The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF), the preeminent national nurse practitioner faculty organizational, recently released a statement regarding its commitment to moving all entry-level NP education to Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) by 2025.
“Today, there are more than 300 DNP programs throughout the United States (AACN, 2018), and NONPF has led the evolution of NP educational preparation to the DNP degree level,” the organization stated in its release. “NONPF maintains its dedication to all currently credentialed NPs and faculty members; however, we recognize that as the health care delivery system has grown increasingly complex, the role of NPs has evolved. The DNP degree reflects the rigorous education that NPs receive to lead and deliver quality health care.”
“The University of Iowa College of Nursing was one of the early adopters of the DNP degree and has offered integrated BSN-DNP education for NPs, nurse anesthetists and nursing administrators without a master’s exit point since 2010 in preparation for a 2015 deadline, which proved too ambitious given the numbers of NP faculty prepared at the doctoral level at that time,” noted Mary Dirks, DNP, ARNP, CPNP-PC, FAANP, Clinical Professor & Assistant Dean for Graduate Practice Programs. “With a rising need for quality, accessible independent health care, providers to care for patients in an increasingly complex health care system, the UI CON continues to lead the charge to meet the needs of patients in Iowa and the nation.”
UI’s DNP program is nationally ranked #15 overall, with six of eight specialty tracks (Nursing Service Administration #2, Adult/Gero Acute Care NP #9, Nurse Anesthesia #10, Adult/Gero Primary Care NP #12, Pediatric Primary Care NP #12, and Family NP #17) ranked in the top 20, according to U.S. News & World Report.
Since 2007, the College of Nursing has produced 385 DNP graduates and has nearly 30 doctorally-prepared NP faculty teaching in the program—many who hold state and national NP board positions.
For more information, including a full copy of the organization’s statement, visit nonpf.org.
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