DNP vs EdD vs PhD

llg, PhD, RN · Dec 28, 2016

It sounds to me as if you already have a handle on the situation. You seem to know the facts -- and just need to figure out what you want for yourself.

An EdD is to education as a DNP is to nursing. They are both "practice degrees" designed for people working in the field. They focus more on teaching the content of jobs within the profession than on the research/theory/philosophy content of PhD's and academia. Only you can figure out what type of career path you want ... and what type of education suits your preferences best.

I wanted the "full load" of a PhD program because I am academically inclined. My brain simply works that way and is comfortable with most abstract material. I didn't go back to school for the PhD for any specific job -- I went because I wanted to learn more about academic subjects such as research, theory, and philosophy. But I work in a hospital because that is where my primary interest in Nursing Professional Development (NPD) happens.

ProgressiveThinking, MSN, CRNA · Dec 30, 2016

Thanks for the response! It's very nice to hear from a PhD educated nurse! Ideally, I would pursue a PhD to satisfy my intellectual curiosity, but it's difficult to overlook the availability, convenience, and cost of the DNP. I guess it depends on whether or not I'm up for it financially and emotionally after anesthesia school!

llg, PhD, RN · Dec 30, 2016

Yep. Perhaps it would be best to simply wait to see how you feel at the time -- and what opportunities might be available at that time.

mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN · Jan 2, 2017

From what I understand, the biggest difference between the DNP and a Ph.D is about 4 years. My friend just finished her DNP and while she had to do a research project, it is not of the magnitude of a full dissertation. Our nursing instructors have gotten Ed.Ds so they can teach at the University level. Any of the doctoral degrees allow you to teach. That is why I am getting my informatics DNP. I want to work in the field but also want to be able to reach some if I want. I have a Masters in teaching but I did not want to get my masters in nursing education b/c I don't want to teach FT, but I like the option of being able to teach.

CRNA, DNSc · Feb 16, 2017

Well- first be a great CRNA- that means getting through your MSNA program (no easy task in itself) get out and practice and then decide what you want to do from there- that will drive what degree would be of greatest benefit for you.

Bluebolt · Feb 17, 2017

I'm in a CRNA DNP program myself. There are only a couple years left for anesthesia programs to convert from masters to DNP/DNAP programs. Like others have mentioned the DNP is a clinical based doctorate designed to heighten your knowledge of a certain specialty. As a current student going through the DNP coursework, I have a few thoughts. I like that CRNA school incorporates the DNP right alongside your CRNA courses because it gives you more time and exposure to anesthesia. You get an extra 1 to 1.5 years of time in CRNA school to learn more material, do more clinical rotations, do research about anesthesia, become an APA paper writing demi-god, work on getting published, develop into a leader in your field, etc.

If you're going to have your degree as a clinical specialist highly trained in your field like a CRNA is, go for the DNP and build on that. My caveat to that is since your actual program is MSN and you'll be adding on DNP separate from your program after you graduate I don't know if the DNP will be as relatable to your specialty like my experience has been. Although, I would go out on a limb and say it has to be more relatable and relevant to you than a theory based PhD or education doctorate.

gleng44 · Feb 19, 2017

I would like to get that "terminal" degree, they said for clinical it's DNP.

Also love teaching but most state universities require PhD.

Still torn between DNP and PhD, my clock is ticking.

VETEROSA · Feb 19, 2017

I did the DNP route vs PhD because of time & cost. I finished in 1 year with no regrets. I teach PT but was recently promoted in the management leadership role.

mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN · Feb 21, 2017

you can teach with a DNP. My friend has her DNP and teaches courses for an online BSN program. My advisor is a Ph.D, is a great teacher, but is sometimes unavailable as she is always in active research and giving presentations-she is a leader in her field. We have several professors that are really involved in research. We have many DNP professors too. Mostly I see a lot that have done BSN, MSN, then DNP which probably is the same amount of years in school as a 5 year Ph.D program.

Bluebolt · Feb 21, 2017

Almost all the professors in my undergrad university were MSN or DNP. All the professors in my doctorate program at my current university are DNP, except for one PhD. I've never heard of any nursing/medical program not desiring a DNP for their institution.

Bumex, DNP, NP · Apr 24, 2017

The recognition of the dnp varies by institution. Both where i went to NP school and where I teach both seem to have good recognition of the DNP. However, my undergrad institution only allowed nontenure track opportunities be given to the DNP degree holders. I'm doing my DNP in hopes to obtain a tenured spot within my institution in the future. If you look at my previous threads, I contemplated going back for the EdD after the DNP just to learn more and gain more skills. The more I read on it, the more redundant that idea seems. Good luck!