Duppy Conqueror

Three years ago, I posted a question asking if I should go for DNP or my PhD in Nursing. https://allnurses.com/doctor-nursing-practice/should-i-go-682968.html 1. Stay in PhD in nursing program or 2. Switch over to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program (starting all over again throwing away the last three years) I'm a 3rd year PhD in Nursing student that just finished 3 years of coursework. About to do prelim exams in the fall and then dissertation. Will take ~ 2'ish years. However, $250,000 of student loan debt, I'm thinking that the higher salary of the nurse practitioner program will be safer because they make ~$10-$40,000 more than professors\researchers and more job opportunities. I like research but don't like teaching and don't like the "never off work" feeling of research. I like working with patients, but NP's can't transfer to work in other countries and I'd be giving up my option to do research if I want. I'm turning 38 in August, single, and haven't even started on pursuing having kids. It's hard to pursue socializing when tied up in a doctoral program of which I'd be tied up for at least 3-5 more years because If I'd do the Phd program, I'd most likely want to do the NP program later. If I give up the PhD program, that would probably be it with that unless I wanted to do three years over again because If I'd do the Phd program, I'd most likely want to do the NP program later. If I give up the PhD program, that would probably be it with that unless I wanted to do three years over again. I'm pressured to decide on making this decision for today's summer registration or the fall. ‪

Some more very useful points of view. Education is definitely not going to be easy and it's challenges (over those of the DNP's) will be of a different nature (i.e. students questioning a professor with little clinical experience, etc). I've asked most of my professors that have gotten to know my personality's strengths and there is a resounding "Go for the PhD!" from them all. This is because I'm a thinker and have unique insight from which many new, innovative ideas come from. If I did try to implement research into the clinical setting I'd probably try to bring in many new innovative therapies. I think his desire to seek something new and original would better be suited for a hardcore research setting. I've worked as a medic in the US Army and we can often do more than what civilian RN's can do (sutures, nerve blocks, etc) but regardless, I'm going to have to go out and get more clinical experience as an RN before I really know for sure.

Yes, I came to this realization after my professors have emailed me responses to my question that educators only work 9 months out of the year and that $10,000 difference can easily be made up for in that time (if the salary thing of concern). Multiple professors have pointed out that I would be good for research because of my creative insight. I tend to agree because on my off time, I'm looking up information on psychoneuroimmunology because I want to try to figure out the scientific basis of integrative therapies. Working in the education setting would seem to allow me the mental space to think and figure things out while the clinical setting will have me to busy to do what I love; which is to think. This PhD and DNP comparison chart is VERY useful for many people and I'm going to definitely bookmark it and share. Thanks for creating this comparison chart!

Very good point! This is why I posted this question on here, so I can get vital information that I was totally blind to by experts. I totally was thinking about only 2 aspects of nursing to try to form a decision on when I was not aware of the many other aspects and options for job positions for nurses with their PhD's and DNP's. I was unaware of the other positions in clinical settings that are available to PhD prepared nurses. In my ignorance, I was thinking that admin/managerial positions would be what a PhD prepared nurse would working in. Actually, I was thinking that if I were to go for the DNP, that I'd prefer the Clinical Nurse Specialist route instead of the NP route (UIC's program requires that students choose a specialty (NP/CNS) before the Doctoral phase of the program) because I'm not interested in being prescribing medications and managing them, but I'm more interested in doing the CNS type work. By what you described you do in Nurse Staff Development, it does not sound totally unlike that work of a CNS. You do bring up the best way to find the answer to my question and that is to actually go out and get experience so I can find out first hand what I'd like to do. Nice! Thanks!

I just graduated from a Master entry into nursing practice program and just got licensed as an RN. I've got a Veteran's grant for any state school in Illinois that will pay for my doctorate. I've applied to the PhD Program at University of Illinois - Chicago. I think that I've been accepted to it but official word is being mailed soon. I just asked a professor buddy (I think he's a research psychologist) about the salary ranges of PhD's and his tone was to encourage me to go for the DNP and that I should only go for the PhD if I'm "200% sure I want to do research". I really think of myself as a thinker and would like to contribute to the field of psychoneuroimmonlogy and research in Complimentary & Alternative Therapy (CAT). However, my buddy was encouraging me to look at the reality of things and how the clinical route will be a more definite, higher salary. I looked at salary.com and found that the median salary of a nursing professor is $86,680/year when the Nurse Practitioner median salary is $96,056. So I think it's safe to say that on average, a DNP's going to make about $10,000/year more than a PhD does. However, I kind of think of myself as the intellectual/thinking type that has a lot of good ideas and insights that are very useful for research. I've had multiple professors tell me that my personality is best suited for research. I tend to agree with them. So, since I've gone with this hunch and have been accepted to a PhD program I think that I'm going to go with that. Do you think I'll be seriously kicking myself down the line by going the research route? I mean, in a clinical setting, I'd have a doctorate but still would be not considered to be on the same level as the DNP. Do PhD's get an unspoken respect that distinguishes them from the average RN?