Is getting your DNP worth it?

DizzyJ DHSc PA-C · Sep 6, 2017

I'll chime in here with my opinion since I'm currently killing myself to obtain my doctorate and in student loan debt more than the cost of a mortgage.
I have a visceral response to any other healthcare professional who takes the stance that after I've finally earned my doctorate I am not allowed to use it unless I decide to teach. Especially considering my degree is not a PhD designed for research and teaching but a clincal DNP whose whole focus is to train me to be capable to the fullest capacity in the practice of anesthesia. While my degree does include some leadership and a little teaching it certainly isn't the focus of the degree, so why can I not use my title unless I go into an area my degree didn't even specifically train me for?
The valid point was already made that there are numerous other healthcare professionals who are allowed to use their degree title so I won't repeat that.
On to the tired point that using your title in the hospital can be confusing for patients. I would argue that there are an infinite number of things that are confusing for patients in the hospital and this one thing seems ridiculous to harp over. I personally think that using your title and saying your specialty is the best method for everyone in healthcare. I'm Dr. Smith your rheumatologist; I'm Dr. Jones your physical therapist; I'm Dr. Harris your endocrinologist; I'm Dr. Moore your CRNA, etc. No healthcare professional should just be walking into a room and saying I'm Dr. Jones and just start doing things on the patient, you should also say what your specialty or career is. Patients see so many healthcare professionals in the hospital and everyone should use a couple words to be specific.
Physicians like to argue that we (nurses) specificially should be outlawed from using our title (of course they don't care about anyone else doing it) because we will try to trick the patient into thinking we're a physician. Not sure if they realize how childishly narcisistic they come off with that statement. I have to say that after I get done performing the best anesthetic a patient has ever had, experiencing a smooth wake up, no pain or nausea and quick recovery I want them to know I (a CRNA) did it. Why would I want an anesthesiologist stealing my credit?
Some others who are achieving their doctorate just take a passivist approach to it. They don't want to deal with the arguement or snide words from physicians. Many will say, why fight it, just submit to the overlords of healthcare and hide your degree or achievement, what does it matter. Why it matters is not to try to elevate yourself with a title or stroke an ego, it's the best public relations move you can do as a nurse. The public in general has very little info on advanced practice roles. There are others in healthcare who tirelessly bash the roles and spend money on advertising and fear mongering that APRNs are uneducated and dangerous. They imply we are just nurses who got tired of checking temps and passing aspirin so they did a couple months of easy online work and now are trying to parade as educated healthcare professionals. When you introduce yourself as Dr. Jones your CRNA they may not know much about CRNAs but they do know that a doctorate means this person has invested a lot of time and money to obtain a terminal degree. It symbolizes that you are highly educated and take your career seriously. It symbolizes that this anesthesia you're about to perform for them was important enough that you dedicated years of time learning the skill. Ultimately they will trust and respect you, feeling more confident placing their life in your hands.
That is what it's all about, building a relationship with the patient built on trust and confidence. They may have heard all kinds of negative things about NPs or CRNAs but when they hear doctorate they at least know you're educated and invested in your training, they are in good hands (also one of the reasons physicians hate the idea). #micdrop

I agree that, especially in the hospital, each doctor should identify what specialty they are in. So, this could make it an easier concept to have NP/PA introduced as doctor as well.

What then if it is a non health/medicine related doctorate? I came across a post where a one claimed to have a PhD in theology. To top of it the school was not accredited by a regional institution. Where would we draw the line?

Bluebolt · Sep 7, 2017

I agree that, especially in the hospital, each doctor should identify what specialty they are in. So, this could make it an easier concept to have NP/PA introduced as doctor as well.
What then if it is a non health/medicine related doctorate? I came across a post where a one claimed to have a PhD in theology. To top of it the school was not accredited by a regional institution. Where would we draw the line?

If you've obtained a doctorate from an accredited institution then there shouldn't be any problem using your earned title along with your couple words of what you actually are. I'm Dr. Harris your pastor at Grace Baptist Church. I know many preachers who have doctorate/PhD in theology and use thier title. A couple words after your name describing who you are eliminates this discussion of confusion.

