education, my social and professional networking, my career, and my clientele. Of course anyone can interject and share their opinions, but I believe the DNP to be fully base, without merit, and purposeless.

katya00 · Oct 8, 2015

I know one person with a Masters in Nursing who is going back to get DNP and that's because he wants to teach Masters level students. He's a fantastic clinician and a top notch educator-- intelligent, up to date with practice, patient, easy going and accessible. A lot of what I learned my first year in practice I attribute to him. He never made me feel dumb and always had answers to my questions, even if it meant he had to take time out of his day seeing patients to help me figure something out.

I don't see a point getting a DNP at this point in time unless you want to teach, do research (and you could get a different doctorate for these, like PhD in area you're interested in, as already mentioned) or if you just really want to be called "doctor".

You learn the most when you're out practicing, both from self-taught and from colleagues, so I have no compelling reason to create more debt for myself with DNP. I will probably go back and get a post-MSN in psych however. I see too much psych not to, and that will truly increase my salary.

synaptic · Oct 9, 2015

unless you wanna teach DNP= Debt Never Paidoff.

iSurvivor · Oct 9, 2015

There are universities which offer BSN-DNP path, some online I believe. It's a no-brainer! :-)

iSurvivor · Oct 9, 2015

BSN-DNP program 3 Â½ yrs at fulltime. Assuming you won't be working simultaneously or only PT, you should be eligible for finaid, scholarships, work loans. Total program cost estimate $50k at the school I'll be attending. I estimate (hope!) to pay less than $30k out of pocket. Best of luck with your future studies! :-)

Jules A, MSN · Oct 12, 2015

BSN-DNP program 3 Â½ yrs at fulltime. Assuming you won't be working simultaneously or only PT, you should be eligible for finaid, scholarships, work loans. Total program cost estimate $50k at the school I'll be attending. I estimate (hope!) to pay less than $30k out of pocket. Best of luck with your future studies! :-)

Don't forget the $280,000 you won't make in RN wages during that 3.5 years as well as the years of current nursing exposure.

Total cost not counting any interest if you actually take loans: $330,000.

RHIA, RN · Oct 14, 2015

I am trying to decide which route to take myself, DNP or MSN. I was all set to apply to MSN programs but the scholarship program I plan to apply to told me that they will fund DNP students first. :-( I am going the PMHNP route. I saw a job opening that said "MSN NP not to be substituted with DNP". So, now I wonder if getting a DNP is going to make my options more narrow.