Null

I have both a DNP and a PhD. I rarely use the title in any setting and prefer to be called by my first name.

Plan to attend a research focused conference at least once a year. Your program may pay for this. There are regional nursing research societies in most parts of the country. These offer great opportunities to see what others are researching and to network with faculty and students. I would also suggest that you give consideration early to your dissertation topic. You may not have a specific question at this point and that is okay. Deciding upon a research topic early will allow you to use various assignments throughout your program to hone your lit review. Consider incorporating use of a citation management software early in the program. I recommend Zotero as it is free.

Hello, The Ed.D. from Columbia would certainly be more reputable than any online "diploma mill" program. I think that the first Ed.D. was offered at Columbia Teachers College. I would advise avoiding the DNE. I have never heard of this degree. May I ask what university is offering it? I think there is real risk that you could finish this degree and it not be recognized. It certainly seems unlikely to have the same recognition as the Ed.D., Ph.D., or DNP. If you are certain that you do not want tenure, you would probably be okay pursuing a DNP for clinical track positions at most community colleges and universities. In my humble opinion, I think the most opportunities exist for PhD > EdD > DNP.

Agree with Bumex in that you should avoid for profit institutions. They are perceived as being of inferior quality. A PhD is a huge investment in time. If you are planning to pursue it, you want the investment to pay off and not be perceived as being sub-par. There are plenty of online nursing PhDs from reputable institutions (e.g. Vanderbilt). Personally, I would never choose an online program for a PhD. I think frequent face-to-face interaction with peers and instructors and research opportunities offered on campus are invaluable to the doctoral experience.

This sounds like someone with a personal financial stake in you enrolling in the school.

NP-C is the recognized credential for certification from the AANP. I have seen NPs use ANP-C, AGNP-C, or FNP-C and the AANP states that this is optional. When signing documents, I personally opt to just use NP-C and forgo degrees and other certifications as I think it simplifies things for the reader. I would probably just continue signing things as you have previously until you obtain an NP position. However, your state Board of Nursing may have recommendations on use of professional titles. https://www.aanpcert.org/faq-exam

Hi, A PhD will certainly provide you the broadest array of job opportunities but requires a substantially more rigorous investment in time, effort, and money. As you indicated in your post, you may find the MSN limits you to clinical track positions. If you have any desire (or think you will in the future) to conduct research, you should pursue a PhD. Some BSN to PhD programs are shorter in duration and credit hours than their post-MSN counterparts.

There are many online NP programs that will offer quality education for less money. Having been in a position of making hiring decisions for NPs, I immediately discarded applications from new graduates from for-profit online programs. I know other colleagues do the same. These schools have a reputation of producing subpar clinicians. Take a look at online programs at state universities.

I don't know specifics but salaries at state universities are often available to the public. https://salaries.texastribune.org/

I can understand that perspective. I have a DNP and am not a huge fan of the degree. However, it is my understanding that at the most recent AACN conference, the combined programs were discussed as a possible solution to the national decline in enrollment of nursing PhD programs in favor of DNP programs, of which the latter has increased almost exponentially in recent years. I think the proliferation of the DNP speaks more to the desire of nurses to grab the "low hanging fruit" when it comes to doctoral education.

I'll add that not all nursing PhD programs provide funding. I would also consider that maintaining a clinical certification as an advanced practice nurse can be a challenge while simultaneously pursuing a research career.

Prior research experience would certainly advantage you in both the PhD program and the admissions process. However, it is not necessarily required at many schools. However, you do need to demonstrate an aptitude for scholarly inquiry. There are some nursing PhD programs that are more or less theoretically grounded than others. However, you should know that theory really does guide the research question and methodology of any science. I too feel that there are some nursing theories that are a bit "fluffy" but it is nevertheless important to understand the foundation of the science of nursing and how this is likely to change over time. I took several theory classes through my BSN and MSN and DNP programs and it was not until my PhD that I realized the usefulness of theory in guiding the state of the science. Most of nursing research falls more in the realm of the social science. However, there are nurses that are involved in bench research. UPenn seems to have a fairly capable nursing lab equipped to handle biomarkers and other assays. https://www.nursing.upenn.edu/research/onr/nursing-research-lab/services-equipment/

Anecdotally, I just attended a conference and spoke with someone presenting a poster of their dissertation work from one of the large for-profit online universities. It was clear to me that the standards for the degree were substantially less than what you would find from a reputable university. This student could not cite (nor included on the poster) key details of their study that would have been required to ensure rigor. I am not sure that the dissertation actually required any type of defense.

As many others have stated, it is really advisable to select a school that has a quality PhD program. I don't know of any examples of for-profit online programs that produce quality research. Why do you want a PhD? Is it to pursue an academic career or prepare you to be a scientist? If so, you really want to select a program that has faculty that specialize in the areas of research that are of interest. Personally, I would not choose any online program for a PhD. I think a student benefits greatly from the exposure to research and dialogue that is required when you a part of a cohort that meets in person. A PhD requires a HUGE investment in time, money, and effort. I would recommend selecting a program that will give you the best return on this investment.

1. DNP is a degree, like the BSN or MSN. Specifically, the DNP is a practice doctorate. Many BSN to DNP programs allow specialization as an advanced practice nurse. A DNP program that offers a FNP track would prepare you to be a family nurse practitioner. 2. There are very likely programs that you can find that would accept you without any clinical experience. Unfortunately, not all nursing graduate programs have high standards of entry. However, I would strongly encourage you to consider some clinical practice as a nurse before pursuing graduate education. You will find that your experiences as a nurse will form a foundation upon which to develop as an NP. Also, most DNP programs require some type of capstone project. It will likely be challenging to create a project if you have no idea about the world of nursing. Graduate school is time consuming and expensive and you will want clinical experience to ensure that you are making the right decision. 3. Again, I would strongly encourage you to obtain a job as a nurse. You might be able to find a position working weekends, which allows you to work and go to school. This option might also allow you to pay out-of-pocket for your degree. 4. You will probably have to contact the school that interests you to get more information on the application process and timeline. If it is a reputable program, I would not be surprised if they will not look at an application for someone that has not graduated with their BSN, passed the NCLEX, and is licensed to practice nursing.