Now if I opened up my own inner healing chakra reading school in my living room tomorrow and started granting doctorates to those who pass my course, no those people shouldn't be introducing themselves as Dr. (blank). That type of thing shouldn't be an issue in the healthcare setting, never ran across one yet in the hospital.

DizzyJ DHSc PA-C · Sep 7, 2017

If you've obtained a doctorate from an accredited institution then there shouldn't be any problem using your earned title along with your couple words of what you actually are. I'm Dr. Harris your pastor at Grace Baptist Church. I know many preachers who have doctorate/PhD in theology and use thier title. A couple words after your name describing who you are eliminates this discussion of confusion.
Now if I opened up my own inner healing chakra reading school in my living room tomorrow and started granting doctorates to those who pass my course, no those people shouldn't be introducing themselves as Dr. (blank). That type of thing shouldn't be an issue in the healthcare setting, never ran across one yet in the hospital.

Agreed, if you are in a church and have a doctorate in theology, but what if you are an NP with a doctorate in theology or business administration? Should you call yourself doctor in the health care setting?

JellyDonut · Sep 14, 2017

Agreed, if you are in a church and have a doctorate in theology, but what if you are an NP with a doctorate in theology or business administration? Should you call yourself doctor in the health care setting?

I do not agree. When you put your ego above the patient care it is a problem. We need to keep things as clear as we can when interacting with patients, families and other members of the healthcare team. In the hospital the Physician is the team lead and there needs to be that order of recognition in place.

Anywhere else feel free. You want to place a lunch order to Applebees feel free to place the order as Dr X. Lab coats put your DNP, PhD on there but understand when you strut around the hospital spotting out that you are a Dr you may cause injury while those around roll their eyes so hard.

allnurses Guide · Sep 14, 2017

I do not agree. When you put your ego above the patient care it is a problem. We need to keep things as clear as we can when interacting with patients, families and other members of the healthcare team. In the hospital the Physician is the team lead and there needs to be that order of recognition in place.
Anywhere else feel free. You want to place a lunch order to Applebees feel free to place the order as Dr X. Lab coats put your DNP, PhD on there but understand when you strut around the hospital spotting out that you are a Dr you may cause injury while those around roll their eyes so hard.

And where is proof of any of this?

A nurse using his or her credentials in an introduction has never shown to cause patient harm. The physician is sometimes the head of patient care and sometimes they aren't. There are NP hospitalists, OMFS (usually start out as dentists), and podiatrists that are all non-physicians that can be in charge of ptient care in the hospital. Myself, as a CRNA, I have had to be the one in charge of taking care of admitted patients on multiple occasions.

The egos of people who think that it is inappropriate for nurses to not use his or her rightfully earned healthcare credentials to spare someone's antiquated idea of who should have a doctorate in the medical setting and to use that title should not be a concern to any nurse or other healthcare professional.

One of the most important duties as a nurse is to educate patients, but it seems when it comes to educating patients on the different roles and educational backgrounds of nurses that there is a significant minority of nurses and other healthcare professionals that think this is the one area patients should be completely ignorant in.

TxNrse · Sep 17, 2017

Congratulations on continuing your education! I'm sure it will be an exhausting but thrilling experience!! I do not regret obtaining my DNP--in fact I withdrew from a post masters NP certificate to pursue my DNP when I was awarded a slot in a prestigious DNP. I have since worked in Academia and used my title and now am currently working for the VA as a manager. At the clinic, I tell co-workers to call me by my first name. My associate director, is always addressed with his title and he makes sure to always address me in public with same. When asked by patients,etc, I do explain i have a doctorate though i am a nurse. At this point, i have only 3 courses to finish for my FNP certificate. But after 28 years as a nurse and my DNP, I am earning 120+K--- M-F 8-4. No weekends or nights. Love what i do but will return for my fNP certificate to be able to do volunteer work, etc.

Again, good luck to you and remember we are never done with learning!!

