D.N.P. degree to be practitioner?

There's a movement in the nurse practitioner community to move to D.N.P. degrees rather than master's degrees. As of 2005, at least 10 schools of nursing have approved practice-focused doctoral programs, and another 40 are in the process of developing such programs.

Do you think nurses need a doctorate in order to practice as a nurse practitioner? Would this "doctor-nurse" gain an expanded role? Would this be beneficial for patients or more confusing?

What would the role of the masters degree prepared nurse practitioner become if this comes to pass? Any thoughts?

I take it (D. N. P) as another elevated standard. Those already practicing (MSN)will be grandfathered in.

'Cat'

Sorry to bump an old thread, but I had to answer.


A doctor of nursing practice, is an individual prepared to fully implement and deploy evidence-based practice into the clinical setting, as well as to lead the research effort into such practices in the spirit of evidence-based practice everywhere. Consider PhD in nursing, a research based teaching degree, while DNP affords the ability to implement and revise a full-scale curricula and incorporate said learning into clinical theory and practice, while taking into account the consequence of technology as well as the ever-changing dietary fads and trends of today's generation.

If you would like to read more, here is a link to Vanderbilt's
DNP program, with detailed curriculum and descriptions of the title.

Vanderbilt University School of Nursing

A super-nurse if there ever was one! Btw, DNP is not going to be replacing M.S.N. anytime soon.