AACN Seeks Proposals for a National Study on the DNP

RFP Requirements Updated as of August 19, 2013 Including New Timeline Items

AUGUST 08, 2013 - In October 2004, nursing schools affiliated with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) voted to endorse a position statement that called for moving the level of educational preparation necessary for advanced nursing practice from the master's degree to the doctorate by the year 2015. With two and a half years remaining in the transition to the DNP timeline, significant progress towards this goal has been accomplished.

As of 2012, a total of 217 DNP programs are currently enrolling students at schools of nursing nationwide, and an additional 97 DNP programs are in the planning stages. While most schools now offer post-master's degree DNP programs, 83 schools are offering post-baccalaureate DNP programs, and another 90 schools are planning to offer this option. Though 173 nursing schools are on track to offer the post-baccalaureate DNP, more than 200 schools that currently offer master's level APRN programs have not reported plans to move in this direction.

With the national movement to the DNP well underway, the AACN Board of Directors is commissioning a new study to assess the facilitators and barriers to transitioning to the DNP. The study will be titled: The DNP by 2015: A Study of the Institutional, Political, and Professional Issues that Facilitate or Impede Establishing a Post-Baccalaureate Doctor of Nursing Practice Program.

The AACN Board is seeking to identify best practices related to facilitating programmatic change and delineate barriers that may be addressed through focused advocacy and other means. The study resulting from this Request for Proposals (RFP) will provide a framework for next steps by AACN in its work to meet the goals established by its membership. 
 
Timeline:
 
RFP Issued:                                     Thursday, August 8, 2013
Technical Assistance Calls:      Individually arranged August 19-30, 2013
Proposal Due Date:                     Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Vendor Selected:                          Friday, September 27, 2013
Draft Submission Due:               Wednesday, January 15, 2014 
Final Submission Due:                Friday, February 28, 2014

Though academic institutions are not eligible to submit proposals in response to this solicitation, we do hope that you will forward this RFP to any vendors you may have worked with in the past with the capacity to complete the scope of work required.