DNP....Is it worth it for me????

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Hello Everyone! I have recently been accepted into the Arizona State University Adult DNP program. I am having the toughest time deciding if it is the right move for me to make.

Let me tell you a little about myself. I have been a nurse for 2 years. I started out working as a new grad on tele/post open heart floor. After a year and a half I have transferred to resource and float all over the hospital between med-surg/ tele/ ICU resource person/ Stress lab....and I love not knowing where I am going to be from day to day. When I originally applied to the DNP program I really didn't think that I would get accepted based on only being a nurse for 2 years but I figured I would try anyways. Well here I am accepted for Fall 2013 and still trying to weigh the Pro's and Con's to make the right decision.

So here are the things I have to take into consideration:

  • I am only 24 right now. The program is 3 years and I would only be 27, I know that having a doctorate degree at that age is a huge accomplishment and hard to pass up. It would be amazing to just be done with school forever considering I have never had a break from it! I know that I could always do the program later, but I am such a go getter and If I am ever going to do it now is the time, before we have kids.
  • My husband is in medical school and has 2 years left. This is a huge factor in many ways. When do when start a family? As a nurse my job is so flexible and since I don't have my own patients it's easier to take time off. I didn't have a mother and father growing up so it is important to me that I provide that solid foundation when we have kids. However, as a DNP I'm afraid that I would get sucked into to job and added responsibilities and my husband and I would both be working a lot which is not the type of parent I want to be. I know that I need to make this decision on my own and not because my husband is going to be a doctor because I know nothing in life is guaranteed (in our relationship and our future health).
  • I really don't care about having a doctorate degree, or being addressed as Doctor. If I could do a MSN NP in 2 years and never be pressured to complete the DNP portion I would. But, since I am so young I figure I better just go with the higher degree and never look back.
  • I CAN'T IMAGINE being a floor nurse for the next 40 something years, just shoot me! I know there are a ton of possibilities within nursing but who knows what is going to happen with the new health care changes.
  • NP's don't necessarily make that much more than a nurse, so is the student loan debt that I am going to take on worth it in the long run? I think it would be only because I am so young, but it is still sickening to think of. My husband won't have any debt from med school, he is doing the HPSP military scholarship so it will just be my loans and would end up being about 100K.
  • When we do start having kids I'm pretty sure that I want to just work part time. My husband doesn't think it's worth it for me to go through all that schooling and only work part time, and is not confident that I would be able to find part time jobs.
  • If I am going to do a 3 year program I really need the motivation, and honestly since I have never had a break from school the motivation is lacking.....It seems like I have never had time to fully concentrate on myself, start up some hobbies, lose weight and just enjoy life!

Any feedback, information, or advice is very appreciated! Thank You!

You are right about thinking it's a good idea to get this out of the way before you have kids!! Also, once you quit going to school it's harder to get started again.

Have you thought about becoming a nurse anesthetist? They have one of the highest nurse satisfaction rates and make the most money. I heard it's a grueling program so it's best to do it when you're young without kids. Once done, you can pretty much pick your own schedule and some places will even pay off your loans for you! You could also be involved in a trauma team, flight nursing, rapid responses, etc besides just working the OR. If I had to do it all over again that's what I would do. I worked in the OR for a while and ALL of them were very happy and content with their jobs!

If you enjoy teaching you could get your doctorate and work in a college teaching or just your masters and become a staff educator, diabetic educator, etc. If you enjoy management you could get your master's or doctorate in nursing administration. The point is there are other routes than just the DNP. If you truly aren't sure about the DNP then don't but I would work on your master's degree. If you think you would like working in a doctor's office, seeing patients, diagnosing, writing Rx's then go for the DNP. Not all work full-time but you are right in considering you will have to pay back the loans. Will your hospital help with those? Hey, maybe you could work with your husband someday in his practice! ;) There's also school nursing that you just need your bachelors for although with a master's degree you'll make more but it will still be one of the lower paying nursing jobs. Money isn't everything. Good luck making your decision!!

