MSN vs DNP

Nursing Students NP Students

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I am looking into becoming an FNP and applying to programs that start Fall 2021. I just don't know which route to take. For those that have their DNP, do you feel like there were enough courses in your program that taught you how to diagnose and treat? Do you feel like there were enough courses focused on the medical side of healthcare such as advanced patho and pharm?

 

I noticed a lot of DNP program course outlines focus on leadership, research and management. Ideally I'd still like to focus on the medical side of it all once I become an FNP rather than a research and evidence based practice side of it. Any advice helps. Thanks 

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The DNP vs MSN program has an additional focus on leadership, research, and management.  I can't speak for all programs because I have only been enrolled in one, but the DNP program should provide you with all of the same education that the MSN program provides with the addition of the above topics.  That is why the DNP program is longer.  It gives you additional education/skills to utilize throughout your career.  Many that have a desire to take a leadership position or complete research in the future will chose the DNP track.  It's really a preference based on your future goals. 

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A DNP program is not a clinical program, so it will not teach you how to diagnose and treat better, nor will it make you a better bedside clinician. That's not its purpose.

I was enrolled in a DNP program initially. I spoke with some DNPs at my previous job who told me that the DNP did not contribute to their clinical skills but it gave them more of a "voice" at the table and opened up more leadership opportunities for them. I dropped out of the DNP program and have been fine with being an MSN NP. 

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Specializes in psych/medical-surgical.
On 11/27/2020 at 8:58 AM, db2xs said:

A DNP program is not a clinical program

https://www.aacnnursing.org/News-Information/Fact-Sheets/DNP-Fact-Sheet

"In a 2005 report titled Advancing the Nation's Health Needs: NIH Research Training Programs, the National Academy of Sciences called for nursing to develop a non-research clinical doctorate to prepare expert practitioners who can also serve as clinical faculty. AACN's work to advance the DNP is consistent with this call to action."

"Nursing is moving in the direction of other health professions in the transition to the DNP. Medicine (MD), Dentistry (DDS), Pharmacy (PharmD), Psychology (PsyD), Physical Therapy (DPT), and Audiology (AudD) all require or offer practice doctorates."

When even your own profession don't know what they are talking about related to their own degrees...

This topic is being beaten to death here, I grow weary. You will get 4 years of schooling and extra clinical time in a DNP program. Yes you have other courses, but if you work hard like anyone who cares about people, you can be a good practitioner too.

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9 hours ago, adammRN said:

When even your own profession don't know what they are talking about related to their own degrees...

This topic is being beaten to death here, I grow weary. You will get 4 years of schooling and extra clinical time in a DNP program. Yes you have other courses, but if you work hard like anyone who cares about people, you can be a good practitioner too.

Yes, I stand corrected: You will get extra clinical hours in the DNP program. I remember that now. But I still dropped out of the DNP program because the "four years of schooling" consisted of classes that did not interest me in the slightest. 

I wrote that it was not a clinical program because of what the OP was expressing, which is that they would like a more "medical" focus. If they are saying what I think they're saying, then yes, the DNP is not a clinical program.

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