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

Specialties Doctoral

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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?

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.

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."

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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