Recently I saw a post on Facebook in a DNP group from what looked to be posted by a potential DNP student. The post said something like this:
“Recommend the cheapest and fastest DNP program.”
This request saddened me because quality wasn’t being asked. What saddened me even more was the number of responses to this question listing many programs that can be completed in between 12 and 24 months, with total credit hours for an MSN to DNP degree ranging from between 12 and 30 credit hours.
Can you identify a doctorate degree in any discipline that can be completed after earning a master’s degree in one calendar year? I didn’t think it was possible until now.
I remember a conversation with a wise faculty colleague many years ago when we were hammering out the details of a DNP program yet to be launched. She pointed out that when we want something, we can have it quick, cheap, or high quality. Pick two—as you cannot have all three.
This is the iron triangle that has been a part of project management content and has been adapted by organizations and entities to help illustrate what is important in the offerings of the company being considered.
For any doctoral degree worth its salt, quality is the goal. I just Googled a question about the average length of a PhD in Nursing program. The response may surprise you: 4-6 years. Averaging 5 years for a doctoral degree is not outrageous or unexpected, yet in the DNP world faster is the desired route. How can a nursing student earn one doctorate degree in 5 years and another degree in only 1? Aren’t you stunned that a DNP degree can be earned in one year with a minimum number of credit hours? As a discipline, what are we thinking?
We know that academia reflects the desires and needs of the citizens it serves, so a short program is going to enroll students wanting to move quickly through a program. Schools can generate more revenue by moving students through quickly. Doesn’t this look like a fast-food restaurant to you? They want turnover and new customers as quickly as possible. Has our nursing discipline devolved into accepting this rapid movement through a program just to produce graduates at a high rate? What about the expectation of quality and contribution to the science? Is that no longer a part of the equation?
I expect everyone will agree that in any effort, we get out of it what we put into it. That stands to reason, so a graduate of a short program could develop skills that would promote our discipline and enhance healthcare outcomes, but is a quick program likely to produce graduates that have the depth and scope of expertise to impact healthcare systems in a sustainable way? Do graduates have the same gravitas from all schools of nursing regardless of depth, scope, and rigor? I have my doubts, don’t you?
I invite you to qualify thinking processes about educational preparation and appreciate that we are all dedicated to similar goals. Does going to a small local college detract from the level of dedication and commitment to our profession compared to a large academic teaching facility? I think we will all agree that when comparing individuals, we cannot dismiss those that went to quick programs. But where does this leave us as a discipline? Are we truly dedicating our efforts to enhancing our knowledge and capabilities with a quick program compared to one that requires more credit hours and time to complete? How can we tell if the quick programs are harming our discipline?
One way to gain perspective on the impact of doctoral education on the nursing discipline is to explore what others are saying about nursing doctorate degrees. One topic in the news lately is that the Department of Education has removed nursing from the list of professions. I’m stunned and anticipate that we—as a discipline—will sort through this challenge and demonstrate our skills and contributions. But will it be in a 12-month doctoral program? I have doubts.
Share your thoughts!
