Announcer: Welcome to the Doing Your DNP podcast from Premier Health. This episode is about how to navigate the DNP process, the everything you want to know about the DNP Q&A episode.
Holly Hall, EdD, RN, MSHA: Greetings. I am Dr. Hall. Welcome to the Nursing Evidence Based Practice Research Committee's podcast. The purpose of this podcast is to clarify information and to delve deeper into the DNP program. I will be today's interviewer. I am a nurse researcher with Premier Health and a research chair. I have over thirty five years experience in nursing, including clinical and administrative roles. I am thrilled to be joined by Dr. Gail Crump. Dr. Gail Crump, will you please introduce yourself?
Gail Crump, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, CNRN: Hi, I'm Gail Crump and I am a family nurse practitioner and also certified in neurology, and I have also obtained my doctoral degree.
Holly Hall, EdD: Dr. Crump will provide answers and insight into the DNP program.
Gail Crump, DNP: While the doctoral degree, the DNP program for nurse practitioners or whomever, whatever nurse that wants a DNP is designed to be a terminal degree focused on clinical practice. So it allows you to incorporate your clinical practice. It also focuses on leadership as well. But it's also a goal of the AACN, which is the American Association College of Nursing. For many years, they have been trying to let us know that their recommendation of entry into practice as a nurse practitioner would be a doctoral degree in the future.
Holly Hall, EdD: Okay. And, I'm just going to be straightforward with some of the questions because this information is very important for the listeners or the potential students. What is the purpose of the DNP?
Gail Crump, DNP: Well, definitely in nursing, we need our own level of experts. So the DNP is that level. It prepares you to be an expert in your area of practice because it is a terminal degree. Also, it provides you with the ability to practice evidence based practice, to work alongside the PhD, who does the research. And then the DNP could be the one who would help to initiate or guide the research into practice at a level of managers or educators. So there's many levels that we can work along with the bedside nursing and also the PhD nursing related to handling the needs of patient care.
Holly Hall, EdD: Okay. Excellent. What are the benefits of earning a DNP?
Gail Crump, DNP: There are several benefits. I did point out that the AACN had projected goals for nursing, wanting nursing as a practitioner to start at the DNP level as a provider, practitioner, provider, clinical provider. And also it prepares you in clinical practice and management practice. Policy changes and career advancements are possibilities. Also, some misconceptions we want to talk about is it doesn't always lead to a higher salary. It's based on what role you would choose as a DNP. If you're going into leadership, most likely. But if you're staying specifically in clinical practice, it might not because the only institution that I know that will pay based on education level is the government at this time, but some organizations may consider it.
Holly Hall, EdD: Okay, great. Now I'm going to move on to more practical concerns of the DNP. How long does it take to get a DNP? And then you can also, if you don't mind sharing, how long did it take you to get your DNP?
Gail Crump, DNP: DNP usually takes about three years. Sometimes it may take a little bit longer based on your capstone, your project, how long it takes you to get through your research. It took me, I think, two to three years to get mine completed.
Holly Hall, EdD: Okay. All right. How much does a DNP cost?
Gail Crump, DNP: The cost of a DNP can vary based on which academic facility you choose. Also, you want to pick one that's designed to work with you if you're going to continue to work. Sometimes the online costs differ from brick and mortar. So whichever one works best for you and investigating the organizations, institutions, and universities is the best idea to find out how much it costs. But on average, I'd say a medium cost was about anywhere from twenty seven to thirty thousand. And the good thing is some of them will even afford you scholarships to help pay for books and things like that.
Holly Hall, EdD: Great. Okay. Can I apply with a BSN?
Gail Crump, DNP: Some universities do have programs that you start on a BSN track. You go to your master's and then eventually your doctorate degree.
Holly Hall, EdD: Okay. All questions are important, but I have a really important question. Do I have to write a dissertation?
Gail Crump, DNP: For the DNP, it is called a capstone project. If you did a thesis at a master's level, it's much like completing that. So it's something that you're used to formulating. Most universities have a student handbook as part of their curriculum that they will provide to you that outlines what is needed to complete your capstone project. So the dissertation is more for your PhD.
Holly Hall, EdD: What areas can I specialize in for your doctorate degree?
