MSN-FNP or General DNP?

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  1. MSN-FNP vs DNP (no specialty)

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      MSN-FNP
    • 0
      DNP (no specialty)

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Hello I'll try to keep this short,

I'm a new nurse (3 months), but I'm a bit older, so I'm not wanting to take too long achieving my end goals. I want to be a nurse practitioner.

I have my BSN, I have a 2.9GPA from my bachelors. Almost every graduate program wants a 3.0 at minimum, 3.5 to be competitive. I see myself as having 2 options.

1) Get my MSN (General), Grand Canyon University will accept me into that, I can start any time (no wait, new starts every month, and no work req. minimum, and then they also have a general DNP I can seamlessly move into. It's a completely part time, one class at a time, program. I could get my MSN w/ emphasis in Education/Informatics/Leadership in 21 months, and the DNP is 26 months more. 47 months total. I will not be an FNP in this route, but I will be a DNP.

2) I apply to as many online MSN-FNP programs as I can find, and hope one accepts me. I think most BSN to MSN-FNP are 36 months? But, they want a year experience (add 8 months) 44 months total.

One is 3 months more and you get a doctorate instead of a masters, but from the job postings I see, half say requirements are "Licensed to be a nurse practitioner in this state" and the others say "currently Family Nurse Practitioner license". I feel like FNP can do both FNP jobs and general NP job postings, where DNP can only fulfill the NP postings. However I'll have my doctorate instead of my masters, which has it's own advantages.

I'm conflicted. Someone help a brother out.

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A DNP is a doctorate in nursing practice. Any nurse regardless of background with an MSN can get a DNP. If your MSN is in Leadership or Informatics or Education then the DNP isn't going to make you an NP. It's just going to make you a doctorally prepared nurse in Leadership or Informatics or Education. If you want to be an NP you either need to get your master's in a NP specialty or if you get your MSN in Leadership, Education, or Informatics you can get a post master's certificate in a NP specialty. You can then choose to go on to get your DNP if you want after that.

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Yes, the "NP" in "DNP" is unfortunate, because it's somewhat confusing to people who are new to the field. A "general" DNP will not make you a nurse practitioner. You will have to complete a graduate program, whether MSN, post-Master's certificate, or DNP, with a nurse practitioner concentration in order to be eligible for NP licensure.

One option you didn't mention is doing the generalist MSN and getting good enough grades that you can get accepted into a post-Master's certificate program for the NP specialty of your choice (sounds like that is FNP).

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.
]Yes the "NP" in "DNP" is unfortunate, because it's somewhat confusing to people who are new to the field. A "general" DNP will not make you a nurse practitioner. [[/b']/B] You will have to complete a graduate program, whether MSN, post-Master's certificate, or DNP, with a nurse practitioner concentration in order to be eligible for NP licensure.

One option you didn't mention is doing the generalist MSN and getting good enough grades that you can get accepted into a post-Master's certificate program for the NP specialty of your choice (sounds like that is FNP).

This^^^^^

I have a DNP and am not an advanced practice nurse of any type. Not do I want to be for that matter.

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

but from the job postings I see, half say requirements are "Licensed to be a nurse practitioner in this state" and the others say "current Family Nurse Practitioner license". I feel like FNP can do both FNP jobs and general NP job postings, where DNP can only fulfill the NP postings. However I'll have my doctorate instead of my masters, which has it's own advantages.

No, the DNP offers no further clinical competency than the MSN. It is simply a glorified EBP research project in lieu of a PhD disseration to get your doctorate. You will not be a nurse practitioner, nor does it qualify you to sit for boards in order to become a licensed NP. Also, NPs are not exchangeable. You have to work within the scope of your practice, depending on your state's BON regulations. If you want to work in an inpatient hospital setting, you'd need to look at getting your ACNP, but that typically requires at least one year of ICU or ER experience at a minimum.

I know you're anxious to start. However, why waste your time getting a general MSN degree and then tack on an FNP afterwards? Get your year of acute care experience and then apply. It's only a few months, in the long run, a drop in the bucket time-wise. I became an RN in my 40s and I'm certainly no spring chicken now...LOL. But there's no rush. Get the clinical education that is going to make you the best provider. If that means getting enough experience under your belt, than so be it. I knew I wanted to work ER or ICU as a provider, so I put in the time to work my way up to becoming an ICU nurse. Was I anxious to get on with the NP degree? You betcha! But I knew I needed that critical care experience under my belt. I also made the mistake of going to an NP program that will basically accept anyone with a pulse. I wasted so much time & money at that school and I highly regret my decision. I'm now starting over at a more reputable school with a dual ACNP/FNP program. It has set me back more than a year from my original time line. However, in the long run, it will be worth it.

You are going to run into some issues trying to get in to reputable programs with a 2.9 GPA. You might want to re-take a few classes to bump up your GPA.

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I'd love to retake classes but they say I can't retake classes due to having graduated, my GPA is locked?

Never heard of that.

Also, where did you go that you regretted?

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Until it is mandated, there is no greater waste of tuition dollars than the DNP. Even with an MSN-NP I have seen 2-3 year programs (even at my school) that are double the cost of my MSN with 0 return. So potentially it would take 6 years of graduate nursing education to get my DNP. Lolwut.

Show me evidence that getting a DNP nets you more money and makes you a better provider. Hint: It doesn't.

Avoid at all costs...for now.

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