ANCC Offers Survey on DNP Certification

I feel the DNP programs for NP's lost a valuable opportunity. Instead of increasing clinical skills via a residency for graduating NP's, or offering more clinical expertise in specialties areas, the DNP program took the path of offering more business, politics, statistics and study of human poplations. This will offer nothing for the advancement of NP's in the broader spectrum of healthcare, reimbursement, and respect. To bad we did not seize the moment. It is also to bad we let the credentialing organizations and the educational organizations which are for the most part made up of PHD's direct our education.

I began in nursing with an ADN. I felt at graduation that I had all of the education I needed. A few years later I decided to "complete my education" with a bachelor degree so that I would have more work opportunities.  During my bachelor program I began to understand the "levels" of nursing education.  I realized that, though I didn't want to stretch "that much", a professional nurse needs to have a more global view of health care, especially in light of the global community where we all now live.  Nurse practitioners are currently functioning as primary care providers but in some respects they are like the ADN that I was many years ago.  The DNP will do for nurse practitioners what the BSN does for RNs.  It will give them the broader healthcare knowledge that cannot be squeezed into the existing master programs.  As a current DNP student, I find that every course I take is essential to my future practice. I have made a lot of sacrifices to return to college for the DNP and though I am only half way through my program, it has been worth the sacrifices.  If you question what the DNP could do for you, I suggest you talk to several people who have completed several of the courses in a DNP program.

I am also trying to decide about DNP.  There are currently 2 schools that will provide for the DNP in the state.  Is it practical that schools that are allowing 10 students each year to be able to provide.  Will there be a grandfather clause if we don't go back?  I have looked at the curriculum for one program and I'm not sure that as a bedside practitioner, it is what I need.  Thanks

I am still out on the DNP. However, in the State of Illinois they will not allow nurses to use the title of "Doctor" so what would the point be for us besides more classes?