Throughout the years, nursing has been versatile in the scope of practice. Particularly the advanced nurse practitioners was established with different scope of practice in mind. Until now, there are still some issues regarding the roles of APRN’s. The differentiation between the doctor and the advanced practice nurse is still a continuing debate. Currently, APRN holds a Master’s degree, but the American of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) supports the doctorate degree requirement for the advanced practice nurse.(Miller, J., 2008). Along with considering the DNP as a terminal degree in nursing. The question is how can we determine that DNP is the terminal degree for nursing? Also how can DNP be concrete in it’s roles and responsibilities, when issues regarding APRN and PA’s or doctors are already …show more content…
Nurses have always wanted their autonomy in the practice, so it is inevitable that DNP program will be offered in school. Since DNP is considered a higher education than advanced practice nursing, there will also be an increased in education requirements, along with the increased in education costs and increased cost for the employers as well. Is it worth the extra cost and time in school? (Miller, J., 2008). Furthermore, the DNP program might take away the attention in other areas of APRN. There has been a lot of controversies in Advanced Nursing practice, let alone adding the DNP degree. It raised different question and conflicting opinions. Firstly, there are concerns that DNP mirrors Ph.D. along with issues such as, the years that will take for the DNP student to finish the program, increased conflict and division between the nursing unity, adding and changing the certification requirements plus the standards in nursing. Furthermore, discussions whether the DNP can help resolve the shortage in nurses as well as, the academic ranking for DNP. (De la Cruz, J.,