[Alyssa]

I am currently a DNP student expecting to graduate in 2026. I knew I wanted to go for my DNP before I was even accepted into a bachelors of nursing science program. I needed a year of ICU experience for my program and started the DNP program as soon as I finished my year. I was also discouraged from getting my DNP. Most of my colleagues said that it was not necessary to earn the doctorate and that the masters programs would be faster and cheaper. This is a true statement however, no one ever asked me why I wanted to get my DNP. They simply state their opinions as if I asked for their advice or recommendations. I would never say to someone working on their masters , why wouldn’t you just go fo you doctorate? I also get asked very often “well why did you not just go to medical school.” I think all of this stems from a lack of respect for the DNP degree. Funny enough, no one I have spoken to who has a DNP degree, has ever said they wish they just got their masters instead. As a future DNP I am excited to educate my friends, patients, and colleagues about the importance of the degree and help advocate for our vital role of the healthcare team . 

• This reply was modified 1 year, 1 month ago by Alyssa.

[Alyssa]

This article was extremely informative and enlightening! Thank you so much for sharing it on this platform. It is disheartening to learn that inequalities stemming from race are still so prevalent in nursing education today. It is shocking to learn that only 1% of university deans and chief nursing officers come from diverse backgrounds. As someone who is interested in being an educator in the future, I will make sure to discuss ethics, history, racism, and how that impacts nursing today. I will also be sure to include diverse populations in my lectures. Often times in textbooks the picture of the condition is shown only on light skin. I would like to show examples of multiple races so nursing come out educated but also aware of health inequities, social determinants of health, and systemic racism. 

[Alyssa]

I am currently a DNP student in California. I think it is so important to be informed on the laws, practice standards, and scope of practice regulations for the state you plan on practicing in. The bill states that is is considered a “misdemeanor for a person who is not licensed as a physician and surgeon under the act, except as specified, to use certain words, letters, and phrases or any other terms that imply that the person is authorized to practice medicine as a physician and surgeon.” I think that many patients hear the word doctor and automatically think physician. In reality there are many health care roles such as DNP or DPT where the individual has earned a doctorate. I think that there needs to be proper education so the public is aware of what a DNP is. I fear that this bill will not promote educational and informed discussions with out patients about the DNP role because everyone will simply just introduce themselves as the nurse practitioner. 

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