Bluebolt · Sep 17, 2017

And where is proof of any of this?
A nurse using his or her credentials in an introduction has never shown to cause patient harm. The physician is sometimes the head of patient care and sometimes they aren't. There are NP hospitalists, OMFS (usually start out as dentists), and podiatrists that are all non-physicians that can be in charge of ptient care in the hospital. Myself, as a CRNA, I have had to be the one in charge of taking care of admitted patients on multiple occasions.
The egos of people who think that it is inappropriate for nurses to not use his or her rightfully earned healthcare credentials to spare someone's antiquated idea of who should have a doctorate in the medical setting and to use that title should not be a concern to any nurse or other healthcare professional.
One of the most important duties as a nurse is to educate patients, but it seems when it comes to educating patients on the different roles and educational backgrounds of nurses that there is a significant minority of nurses and other healthcare professionals that think this is the one area patients should be completely ignorant in.

Well said. I don't stress too much about trying to convince old antiquated viewpoints. Those will retire soon enough and as all CRNAs start graduating with their doctorate and many other nursing specialties start obtaining their doctorate we will see a change in perspective.

Just like when Rosa Parks refused to sit in the back of the bus and everyone thought it was ludicrous. Why would a simple black person believe they were human enough to get to sit with all the white people on that bus, it's confusing for society! Although, a strange thing happened when the other black people all started to wake up to the idea they were allowed to sit on that bus and they weren't inferior just because people told them they were. It took no time at all when they banded together for positive change to happen. Being Rosa Parks is never fun but change is coming, ingnore the ignorant in the meantime.

Jules A, MSN · Sep 18, 2017

Just like when Rosa Parks refused to sit in the back of the bus and everyone thought it was ludicrous. Why would a simple black person believe they were human enough to get to sit with all the white people on that bus, it's confusing for society! Although, a strange thing happened when the other black people all started to wake up to the idea they were allowed to sit on that bus and they weren't inferior just because people told them they were. It took no time at all when they banded together for positive change to happen. Being Rosa Parks is never fun but change is coming, ingnore the ignorant in the meantime.

You seriously didn't just compare this to the Civil Rights movement did you?

Bluebolt · Sep 18, 2017

You seriously didn't just compare this to the Civil Rights movement did you?

Group A being told they are less than and not allowed to do something that Group B has always done without any justifiable reason. You can plug in any analogy that feels applicable to your person, I just referenced one that is well known to most. If you're from outside the US then possibly another analogy would be more relevant to you.

If you just don't like the idea of someone in the nursing field using the title they earned then I'm sure no analogy will be sufficient and will draw immense criticism.

offlabel · Sep 18, 2017

But after 28 years as a nurse and my DNP, I am earning 120+K--- M-F 8-4. No weekends or nights. Love what i do but will return for my fNP certificate to be able to do volunteer work

If a good deal is what you're after, a DNP has nothing to do with it. My partner has a BSN and certificate in anesthesia, works 20-30 hours a week and has 15 weeks a year off and takes >200K. And there are better deals than that...

allnurses Guide · Sep 18, 2017

If a good deal is what you're after, a DNP has nothing to do with it. My partner has a BSN and certificate in anesthesia, works 20-30 hours a week and has 15 weeks a year off and takes >200K. And there are better deals than that...

The DNP is a good deal for those just starting out, especially when comparing an MSN to a DNP. You don't need to worry about getting a DNP in the future and it makes you more competitive for current/future jobs in academics.

Tacomaboy3 · Sep 18, 2017

Group A being told they are less than and not allowed to do something that Group B has always done without any justifiable reason. You can plug in any analogy that feels applicable to your person, I just referenced one that is well known to most. If you're from outside the US then possibly another analogy would be more relevant to you.
If you just don't like the idea of someone in the nursing field using the title they earned then I'm sure no analogy will be sufficient and will draw immense criticism.

It's insensitive because it reduces the black experience.

Poor nurses being subservient to physicians and fighting for their independence is not the same experience as black Americans resisting bus segregation.

I get the parallel you were trying to make, but I'd go for another metaphor.