A DNP or Doctor of Nursing Practice is a terminal qualification, which means that it is the highest possible level of training that a nurse can receive in her respective field. Is this reason enough to justify pursuing the degree, or are their other reasons also rooted in practical application?

Ultimately the answer would be yes, there are many other reasons that make an accredited DNP qualification very useful both in nursing practice and in enhancing one’s nursing career beyond its current scopes. As we then look at the most important of these reasons, things will start to make more sense.

A feasible option

Practical application scenarios only become relevant when the option in question is at least feasible. Previously, registered nurses (RNs) found it extremely difficult to even graduate from MSN, so nurses with DNP were very rare. Online nursing education has completely changed that.

As long as you are a registered nurse, you can pursue your BSN / MSN and then your DNP online. The Internet nature of these programs offers a number of advantages over their offline counterparts, as described below.

• Online Doctor of Nursing Practice programs are now recognized and given the same status as traditional degrees
• Since these programs are designed for professionals, they are inherently flexible and can be completed at the nurse’s pace.
• Due to the flexibility inherent in online nursing programs, pursuing a DNP while working full time is a real and achievable option.
• The financial benefit of not having to lose a source of income to another student loan is extremely encouraging.
• The combination of the reduced tuition fees of online courses with the absence of additional accommodation and travel costs makes DNP Online an attractive option.

The points here underscore the fact that doctoral programs in nursing practice have now become much more feasible than before. Considering the high number of retirees in recent years, and leading to a significant retirement year in 2030, it is safe to say that the practicality and convenience of online higher education for working nurses is going to prove crucial to make up the deficit.

Higher positions and better pay

As previously stated, a DNP or a doctorate in Feeding with milk Practice is a terminal degree, therefore, the highest administrative positions in your specialty and in the nursing industry as a whole will be within your reach. In light of the constant need for new nursing leaders, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that you also won’t have to wait too long for leadership positions to open up.

Even if you continue to work as a caregiver, rather than taking on an administrative role, rest assured that the pay rise will be significant. For example, accredited online nurse practitioner programs for DNP-FNP continue to be one of the most lucrative options for two main reasons:

1. A DNP in the family nurse practitioner stream can give you the autonomy you need to support multiple families in rural communities
2. The average salary of DNP-FNP was$ 113,930 / year in 2018

Not only is there the opportunity to earn more as a Doctor of Nursing Practices in Family Nursing Practice, but you can also gain full autonomy in a number of states. It is both the most respected position a nurse can aspire to, as well as the most effective position to occupy if helping patients to the best of their ability is still one of your professional goals.

To respond to needs

It’s no secret that there is a shortage of nurses in the United States, as well as a general shortage of adequately qualified healthcare professionals in all other fields. Nurse practitioners with DNPs on their resumes are going to play a huge role in closing this gap. To further explain the idea, let’s highlight the main ways they are supposed to help.

Managing the leadership gap

We know there is a lack of sufficiently trained, experienced and educated nurses even today as more nurses retire each year. He is estimated by the US Department of Public Health itself that the gap will become really serious in 2030, when more than a million nurses retire.

Now, the main problem here is the fact that nurses who retire are always the most experienced and skilled, so when they leave, a leadership vacuum is automatically created. This gap is not yet filled or often needs to be filled by someone else who may not be trained for the job. The availability of DNP programs online is expected to address this problem effectively because by 2030, there may be a sufficient number of experienced and DNP-prepared nurses available to fill vacancies.

Manage the gap between demand and availability of physicians

A doctor of nursing specializing in nurse practitioner does not need the supervision of a physician to write prescriptions and operate primary care clinics in a number of states. In the states listed below, they currently have Full Practicing Authority or FPA:

• Alaska
• Idaho
• Wyoming
• Iowa
• Maine
• Maryland
• Minnesota
• Nebraska
• New Hampshire
• North Dakota
• Nevada
• South Dakota
• Oregon
• Rhode Island
• Hawaii

A few states such as Colorado, Arizona, and Connecticut that allow FPA or FPA limited to APRNs have been excluded from this list because they also have other regulations and criteria, which may conflict with the idea. of a true full practice authority or may delay the same.

As should be easy to guess, with an increase in the number of experienced nurse practitioners available and other APRNs with doctorates directly related to patient care, the primary care physician deficit will become more manageable in these states.

The number of states willing to grant APRNs to APRNs is also expected to increase in the coming years, so the physician shortage may finally become manageable across the United States. Therefore, completing your DNP just makes sense from every possible angle now, especially when we keep the near future in view. Whether it’s helping desperate patients with primary care, or building a better and more prestigious career for yourself, completing your DNP is a step toward both goals.