[NPInfo] DNP vs DNSc

[Dena]

Well, Donna, it's probably a crap-shoot and no one is going to be able to
predict how it'll play out in the long run. Whatever decision we make today
could end up being the wrong one down the road <G>.

I have done quite a bit of studying of the various nursing doctorate degrees
and will share with you my own arguments and concerns:

First, one needs to assess the reason for the degree and what goals you have
for the future. Do you want to teach, do research, or stay in the clinical
role? The DNP is NOT supposed to be a research degree and DNPs should not be
conducting their own research; instead, they should be applying the best
evidence-based practice (other's research) to solving a clinical problem.
The way it was described to me is that while the PhD does the actual
research, the DNP is the one who takes the PhD's dissertation off the
library shelf, blows off the dust, and actually puts it to use. Without the
DNP, the PhD's work is useless <G>.

What I found interesting when researching the various nursing doctorate
degrees is that when the DNSc degree was developed in the 1960's it was
SUPPOSED to be the CLINICAL doctorate degree--much like the DNP is supposed
to be today. But soon after it came into being, the pure PhD nursing
academia group starting picking on the poor DNSc graduates due to the lack
of research contained in their programs and over the years it has now
evolved into a research-based degree that is quite similar to the PhD-- I
find little distinction between the two. Due to the changes in the DNSc
program curriculum along the way, the CLINICAL doctorate hole remained
unfilled, making way for the DNP.

My biggest fear with the DNP degree is that it will suffer the same fate as
the DNSc.  Although it is touted as a CLINICAL degree for entry level for
NPs, I know MSN-to-DNP programs are already accepting CNSs, CNMs, CRNAs, as
well as those in nursing administration and those who hope to go into
nursing education. So the clinically based root of the DNP degree will
undoubtedly end up evolving to encompass the needs of these other nursing
specialties and bastardizing the degree already....it will have NOTHING to
do with CLINICAL application if nursing administrators and educators looking
for a non-research doctorate degree are accepted. With no pure research in
the programs (most DNP programs require a Capstone project and not a
dissertation), will the degree be accepted as an equal doctorate degree on
par with the PhD and DNSc? There is great uncertainty on whether the DNP
degree will be accepted in academia and whether DNP grads will be granted
tenure etc due to their lack of research experience. So why would someone
want to chance that after their hard work to obtain the degree??? To meet
the needs of these DNP students, research will have to be added to the
program. 

In the end, I fear that the non-research clinical degree for NPs will be
polluted, distorted, or altogether abandoned and we'll end up with nothing
more than a third research-oriented nursing doctorate degree. The DNSc
degree might disappear-- or it just might end up changing it's name to
DNP... much like the short-lived ND degree did. Also, as I previously
mentioned in another post, the DNP degree will probably never be accepted as
a terminal nursing degree... and I know of at least one school that is
already discussing a future DNP-to-PhD degree (another 2 years!!) to address
that very issue.
Dena Galler



-----Original Message-----
From: npinfo-bounces at nurse.net [mailto:npinfo-bounces at nurse.net] On Behalf
Of ismilie at comcast.net
Sent: Saturday, December 01, 2007 12:46 PM
To: NP Info
Subject: [NPInfo] DNP vs DNSc

I am a post-master prepared Family NP contemplating pursuing a doctorate. I
am not keen on the Ph.D. tract, simply because I would like a clinical
framework not research, with the understanding that all doctorate degrees
have some research component. I have done initial investigation over the
past 2-years regarding a DNSc. vs DP and determined a DNSc. would be more
towards my clinical focus and appears to be more mainstream and respected
degree. About the same time as my initial program reviews, the DNP programs
began to creep up. I now have peers telling me go with the DNP, others
saying the DNSc. will be replaced with DNP's or PhD's which I have already
seen in some cases. 

Does anyone have some clear guidance regarding increasing my education to a
doctorate level or should I just continue to wait out while it sorts itself
out? My concern with that is it may take years to sort itself out!

thanks,

Donna in NH
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