Over Educated, and under experienced??

jjjoy, LPN · Apr 29, 2008

I don't think it would 'hurt' your chances. I don't think at this point it would improve your chances or choices either. Direct-entry NP in general still has much uncharted territory. I'm sure in hindsight one will be able to look back and say this or that would've been best, but from where we are now, it's not a clear path forward.

If you ever work with nurses who have taken a more traditional route, you might find yourself taking flak for going straight through school without experience, especially at the beginning when you still have so much real-world stuff to learn and must rely heavily on colleagues. There could be resentment of your being at an equal level professionally while still being a beginner practically.

That doesn't mean that you shouldn't take the path that's available to you that you are more motivated to take. Just have some awareness of the potential drawbacks.

Another point to consider is that since the dnp programs are so new that you would be an experimental student. Such programs might change substantially over the years as they hone them. And as one of the first students, you might later feel your education wasn't as good as more established programs as they develop in the future. I'm only pointing that out to counter your fears of NOT going for the DNP directly and then later regretting it. There's always a chance of later regretting a decision. In regard to the DNP, it's too new for there to be a standard opinion about it. You just have to make your own judgement and see how it goes!

gbarrera2 · Apr 29, 2008

Get your DNP now, and your experience will later. I'm also planning on getting all my schooling out of the way while I'm still young, and have the ability to do so.

Good Luck!

BChapp3182 · May 2, 2008

If I was still 24 and could have done it I would have totally gone for it. One more year is nothing out of the grand scheme of your life. Do it now! Once you get married/kids things change, right now you have the freedom to focus on yourself. It can't "hurt" your chances of getting a job. If that worries you why not try to work one day a week in one of those minute clinics or something so you can get a little experience while you do your DNP?

Do it girl! Don't pass up the oppertunity. :yeah:

menetopali · May 2, 2008

go for it...git 'er done

:twocents:

menetopali · May 2, 2008

just git 'er done. if you look at different programs you may find the extra clinical hours provide experience and potential job prospects as well. :twocents:

LTNurse · May 3, 2008

Go for it. That's what I plan on doing as well. I applied for an MSN for thie fall of 2008 and was considering applying to a BSN entry DNP but I didn't want to wait 4 years before I could star as a NP so I decided to go for the MSN and then go to the DNP right after I finish the MSN. I feel that the DNP is here to stay; there several around the country already and even more schools starting it in the future. I'm really happy they developed this degree. I'm definitely getting one and I'm very excited about it.

VivaRN · May 3, 2008

Perhaps I'm misunderstanding the DNP but personally I would want to save it to where I could get the most out of it. For me that would mean being a mature practitioner with a clear direction of how I wanted to advance my practice, using the education as a way to get there.

Yes, the letters would be nice to have out of the way (I am also 24, lol) but do you think you may regret it later when you're ready practice-wise for the next step... but too late, you already have a DNP and can't go back to school?