[NPInfo] "...line that has been drawn, but it's not between the NPs & Phy...

[EPartinFNP at aol.com]

Marty,
I have been blasted before on this list serv for speaking out  in support of 
the DNP, but I will respond again to try to answer your question.  I am not 
part of any academic group, but I do support the move to DNP as entry  to 
practice for ARNPs. I do have a DNP degree, but I took the long route,  starting out 
as a LPN, then ADN, BSN, MSN and finally DNP. At each step along  the way I 
learned. (Although, I only obtained my BSN because I thought it was  going to 
be required for entry into practice. As an ADN, I thought,  wrongly, I knew all 
that I needed to know as a nurse.) Besides the  educational value of my 
degree, it has brought me additional respect from other  professionals. In my 
legislative work, having the title "doctor" lends more  weight to what I have to 
say. Like it or not, when I use the title, people are  more willing to listen to 
me. In order to gain full reimbursement for what we do  and to be accepted as 
a full partner in health care, and not an underling or  someone to be 
supervised, we need to have equal status with other health care  providers.
 
The move to the DNP must not disenfranchise any currently  practicing masters 
prepared ARNPs. I believe strongly that MSN prepared ARNPs  are excellent 
health care providers.
 
I do not support the CACC exam for DNP graduates. ARNPs do not  need to 
compare themselves to physicians and we do not need to pass a test  written by/for 
physicians. The measure of quality is not to be like a physician.  The measure 
of quality for ARNPs is to be the best of nursing and nursing  must determine 
the measure. The current certification exams written by nursing  
organizations, should stand as the basis for certification whether the degree is  MSN or 
DNP. This new exam only acts as a divider for our profession. Heaven  knows, 
there is enough divisiveness in nursing without throwing up something  else! 
 
Beth Partin
 
 
In a message dated 4/6/2008 9:22:04 P.M. Central Daylight Time,  mfnp at cox.net 
writes:

Nancy,  From the responses you, and I would think many in NY, would be 
better  informed than most. But, from the responses, it appears the 
majority of  NPs were caught totally unaware. Speaking for myself, I have 
no intention  of obtaining another degree, nor do I believe it will make 
me any better  or worse, as a practitioner. I also do not want to spend 
the money, nor  sit for another exam, especially one that is made to meet 
the level of one  aspect of a physician's education. as was stated in the 
article. The  second that physicians have input into our education and 
qualifications,  only erodes our own profession, and ability to make 
decisions on a nursing  level, not in comparison, or competition with 
physicians.

One thing  that I have never understood is why these additional exams and 
educational  steps are primarily supported by those that are in, or a 
part of,  academics, and I would be open if anyone could neutrally 
explain this to  me and the  group?
Marty
_______________________________________________
NPInfo  mailing  list
NPInfo at nurse.net
http://lists.nurse.net/mailman/listinfo/npinfo
*****************************





**************Planning your summer road trip? Check out AOL Travel Guides.    
  (http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/united-states?ncid=aoltrv00030000000016)