Myths and Facts of the DNP

By Michele Wojciechowski

Many need help understanding what this terminal degree is, means or offers for nurses. So we’re here to set the record straight.

According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees, more commonly referred to as DNPs, were officially accepted into the field on October 25, 2004. This was when the AACN member schools voted—and thus endorsed—the Position Statement on the Practice Doctorate in Nursing.

While it’s been 17 years since that happened, some still don’t understand what it is. So, we will present some Myths and Facts about the DNP.

Myth: DNPs can only work in hospitals or medical centers. Facts: Not true, say our sources. “DNPs can work in a variety of places, including outpatient settings, policy think tanks, academic institutions, public health, and healthcare startups,” says Imelda Reyes, DNP, MPH, FNP-BC, FAANP, Associate Dean for Advanced Education, University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Nursing.

Jennifer Plescia, DNP APN, RN, FNP, ENP, RNC, who works in an Emergency Department and is the owner of IVs by the Seas, says, “Essentially, DNPs can work in any clinical setting such as the hospital, urgent care, med spas, primary care offices, or even mobile at home services.”

But wait, there’s more. Beth A. Brooks, PhD, RN, FACHE, Vivian Clinical Advisor, On the Horizon in Healthcare video blog and podcast adds

“settings such as private, public, profit, non-for-profit hospital and healthcare systems, home care, hospice/palliative care, government agencies, corporations (e.g., insurance, compliance, staffing, consulting agencies, pharmaceutical companies). They can also be self-employed and/or CEOs of startup companies.”

Myth: The DNP degree is just a watered-down PhD for nurses.

Facts: “The DNP degree is far from a watered-down PhD. Most people do not know this, but to be eligible for a DNP program, you must have a minimum of 3-5 years of bedside nursing experience,” explains Plescia.

“I can honestly say that the DNP program was the hardest thing I have ever done—and I gave birth twice! The DNP program not only includes an educational component but also requires hands-on clinical training and a capstone project. DNP capstones are projects that address clinical concerns in the field, and it is up to the student to implement a process to make a change. This project must be submitted to the IRB for approval and then implemented, analyzed for effectiveness, and evaluated by a panel of your peers—similar to that of a PhD dissertation.

“A DNP is a clinical degree, whereas a PhD is not. A PhD program does not make you eligible for clinical practice, but is used more in academia.”

Wanda M. Williams, PhD, MSN, RN, WHNP-BC, CNE, Program Director for the DNP program, UNCG School of Nursing, also says this myth isn’t true. “The degrees and programs are unique. The PhD in Nursing is a research doctoral degree, and the DNP is a practice doctoral degree. The PhD program prepares nurse scientists to conduct nursing research and lead research teams, develop theory and contribute to the body of knowledge of nursing and the health sciences, and disseminate research findings through scholarly publications, presentations, and teaching.

“The DNP program prepares nurses for careers in clinical and non-clinical areas, but with a focus on improving patients’ health outcomes. Clinical areas are direct, hands-on patient care, while non-clinical can be in leadership, administration, or policy positions.”

Myth: DNPs aren’t medical doctors, so what’s the point of the degree?

Facts: “DNPs are not trying to be medical doctors or physicians. We are a distinct discipline that brings a muchneeded lens to the healthcare scene,” says Reyes. “It is often said that nurses bring a holistic approach to their care versus a disease-based approach, but with evolving times, I see that healthcare is changing, and we need to find a way to synergistically exist.”

Myth: The DNP is just a degree to fill in gaps that other advanced degrees can’t provide. Facts: “The physician is no longer the only doctor on the healthcare team. Many clinical disciplines have elevated the educational requirements to practice to the doctoral level. For example, other practice-focused clinical doctorates in health care include the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), Doctor of Occupational Therapy (DOT), Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), Doctor of Social Work (DSW), Psychology Doctorate (PsyD), Doctor of Audiology (DAud) to name a few,” says Brooks. “The Doctor of Nursing Practice is a relatively new degree; it’s only existed since the early 2000s. In all of these clinical disciplines, the knowledge gained at each level of education builds on previous learning, broadens the students’ knowledge base to prepare them for larger roles with different accountabilities, the scope of practice, and the outcomes influenced.”

Myth: DNPs are doctors’ assistants.

Facts: “We are a separate profession with very different training. An M.D. goes to medical school for four years, does a four- (or more) yearlong residency, and is then a physician who can take care of you. During residency, physicians often rely on nurses to help guide them along the way so they can practice independently in the future,” says Plescia.

“In contrast, DNPs have already had a similar ‘residency’ with their bedside experience that is required before obtaining the degree. Therefore, not only does the DNP have RN experience, but they also require hands-on clinical training. While the clinical training is not as long as that of a physician, it is this way because of the DNP’s previous clinical experience—they are already introduced to the field, and in most states, DNPs are independent practice providers—meaning they do not need physician supervision.”

Michele Wojciechowski is a national award-winning freelance writer based in Baltimore, Maryland. She loves writing about nursing but comes close to fainting when she sees blood. She’s also the author of the humor book, Next Time I Move, They’ll Carry Me Out in a Box.