DNP vs MSN

Specialties NP

Published

Hi,

I'm posting here vs the student forum because I'm curious what active FNPs think. I have been accepted to 2 different programs. One is a Masters and the other is a Doctorate. The price is actually the same, and both are online enabling me to work full time while attending. The masters is 2 years and the doctorate is 4 or 5 years. I'm curious what the opinions are and pros/cons of each degree. Thank you!

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Opening a can of worms here - lol.

Okay I'll bite - personally I think the DNP is a bunch of hooey - no additional pay (which is and should be APRNs big concern), no ability to bill at higher rate, no additional skills or abilities.

I would go the MSN route personally.

2 Votes

Thank you! I appreciate the input. Valid points there!

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Yeah I'd search this section and the DNP section for plenty of spirited threads on this very topic.

Thank you. Certainly didn't mean to upset anyone! I will look through. Thank you for your response.

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

No - you are not upsetting anyone at all. The schools are the ones pushing this degree and unfortunately they are preying on vulnerable students who think the DNP will be required to practice at some point.

And to keep this in context when I first considered nursing school in 1976 (I was in high school) I was told that the BSN would "soon" be the only entry into RN practice and well....we know that even now, 41 years later, that's not true.

1 Votes
Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

I am of a different opinion.

I think a mandatory DNP will be a good idea. Yes, right now there are no real incentives such as higher salary and/or other things like traumaRUs pointed out.

Many NPs in the beginning, such as OB-GYN NP, practiced after receiving only on-the-job training/preparation, usually a 4-year preceptorship, and sitting for a National certification. They received licensure from their individual states as licensed NPs.

Then, MSN became mandatory to practice. One of the reasons for the shift to MSN was because 3rd party reimbursement started requiring MSN as the minimum to practice.

I can foresee similar requirements in the future.

NPs now who do not have an MSN can still practice in their state only (not disenfranchised), but should they relocate to another state, they would have to be minimum MSN-prepared in order to practice.

In saying all of this, I would definitely like to see the DNP improved. Less "fluff" and more clinical preparation (like the old on-the-job trained Nps of the past). A true clinical doctorate.

1 Votes

That's true. If the program weren't so long I would consider it. It's actually less expensive than the masters program, but the time it will take is what's getting to me. I guess if somehow the DNP does become a requirement then I could to a post masters doctorate program.

Thank you for your input. As I was saying in my comment to Trauma, the DNP program I was accepted to is actually less expensive than the Masters. It's just the time that it's going to take that is causing me to feel unsure.

Specializes in NICU.

I got my MSN and started practice (been in practice for 2 years) and have slowly been doing my post-masters to DNP. I did it so that I could practice sooner and start with a higher salary jump at the front and back end of my career. I am doing my DNP purely for personal desire to get a terminal degree (I seriously considered doing a PhD but felt that I would put too much of myself into that line of work for not enough gain for my lifestyle and personal goals).

So far I haven't paid any $$ towards doing it, getting some reimbursement from work and through some small scholarships, but I would still be doing it even if that weren't the case.

I think that if you're at the beginning of your career and intend to practice for many years that it would be worth it to get, but like others have said, probably won't be required anytime soon and even if, you'd probably be able to stay in your home state for the duration of your career.

1 Votes

only dnp if

1. you want to teach

1. you want to teach

1.2 you want to teach.

1.3 you want do do some sort of instruction toward students

1.4 maybe research

1.5 you like being in debt

1.6 you really like writing papers

I would totally not fret over not getting a DNP, there are many other changes that would happen to NP education prior to it being a DNP type program.

Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

Go to the best quality program you can, forget the degree and forget the cost, invest in yourself and your future practice with the best quality program.

4 Votes
+ Add a Comment