I don't understand bsn to dnp programs

Nursing Students School Programs

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I am interested in specializing in mental health. So naturally I because I only get 1 semester of psychiatric nursing in my BSN program and intro to psych for a GE requirement, I looked to pursuing my goals by going to grad school immediately, while working in med - surg after I graduate next year. I am really surprised though at the curriculum of many bsn-dnp programs because you can specialize in mental health, but the lectures are more about research, theory, ..and for example USF (university of South fl) or Maryville university, don't have ANY lectures with focus on the speciality, but you are required to have so many clinical hours for that specialty. Those two schools do not require any RN clinical experience before applying (neither does Duke uni, but they don't have a mental health specialty, and I'm sure there's more universities like that )

Well my point is that I wanted to discuss with people with experience is how is that possible? I have actually thought about going for a PA instead, because in the PA ciricculum the emphasis IS on patho, disease tx, etc..isn't that what DNP focus should be on too?? Did I miss the boat in understanding that the DNP is to specialize in an area and have certain autonomy, or under a physician, for diagnosing and treatment? But how with no lecture background in your speciality?

I was preparing to apply to BSN-DNP programs in August. This summer I'll be a nurse extern in medsurg and I'm going to try and make arrangements to shadow a PMHNP. Although I'm considering scrambling in my last year of school to fullfill the requirements for PA school.

And if the answer is "work as a nurse for 5 years first then do bsn-dnp" and that's why the ciricculum is how it is, then definately I will go to PA school because why? I'm 21, I know what I want and want to make my future.

Edit sorry for the incorrect spellings that my phone "autocorrected"

Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

AS far as I can tell, DNP is about theory and not any real specialty. I am getting an MSN in Informatics and then starting my DNP. I can use the specialty of my MSN to find a project to do for my DNP, but the DNP will not be a specialty.

Psych and Mental Health is a tricky one. I am not sure how you would go about specializing in that. I do have a class mate that is in mental health. I might try to find her and see what she is doing to further her career. Kudos to you for wanting to do this. I feel so out of sorts with the few psych patients we see. It is very difficult. I hope you can find your way through. Sorry I am not much help.

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Thank you once again all! It's definitely a lot to consider and I realize that because my choice is so narrow that it would be hard to do another area. That's why I chose medsurg for my externship, even though I think other floors are more "exciting" like some of my classmates requested the ED and ICU. I thought medsurg would be the better foundation, since I want to go into psych.

I have for years wanted to work at a children's mental health hospital, or for a private mental health pediatric practice. When I was in high school, I volunteered with autistic children. I know it is what I want to do, but I picked nursing over psychiatry specifically because of the nursing model (well at the time when I began high school I didn't know to call it a nursing model, I just knew I wanted to be what a nurses is). It's not that I dislike other areas of nursing either because I loved most of my clinical floors (I didn't really care for OB or OR..but all the rest!)

I get worried about taking a year off from school to explore..like that I'll get too comfy in my job and settle? And that I want to hurry up and get my goal! But when I think about it, it does sound like the better idea, and patience to really be sure it's what I want and have a little experience would pay off.

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Hi again, I spoke with a teacher at my school who recommended Penn state's bsn to dnp program as a really good school to prepare me (less focus on theory, more focus on clinical skills). It costs 50k for the program (yikes) And also isn't "specialized" how I imagined grad schools, although I know better now from this thread how grad school works. You do not need to go into the program choosing mental health, peds, etc. It will be heavy loans, but I really like what I've read about the program so far. Just wanted to include this update, thanks for the help again.

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Couple of questions, why mental health?. I've worked in psych for years and it's a fascinating field but without experiencing it first hand I don't think I would have based my future on clinical experience. Secondly what do you want to do as either a DNP or PA in mental health? The roles are very different, NPs can practice independently, depending on the state, working with inpatients, outpatients etc, they can prescribe, manage patient loads, run groups, therapy but PAs are hamstrung, they cannot practice independently, in inpatient it is endless history and physicals and in outpatient its intake mental status exams. Just be sure you have a good grasp of the differences not only in the education model but also of the post practice role before you make a decision.

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Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.

If the Penn State program doesn't provide a specialty, who would hire you and to do exactly what?

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Specializes in Clinical Research.

The University of Arizona has a BSN to DNP program with a psych specialty. I'm in the PhD program and I know some people that have completed the PMHNP program and they enjoyed the program. I've been working as a TA with the first year DNP students. Sometimes the students that don't have a lot of experience have trouble developing a research question or identifying a clinical problem in their workplace. Most students do their DNP project at their place of employment and it's helpful to have an idea for a possible project early in the program because you can develop it further throughout the coursework. Students usually need to cut back on work hours in the second year when they start clinicals. I know quite a few of them work full time during the first year.

Good luck with your decision!

http://nursing.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/uploads/bsn-dnp-pmhnp-2017-2018.pdf

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If you want to specialize in mental health, why not work for a few years as a Psych RN and then evaluate if you want to get your NP or not? Lots of hospital settings, however, do not hire psych NPs...so you may need to look at state hospitals or other facilities. Before you spend the big $$$ and time on the advanced degree, I would make sure you really like Psych nursing first. Best of luck to you!

Private psychiatrists hire NPs all the time and the money is often better than other specialties.

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I have worked in the field of psychiatry for over 20 yrs. The experience gained through employment in group homes, outpatient psych clinics and inpatient care cannot touch the classroom lectures or clinicals that I will receive in the PMHNP program. As a psych nurse with 5 yrs at the state hospital level, I can say that working as a mental health casemanager and outpatient therapist provided the foundation for psychiatric nursing.

I love psychiatric nursing and have a great deal of empathy for the patients. I'm not sure how anyone can expect to be successful as an Advanced Clinician in an area that they've never worked in before. You will be expected to assess, diagnosis, and medicate these individuals. Perhaps you should consider working in the field for a year or two prior to pursuing this degree.

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