AANP: Your Source for Up-to-date COVID-19 Resources
By Tay Kopanos, DNP, NP, FAANP; VP, AANP State Government Affairs & MaryAnne Sapio, VP, AANP Federal Government Affairs
The COVID-19 pandemic has yielded unprecedented challenges for our country’s health care system. There is no doubt this epidemic will shape the way care is delivered in the future. The pressing need to contain the spread of this virus has prompted vast and continuing response initiatives from Congress, federal agencies and state leaders.
As NPs continue to fight against COVID-19 and risk their safety on the front lines of this pandemic, count on AANP to provide you with convenient access to the extensive tools and resources available to assist you. The AANP COVID-19 resource page is updated on a daily basis in order to ensure you have access to the most recent and pertinent information. This includes the latest policy, practice, and clinical resources, as well as important developments impacting your safety and the safety of your patients, and developments that may impact your practice.
As we continue advocating for the advancement of key legislative and policy priorities impacting NPs and our patients, know that ensuring you have these critical resources at hand also remains a top priority. We thank you for all that you are doing every day for patients and communities across the country. The critical access to care you provide is saving lives.
Doctor of Nursing Practice: Trends in Enrollment and Graduation
By Julie Baldyga, MS; AANP Research Manager & Chantel DePaepe, MPH; AANP Research Specialist
Over the past few decades, health care has seen a paradigm shift in the U.S. prompting transformative changes within the nursing discipline. To accommodate these changes and in response to the recommendation of the National Academy of Sciences to create a practice-oriented doctorate, the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) was developed.1 The DNP prepares nurses to become clinical experts and leaders in health care innovation by translating research into practice using quality improvement methodologies through the evaluation of provider practice and performance measures.2 , 3 DNP-prepared nurses are an important solution to filling the growing need for evidence-based practice experts to improve the quality of health care and patient outcomes.
In 1999, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center opened the first DNP program in the nation.4 Across all 50 states, including the District of Columbia, many academic institutions have since implemented DNP programs. While the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) reported 354 schools of nursing with DNP programs as of fall 2018, not all offer nurse practitioner (NP)-focused education. NP-focused DNP programs are offered at the post-baccalaureate (BSN-to-DNP) and post-master’s (MSN-to-DNP) levels. BSN-to-DNP programs allow direct entry for registered nurses (RNs) who have completed their Bachelor of Science in nursing without already completing a NP focused master’s. Alternatively, RNs with a Master of Science in nursing can apply to MSN-to-DNP programs.
Methods
Aggregate data from the AACN Enrollment & Graduations report were used to examine changes in NP focused DNP programs over the last five years, 2014-2015 thru 2018-2019. AACN surveys accredited nursing schools annually to collect critical information on nursing education capacity and the nation’s future nursing supply. Although data from these nursing programs is broken out by educational level and population focus, only data from NP-focused BSN-to-DNP and MSN-to-DNP programs were utilized in the analyses presented.
Results
Since 2014, enrollment increased by 87% across both types of DNP programs, yet BSN-to-DNP student enrollment increased by 100% compared to MSN-to-DNP enrollment which increased by 48% (see Figure 1 ). Variability in these two types of programs should be noted.
Figure 1.
NP DNP Enrollment Growth from 2014-2018
Similarly, graduations increased by 170% across NP-focused DNP programs in the past five years; however, BSN-to-DNP graduations contributed disproportionally to these gains. BSN-to-DNP graduations increased by 336%, while MSN-to-DNP graduations increased by 36% (see Figure 2 ).
Figure 2.
NP DNP Graduation Growth from 2013-14 to 2017-18
Discussion
While tremendous growth in NP-focused DNP programs over the past five years is evident, the majority of progress has been concentrated in the BSN-DNP programs. Enrollment and graduation growth for the MSN-to-DNP programs has been slower compared to BSN-to-DNP programs, but they are essential for those already master’s- or certificate-prepared NPs looking to advance their clinical education. Examining the trends of enrollment and graduation in both DNP program types can serve as an aid in the development of DNP programs and help understand the future NP workforce.
References
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