Gail Crump, DNP: It's everything that basically, if you are a nurse anesthetist, if you are a family nurse practitioner, acute care, pediatrics, or psych, the DNP is open for all of the master level specialties. So you can specialize in any of those areas.
Holly Hall, EdD: Okay, great. We're just moving right along here. Which DNP programs are the best?
Gail Crump, DNP: Well, the AACN had put together their own ranking of the best DNP programs. So that is a resource that you can access and see if some of those universities are accessible to you based on cost and convenience. If they have brick and mortar only, or do they have online programs? But it's a good place to start.
Holly Hall, EdD: What other kinds of doctoral programs are there?
Gail Crump, DNP: There is the PhD, which is research based, and then the DNP. There were some older programs that might be phased out at most universities. There was a Doctor of Nursing and a Doctor of Nursing Science, but we're now down to two levels. You have your master's level and then your DNP or your PhD.
Holly Hall, EdD: So it is strictly personal then what program you choose. Okay. Yes, absolutely. Now I'm going to move on to questions about licensure. Do I need a DNP to become an APRN, Advanced Practice Nurse?
Gail Crump, DNP: At this moment, no, but the AACN goal for nursing is to move the level of practice to a doctoral degree, getting a terminal degree, much like we had a change in the healthcare community in hospitals for nursing to move from associate degrees and diploma nurses to everybody entering at the bachelor's degree level. So we're hoping that as a nurse practitioner, our entry level in the future would be a DNP.
Holly Hall, EdD: Okay. If my master's degree will get me an APRN license, why would I get a DNP too?
Gail Crump, DNP: A master's degree will get you practicing at this time professionally as any type of nurse practitioner in any specialty that you would like. But thinking about a DNP is more about if I want to maybe be in leadership and help facilitate research at some level working with PhDs and helping to change the practice of nursing, helping to drive that evidence based practice, also helping to build the structure of nursing. Where is nursing going in the future? So if you have a terminal degree, it's more likely you want to be involved in all of those things.
Holly Hall, EdD: Okay, piggybacking on the APRN, if I am already a licensed APRN, should I go back to school?
Gail Crump, DNP: That's a great question. With nursing, the AACN has already identified that their goal for nurses and for clinical practicing nurse practitioners is that their entry level be a doctorate degree so that we get a terminal degree. Also, if you want to be in leadership, it's a good idea to go back. If you want to help shape the practice of nursing, it's a good idea to have a terminal degree, and it's an opportunity to picture yourself as practicing at the top of your licensure.
Holly Hall, EdD: Alright, I think we're down to the final few questions. Lastly, I have a few questions concerning the impact on your practice. So can I continue to work while I am earning my DNP?
Gail Crump, DNP: Most programs absolutely. Like we alluded to earlier, most universities have brick and mortar and online. Most of your online programs are designed around professionals that are still practicing. So yes, I would say absolutely.
Holly Hall, EdD: That's significant. Will the scope of my practice change?
Gail Crump, DNP: I think with obtaining your DNP, your scope of practice won't change, but you'll be more well informed about functioning as a nurse practitioner or whichever specialty track that you're in. You'll know more about organizational leadership, but your clinical practice will not change. But as the AACN pointed out, the DNP does not alter your current scope of practice, but it helps us feel like we're practicing at the top of our scope of practice. And that is the goal of the future for entry level DNP. You can be comfortable saying, “I'm already there.” I don't have to worry about going back to school later in the future. If this is a good time for you, utilize that time. Go back now and get your DNP because they haven't changed their mind about wanting the DNP to be the entry level as a nurse practitioner in the future.
Holly Hall, EdD: Oh great. And the last question, can I use the DNP to teach at a university?
Gail Crump, DNP: Absolutely. It is an accepted qualification for teaching at a university at all levels.
Holly Hall, EdD: Okay. Well, this concludes the nursing research question and answer podcast. Hopefully we have answered your most anticipated questions. And thank you, Doctor Crump, for your most informed answers.
Gail Crump, DNP: Thank you for the opportunity.
Announcer: For more information on the essentials of doctoral education, please visit www.aacn.org or contact Dr. Patricia O'Malley at pomalley@PremierHealth.com or Dr. Holly Hall at hhall@premierhealth.com. Stay tuned for the next episode.
