DNP_OR

You also need to make sure they are nationally accredited, so that your final degree will be accepted no matter where you apply to work. I say this because there are some programs that are not and you may spend your money and end up with a degree that won't allow you to practice at the level you hope to. Or you may find that when you decide to return to school for a DNP/DNSc/PhD that your degree will not transfer to those programs.

While there is still much debate on the role & value of the DNP, I think that for those nurses who really want to focus on practice issues (whether in teaching or administration or public health) it offer an eduacation that meets those needs. There are wonderful DNSc/PhD programs avaialable if research or developing new theories is your passion. Having the DNP for those of us not interested in those venues will only bring more nurses back to school, I believe. Finally, there are doctoral education programs to fit most any nurses goals. I see it as a plus, and with a bit more time I think that they nay-sayers will also see the value in this 'new' doctoral program. Whether having more doctorally prepared nurses available to teach at the university level is another issue totally. Without a change in nursing culture at the unit level, with managers and staff nurses open to helping educate at the bedside, then we will continue to have a building nursing shortage. We can give them the science and theory in the classroom...but without expert nurses at the bedside helping students apply thier new kowledge and skills in real world settings, and role-model nursing in the real world, we won't graduate competent novice nurses.

well, if a university has a dnp program it would be a bit hypocritical to not allow those with that doctoral education to teach! i certainly would not enroll in that program at that school. i have been teaching at my university since i earned my ms...and i was recruited by the dean then. a phd education does not prepare those nurses to teach...and not all dnps do either. but a dnp is practice oriented...isn't that a plus for teaching at the undergrad level at the very least? i sure think so!

Listen to your heart and why you want to get an advanced degree. Then use your head to put that into words that tell why you and why now. Don't try to be anyone other than YOU are. Have a good friend or collegue read your essays and give you some feedback on them. That is the easy part! Waiting for the admission response is the real killer. Good luck.