DNP for professor

RegularNurse · Jun 3, 2016

I am currently getting my master's degree in education. Here is how I would run a school:

- Hire the vast majority of my faculty as DNP trained nurse practitioners, as they can teach both undergrad and graduate degree NP students. A PhD nurse, who is not an NP, probably cannot confidently teach nurse practitioner students, who are the overwhelming majority of grad students.

- Hire minimal PhD trained RNs who are not NPs because they can focus on securing grants and generating research.

- Nursing schools make money by churning out second degree BSN nurses and online graduate degrees.

- The core of nursing education will be online and automated going forward. Millennial students don't want or need to go to class to absorb the information.

My Recommendation:

If you are an NP, get a DNP so you can leverage your ability to teach the entire student population.

If you are not an NP, get a PhD.

It sounds like you are already a full-time faculty member, so just take one class at a time over years.

Grumble88 · Jun 3, 2016

Yes, do it. If you want to teach at the highest levels of nursing, but don't want to be forced to slog through the grueling work of research, the DNP is the way to go.

My only recommendation would be to closely examine your DNPs curriculum and compare it to other schools'. I've honestly laughed out loud at some so-called "clinically focused" DNP curriculum when I was researching the degree for myself as a clinician.

feelix, RN · Jun 7, 2016

Gumble88 Please elaborate on why would you have laughed at the DNP programs. I am researching myself and would like to know.

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Jun 9, 2016

My DNP was focused on Educational Leadership. I am not, nor have I ever been interested in being an APRN. In my current faculty appointment, I would say it's about 1/3 PhD, 1/3 DNP, 1/3 EdD.

random_nurse12 · Jul 6, 2016

I recognize that DNP is just jumping through another hoop, quite honestly.

I am looking at a state university in my state. My question now is timing. With a middle schooler and high schooler and I am just not sure if there ever will be a good time. I do have to sign a commitment with my employer in order for them to pay. That is one thing I am very iffy about.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Jul 13, 2016

I vote EdD... my own decision. It was the most valuable route for me because I was able to focus on the discipline of education, including the aspects that are unique to my practice environment of workplace (non academic) education. You won't find any content on labor law, project management, program evaluation standards, etc. in a nursing program --- unless they've changed drastically since I did my investigation. I was also able to include in-depth courses on the science & human interface design of online learning as well as human performance assessment and management - because they permitted me to take classes from the college of technology & the OI Psych dept. I was a kid in a candy store.

My problem with nursing doctorate programs is (not unexpectedly )that they focus almost exclusively on nursing.... so they exclude the vast expanse that encompasses the discipline of education. But, of course, your mileage may vary.

Guests · Jul 23, 2016

I am also very interested in hearing as much input as possible on this point. I could ask this very question as pertains to my circumstances. I already know that would much rather put evidence into action rather than dig for new data.

OP - Did you approach your Dean about paying for your doctorate, or vice versa? Also, how are they paying? Are they reimbursing, or are they using a scholarship/grant?