Online masters vs. university dnp?

crazylilkelly · Oct 28, 2016

I'd also like to add, that I believe there are great online masters programs (& would love to hear about them). I just need to find what works best for me.

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allnurses Guide · Oct 28, 2016

The DNP vs MSN is really a non-issue right now, pick the best program. Ideally quality is first followed by cost. There are very good online program and very poor B&M programs. There are also very poor online programs and very good B&M programs. When you shadow, ask those NPs what local employers look for. You'll need to narrow down FNP vs PMHNP before you can get too into different programs.

BirkieGirl · Oct 29, 2016

Boston is correct, right now DNP isn't an issue. But eventually, it MAY be. I am all about brick and mortar for NP learning, I just think that the support your classmates can offer you is priceless. Not to mention, there is the option of having study groups, meeting up early to practice skills, etc. I have done a hybrid MSN and really prefer the face to face classes for the NP courses. for the 'fluff' courses, online is great.

hmatthewcooper · Oct 31, 2016

Although it is considered a clinical doctorate, the DNP does not offer more in the way of advanced pharmacology or diagnostic reasoning than an MSN. It's essentially the same as the MSN with another two years of health disparity and statistical research methods with a capstone project which is basically a paper that you publish about your chosen population.

it really just depends on what you want to do. If you want to be an associate/assistant professor at a university you'll need a DNP or a phd. The phd is like 5 years of statistics classes while you write a book. DNP is pretty much as outlined above (to my understanding). If you just want to practice as an NP and maybe teach at a community college or as an instructor at a university the MSN is currently plenty.

Of the the two choices all things being equal I'd go university DNP because it sounds like a better program. Also, these days a lot of your didactic courses should be distance accessible anyway.

HikingNinja, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN, NP · Oct 31, 2016

Finding preceptors is a huge hardship on a student. Does either program provide preceptors? I'm currently in a PMHNP online masters (with semester on campus visits required) and they provide no assistance in finding preceptors. It's VERY difficult. Had I any inkling it would be this hard I would have chosen a brick n mortar that provided preceptors (although many of those no longer do this either).

Skippingtowork · Nov 1, 2016

I would advise that you go the DNP route. Eventually it will be required and you don't want to go back to school. If you can, choose a school that incorporates DNP classes with the MSN NP program and allows you to finnish the MSN NP first. You can then write your boards and use your new work setting for your DNP project if so inclined. The PhD program is a research academic program and not clinically based. The DNP, while not adding to your hands on clinical knowledge, does allow you to view, tailor or change your practice. You can focus your project on anything you desire. For examples, look on various university websites and check out DNP projects from previous students. Great ideas there. Also, while you can't do NP clinicals at the same time you're working, you can do DNP projects at your job if you want to.

Believe me when I tell you, having a preceptor who loves to teach and practices evidenced-based medicine goes a lot farther than the school you go to. Start identifying them now.

As an FNP, you can pretty much work in any setting without barriers. Specialization limits you to the specialty. It is better to get additional training in the area you like (unless you want to do pediatrics).

Finally, getting clinicals is next to impossible. I know students from top schools who have difficulty getting clinicals. It is a huge problem and schools don't usually help you.

crazylilkelly · Nov 2, 2016

Thank you all for your responses! I'm starting to lean more towards the university with the DNP program. At this point, I'm not to concerned with attaining the DNP vs. masters. It's just that the university only offers DNP. Otherwise, I would be much happier with a masters! I have a bit of time to do a lot of shadowing and ask questions! Also, this university does offer help with clinical placements. :)

Buyer beware, BSN · Nov 4, 2016

Finding preceptors is a huge hardship on a student. Does either program provide preceptors? I'm currently in a PMHNP online masters (with semester on campus visits required) and they provide no assistance in finding preceptors. It's VERY difficult. Had I any inkling it would be this hard I would have chosen a brick n mortar that provided preceptors (although many of those no longer do this either).

The brick and mortar route does not guarantee definitive access, signed on the dotted line, entre to preceptors. Some NP schools do provide, but most NP schools don't.

The preceptor issue has to be nailed down way ahead of time. Most students if they were realistically apprised by their deceptive NP programs of this nationwide best kept secret in NP education would never enroll and/or would pay an additional amount of money to have this incredibly valuable service provided.

But the schools have no control most often over the providers and have the audacity to lay this problem on the student while charging sky-high tuition fees. (nor do the schools want to share the tuition fees with the preceptors)

Since most schools don't, I propose that the ones that don't should not be accredited by the so called seal of approval nursing accrediting agencies.

Why does this problem exist? Money honey! Plain and simple. (there's a sweetheart relationship going on here and the student is not the beau)

But this proposal will never come to fruition because Nursing leadership is weak, has always been weak and co-opted and the nursing faculty that teaches at these schools, lending them legitimacy, like the paycheck and most often, not always, rationalize away responsibility while still participate in this ongoing sleight of hand. (so their living may be your doom)

I'm guessing maybe you're going to South University or The University of Phoenix online.

But to be equinanimous they are not the only "good luck Charley" players on the block; just the ones who have some of the lowest graduation and retention rates in post secondary education and the country (collegescorecard.ed.gov) coupled with being expensive for their legendary sub-par performance in turning out a statistically significant amount of graduates who enter through their turnstiles.

So my suggestion for you is to find an NP coffee clatch somewhere, forearmed with your checkbook, and beg beacuse you will find the colleagially often times is underwhelming.

And as NP students, never ever sign an arbitration agreement because if you do when you find out you've been screwed on the preceptor issue you will find your redress of grievances to the courts will fall on deaf ears.