I know some of us are just starting MSN or nearly finishing up MSN but I'm curious if anyone plans on on pursing a DNP at some point!! I swore I was NEVER going back to school. But now I'm changing my mind!!

i finished my ms course in the medical surgical nursing about 7 years ago. i am very interested to dnp but in my country (iran) there is only phd of nursing. for this reason, i wait 7 year and maybe some years later for coming dnp to iran. as i heard about dnp, it is more clinical than phd which is completely theoritical (as doctors says: phd of nursing is a person with disk that have some paper on the disk).

because of lack of dnp in iran, i have not complete vision on it. however i hope that, this topic let me know more about dnp.

dear nicolein , thank you for your great post.

I have my MSN (nurse practitioner) and had the option of attending a school that offered an MSN or going to a school where I could get a DNP. I chose to do it in two steps because I wanted to limit the time it took to complete the NP and begin practicing. I will get a DNP or PhD sometime in the near future, but when I decided which path to take my entry to practice was shorter with an MSN followed by a DNP. For me, it will be less expensive, as well.

I plan on starting a blended FNP to DNP next fall, 2013. I am so excited. I will be able to practice after I complete my 2 years of FNP full time schooling and of course pass the licensing exam, then continue on to the DNP, I believe it's an additional 1-2 years more. I have an appointment to speak with someone in charge of the program at a local University. I'm both excited and nervous at the same time. When do you plan on going back to school?

I recently graduated with my MSN-Neuro and intend to begin my DNP program next spring(fingers crossed). I feel you can never be prepared for what employers may begin requesting in the near future. Not to mention, to have autonomy in New York you must have a PhD(DNP), MSNs do not hold the same weight as in other parts of the country. Welcome to the world of the overly educated and under paid( my opinion).

I recently graduated with my MSN-Neuro and intend to begin my DNP program next spring(fingers crossed). I feel you can never be prepared for what employers may begin requesting in the near future. Not to mention, to have autonomy in New York you must have a PhD(DNP), MSNs do not hold the same weight as in other parts of the country. Welcome to the world of the overly educated and under paid( my opinion).

I take it you are a NP in NY!! I'm a NY transplant in CT now. Currently working on my MSN/CNS!!! Thinking of applying for DNP program next fall maybe!!

Right now I would say No. I can't speak for the future though. I always wanted my MSN, however I never thought of a doctorate degree. I am the kind of person that will take one day at a time and baby steps. I want to complete my MSN and enjoy having a life again. Then in another couple of years I may be ready and willing to go back. I want to begin my career as a CNS and get comfortable with the APN role before stepping a foot further into academics :). However I need to have a plan. What would I do with a DNP? Better yet, "What would my project be about?" Maybe when I can answer myself some of these questions I may go back.

I take it you are a NP in NY!! I'm a NY transplant in CT now. Currently working on my MSN/CNS!!! Thinking of applying for DNP program next fall maybe!!

You are correct. I have been thinking of moving out of Neurology(staff nursing still). But, it seems the only jobs that are hiring NP-MSNs around here are Public/employee health. I would prefer to maintain my position in neurology, but it's looking grim right now. But, if you are planning on moving back to NY, emergency medicine is the way to go.

I plan to get a DNP too in the future. I am not interested in receiving an MSN-NP alone. However, I am waiting for two things to occur: 1.) To have enough money to care for my family while attending a program and 2.) The job market to improve so I do not educate myself out of a good paying nursing job. At this time, where I live there are plenty of out-of-work Doctorate prepared individuals with work experience and sadly nursing is no exception.

Besides improving your nursing skills/knowledge and making you look better when getting jobs etc are there any other additional benefits to getting a DNP? Would it make much difference from just having a masters?

I was just awarded a MSN from SFSU. Whew!! I may not understand all the differences between DNP, MSN, PhD, but basically we are all RNs with advanced degrees. My understanding is that after a Bachelors degree the options for advanced nursing degrees are: MSN and/or DNP. After an MSN, the options are PhD. After a DNP, there are not any direct options, and if one wants a PhD after a DNP, they would have to go back and get their MSN.

So, to me, a DNP is more like a terminal masters degree. Same length of education as an MSN. Similar in focus and topical content. However, the DNP is not equivalent to a PhD, because with a PhD, the nurse is prepared to conduct research, whereas with the DNP, like the MSN, the nurse is prepared to review and evaluate research, but not conduct it.

There are many other nuances and differences and it can be very complicated to understand the variances and variables, but to be again general, an RN is an RN and some RNs have advanced practice preparation.