Will DNPs be chosen over MSNs?

[Le-Lee_FNP]

There has been a lot of talk about the possible saturation of the NP market as well as that of other advanced practice nursing roles (CRNA for example) and I am just wondering if this is true, then will the DNP new grads have a better chance at obtaining a job then MSNs will? I am just wondering if it will be the same as when the market got tight for RNs, and BSNs were hired over ASNs and diploma nurses. Do you all anticipate the same situation occuring in Advanced Practice Nursing, even if the "requirement" isn't fully implemented?

[mwboswell]

My understanding has been that the DNP is a "clinical" doctorate....IE: clinical hours, patient care and patient interaction. This is the degree for those wishing to puruse clinical/patient cre.

The PhD is STILL the research, educational, leadership degree.

If you want to see patients -DNP should be your pursuit.

If you want to go into leadership/admin/education - PhD is your path.

[SandBetweenMyToes, BSN, RN]

The ONLY way I would even consider the DNP, is if I were convinced it would improve my clinical ability as an NP and provide me with CLINICAL knowledge and education I do not already possess. There is not a single program out there yet (and I have looked) that meets that criterion.

Until then, no thank you very much to the DNP.

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

I think if that is the conclusion you come to after reviewing the pros and cons, that it is absolutely fine. What I thin is regrettable is when people who feel thusly cannot support their colleagues that came to a different conclusion.

[caliotter3]

Not to make it simplistic, but I believe each position will be handled individually when looking for the best person to fill the slot. A person's qualifications at this level will encompass a wide range of possibilities that go beyond the degree itself. The example that comes to mind was a classmate who entered the school's MSN program directly after completing her BSN. She had never worked a day in any health care capacity. With her MSN, she will look a lot different than a nurse with the same MSN, but 25 years of solid and varied experience.

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

Not to make it simplistic, but I believe each position will be handled individually when looking for the best person to fill the slot. A person's qualifications at this level will encompass a wide range of possibilities that go beyond the degree itself. The example that comes to mind was a classmate who entered the school's MSN program directly after completing her BSN. She had never worked a day in any health care capacity. With her MSN, she will look a lot different than a nurse with the same MSN, but 25 years of solid and varied experience.

ITA. This was essentially what I said on page 1. I suspect when I accept a position, it will have been offered as much due to my 20+ years RN/critical care experience as my current degree.

[TicAL]

The ONLY way I would even consider the DNP, is if I were convinced it would improve my clinical ability as an NP and provide me with CLINICAL knowledge and education I do not already possess. There is not a single program out there yet (and I have looked) that meets that criterion.

Until then, no thank you very much to the DNP.

The DNP isn't a clinical doctorate, it's mainly administrative in nature. That's why most of it can be completed online. The clinical aspect comes from being a nurse, although most programs let students in with no nursing experience...which honestly does make the whole thing a little suspect.

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

I can only speak to my program, which isn't administrative in the least. Mine is very clinically oriented.

[CCRNDiva, BSN, RN]

I think if that is the conclusion you come to after reviewing the pros and cons, that it is absolutely fine. What I thin is regrettable is when people who feel thusly cannot support their colleagues that came to a different conclusion.

I hope I didn't give you the impression that I don't support you or any other nurse in the pursuit of the DNP. I was simply stating that I haven't found a program that has the strong clinical (increased study of pathophysiology, pharmacology) focus as I do not desire to pursue an official position of leadership (VP of Nursing, national lecturer, authority on policy, etc). My best friend is in a DNP program and I am very proud of her. Our career goals are different. While she wants to be an ACNP as well, she eventually wants to become a VP of Nursing so the current DNP format is ideal for her. I haven't found a DNP program that fits me yet.

I'm all for the advancement of nursing education. :heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat Good luck in reaching your career goals!!

[missvictoriat]

I have also heard of this. And by reading various articles there is talk that by 2015, in order to become a Family Nurse Practitioner, one will have to obtain a DNP. However, I am assuming they will have to "grandfather" MSN NPs into this new change.

Now there is a shortage of RNs and NPs. And with the new change in health care, NPs will become a great advantage as a mid level healthcare provider. So I do NOT think there will be will be a tight job market for MSN NPs.

[Dr. Tammy, FNP/GNP-C]

i'm old enough to remember when it became a requirement for np's to have master's degrees. at first people disagreed, saying that the msn inclusion of research, theory, leadership, etc. was not necessary for an np. those voices died out as the np's without msn's retired and a new generation of np's who all had msn's took over. my point is that there is a good chance that the same thing will happen with the dnp issue..

no particular comment. just thought it should be posted again.

[Dr. Tammy, FNP/GNP-C]

If you are being hired by a physician, like say the head of anesthesiology is the one making hiring decisions, then the MSN is very likely to be picked over the DNP. If you can find a physician who knows what a DNP is then you have found a physician who doesn't like it.

Some of my DNP colleagues have physicians as their employee's. I would venture to say they all know exactly what a DNP is.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

Some of my DNP colleagues have physicians as their employee's. I would venture to say they all know exactly what a DNP is.

*** Like many of you I work pretty closely with a number of physicians. We also have DNP CRNA students and DNP NP students who do clinical in our hospital. There have been some students making remarks about how they will be the equivalent of physicians, and one who indicated that physicians were foolish to have gone to medical school instead of a DNP NP program. I have heard a couple make comments to the effect that they fully intend to use the title "doctor" in their practice. This of course has affected some of the physicians in a negative way. I have heard them talking and making comments.

The DNP program here went from MSN to DNP without adding a single hour of clinical time. Students first spend 9 months to a year doing the DNP portion of the program then go into the exact same classes & clinical they did as MSN students. Doesn't sound like a clinical degree to me.