Online MSN or DNP for disabled nurse?

[Arya0000]

Hello,

I am an RN with a BSN. I have about 15 years of clinical experience; became disabled due to an autoimmune illness in 2008 which is the last time I worked (pediatrics). I am doing better and am looking at all my future career options including back to work part-time and/or school part-time for my FNP. I am looking for opinions and trying to get the sense of the workload for both programs.

I have no children at home and do not have the physical ability to work full-time at the moment due to my disability. One of my specialists suggested an online graduate program. I have looked at a brand new MSN program for FNP at Simmons College in Boston. Only the clinicals are not online pretty much. Also looking at the DNP program at UMASS Amherst. I have some concerns about doing doctorate work at the same time as learning to become an FNP with the illness business.

Simmons is much more pricey per credit but it obviously requires less credits..half as much I believe. UMASS is much closer (if I need to meet with someone) and I graduated from there so I know the SON pretty well.

I am also concerned about the effects of a stressful job like a FNP and any insight would be welcome.

I am wondering if it would be worth it to just go for my MSN now and then start working while pursuing my DNP part-time is possibly? Thoughts about this? Thanks!

[jvttlus]

Not knowing these schools well, I would say UMass given that they are an established program, with ostensibly better career services, etcetera. Do you want to be an FNP in a family practice setting? Because FNPs work in a variety of settings, some more demanding than others.

This may sound like trite advice, especially given your 15 years work experience, but perhaps you should consider doing some shadowing of NPs to see how the physical and mental demands are. It would be unfortunate to spend so much time and money in school without being 100% sure that your disease will not cause you serious problems down the road. Regardless of where and how much you actually work when you are done, you still have to make it through clinicals. Moreover, finding a job while presenting your potential employer with a list of restrictions may be difficult.

[Arya0000]

I don't think that advice is trite at all...makes sense to me. One of the areas I am investigating thoroughly is how many clinical hours are required and for the UMASS program, it seems very doable until the last semester, which is an immersion clinical practicum, and would be more difficult as it is about 28 hours/wk. but that is not until my 5th year in the program. Thanks for responding.

[NurseRies, BSN, RN]

I don't think that advice is trite at all...makes sense to me. One of the areas I am investigating thoroughly is how many clinical hours are required and for the UMASS program it seems very doable until the last semester, which is an immersion clinical practicum, and would be more difficult as it is about 28 hours/wk. but that is not until my 5th year in the program. Thanks for responding.[/quote']

What about a phd degree and do research? I'm sure people have asked you that before. But research may be something not so physical and would still be an advanced degree! You could also get into teaching part time with a phd. Just a thought..