nurse practioner requirements change?

So I have heard grumblings from a nurse friend of mine who stated that starting 2015, the entry level requirement for becoming a nurse practioner was going to be a doctorate degree. All the previous nurse practioners would be grandfathered in but starting 2015, an MSN wasn't going to cut it.

Is this true? What is actually happenning? Someone please set the record straight!

My original life plan was to start nursing school this fall (I have applied and am waiting for a letter-eek!). It is an ADN program, two years. Then I was going to work as an RN until I had children (7-8 years). I have always wanted to be home when my kids were young, so I thought that an RN-MSN program would be a great thing to work on at that time. I would then become a nurse practioner.

That was my original life plan, but this whole "you may need a doctorate thing" is throwing a wrench in my plan. Do I need a new plan?

Any light/information that you could shed on this would be EXTREMELY helpful.

Thanks!
Search the site...this subject has been addressed several times recently. No specific facts yet. Good Luck!!

Quote from WANT2BANURSESOONSo I have heard grumblings from a nurse friend of mine who stated that starting 2015, the entry level requirement for becoming a nurse practioner was going to be a doctorate degree. All the previous nurse practioners would be grandfathered in but starting 2015, an MSN wasn't going to cut it. Is this true? What is actually happenning? Someone please set the record straight!My original life plan was to start nursing school this fall (I have applied and am waiting for a letter-eek!). It is an ADN program, two years. Then I was going to work as an RN until I had children (7-8 years). I have always wanted to be home when my kids were young, so I thought that an RN-MSN program would be a great thing to work on at that time. I would then become a nurse practioner. That was my original life plan, but this whole "you may need a doctorate thing" is throwing a wrench in my plan. Do I need a new plan? Any light/information that you could shed on this would be EXTREMELY helpful. Thanks!

It's something they WANT to require starting in 2015. A lot of universities are moving in that direction, and you may have difficulty finding an MSN program in the next year or so as many universities are going to straight RN-DNP programs. Whether that truly will be the REQUIREMENT is anyone's guess.

Quote from kloneIt's something they WANT to require starting in 2015. A lot of universities are moving in that direction, and you may have difficulty finding an MSN program in the next year or so as many universities are going to straight RN-DNP programs. Whether that truly will be the REQUIREMENT is anyone's guess.

Quote from BabyLadyI have found more Universities that have MSN programs than BSN-DNP-only programs...tons more.So no, you should have no problem finding a program.

Quote from kloneThat's changing. I personally know of three major universities that have already gotten rid of their MSN/NP programs. I predict that in the next few years, they will get more scarce.

But she's not going into a MSN program right now. She hasn't even started nursing school yet, and she said she wanted to work as an RN for several years. So an MSN program is probably 5-10 years in her future.Finding an MSN program in a couple years will be difficult. In 10 years, it will probably be well-nigh impossible.

Quote from kloneBut she's not going into a MSN program right now. She hasn't even started nursing school yet, and she said she wanted to work as an RN for several years. So an MSN program is probably 5-10 years in her future.Finding an MSN program in a couple years will be difficult. In 10 years, it will probably be well-nigh impossible.

I suspect alot of this goal for 2015 will depend on the baby boomers retiring when expected.. We all know this did not happen when the economy tanked, no shortage occurred but will it eventually.. statistics would indicate eventually a large number of nurses will retire.. When?? Is any one guess? I believe it will be the new standard but not so sure when it will be implemented. I have heard the BSN will be new minimum for RN for 23 yrs now and it seems it may closer but no legislation yet!

I know that many organizations are supporting and pushing for the DNP to be the entry level and terminal degree for nurse practitioners. Ultimately, the requirements for licensure as an NP is up to the state boards of nursing. There is also the issue of the certification body requirements. The certification bodies in theory could make it a requirment to have a DNP in theory to be certified (the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners-AANP, who I am certified with, or the American Nurse Credentialing Center-ANCC) but I don't see that happening until all the state boards of nursing are on board because they aren't going to deny hundreds of graduates each year new certification and lose ALLL that money until it's a requirement across the board. I just don't see all of this going down by 2015, but many schools are beginning ot change to DNP programs as opposed to MSN programs already, or are at least offering MSN-DNP completion programs. It is going to happen one day, but I have my doubts about 2015. I don't necessarily agree with it, but I do see some benefits. It just seems that advanced nursing is always trying to outdo themselves which in my opinion is almost admitting that we aren't good enough as-is. That's my issue. On the other hand, to answer the person's question that began this thread, I do think that in 7-8 years you're looking at the DNP as a requirement for entry into practice as an NP. The good news is that it is a practice doctorate, so hopefully it won't be all kinds of added research and theory. Hopefully it will add education that is useful as opposed to nursing theory and other fluff classes that did not and will not add anything to my practice that I can see. Some people disagree with me, but I think many classes in NP school are kind of a waste of credit hours and money. So, if you are planning on waitiing on waiting a few years to go to NP school, you're probably looking at getting a DNP. On the other hand, I just don't know if I see it happening by 2015, but I'm sure I could be wrong, as rare as that is! LOL! :icon_roll Just kidding