HELP DNP vs FNP

rnkaytee · May 23, 2015

A DNP is a doctorate of nursing practice, versus an MSN, which is a Master's of Science in Nursing. A DNP or MSN can be obtained in any of the specialties; it's not an "either DNP versus FNP" situation. A Family Nurse Practitioner can see a large scope of patients and could open up your own clinic (depending on the state's rules). From my understanding, there's a pay difference of about $5000/year for a DNP versus Master's (I'm sure I will be corrected if wrong).

LittleCandles · May 23, 2015

A DNP is a doctorate of nursing practice, versus an MSN, which is a Master's of Science in Nursing. A DNP or MSN can be obtained in any of the specialties; it's not an "either DNP versus FNP" situation. A Family Nurse Practitioner can see a large scope of patients and could open up your own clinic (depending on the state's rules). From my understanding, there's a pay difference of about $5000/year for a DNP versus Master's (I'm sure I will be corrected if wrong).

Maybe I'm naive but 5000 a year doesn't seem like a lot for going from masters to doctorate. ðŸ˜’

nurseNsearch15 · May 23, 2015

Thank you! I will probably go for the DNP just because i want to go as far as I can with my education in nursing

Have eithee of yall run into any issues while applying for jobs? Do certain employers favor DNPs more? Or is the degree to new to be an issue.

Are either of yall NPs? Would love to get some foresight on what a typical day is like for you. Even though i know that every job is different :)

Anonymous1257 · May 23, 2015

Advantage: People you went to school with will call you doctor.

No scope of practice benefits. No difference in pay. It does not qualify you for independent practice anywhere that MSNs don't already have independent practice.

Jules A, MSN · May 23, 2015

Advantage: People you went to school with will call you doctor.
.

And others will roll their eyes behind your back if you introduce yourself as Dr.

rnkaytee · May 23, 2015

I haven't run into any strong preference for the DNP although I do know of one medical director that will only hire DNPs for his NICU (my specialty).

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · May 24, 2015

And others will roll their eyes behind your back if you introduce yourself as Dr.

This kind of gripes me. If a person has an earned doctorate degree, s/he can be called 'doctor'. Do pharmacists or English professors run into the same eye rolling?

Jules A, MSN · May 24, 2015

This kind of gripes me. If a person has an earned doctorate degree, s/he can be called 'doctor'. Do pharmacists or English professors run into the same eye rolling?

I have no clue and actually don't recall ever calling a PharmD "Dr". I'm not saying it isn't snarky just that it happens and with regard to nurses our over the top alphabet soup tends to illicit eye rolls especially among physicians. Some of it is probably because now there is a doctorate of everything and as we have discussed in nursing very little weeding out process so everyone and their granny is getting this designation.

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · May 24, 2015

I have no clue and actually don't recall ever calling a PharmD "Dr". I'm not saying it isn't snarky just that it happens and with regard to nurses our over the top alphabet soup tends to illicit eye rolls especially among physicians. Some of it is probably because now there is a doctorate of everything and as we have discussed in nursing very little weeding out process so everyone and their granny is getting this designation.

But plenty of academic professors in many disciplines refer to themselves as 'Dr.' I call a couple of my instructors now (DNP holders) 'Dr.' One of my friends growing up had a mother who was an English lit professor who earned her PhD when we were little. My mother insisted that I call her Dr. instead of Mrs.

I agree the alphabet soup can be a bit much, but there's nothing wrong with a person's earned degree going behind their name. That's what MDs have, after all.

Anonymous1257 · May 24, 2015

It has nothing to do with people disrespecting doctoral level degrees. It's that someone in a clinical setting besides an MD is being called doctor. No one cares about a PhD in English in a hospital. The same can be said of a DNP.

IsabelK · May 24, 2015

I've been told I can't introduce myself as "Dr." in the clinical setting because it might confuse patients even though I do have the DNP. I always let people know I am not a physician, but that I do have a doctorate in nursing practice. If they choose to call me "Dr. K", that's fine. If not, Isabel works.

I find that the resistance comes from physicians and NPs who are not doctorate educated. When I talk about it, my response is always, "My license is as an ANP, my academic credentials are "doctor", just like a physician's license is as "physician" and his or her academic credentials are "doctor".