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by Gampopa

Hi all. First time poster here. I've been accepted to a Nurse Doctorate program starting fall 2003. While I'm really excited about it, I'm also wondering if I'm being smart about this step. My concern is the cost. $33K for the 4years of school. I could apply and hopfully get into a BSN program at the same school for about $13K. Are there any NDs out there who could offer me some feed back about how their degree has panned out for them or not? Thanks.

[P_RN]

I'm confused. Nurse doctorates come after Master's and Bachelor's degrees. Where is this nurse doctorate school?

[Gampopa]

University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. It's a program for people who already have a bachelor's in Arts in another field and want to go into nursing.

[purplemania]

ask for references: grads you can contact

[P_RN]

OK now I see. I was thinking of one of those Caribbean medical schools that advertise when you graduate you can work as a doctor OR a nurse. Sorry for my confusion. What's your BA in?

[Gampopa]

BA in Biology. Currently I'm taking the pre-reqs. Anat., Micro. will take stats. & phys. this summer.

[llg]

I got my PhD at UCHSC and knew many people in the ND program there back in the early to mid 1990's. Obviously, you are going to have to talk with some graduates to learn how their careers panned out ... but I can tell you that when I was there, it was an excellent program. I would hire one of their graduates in a minute.

The ND degree qualifies you for many advanced practice jobs and I would recommend it (or a 3-year generic master's program) to anyone who already has a Bachelor's Degree in another field. It's so much more efficient and cost effective to get your basic nursing at the graduate level to begin with. I have run into people who, in that situation, start with a ADN ... then they have to go back to school again for a BSN if they want a promotion ... then they have to go back to school AGAIN if they want an advanced practice position! All that repeated going back to school drains their finances and wears them down. Paying the extra and starting with either a 3-year generic Master's Degree or with an ND is cheaper in the long run and it gets you where you probably want to be sooner. Also, because your original nursing courses are all on either an upper division and/or graduate level, the intellectual level and quality tends to be high.

Good luck,
llg

[traumaRUs]

I would advise going straight to doctorate too. I was an LPN, did the ADN bridge thing, now am back in school for a combo BSN/MSN. Should have been smarter when I was younger - duh!

[healingtouchRN]

ND

More power to ya honey!

[Allison S.]

I would not recomend a program like this. I started with two Bachelors degrees (one art one science), and professional experience in medical research and writing, and entered a direct entry MS-NP program.

I quit after the RN portion because I did not think I was getting a great education. Also, I was not hearing much support for this type of education from people working n the field. Most preferred that you spent time getting experience in the field before going on to advanced degrees.

This month, the program will graduate about a third of the students who originally enrolled with me. Voting with their feet, I guess.

Good luck, whatever you decide.