I can't really answer your questions but I can tell you my situation. I am a single parent of a wonderful soon to be 6 year old son. I am 23 soon to be 24 so you can do the math of the age I had this precious child. I worked diligently and obtained my BSN after four straight years of college. I thought that being a RN was the best choice for me and I had dreamed of becoming a nurse since high school. My dream was to move away from smallville, GA to the "big" city of Atlanta. I soon found that 12 hour shifts even 3 days a week were not conducive to my plans of leaving especially since I work night shift. I worked at a large hospital on a med-surg floor for my first year and soon knew that I needed more of a challenge. I had already planned on returning to school for my MSN after 2 to 3 years of experience but expedited the process. I applied and was accepted to a full time cohort at my alma mater for the FNP program. I officially have 10 months left before I walk across the stage and although sometimes I get overwhelmed, I think I have made the right decision.

The FNP will provide me more challenge as well as more autonomy...as well as a better schedule. Being a single parent I am also looking at the increased pay, but have already been offered a position when I finish in my town in which I will probably be looking at the same pay I am making as a PRN float pool nurse right now. Of course I am pulling overtime shifts at times to make the increased rate and have no benefits so in the long run I will be making more with the FNP position. My new plan is to obtain at least 2 years experience then move on to hopefully bigger and better things.

I am telling you this story to give you perspective. KIDS CHANGE EVERYTHING. I love my son to death, but I tell people all the time if not for having a child I probably wouldn't have rushed going back to school. The RN schedule is great for single people or for people in which that schedule works. But for people like me who want to continue their education, its best to go back before having a family. (Note: I'm saying if you're already SURE you want to further education). I'll be 24 when I finish with my MSN (turning 25 two months later). Like you I just want to be done with my education at a young age.

Working in nursing homes as a CNA while completing my BSN, I ran into many single parents who became LPNs. Most said they'd plan on going back to school for their RN, but with the responsibility of kids and work schedule never got the chance. I learned from their experience and advice and decided I wanted to go all the way at a young age. I'd tell anyone thinking of going back to school who is childless to take that step before having a child. Like others have said you can always continue working as an RN until you find your dream position as an NP once you obtain the degree (of course don't wait years for that position LOL). MSN is the last step for me for right now, have not heard enough evidence to convince me that the DNP is a needed asset to becoming an NP. Of course the bragging rights of having a doctorate is always tempting :***:

Specializes in Cardiac.
My advice is to forget the DNP for now. I have been in a similar situation as you...I'm an RN and would like to become an NP soon, but couldn't really decide between MSN and DNP. I finally decided on MSN after a lot of research because:

1. Having the DNP doesn't change job prospects, salary, or responsibility. All jobs simply require an NP license, which is currently attainable at the MSN level.

2. Going for the DNP all at once actually causes your degree to be more expensive. You see, most schools charge less for a master's degree vs a doctoral degree. If you enroll as a master's student, you will pay the master's rate. If you enroll as a doctoral student, you will pay the doctoral rate per credit/semester - even when you're taking the same classes as the MSN students!

3. The DNP is fairly new and seems unorganized. I'd rather wait until it becomes more clinical based and has been revamped - right now, the standardization is pretty lax and I feel I would regret getting it right now.

4. I believe working as while as an NP with an MSN will give you a greater appreciation for what you're learning once you go back to school for the DNP. Things just make more sense when you can apply them.

Due to these reasons, I have decided to go for my MSN now, saving considerable debt and allowing me to being practicing sooner. After my debt is paid off for the MSN and I have practiced for a while, I will go back and receive my DNP, which by then should be more standardized. I hope that helps!

Actually, this is not true at all. I am also enrolled in the 2013 FNP program for the Doctoral track and I take one additional class each semester and you pay Master level rates. You don't pay the Doctoral level rates until the 3rd year. You can sit for the NP exam after 2 years and the Doctoral part of the degree is all online, starting the 3rd year. You also don't have to do the doctoral part at that time if you are not ready for it. That last year will be more expensive, I believe it is twice as much as the first 2 years, however, even though I know at this time it doesn't change how much I will earn. I feel it will make me more marketable in my field. Also, I can teach if I want too. At least for me, this is what I am choosing. I also have only been a nurse for 2 years, however, to earn what a NP makes, I have to work a great deal of over time. I'm not in this for the money though, this has been my goal from the start. Good luck in whatever decision you chose. Ultimately, others can not make that decision for you, you are the one that has to decide what is best for you. You sound very grounded to me, I'm sure no matter what you decide you will excel.

As an older nurse, I stronly recommend that you do go ahead with DNP. It will open doors for you that you maybe never dreamed of !!!!

