Welcomed or misunderstood?

[Scott W. Governo]

How have your current practice settings responded to new DNP graduates? Welcomed or misunderstood?

[Scott W. Governo]

Very appropriate. Sometimes our colleagues need a gentle reminder on the civility of proper introductions. If we allow others to disrespect us, how can we respect ourselves? Certainly one must be judicious about which battles we fight, but for too long we have had to acquiesce to others wishes.

[Katherine A. Beam]

I have encountered the same issue... transitioning from the Board-Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist to being the the "doctorally prepared" CNS. I was told by my chief nurse that it would too confusing to the physicians for me to be addressed as Dr. Beam, however, my VPMA broke the ice by making a supportive comment at the med exec committe meeting "now we are so advanced we have our nursing staff becoming doctorally prepared... we continue to evolve and she will help us to elevate our practice". Had it not been considered impractical and downright unprofessional, I would have high-fived him for his support :). You are correct also about pharmacists. I was in a group the other day, the PharmD was introduced as Dr. Leroux, the Physician as Dr. Stokke and I was introduces as Katie. I just took the opportunity to humorously say.. "aw... you can just call me Dr. Beam or Dr. B... just not Dr. Katie". They were taken aback, but have not made that mistake again.

[Luanne Billingsley, DNP, MBA]

When necessary, I introduce myself as a doctorate-prepared clinical nurse specialist - board certified. In the university setting I will use the title Dr. and I explain my doctorate is a practice doctorate versus a research doctorate, and it is a terminal degree in nursing. How do PhD research doctorates explain their degree? That is always an eye-opener for me - I haven't met many that doing what they were educated to do? This is not a new issue. I still do not understand what the issue is - if you find a practice doctorate from a reputable school with a rigorous program, you complete the course work, you pay, get your degree, and you move on. You don't hear pharmacists and physical therapists debating the merits of their doctorate level education? Maybe we make it confusing - we educate to make a better fit - nothing new. I think we would all agree we would like to have an adult cardiac nurse when we were having chest pain over an NICU nurse. What am I missing? I might be sorry I asked.

[J Connor]

We haven't employed any dnp's as of yet. We have approx.120 np's at our insitution. It will be interesting to see how it goes.

[Shirley Pollard Ramsey]

I find both welcoming and misunderstanding regarding the pursuit of the DNP. I would consider many of us followed Dr. Fitzgerald's path to the DNP, holding a position and needing the degree we were pursuing to "qualify" for said position. I certainly have, and look forward to the completion of the DNP, my terminal degree.

[Luanne Billingsley, DNP, MBA]

Great discussion. Unfortunately, I only have questions these days. Nursing education and training in general remains a mystery to most, even those in nursing. How would you explain the various paths each of us took to get here? Or what the future of nursing will look like? I am noticing a trend in the nursing labor market toward an RN residency, or protoge' program - for an RN with less than 6 months of experience. Is this a trend anywhere else?

[natalie ann rosen]

Actually a PhD is considered a higher degree than a practice doctorate such as MD, DO, DC, DNP.
A practice doctorate has an entirely different focus than a PhD. Each has their place and neither one is better than the other, just different.

[Diana Corpstein, DNP]

As a state that is diligently working on independent status for APRNs to meet the consensus model guidelines, I often find myself explaining to folks that the DNP is a natural fit for independent providers who wish to attain the terminal degree in their field. I personally feel that we already went through the training and education (plus some) as masters students but the degree never captured the depth and breadth that we actually received. We had the expertise but there was not a degree available to properly identify it - and that is what the DNP does for us. I also think if it was called an ND that it would have been much better understood by all, but I understand our Doctor of Naturopathy colleagues had already acquired the rights to that title. Diana

[christine Williamitis, DNP, APRN]

Dr Fitzgerald,
Thank you for sharing your experience, of course you are very well known and an excellent teacher. Is it possible your physician colleagues are intimidated by your knowledge and that is why they did not discuss your degree? I work with surgeons and they feel superior to everybody so they are not intimidated by any extra knowledge I obtain and will not mind addressing me as doctor. I have heard from my friends in family practice that physicians are not embracing the DNP and always make it clear to the NP that they are not an MD and some even say they should not call themselves "doctor' when addressing their patients.

[Margaret A. Fitzgerald]

In my clinical practice (part time, academic community health center), my degree acquition was a bit of a non event. One physician mentioned that she thought patients would be "confused" by this, most made no comment. The family practice residents I teach are curious and respectful. I have seen most of my patients for decades (same practice for 20+ years), I believe most are not all that aware of the change. Prior to completing my DNP, many of my patients, well aware I am a NP, would call me Doctora, a term of respect in my largely Latino patient population. I must admit, once back to work post defense, knowing the degree would be granted in just a couple of weeks, I know longer winced when I hear the term.

As I note with many NPs, I have held positions requiring 1 degree higher than I held. For example, was a nursing manger of an ICU while holding an Associates but working on the Bachelors, educator with a Bachelors while working on the Masters, teaching in a NP program while holding a Masters but working on the Doctorate. You get the idea. A long last, my degree matches what I do. Feels wonderful!

I am self employed (President of Fitzgerald Health Education Associates, Inc.) as an author, speaker and consultant, I have found many opportunities have come my way that I do not believe would have wthout the DNP.