Nurses with a DNP degree are in high demand in health care and education

Steps are being taken to transition to the DNP as the usual for advanced practice registered nurses. Although the career is just not yet finished, the DNP is a terminal degree that prepares nurses for leadership given the ever-changing demands of the complex American health care system.

How to turn into a DNP nurse

Nurses have many entry points into the nursing career and ultimately into the practice of nursing, including the chance to work as licensed practical nurses (LPN) or licensed vocational nurses (LVN). According to Angela Renee Stewart, DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC, AOCNP, TTS, Clinical, registered nurses often pursue licensure after completing a diploma program or earning an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN). Adjunct Professor at Baylor University, Louise Herrington School of Nursing.

“LPNs and LVNs can complete a graduate or diploma program to become an RN, and then would be required to complete a BSN program before entering graduate school,” she said. “Once they obtained their BSN, they could then apply and complete the BSN-DNP program. An ADN or registered nurse would first need to complete an RN to BSN program and then apply to the BSN to DNP program.”

According to Stewart, an RN with a master’s degree in nursing (MSN) who’s pursuing a DNP would must apply to the DNP program and complete course requirements to earn the terminal degree. Type programs Baylor University Online DNP Programs can offer clinical placement support in addition to access to world-class faculty and networks.

Unlike the research-focused nursing doctorate, the DNP is more clinical in nature. According to AACN, DNP programs “build on traditional master’s degree programs by delivering content in evidence-based practice, quality improvement, systems, leadership, and other key areas.”

DNP nurses study cutting-edge technologies in clinical medicine and are in a position to apply these technologies to unravel problems. They have a population health perspective that enables them to gather, analyze and report epidemiological data. They may concentrate on providing care to specific populations, from birth to geriatrics. According to A., their education prepares them not only to make a difference on the bedside, but additionally in care systems paper IN A nursing perspective.

Completing a DNP degree can take anywhere from two years for a master’s-level nurse to 5 years for those with an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN).

DNP Nursing Roles

According to Stewart, DNP nurses work in clinical practice in inpatient and outpatient settings and concentrate on specific areas equivalent to family practice, adult acute care, pediatrics, nurse-midwife and nurse anesthetist. These nurses practice in hospitals in addition to in private practices, including family practices, internal medicine offices, or specialty offices equivalent to cardiology and oncology. Some practice in emergency rooms, community clinics, free clinics, surgery centers, schools, and other settings.

“Individuals in the DNP program must practice within their specialty, and their practice is regulated at the state level,” Stewart said. “Some states allow DNPs to operate their own practice without an attending physician, and others are semi-independent and require a physician to be available for consultation. “Institutions typically have regulations that must be followed in addition to the state Nurse Practice Act and the scope of practice for the specialty in which the DNP is certified.”

DNP nurses may join the ranks of much-needed nursing staff. According to AACN, a 2019 survey of 892 schools of nursing offering bachelor’s and/or master’s degrees revealed 1,637 faculty vacancies Special survey regarding vacancies at faculties.

“Data shows that nationwide the unoccupied rate for nursing positions is 7.2%. The majority of openings (89.7%) are for positions requiring or preferring a Ph.D. degree,” AACN reports.

Some choose to become nurse leaders, including nurse administrators or CEOs, while others prefer a career in information technology and analytics.

While a doctorate in nursing may not be required for all of these positions, according to Nurse.com’s higher education guide, it can increase a nurse’s chances of pursuing leadership or management positions.

DNP job prospects

According to Stewart, the DNP nursing market is strong, with schools across the country seeing significant and competitive student enrollment. “Employers recognize the contributions of DNPs as expert nurses in practice, creating a demand for DNP-prepared nurses that continues to grow,” Stewart said.

According to Stewart, nurses pursuing a doctor of nursing practice degree have several options.

Among them: family nurse (FNP), adult gerontology nurse (AGACNP), adult gerontology primary care nurse (AGPCNP), neonatal nurse (NNP), pediatric intensive care nurse (PNP-AC), pediatric primary care nurse (PNP- PC), Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP), Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).

“The DNP also includes executive and director-level positions involved in decision-making and policy development,” Stewart said. “The DNP degree provides APRNs and other nurses seeking top management and organizational positions with the education and opportunity to implement evidence-based practice, quality improvement and systems leadership where they work.”

According to the BLS, total employment of nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners is projected to grow 45% between 2020 and 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.

DNPs are particularly lacking, according to Stewart. They are needed in practice and teaching roles.

“Many students do not have the opportunity to be taught by a doctoral-level nurse and often must contact NPs or master’s-level physicians to serve as preceptors during the DNP program,” Stewart said.

Another concern is the aging and retirement of the nursing workforce, which creates shortages in practice, education and leadership.

“We need more DNPs to ensure high-quality health care in our complex health care system, and we need future educators and leaders in policy and management to continue to improve patient care and job satisfaction among DNPs,” she said . “With many people leaving nursing due to the pandemic, we have a lot of work to do to ensure we have the best leaders in practice, policy, education and management tomorrow.”

DNP Nurse Salary

According to US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)when it comes to nurse education, “the more they learn, the more they earn.”

The salary potential for nurses with a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree varies depending on location and career choice. Although the BLS groups nurses with a master’s degree or higher, as of May 2021, it reported that the median annual salary for nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners was $123,780.

According to the BLS, nursing instructors at colleges, universities and professional schools earn an average salary of $83,340. Nurse anesthetists earn the highest annual salary of $195,610, followed by nurse practitioners at $120,680 and midwives at an average of $112,830.

A 2019 survey of nurse leaders conducted by American Nursing Leadership Organization found that most nurse leaders’ annual salaries ranged from $90,000 to $169,000, with those in the highest positions earning more than $250,000 per year.

And the salaries are there average $102,230 for informatics nurses in the US

Emphasis on moving APRNs to terminal degree

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) approved the position on the DNP degree in 2004, considering it the most appropriate degree for entry into APRN practice in the USA. The AACN has even gone so far as to set a goal of changing U.S. graduate-level nursing programs to DNP preparation by 2015, according to paper published in A nursing perspective in 2020

The target for 2015 was not achieved, but DNP programs in the U.S. increased from about 50 in 2007 to about 357 in 2019, with an estimated 106 additional postgraduate and graduate-level DNP programs planned AACN Fact Sheet.

Stewart attributes the push to advance the APRN to a terminal degree such as the DNP to several factors – most notably, the rapid expansion of knowledge underlying practice, the increased complexity of patient care in inpatient and outpatient settings, and general national concerns about the quality of health care. patient care and patient safety, and gaps in the nursing and health professions requiring a higher level of preparation of nurse leaders who can plan and evaluate care.

Although more than 36,000 students are enrolled in DNP programs in the United States, this is still a small percentage of nurses, according to AACN. For example, on average, it is estimated that only 17.8% of clinically practicing physicians hold a Ph.D. American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

Only 15% of the more than 7,400 nurses who responded to the Nurse.com 2020 Nurse Salary Survey report indicated that their highest level of education was a DNP compared to 11% of MSN nurses.

Stewart advises nurses to pursue a terminal degree.

“The job opportunities are much greater, and having a seat at the board table provides knowledge and experience,” Stewart said. “[Nurses] are the most important group of healthcare providers and we must be sure that our voices are heard, and this may only occur if we’re educated and experienced to the very best standard, similar to our clinical partners.”