Doctoral degree to become an NP???

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The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) is calling for the requirement of doctorate in nursing for advanced practice nurses, such as nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, clinical nurse specialists, and nurse anesthetists. This new degree will be called a Doctor of Nursing Practice and, if the AACN has its way, will become the entry level for advanced nursing practice.

AACN Position Statement on the Practice Doctorate in Nursing

Specializes in critical care.

I am relatively young (29). The MSN/FNP will take me 3 years and from what I have seen thus far, the DNP would take an additional 2 years after that.

The cost-benefit ratio is of great concern for me. From my research I will not make much more money as a FNP than I am as a RN. I am doing it because FNP is the job I want. But I can't pretend money doesn't come into play-esp when you are looking at large student loans for these degrees. Also the stress me being in school puts on my family is another consideration. I always considered the MSN a terminal degree for me so this is throwing me for a curve-ball and really making me reconsider my choices.

Thanks

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I am relatively young (29). The MSN/FNP will take me 3 years and from what I have seen thus far, the DNP would take an additional 2 years after that.

The cost-benefit ratio is of great concern for me. From my research I will not make much more money as a FNP than I am as a RN. I am doing it because FNP is the job I want. But I can't pretend money doesn't come into play-esp when you are looking at large student loans for these degrees. Also the stress me being in school puts on my family is another consideration. I always considered the MSN a terminal degree for me so this is throwing me for a curve-ball and really making me reconsider my choices.

Thanks

Look into a MSN/ NP program.. many have part time MSN and that allows you to still work for a while. Thus - no student loans: only when NP (I think mine was around 18K)

FYI - I make over 100K a year as a np plus benfits.. and my hrs are awesome... again the big picture... I've been an NP for about 7 yrs... and I certainly understand the Money thing... but- big picture.. I work 8- 4:30 m-f /no call /no weekends.. as an RN I would;ve never made that kind of money with those hrs..

Your 29/ but you'll turn around and age for some reason just keeps coming... haha.. and if your like me I couldn't see me running around ICU or the hospital when I was older.. and 12 hrs shifts... no.. :D I'm just too old... and if your stae is like mine you can alwsy pull a shift once in awhiles an Rn. But - PRN/ hrly rate is 55/ hr as an NP..

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Specializes in ICU.
I am relatively young (29). The MSN/FNP will take me 3 years and from what I have seen thus far, the DNP would take an additional 2 years after that.

The cost-benefit ratio is of great concern for me. From my research I will not make much more money as a FNP than I am as a RN. I am doing it because FNP is the job I want. But I can't pretend money doesn't come into play-esp when you are looking at large student loans for these degrees. Also the stress me being in school puts on my family is another consideration. I always considered the MSN a terminal degree for me so this is throwing me for a curve-ball and really making me reconsider my choices.

Thanks

I have similar conversations with nurses at my hospital. When I tell them my ideal salary as a NP many of them smirk and say they can make double that as a bedside nurse... here's the thing... they're working nights, weekends, holidays, overtime... I made the decision to become a NP so I could mostly avoid this sort of nightmare. I'm done working night shift and every other holiday and every 3rd weekend and 12 hour shifts. To each his own... but I'm more than happy to share the same schedule as my husband once all this is over! At this point, we hardly see each other!

The MSN will most likely be my terminal degree with a potential post-masters certification to increase my chances of rounding through the ICUs since this is my primary passion. While I would be tickled to be known as Dr. Yellow Finch, it's not my ultimate goal in life.

No, student loans are not ideal, but if you can find alternative sources of income. My hospital pays an average of one semester's worth of education, then I apply for every scholarship under the sun, and save my pennies for the remainder.

This is possible! I'm all for advancing our knowledge of nursing and truly enjoy the challenges I put myself through each day with clinicals and coursework.

Lastly, I was talking to another RN yesterday who was just tired of being the fallguy for problems that occur with patients. It's like when you don that lab coat and play the role of the mid-level provider, your respect goes up a notch. There are plenty of brilliant bedside nurses in my department who, despite all attempts at indicating their intelligence, are still "just a nurse" in the eyes of some docs. It's really depressing.