Since you don't see yourself as a floor nurse for the rest of your life, DO IT !!!!

Education is nerver wasted. You might as well do it now while your husband is also doing his !

You never know what life holds for you. I don't want to be a bad omen, but. if by chance you wind up by yourself and mayby a child or two, you will be very happy to be able to provide for them without having the hassle of fighting tooth and nail for a few dollars for you and your children ...

You are a strong woman from what I can read ! GO GO GO do it, will not regret it ! DO not depend on anybody else to provide for you ! DO IT NOW while you are young and without children !

I went back to school when I had young children and it is doable but harder, because, you have more responsabilities.

You do now, once it is done, you will be so proud of yourself and you will have new opportunities that you never thought that you could have !

GOOD LUCK

I can't add a whole lot to what everyone else has said, except to ask you whether in 10 years, if you don't go for the DNP, will you look back and really regret missing your chance? People make careers work around their kids all the time, and, kids eventually leave the nest or at least become more self-sufficient before that happens. Devoting yourself to your family is great, just don't lose yourself in the mix.

Specializes in ICU.

I thought I would add in another aspect to think about ... you say your husband is receiving a military scholarship for med school. That means after he graduates in 2 years, he will be stationed somewhere for his residency training right? If you start a 3 year program, you are guaranteed to be separated for a year. Now, it can be done. A lot of nurses (and nursing students) have been separated from their spouses temporarily but it is something to consider in your decision.

As another poster has said, the DNP curriculum is currently unorganized and if a MSN prepared nurse can get the same job as a DNP, why not pay less money and go for the MSN?

Specializes in Cardiac.
I thought I would add in another aspect to think about ... you say your husband is receiving a military scholarship for med school. That means after he graduates in 2 years, he will be stationed somewhere for his residency training right? If you start a 3 year program, you are guaranteed to be separated for a year. Now, it can be done. A lot of nurses (and nursing students) have been separated from their spouses temporarily but it is something to consider in your decision.

As another poster has said, the DNP curriculum is currently unorganized and if a MSN prepared nurse can get the same job as a DNP, why not pay less money and go for the MSN?

As I previously stated, the third year is all online, so this is the time to act. You won't be separated. I think if you don't do this now you will regret it, but again ultimately this is your decision.

I think you should go for it! It's a great opportunity and everything else will fall into place. Don't think about anything else right now.....if being an NP is something you truly want to achieve, I say go for it and your future plans will fall right into place! I am actually interested in applying for ASU's Pediatric DNP program. How was the application process? Was it extremely competitive?

What about joining the military yourself? That way, you could increase your pay grade and get the education you want without a huge amount of debt. When I graduated nursing school in '05, the Army had a great program for associate degree nurses who would become officers without the bachelor's degree. Of course, they encourage and pay for you to get your higher degrees.

Someone mentioned working at the VA. As far as I know, the VA has THE most generous tuition-reimbursement package. They merely require that you commit to 2 years working for every year they pay for your education.

Hello,

I need help here... :(:sarcastic:

FIRST QUESTION:

I have a confusion with the DNP.

I've been searching for DNP programs and some of them seems to be just DNP with any specializations.. Am I wrong? or all the DNP's have a specializations like Family Nurse Practitioner, Pedriatic NP, Psychiatric NP etc..

SECOND QUESTION:

I would like to pursue BSN-DNP but I would like to earn a MSN first and it seems that the only university that awards a MSN in the BSN-DNP track is Duke University.

Does anybody knows another university that awards a MSN during BSN-DNP track?

Hello,

I need help here... :(:sarcastic:

FIRST QUESTION:

I have a confusion with the DNP.

I've been searching for DNP programs and some of them seems to be just DNP with any specializations.. Am I wrong? or all the DNP's have a specializations like Family Nurse Practitioner, Pedriatic NP, Psychiatric NP etc..

SECOND QUESTION:

I would like to pursue BSN-DNP but I would like to earn a MSN first and it seems that the only university that awards a MSN in the BSN-DNP track is Duke University.

Does anybody knows another university that awards a MSN during BSN-DNP track?

Hopefully someone who is more knowledgable can chime in but to my understanding programs were no longer offering MSN but going right to DNP. Hopefully smoke else knows more. Maybe try searching MSN on the forum?

Specializes in Trauma 4yr Flight 8mn.

There are still programs that are BSN-DNP that offer an exit at MSN

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