[NPInfo] CACC and AACN

[Michael B Marks, FNP]

Received this from one of my groups re the nursing schools' take on this.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Reilly, Helene 
Sent: Friday, April 04, 2008 3:59 PM
Subject: DNP Article "Making Room for 'Dr. Nurse'"


 

 

 

From: Lowery, Bobby 



FYI

 


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From: Beth Aronson [mailto:baronson at aacn.nche.edu]
Sent: Fri 4/4/2008 2:52 PM
To: Brown, Sylvia
Subject: [olnnetwork] AACN Response to WSJ Article on DNP

AACN Members - 

In response to the recent article in the Wall Street Journal titled "Making Room for Dr. Nurse" (April 2, 2008; D1), AACN would like to clarify the organization's affiliation with the Council for the Advancement of Comprehensive Care (CACC) and our understanding of the new DNP certification exam. The article may be accessed online at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120710036831882059.html.

 AACN has been aware that the DNP certification was under development by the CACC, and we learned via email last week that the certification exam would be administered for the first time in November 2008.  In conversations with CACC representatives, AACN reinforced our commitment to supporting the advanced practice consensus process, which we have been facilitating for three years to bring clarity to the issues of Advanced Practice Registered Nursing (APRN) education, accreditation, certification, and licensure.  CACC representatives assured us that the DNP certification exam would not be used for regulatory purposes which would conflict with the work of the consensus group.

 Further, it is AACN's understanding that this exam will be voluntary and only be available to DNP graduates who are prepared as APRNs and have received certification and licensure from the appropriate groups. This exam is an independent development effort meant to test a unique body of knowledge regarding practice and may be used by APRNs who wish to validate that they have acquired knowledge reflective of the demands of clinical interventions at the advanced level.  AACN has agreed to rejoin the CACC in an effort to monitor their work and determine if the exam will further efforts to clarify APRN scope of practice authority and assess its usefulness for ensuring competence to practice.

 AACN also has prepared the Letter to the Editor (see below) which hopefully will be published to clarify some of the issues and concerns raised by the article on the DNP. 

 LETTER TO THE EDITOR

 In response to the article "Making Room for Dr. Nurse" (April 2, 2008; D1), the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) was pleased to see the national spotlight cast on the rapid emergence of Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs and the importance of doctorally-prepared nurses in the healthcare system. However, the article does not clarify that nursing and medicine are distinct health disciplines with clinicians assuming different roles and meeting different practice expectations. DNP programs prepare nurses for the highest level of nursing practice; they do not prepare nurses to be physicians. Transitioning to the DNP will not alter the current scope of practice for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) as outlined in each state's Nurse Practice Act.

 Further, the title of "Dr." is common to many disciplines and is not the domain of any one group of health professionals. Many nurses currently hold doctoral degrees and are called "Dr.," which is similar to how other clinical experts are addressed, including pharmacists, dentists, and podiatrists. In all likelihood, DNP-prepared nurses will retain their specialist titles, which means that nurse practitioners will continue to be called nurse practitioners.

 To reduce confusion, AACN recommends that the credentials of all clinicians be identified for the public both verbally and on name badges.  DNPs should clearly display their credentials to ensure that patients understand their preparation as a nursing provider, just as many APRNs, physicians, and other clinicians currently do.

 Nursing is answering the call of the Institute of Medicine, Joint Commission, and other authorities to reconceptualize nursing education by preparing APRNs for an evolving practice. Doctorally prepared nurses are not "hybrid practitioners", but rather nurses with an education level consistent with role expectations and on par with other health professionals.  

C. Fay Raines

President

American Association of Colleges of Nursing

One Dupont Circle, Suite 530

Washington, D.C.  20036

 

Hi all,

   
Please see the provocative Wall Street Journal article "Making Room for 'Dr. Nurse'" written by columnist, Laura Landro. This information was forwarded by Dr. Elaine Scott.  Fee free to share with others as you wish.

 

http://online.wsj.com/article/the_informed_patient.html


 

Bobby

 

Bobby Lowery, MN, FNP-BC

Clinical Assistant Professor & Clinical Site Placement Coordinator

ECU College of Nursing

Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Programs

3185L Health Sciences Building

Health Sciences Building

Greenville, NC 27858-4353

Cell (Preferred):  252-916-2391 

Office PH:  252-744-6363

Email:  Lowerybo at ecu.edu