Non nursing PhD

[SDStudent1]

I was hoping to get some opinions on pursuing a non nursing PhD. A little background on me, I have a degree in psychology. I originally was taking the premed route and majored in Biotech so I have most of the hard science courses covered and many courses in neuroscience. I have worked as a psych RN for 3 years and am currently working on getting research experience in oncology. My goal would be to finish my PMHNP (possibly get a FNP cert afterwards) and then apply for Neuroscience PhD programs. I do not have any interest in getting a Nurse PhD or DNP. My research interest are primarily covered by Neuroscience field. I would like to know what people's thoughts are on taking this route. Do you feel PMHNP and PhD in Neuroscience could work synergistically in that I could somehow combine them both into one career or would I ultimately have to choose to work in one or the other? Can you think of a setting that having this combination of education would be beneficial? Is there a different route that you feel makes more sense? Thank you in advance

[Netra Cooper]

Just starting the PMHNP, Been out of school 25 plus years, feeling a bit overwhelmed, please send me your personal email, have a few questions if you don’t mind. 

[verene, MSN]

@OP - Wondering if you did end up working on a PhD and what route you went? I'm currently a PMHNP (MSN prepared) and ultimately left a DNP program partly due to pandemic/emergency staff/level of overtime work but also because it really didn't feel like it was meeting my goals for doctorate education. 

I've had some thoughts about going for a PhD instead and neuroscience is an area of interest and could certainly be useful for moving in a more neuropsychiatry direction. Though I currently work forensics and love this area - so I could also see adding a JD or other more criminal/forensics focus area of education.  

 

[Empire]

On 6/4/2018 at 3:33 PM, Neuro Guy NP said:

Some Neuroscience PhD programs are more 'psych geared' such as Princeton's. Their program has tracks dedicated to addictions, behavior, and that aspect of neuroscience, whereas others, such as my program was geared more to the medical arena (my track was traumatic brain and spinal cord injury, whereas I have colleagues that are neuroengineering, addictions, neuropharm, etc). In short, neuroscience PhD programs do vary and there are various tracks you can pursue to fit your needs, so a PhD in this field does not necessarily have to take you down a different track than the current one you're on, I.e. psychiatry/psychology.

Hello dear, I just applied for Post BSN-DNP ACNP program, and I am willing to pursue a PhD in neuroscience that relates to neurosurgery/neurocritical care, like the one you did. My question is, has this PhD neuroscience with your focus better prepared you in your specialty than a NP without PhD neuroscience? Second, do I need to have MSc in Neuroscience as a requirement to enroll for PhD Neuroscience? How many years is the PhD neuroscience on the average? Thank you