Don't give up on yourself!

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Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.

I spoke with one of the faculty at UCSF that suggested the market will determine the demand for the DNP. As it stands now, the DNP is supposed to take effect in 2015. That's 7 years away and a lot can change within that time, including a better DNP program and one that is more widely accepted. As it stands now, many private schools (very expensive ones, I might add) offer the DNP, but reputable less expensive schools such as the UC system or the state school systems do not offer the degree. My point is that, I don't think going to a masters program is a bad idea and to assume that everyone will need the DNP may be wrong. So, maybe we should just go on as if the DNP doesn't exist yet as a requirement, because maybe it won't ever be one. I think that they need more academia to be on board at this point and I don't see every school following suit so fast, except for the ones that want a lot of money.

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Specializes in critical care.

Thanks again for the advice! I appreciate it!

Yellow finch-I have had the exact conversation with many of my friends and co-workers. Yes, I can make over 90K a year as a RN but there is no way in he!! I can do that forever. Mentally, physically, no way. Not to mention I have zero desire to be a bedside nurse forever.

I think I am having an early mid life crisis...must be what happens when you turn 30 :eek:

The DNP is just confusing me and making me nervous. I think I do need to set it out of my mind for now and just work towards the NP. Who knows what will happen with the DNP at this point?

D

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Specializes in ICU.

starbuck... just think... it won't be possible to expect the thousands upon thousands of MSN-prepared NPs to go back to school and earn their DNP. It simply isn't realistic and there will never be enough programs to get all of us into them. In short, the reimbursement issue can't take place with this in mind.

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Specializes in critical care.

You're right. The people I am talking to must just be freaking out! I just need to focus on the MSN and see what happens with the DNP.

Thanks

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Specializes in ACNP-BC.

I will be graduating from my NP program in 3 months and cannot wait to start practicing as an ACNP!!! But thinking about the future, I am probably going to pursue the DNP because I know in the future I would like to be a full professor of nursing in a university setting one day-and want to be able to teach all levels of nursing students from all the way up to NP students. So if I were to get any kind of doctorate, it would be the DNP for that reason. But for now, I just want to focus on being an NP and developing my skills because I have been in college/grad school since 1995 with no break! It's definitely time for me to just work and not be in school. I know MSN prepared NPs will most likely be grandfathered in before 2015 but I am pretty sure I will be enrolled in a DNP program within the future. But honestly, I am very much in support of making this an individual decision-I don't think anyone should be forced into getting a DNP if it is not within their goals.

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Specializes in ER/OR.

just a question. for those students who are in msn-np programs at the time of 2015..what happens there?? can they be grandfathered in..or will they have to continue on?

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

Just thought I'd share this article in this forum:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120710036831882059.html?mod=home_health_right

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.
just a question. for those students who are in msn-np programs at the time of 2015..what happens there?? can they be grandfathered in..or will they have to continue on?

the current word is that msn prepared np's should be grandfathered and can still practice as np's if the requirement for a dnp pushes through in 2015. however, the article i just posted a link to above threw somewhat of a curveball. it says that there is actually a plan to offer a separate certification for dnp educated np's. this will add a new dimension to the dnp vs msn debate. however, i know it's pretty premature to get all up in arms about this dnp-only certification idea.

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The current word is that MSN prepared NP's should be grandfathered and can still practice as NP's if the requirement for a DNP pushes through in 2015. However, the article I just posted a link to above threw somewhat of a curveball. It says that there is actually a plan to offer a separate certification for DNP educated NP's. This will add a new dimension to the DNP vs MSN debate. However, I know it's pretty premature to get all up in arms about this DNP-only certification idea.

The article also talked about significantly expanding the scope of practice for DNP-prepared NPs. I still think that the ivied-tower types are going to have a very hard time getting the "real world" nursing community to embrace this idea, and nothing's going to happen (in terms of mandates, licensure, certifications, SOP changes, etc.) unless "we" (the rest of the nursing community) get on board.

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