Graduating with MSN, RN... best path to NP

[busby]

Hi all,

I am having some difficulty deciding what to do once I graduate at the end of this spring.

Background: I have a BA in psychology, and worked for 5 years in clinical psyc. I am currently attending an entry to practice Master's program, which I will be completing in the spring (so I will have an MSN and an RN). My end goal is to be a pediatric nurse practitioner, incorporating both teaching and research into my clinical practice (I would like to have at least 50% of my time be clinical practice). I can remain at the school that I am currently attending and go straight into a DNP program where I would receive my NP licensure as well as my clinical doctoral degree. However, for financial reasons this is not feasible unless I go part-time while working as an RN part-time, which is not an option of this program. So, I have been looking at alternative options, and this is what I came up with:

- Work full time as an RN for a year or two to get experience, then apply to and attend a full time DNP program in pediatrics

- go straight to a different DNP program part-time while working as an RN part-time

- do a licensure completion program to receive my NP license, and then begin working as an NP while going back to school for my clinical doctorate

- Get a second master's and NP license, while not getting a DNP

-Do a licensure completion for my NP, and not get a DNP

Because I am interested in both research and teaching, advisors at my school have recommended a DNP as opposed to an NP licensure completion, which I tend to agree with, however I want to make sure this is the best degree plan for me, before entering into a program for it. Has anyone gone through a similar path in their education, and if so, what would you recommend? I am especially interested to hear from anyone who attended an entry to practice program, and went straight through to their NP license, without having worked as an RN.

Thanks!

Chrissy B

[RegularNurse]

Advice:

1. Get a pediatric RN job first

2. Get your DNP after some experience. Everyone knows the DNP is a joke, which was designed to give nurses a title parity with MDs. The ANA is playing the long game here. They want the DNP to become the DO. This will take decades to accomplish.

3. Legit alternative: get your FNP instead of your DNP after you have had experience.

Personally, I think you should shadow a peds NP in the state you want to practice in, to see what they actually do and how they are utilized.

[LessValuableNinja]

Something to keep in mind is that a DNP is unlikely to impact your NP pay. It also isn't necessary to have to teach, though it will impact academic pay. You can always get one later. Another consideration is that many (all, in my area) PNP programs require peds experience.