DNP is the wave of the future

In 2004, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) published the “Position statement on the Practice Doctorate in Nursing.”  This paper recommended the terminal degree for nurse practitioners be changed from a Master’s in Nursing to the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) by 2015.  Although controversial, this proposition has gained support from the nursing community and other national nursing organizations, such as American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.  A copy of the position paper can be found at: http://www.aacn.nche.edu/DNP/DNPPositionstatement.htm.

The motivation for this recommendation was based on the observation that nurse practitioners are one of the few health care professionals that are trained at the master’s level as opposed to the doctoral level.  Other licensed health care professionals, such as physicians, pharmacists, physical therapists, optometrists, dentists, podiatrists, and psychologists are all doctorally prepared.  Furthermore, the rigor of master’s programs for nurse practitioners is equivalent to other clinical doctoral programs.

There is a strong aim for a smooth transition from master’s to DNP.  NPs currently practicing are said to be grandfathered in and those that do return to school for the DNP will not be required to take another certification exam. 

Of note, there is also a PhD in nursing. This degree, however, is primarly geared toward research and teaching. The DNP has been created to offer a practice doctorate whereas the PhD is considered a research doctorate.