Columbia ETP 2016

fatimaurquilla1 · Feb 11, 2016

@emara That is a tough call. Although honored at Columbia, I would take the scholarship. Specially if you're not from New York. Your degree will always be valid, and what is most important is what you make out of it. Experience is the key. I know nurses that only completed their associates that are now earning ~$90K. It all goes down to what you do with your degree after. But being admitted to Columbia is an absolute blessing. Good luck :)

AspiringFNP30 · Feb 11, 2016

@ignisviridae Ah well glad to know I'm not alone in this process haha.. Just to clarify, did they say that the entire program tuition (MDE and DNP) would be 103K? Or just the MDE portion?

I tried calculating the costs based on information that I found online and it looked like total tuition for both MDE and DNP would be over $140K, but I'm hoping I'm wrong!

@emara9 No problem! Glad it was helpful!

emara9 · Feb 11, 2016

What are some views on MSN vs DNP? I don't want to regret going to the "quicker" program and just getting an MSN, to later in my career find out that getting a DNP would have been more beneficial. I really don't know and I don't know what the job prospects are for a DNP over an MSN. Are there more variable jobs? Or are you going to be a practicing NP either way?

CAemt · Feb 11, 2016

I'm in a similar situation as well. Been accepted into Penn's BSN/MSN for Acute Care NP and Columbia's MDE/DNP. The only other school that could sway me would be UCLA but that's only a non-speciality masters (they don't have a direct entry MSN and NP together, I'd have to apply to the NP separately after working 2ish years in acute care as an RN). What I like about Columbia is that it gives us the most options. After the MDE, you can leave with the Master's if you want and work as an RN, get a post-masters NP certificate or later apply to other dnp programs. If you do the same at Penn, you leave only with a bachelor's and not the same opportunities for leadership, management and education possibilities (which are even greater achieved with the DNP). The paid residency is definitely cool, although I'm wondering how true the "1st two years of the doctorate is fully funded" is on the financial aid FAQ. Either way excited to meet everyone on the 11th!

fatimaurquilla1 · Feb 11, 2016

Tuition for MDE alone is $103K.

Both MSN and DNP NP route just practice NP from what I know, but I think the DNP allows and encourages you to also practice research but the focus in on clinicals.

The thing about nursing is that you start at starting-pay despite your high degree.Experience determines your pay.

CAemt · Feb 11, 2016

I think in the short-term there probably won't be much difference in practicing MSN or DNP NP's but it's more of the long term where it gets tricky. Like fatima said, you can earn 90k as an RN with an associates, but you've probably been at your facility for 20+ years. Even if you're the best RN EVER with an associates degree, you will not be hired by UCLA, USC, Cedar's Sinai or a major university based hospital without a bachelor's (extremely unlikely). We can possibly apply this same logic to the DNP in the next 10-20 years. Yes, legally by state you will still be able to practice as an MSN NP, but if the universities are only offering DNP's (in the next 10ish years) and facilities want DNP qualified NP's, you might be stuck with smaller community or clinic based hospitals. I mean it's all speculation but if I get the DNP now, I don't have to worry about anything later. That's my logic when thinking about it. Love to hear some other opinions!

KS5896 · Feb 11, 2016

I think the fact that Columbia has officially made the decision to change their program to a DNP program is a sign that we may experience the shift from NPs only requiring an MSN to NPs requiring a DNP during the course of our career. This is something that has been in discussion for more than a decade so I'm sure it's not too detrimental but I'm sure it's continuing to be pushed for. Additionally, if you are already practicing as an NP with just a masters you would probably be grandfathered in, however, say you want to switch fields or find a new job the applicant with their DNP may be more qualified and you may find yourself debating whether or not to go back to school in the long run. The way I see it is if you have the opportunity to take your education as far as possible now, go for it!

AspiringFNP30 · Feb 11, 2016

I'm probably going to repeat a lot of what has already been said but here's my two cents..

I personally don't feel like there will be that big of a gap between a DNP with NP certification and an MSN with NP certification. As far as I know, the most important aspects of becoming a nurse practitioner are to have a minimum of an MSN and to pass the boards to receive NP certification. I think following the initial new grad job hurdles, all subsequent job opportunities for us would be based more on experiences (and proper certification) rather than the degree.

That being said, I'm sure that having a DNP now wouldn't hurt, especially if the nursing community is serious about transitionng out of MSN-level NPs to DNP-level NPs. And because of the fact Columbia is essentially the same length as other programs (3 years plus 1 extra year of paid residency), I don't see why Columbia wouldn't be a great option for those of us desiring to become nurse practitioners. Sure the additional year of residency might be off-putting but the way that I see it, it's pretty much the same thing as getting a job after graduating (because it's paid) but actually even better because it's guaranteed PLUS it's a residency program so you will be taught/mentored as a resident rather than expected to perform as a newly-hired employee.

The degree conferred isn't the biggest dilemma for me.. especially because I personally don't have aspirations to start my own clinic and whatnot, which might require a DNP in the future. Who knows! The biggest factors for me then are cost and quality of education. Columbia's tuition is pretty hefty and the cost of living in NY is not cheap either.. Granted, I'll be exposed to some of the best clinical sites and be able to live in one of the most vibrant cities in the world but.. still.. I'm wondering if all things considered, Columbia will really provide me with THAT much better of an education to justify declining another school that will cost be nearly half the price in tuition and allow me to graduate with a BSN, MSN, and NP certification..

ignisviridae · Feb 11, 2016

@ignisviridae Ah well glad to know I'm not alone in this process haha.. Just to clarify, did they say that the entire program tuition (MDE and DNP) would be 103K? Or just the MDE portion?

Unfortunately just MDE! The DNP portion I think is pricey, but not nearly as much as the first 15 month program. It looks like I'm going to go with MGH because it's hard to turn down that scholarship...

BB842 · Feb 11, 2016

I just wish I had money to afford 4 more years of school at almost 100k each year! I'm hoping that when I get a job at a hospital they'd be willing to pay for any future nursing education I may want post BSN or MSN

ignisviridae · Feb 11, 2016

With the DNP at least there are paid residencies in the last year!

AspiringFNP30 · Feb 11, 2016

@ignisviridae Oh wow, I'm actually torn between Columbia and MGH as well! Decided to eliminate Emory because of the tuition fees and the fact that I'd rather be in Boston or New York than Atlanta.. Are you doing the direct-entry MSN for MGH as well? The surprising thing is that with my scholarship, the cost of attending MGH for three years is cheaper than the 15-months of MDE at Columbia.. Would I be crazy to go through with Columbia even though the entire MDE/DNP program will cost me twice as much?!