Why Nursing Needs the DNP
I am sitting through my DNP program here at Robert Morris University, educating myself for a better tomorrow for myself and my patients. This is my second year, and I am projected to graduate in December of 2010.
There is a current debate over the need for a DNP within our profession. I must tell you that the further along I get into this program, the more convinced I am that the DNP role is absolutely needed in our current society.
I was an advocate of DNP programs even before I began this trek. I've heard arguments on both sides of the issue, and I have yet to find a definitive reason for not continuing on this logical path. If you are a nurse at any level -- CNA, LPN, RN, NP, or DNP -- you must ask yourself if you would like the opportunity to be represented as a profession that allows for advancement and change.
Out of all the credentials within this profession I held CNA, RN, NP, and intend to hold the DNP credential in a little over a year. Therefore, I am in a unique position to evaluate the need of this profession. I can tell you that we are all part of something bigger than ourselves, and sometimes one must think outside the box and welcome change if the opportunity presents itself.
In order to make changes in any profession, I feel it wise to allow those within a profession that can have a better understanding of the problems and needed changes within that profession to debate the topic at hand. We the nurses should be debating and adding our personal experiences along with education and current research to influence the changes ourselves. We are in the best position to assess the need for change regardless of what that change is.
We should not allow those such as legislators and government officials to make decisions on matters they have little or no understanding of. We really need to be educating our representatives and senators about who we are and what we do. Before we can do this, we must educate ourselves and therefore broaden our own awareness of where we are and where we are going.
For example, we look to those with advanced education for their expert decisions. Lawyers look for those who are in the highest degree of education within that body of knowledge for advice in legal matters. Just as research studies are valued more so with one who holds a PhD rather than someone who does not. I feel it very necessary for us to consider supporting the growth within our profession regardless of what level of education that we decide to occupy.
I would advise you to get online and check into how many nurses are in the United States. The number when you add up all our levels is staggering. Imagine the power behind the people (nurses) if we would all band together with this one common goal. Once we unify for a common goal of assisting one another in changing certain aspects of each level, we would have a significant number of voices and therefore an unimaginable influence in being heard.
This is our profession; we ought to demand the highest level of education within that profession. This allows the flexibility of choices for many levels of education and yet legitimizes this profession as one with an expert opinion. I am not suggesting that we all agree 100% on everything within this profession, but debate what is in the greatest good within our profession. I do, however, implore you to consider the implications of the influence we as a common body would have to make changes as we the nurses see fit.