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?