Acc BSN to MSN/MPH or DNP/MPH?

[cat-dog]

Hi folks!

I want to make a career that combines clinical work with research that has a pipeline into effecting change in health policies.

I am interested in an Accelerated BSN into a MSN/MPH or DNP/MPH program.

1) Does the MSN/FNP allow you to be an investigator for a study? Does the DNP? (In this case, would it be necessary to look for a PhD/DNP program?)

2) Are there any programs out there that folks can point me to?

3) Does anyone do this kind of work within the realm of nursing that can generously share their perspective?

Thank you all in advance for your perspectives/information sharing/time.

I sincerely appreciate it!

Only read below if you want to or have time, it's TMI. Please no disparaging remarks about my history. I am confident I can leverage my experience into a fulfilling career. I need to make the next moves and I need to have an overarching 'plan' to work towards.

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About me in a nutshell (career wise anyway!) --

I am a Naturopathic Doctor/Masters in Oriental Medicine (ND/MSOM) drop out (long story - I had to help my family to learn the lesson of how I needed to stop putting everyone first, before myself - it's taken a long time to figure this out and this is a theme that comes up again and again) with a long history in obtaining entry-level work experience in several fields: research -quantitative and qualitative, clinic work, nonprofits, academia, education, social work, behavioral health. I did that to gain well rounded on-the-ground experience to help me in 'the career' before going to my ND/MSOM school. Long story short, when I was in my ND/MSOM program, I realized I was spending way more time advocating for the licensure of the profession rather than helping the people I wanted to help. And I'd be almost 375K in debt if I were to finish the program without real job prospects (have to have money in order to start your own business and my family does not have the financial capacity to help.) Based on my social justice heart, folks encouraged me to go to medical school. I retook many pre-med pre-reqs part time while I worked 8 odd jobs to make ends meet (I'm "non-traditional, i.e. old! Ha! And the first in my family to get a college degree.) At the end of that chapter, I just was not sure if I wanted to 'be a doctor' as I simply did not enjoy most of my pre-med classmates. I did some soul searching, witnessed a death during an ED shadowing experience, and saw how the physician led the treatment plan with the nurse giving recommendations, but it was the nurses who not only worked to try to save the patient's life, but was also the one who touched the patient and comforted her. ND school shares a lot philosophically with Nursing, and there is a distinct difference between Nursing vs Medical (Allopathic) philosophy. I then talked to an old nurse-friend, now an NP, and she told me that I could in fact also practice integrative medicine as an NP. She added that in the state of OR, NPs can open their own clinics if they desired. So, I completed the nursing prereqs too!

I have also found that most folks in the Nursing profession understand the need to work during school to make ends meet, which was different than what I experienced from the students trying to get into the Medical profession.

Fast forward to now. Currently, I work at an academic research institution. I needed to see how physicians, PAs, NPs, and nurses work together to get a real sense of roles/responsibilities - don't want to make another 50K mistake!

In this hospital environment, I am discovering how I am a data driven 'systems' thinker with a social justice lens and a strong, collaborative team player. I have not met any others with this bent who are just as comfortable working with people (and want to work with people), but also want to have a hand in research to have impact on policy for societal good (I am more of a quantitative research person vs a qualitative research person) that truly enjoys collaborative team work. I don't feel a need to 'lead', but I can. I would also prefer a 30:70 or 40:60 spit between clinic (constant patient interaction):research.

I also work 55-80 hours per week at a low salary in my current position. So I know that I am extraordinarily good at juggling a million tasks at once, learning complicated, detailed work really fast, and am dedicated to 'doing a good job' to the point where the idea of 'shift work' may help to force me to find work-life balance. (My division has seen a lot of turnover and has been extraordinarily short staffed. My only gripe is that I just learned that an old colleague and a new colleague who work in my same position make 10K more than I do such that I am asking for an equity raise as I have helped carry a large brunt of the load of the team - what a learning experience it has been this past year!)

Is anyone doing work like the work I want to be doing? What did you study? What are you doing now?

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Moved to prenursing forum

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

In healthcare professions (nursing included), qualifications for generating new knowledge (e.g., research) are obtained with doctoral education. However, DNP credentials are focused on patient care rather than research skills/knowledge. That being said, nurses at all levels are involved in clinical research... as research nurses who assisting the Primary Investigator(s) by performing clinical tasks or higher level functions such as managing/supervising research protocols.

Obtaining a nursing license will involve the achievement of very specific outcomes - including a degree from an accredited program and passing NCLEX. Accelerated programs have to meet all the same requirements - just at a faster pace. With your background, I'm sure that you are well prepared to deal with a more intensive program to obtain your license. In view of your ultimate goals, I would, however, recommend that you opt for 'bricks and mortar' graduate & doctoral programs because these will provide you with the scholastic environment needed for researchers.

Wishing you all the best on your educational & career journey.