Doctorate in Nursing?

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I just started nursing school, but I already know that I want to get an advanced practice degree, maybe even a doctorate. I would like opinions on which nursing doctorate route is the best and also what the difference is between a doctor of nursing practice and a medical doctor.

Thank you.

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Specializes in ICU & IV Therapy.

Thanks for asking this question as I have wondered the same thing myself. I wonder what or if there is a true value to gaining a doctorate other than for teaching masters level nursing. As that is the only thing I have seen that utilizes the doctorate level nursing. As far as going for a doctorate degree, I have my own unique route to go because I will soon hold a bachelor in another field other than nursing. So I, after RN school, will finish my bachelor, get my MSN and then consider a doctorate degree...probably not the PhD in Nursing as I hear it is heavy on research, which I am not interested in...but a very good academic degree to have. I would be more for the DNP (Doctorate of Nursing Practice) or DSN/DNS (Doctorate of Nursing Science). It all depends on what you want to use it for mainly. Lots to think about!!!!:bugeyes:

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
what the difference is between a doctor of nursing practice and a medical doctor.

Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a clinical doctorate for nurses. Medical Doctor is a physician. Totally different careers.

Please read this thread regarding the possibility of DNP by 2015 for all who want to practice advanced practice nursing such as the Nurse Practitioner (NP): Doctoral degree to become an NP???

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Specializes in ICU & IV Therapy.
Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a clinical doctorate for nurses. Medical Doctor is a physician. Totally different careers.

Please read this thread regarding the possibility of DNP by 2015 for all who want to practice advanced practice nursing such as the Nurse Practitioner (NP): Doctoral degree to become an NP???

From my understanding some states are already starting to kinda kick this into gear by eliminating the Masters Programs and offering DNP....but not "yet" requiring the DNP to work as a Nurse Practioner.:cool:

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As I graduated, my school was a few years in to starting their DNP program, and this consisted of a couple of deans putting all the professors through the program and making them all DNPs so they could in turn teach the classes. I'm pretty sure they got to do that for free! A lot of research involved. Nothing like a medical degree, in which you practice medicine. DNPs home to advance the practice of nursing a as a "profession" through understanding it at every level and finding new research problems, publishing, and teaching others to implement findings of research. At my school there you could even graduate with your BSN and go straight into the "I want to be a DNP program." This involved getting an MSN along the way.

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Good info!

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

What I was told by one of my professors in my graduate program is that it won't be up to the individual states - the organization that actually certifies you as an NP *WILL* require that you have a doctorate before you will be allowed to take the certification exam, starting in 2015.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
From my understanding some states are already starting to kinda kick this into gear by eliminating the Masters Programs and offering DNP....but not "yet" requiring the DNP to work as a Nurse Practioner.:cool:

They are. They are gearing up to what they "predict/think" will be a final decision: DNP in 2015. But, for now, it's still a "vision".

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.
AACN - DNP - FAQs
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Much like Rph evolved into PharmD.

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