Do You Need a Doctorate to Be a Nurse Practitioner?

October 29, 2021

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A smiling DNP-prepared nurse practitioner holding a tablet.

In an increasingly complex health care environment, nurse practitioners (NPs) largely lead the industry in delivering better health outcomes for individual patients and communities at large. Preparing NPs for tomorrow’s health care challenges requires a combination of education and training that accurately reflects the range of opportunities and obstacles nurses will encounter in their careers.

To address this need, a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) may soon be the preferred credential for advanced practice nurses. This marks a significant change from today’s requirement of a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).

In May 2018, the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) made the commitment to move all entry-level nurse practitioner education to the DNP by 2025. Although the DNP is not currently a requirement, several professional nursing organizations, such as the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), Institute of Medicine (IOM), and American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA), along with the NONPF, are pushing the DNP-level requirement for entry to practice.

The NONPF’s decision reflects the need for NPs to have a practice-focused doctoral degree that emphasizes the clinical aspects of disease treatment and prevention. This central question remains, however. How will the need for a doctorate to be a nurse practitioner affect NPs today and in the future?

As the NONPF stated in its announcement, “The role of nurse practitioners has evolved.” The primary purpose for the NONPF’s decision to require DNP degrees in the future is to improve patient care. To best serve patients, NPs should be experts in data analysis to diagnose and treat diseases. They also need to be proficient in health economics, demographics, ethical and legal health issues, and health policy. These new skills are prioritized components of DNP curricula.

Individuals who pursue an online BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice program can benefit from remaining up to date on the current state of requirements for DNPs.

The Benefits of Earning a DNP for Future Nurse Practitioners

The DNP is considered a terminal degree because it is the highest level of education for the nursing profession. One thing that distinguishes doctors of nursing practice from other nursing professionals is their ability to work as independent practitioners. In addition to leading the diagnosis and treatment of disease from a clinical perspective, DNPs can prepare to serve as certified nurse midwives (CNMs), certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), and doctors of nurse anesthesia practice (DNAPs), among dozens of other specialties.

Stephen Ferrara writes on the website Daily Nurse that NPs are vital for addressing the main shortcoming of evidence-based practice on the front lines of the health care industry. Ferrara describes evidence-based practice as a “foundational tenet of DNP curricula.” However, decision-making in clinical settings cannot only be the result of the best available evidence. Nurses must take the research one step further and translate that discovered evidence into applied practice, according to Ferrara.

Needing a doctorate to be a nurse practitioner is beneficial for patients and practitioners alike. The change in education requirement may help the health care industry provide higher-quality care in a timelier and less expensive manner. Doctors of nursing practice possess the skills to help identify and advocate for replacing the outdated practices that hinder access to the health care resources patients need. DNPs are trained to uphold the highest standards of quality clinical care at a time of shrinking medical budgets. They do this by actively finding ways to make the delivery of health care more efficient and effective.

Even before the NONPF’s announcement of the future DNP requirement, many practicing NPs had decided to pursue their doctorates. The professional goal of working toward a DNP is more practical now than ever because of the availability of convenient online degree programs.

How DNPs Help Address the Critical Shortage of Advanced Nurses

NPs with a DNP play a pivotal role in the education of future nurse generations — a need that is especially critical in light of the widening gap between the supply and demand for highly skilled nursing professionals. Among the reasons cited for the growing shortage of advanced nurses are an aging population that increases demand for health care services and an aging nursing workforce in positions that will be difficult to fill as experienced nurses retire.

The American Nurses Association (ANA) highlights the negative impact the nursing shortage continues to have on the delivery of health care. On the other side of the spectrum, the sufficient staffing of highly qualified nurses reduces mortality rates, shortens patient stays, and minimizes falls and nosocomial illnesses. To combat the shortage of nurses, the ANA recommends that nurses practice to “the full extent of their education, training, and licensure” and that they “achieve higher levels of education and training through an improved education system that promotes seamless academic progression.”

The DNP degree provides NPs with the skills to ensure patients and communities receive the highest quality of health care possible, in a timely and cost-effective manner. For example, the ability to analyze patient data provides hospitals with greater flexibility in staffing to ensure nursing resources are applied when and where they are needed most.

The Demand for DNPs Continues to Grow

The eventual requirement for a doctorate to become a nurse practitioner has not slowed the demand for this growing profession. A number of factors point toward increasing demand for NPs in the coming years. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), for example, projects 52% job growth for NPs between 2019 and 2029. In its rankings of the 100 best jobs for 2021, U.S. News & World Report ranked NPs as the third best job.

The demand for NPs also has been spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, which prompted the loosening of regulations to expand NPs’ scope of practice. Although the expansion of the scope of practice was initially meant to be temporary, many are advocating for making those changes permanent to help address the ongoing shortage of health care professionals. For example, NPs can be especially important in addressing shortages in rural areas, where the scarcity of health care professionals is particularly acute.

Nursing Career Advancement Opportunities

NPs can also apply their skills outside of clinical settings by seeking employment in roles such as corporate wellness consultant, medical writer, and health educator. In these professions, nurses can help maintain the health and wellness of a community without being based in a traditional care facility.

For those who want to take their nursing education and career prospects to the next level, enrolling in a DNP program can put them on the right path. A DNP enables nurses to master more specialized medical knowledge and practice in specialty areas that are typically out of reach for nurses who have only a bachelor’s degree.

DNP Areas of Specialization

The push for a doctorate to be a nurse practitioner could be viewed as empowering nurses to further specialize their careers by pursuing specific concentrations. To specialize in a specific area of nursing, students take clinical courses that emphasize improving their core clinical skills. Nurses also have the choice to enroll in courses that are more narrowly focused on their chosen paths of study, such as psychopharmacology; care of childbearing women; and political, financial, and social issues.

Common career choices for nurses with DNPs include psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, gerontology nurse practitioner, pediatric nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner, and women’s health nurse practitioner.

These career paths offer even more opportunities for DNP nurses as they expand their clinical knowledge, more directly influence decisions about a patient’s care, and learn how information technology can improve the practice of nursing. Nurses with a DNP are also more likely to hold leadership and research positions, such as nurse educator, nurse administrator, and nurse researcher.

Pursuing a Rewarding Career at the Forefront of Health Care

While individuals may eventually need a doctorate to become a nurse practitioner, it is important to remember that DNPs can perform rewarding work that can alleviate a demand for health care that only continues to grow.

Registered nurses who have bachelor’s degrees and are interested in pursuing a DNP can explore the Regis College online BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice program to learn how to take their careers to a new level. The program offers six specialization options:

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)
Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP)
Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)

Set forth on a rewarding career path today.

Recommended Readings

What Can I Do with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
The Difference Between MSN and DNP Degrees
Understanding the Difference Between a Nurse Practitioner vs. Physician

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