Now That's Better... DNP

I, also, am grateful to see that so many of my fellow NP's agree with my feelings about the DNP.  I have been looking at these programs for many years.  I am a CLINICIAN.  I am frustrated with the powers-that-be, and their push to make us more "legitimate".  I provide good patient care.  I have yet to see a program--with maybe one or two exceptions, that would be of any benefit to me as a clinician.  

I am not interested in medical politics--or the culture of administration.  I am not interested in doing research or traditional "academic" pursuits.  I use research, and appreciate that it is being done. But frankly, nursing research is less helpful to me than the traditional medical literature.

One of my concerns is the new NP's coming out.  I find myself having to work harder with the NP students that I precept in the clinical site.  Their instructors are less and less capable as clinicians, and more and more of that falls to me.   My concern, is that those of us who are clinicians and forego the DNP, as is, will no longer be "qualified" to precept.  Then who is left????  Scary future...

I agree with the previous comments that the post MSN DNP transition degrees currently offered do little to enhance a praticing NP's clinical ability. However, I think it's very short  sighted to oppose the transition from MSN-NP to DNP.  Too many people are getting caught up in the title of "doctor".  The DNP is not about being called doctor. It's about taking our rightful place in the healthcare market and expanding the educational requirements to become a NP.

At the present time almost every other allied healthcare provider has gone to the clinical doctorate. None of them have anywhere near the scope of practice of a NP.  We have to face the fact that titles and education means something. When I refer one of my patients to PT I don't want the patient thinking the PT is more qualified to manage his care because the PT has a doctorate and I as a NP don't. NP's are going to be left behind in the healthcare community if we don't keep pace with other providers.

It is refreshing to hear views of the waste of time and money for the DNP.  To make the NP a Master's Prepared program was a needed thing, to have everyone on the same ground.  However, let us not kid ourselves.  THE DNP program is simply adding dollars to the university coffers.  They, like everyone else are trying to find ways to increase people's motivation to return to school.  I agree with putting more courses in the beginning of the NP courses, making the work a little tougher in the sciences, however, to give the nurse the DNP and then to be angry the the MDs are upset that you introduce yourself as a doctor, who are they kidding??? I ride a double edged sword, my son graduated from medical school, he is entitled to the word doctor, there is a lot more to it than a few more courses, and clinical hours...  I too am disappointed with this entire charade of change, we are making great strides with who we currently are with the medical profession, let that continue, perhaps add an additional progrom of some sort, but a DNP??? I for one am

not interested and hope to retire before this revs up full force.

It is refreshing to hear views of the waste of time and money for the DNP.  To make the NP a Master's Prepared program was a needed thing, to have everyone on the same ground.  However, let us not kid ourselves.  THE DNP program is simply adding dollars to the university coffers.  They, like everyone else are trying to find ways to increase people's motivation to return to school.  I agree with putting more courses in the beginning of the NP courses, making the work a little tougher in the sciences, however, to give the nurse the DNP and then to be angry the the MDs are upset that you introduce yourself as a doctor, who are they kidding??? I ride a double edged sword, my son graduated from medical school, he is entitled to the word doctor, there is a lot more to it than a few more courses, and clinical hours...  I too am disappointed with this entire charade of change, we are making great strides with who we currently are with the medical profession, let that continue, perhaps add an additional progrom of some sort, but a DNP??? I for one am

not interested and hope to retire before this revs up full force.

My MSN program was not all that helpful  in my becoming an NP. The patho courses were so bad that if I listened or read the book I could not pass the tests. If it had not been for the internet and my own research I'm not sure I would have learned very much.

There was no credit for the clinical work I did. You could be the best clinician or the worse as long as you passed their tests and paid your money.

Sounds to me that the Doctoral Programs are like that, and if so I can learn on my own, save money and improve my clinical skills

I have two Master's Degrees.  In one program I was educated, the MSN I paid for and learned on my own

My school now offers a doctorate. Bet, I won't waste my money on that.  I have heard that not all schools are so bad, but better no Doctorate Degree than more financing poor education for a title that means little. The doctorate programs I have seen seem to be extensions of"BS and MS" And pardon me,  but I have had enough and don't want "it piled any higher or deeper"

Perhaps that makes me un- professional, but I bet I am educated.

A's comments are entirely correct. If I pursue a doctorate I expect to enhance my clinical skills.  I am a clinician and the curricula I've seen don't appear to emphasize the kind of skills that I want to develop further.  I hope that her commentary will be considered carefully as these programs evolve.  If I want to become an academic or more refined manager, I think the curriculum would be useful.  For those of us, who want to continue growing our clinical skills, the current model is not worth the expense.  It's too bad.  I hope it will change.

Americans go to France on vacation.  We don't know the language. We don't do the cultural diversity thingie well either.  In our arrogance and presumption we can't understand why even the waiters at French restaurants treat us like dirt.

So we get the DNP and in our presumption we can't understand why the medical community won't accept us with open arms.  Yea, there is the competition thing.

But does our precious "Doctorate Training"  actually give us the clinical vocabulary and understanding of the medical culture?

At best all we will do with our "fluff" training is obtain a polite indulgence or tolerance from the medical community.

Come up with a legitimate clinical doctorate and I will be at the front of the line for the course.

I fail to see how the majority of the current DNP programs will improve health care beyond what is already provided by MSN prepared NP's.  The additional courses, with the exception of added clinical hours, do nothing to enhance the care of patients.  In my opinion, the only classes that would be worthwhile are those that involve the biomedical sciences, which should be inserted at the beginning of NP training.  Adding the current courses for your typical master's trained, working NP does nothing to help us do what we do.  For me, the path that the NP profession has chosen for the DNP is simply not worth the time or money.  I am very disappointed.