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Return to table of contents• “What seems particularly unreasonable is to set a10-year time frame on the process, when so manyquestions are unanswered, resources for curriculardevelopment are not readily available, and someareas face a faculty shortage.” 152Further, AWHONN does not support the DNPmandate. Specifically, as stated in its 2006 positionstatement, “Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP),”AWHONN “supports the concept of the establishmentof educational programs for a practice doctorate in nursingfor those who wish to obtain this degree,” and that“while AWHONN supports the establishment of thiseducational opportunity, we do not support the mandatefor adoption of the DNP for ‘entry-into-practice’in 2015 …” 153 AWHONN holds that a “change of thismagnitude must be based on substantial empirical evidence.”154 Before AWHONN will endorse any DNPmandate, the position statement says, there must be:• Evidence that the clinical practice of a DNP is superiorto that of a master’s-prepared APN in all practicesettings• Evidence that there is or will be a reasonable marketdemand for this provider• Evidence that the costs to society to implement thisdegree will not detract from the initiatives neededto ensure an adequate nursing supply in light of thecurrent nursing shortage• A real forecast of the public and private costs to thehealth care system for the migration of all APNs toDNP-level practitioners• The possibility that limited federal funds currentlyallotted for basic nursing education would be redirectedto support the DNP and the effect that would haveon availability of programs for entry-level nursingpreparation• In an existing faculty shortage, the procurement ofsufficient faculty to educate the increased numberof doctoral and basic students given the DNP 155AWHONN’s statement also identifies major issues fornursing education, namely that:• DNP programs could divert support from entry-levelnursing programs.• With the current nursing faculty shortage theremay not be enough faculty for nursing students atany level.Moreover, several representatives of nursing organizationshave criticized the lack of stakeholder participationin the dialogue and process leading up to the 2006AACN adoption of the DNP mandate. The NACNSspecifically noted that “neither the American NursesAssociation, the National League for Nursing, nor theAmerican Academy for Nursing, flagship organizationsthat represent nursing practice and education, wereinvited participants in the deliberations leading up tothe proposal for the DNP.” 156 NACNS additionallynoted, “Opportunities for collegial dialogue in regionaland national meetings should precede a change ofthis magnitude.” 157 Others have noted that althoughthe AACN represents more than 600 nursing schoolsnationwide, the DNP proposal was carried in October2004 with 160 votes “for” and 106 votes “against,” withno in absentia voting allowed. 158AACN’s DNP EssentialsRecommendations for DNP curriculum are containedin the AACN’s Essentials of Doctoral Education forAdvanced Nursing Practice. 159 As presented in the152. Web. American College of Nurse Midwives. The President’s Pen “The Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree: Is this the right degree at the right time fornursing and is it right for Midwifery?” Quickening, Nov/Dec. 2005. www.midwife.org/siteFiles/president/PresidentsPenNovDec2005.pdf.153. Web. Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrics and Neonatal Nurses. Position Statement on “Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP).” www.awhonn.org/awhonn/content.do?name=05_HealthPolicyLegislation/5H_PositionStatements.htm. Retrieved March 30, 2008.154. Id.155. Id.156. National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists. White Paper on the Nursing Practice Doctorate (2005). www.nacns.org/nacns_dnpwhitepaper 2.pdf. RetrievedMarch 25, 2008.157. Id.158. Web. Vogel W. Author’s Reply to Readers’ Responses to “Advanced Practice Nurses Say ‘No’ to a Mandatory Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree.” January25, 2007. Medscape. www.medscape.com/viewarticle/550740.159. Web. American Association of Colleges of Nursing. The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice. (2006). www.aacn.nche.edu/DNP/pdf/Essentials.pdf. Retrieved March 24, 2008.Scope of Practice Data Series: Nurse practitioners • V. Education and training of NPs32