DNP residency - does it reduce the benefit of RN experience?

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Specifically, I'm looking at OHSU's psych NP program. They offer a 2-year didactic masters with 680 clinical hours included. Optionally, a student could continue onto their DNP after their MS-NP, which would entirely consist of a residency + synthesis course. Would something like this - that includes a 2-semester residency in addition to the full NP masters - potentially even be more beneficial to NP practice then working as an RN for a year and then going onto a 2-year NP masters? Thoughts?

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Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.

This sounds ideal. This would give you a strong foundation as an NP and the residency would prepare you for independent practice. And you would have your DNP.

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Specializes in FNP, ONP.

Far more so. I don't think RN practice offers much, if any benefit to NP practice. The two have absolutely nothing in common eyond the word "Nurse."

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that's really interesting to hear...would you mind expanding on that? I am just finishing my BSN from an accelerated program, and am looking at a DNP in the next 3-5 years. One of the reasons I chose nursing over medicine last minute (as in, was enrolled in a med school program!) was that I decided I really liked the NP role because it was rooted in the nursing model.

I realize it is a big shift in thinking to do differentials, etc., but I have been under the impression that it is still nursing-based, not "med-lite." For example, this recent NYtimes blog post talks about how NPs are more likely to offer non-pharm treatments to patients, leading to better, more comprehensive care. I would think this is a direct result of RN training and experience, and I love that NPs bring that viewpoint to the table.

I am debating about where I want my career to take me, and do have some concerns that getting a DNP will effectively take me out of nursing as I know it. I would love to hear your experience and take on it.

For the record, I do think that we need residencies-- the DNP is really not a "clinical doctorate" without a residency!

http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/07/19/in-the-doctors-office-a-neglected-resource/?_r=0

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