Now that the AACN is requiring nurse practitioners to have a doctorate's degree, I no longer plan to go on to become a nurse practitioner.
Why?
simple. Because some genious decided to force nurses that want to become an NP to earn a doctorate's degree, but the pay won't change.
The AACN's position is that they wanted a "parity degree" to the M.D, except that they didnt actually create parity. Imagine finding out that RN's will no longer be paid as an RN, and instead will be paid LPN salary instead. What would be the motivation to continue on?
Same with the NPs. Why earn a doctorate's degree and get paid the same as other NP's who have an MSN instead?! Makes absolutely NO sense.
Oh, and I've already seen the strife that MD's are putting up trying to not allow DNP's to call themselves "Doctor". Would I earn my DNP degree, I would reserve the right to be addressed by the title that the degree confers.
So, yeah...the AACN just "priced me out" of the market because I simply cannot afford to be in school for the extra years to earn the doctorate's degree, and come out making what someone with a master's degree makes. Extra student loans to pay off, extra years working the night shift, etc etc. Not worth it.