To the Editors:

I have been a critical care nurse for 24 years and will earn my master’s degree in nursing this fall, with a role option of nurse educator. I was considering continuing my professional education and was investigating PhD programs in nursing. Why the past tense? Exactly the issues you have raised in your excellent and timely discussion concerning the advantages and disadvantages, not to mention confusion, of the DNP degree, as recommended by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Until this conundrum is settled, I don’t feel comfortable spending a great deal of money or incurring student loans at age 50 while not certain of being recognized as having the “correct” doctoral degree. It looks like my education will end with a graduate degree, while powers greater than me engage in the debate of DNP versus PhD. Considering the track record of past debates, ie, ADN...

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