Soul searching to further career APRN or MD?

woknblues · Mar 26, 2011

The DNP entry to advance practice nursing is only in the recommendation phase IIRC. Unless this changed very recently. Meaning, a master's route is still available. Also, DNP != PHD in Nursing. The former is clinical, the latter, acedemic.

I hope this helps, because I would hesitate to go APRN if I had to get a PHD as well.

Carolbknits · Mar 26, 2011

Thanks Woknblues,

I was hoping to not be in school again forever since I already have to BS degrees, and if the schooling is almost as long, I wonder if it just makes sense to be an OD or MD. My two youngest are adopted and hate to spend their entire childhoods in school :-( However, I do have a lot more years of working ahead of me~ I want to be able to provide a good life for them and someday hopefully provide free medical care to Africa (my second child is adopted from Ethiopia, my baby is from Korea). I guess I don't know what the differences are in school and practice for the PHD vs MD and APRN etc. I am hoping to shadow some people and get a "feel" for their positions. Thank you for your reply, any and all thoughts/comments are welcome.

love hugs and prayers

Carol

Altra, BSN, RN · Mar 26, 2011

Do you mean "MD or DO"? (OD = doctor of optometry)

1. Are you in an area with universities that offer both the DNP and have a medical school? If not, the feasibility of your family relocating will be a major consideration.

2. Medical school is 4 years of intensive full-time study, followed by a residency of a minimum of 3-5 years. Relocation may be required for residency as well, depending on where you match.

3. You'll want to thoroughly investigate the roles typical of APRNs in your area, so that you have a realistic picture of your employment options.

Good luck to you. :)

Carolbknits · Mar 26, 2011

Sorry yes DO - yes my area has all of those options (of course getting in is another challenge). I live in CT, and went to UCONN for both of my undergrad degrees. They are offering everything except the Masters programs now :-( only for clinical nurse specialist, and they have a Med School nearby. So hopefully all of those things are an option for me... I'm just thinking out loud and trying to see what information/options people can enlighten me about. thank you for your time and help! Keep the thoughts rolling!

love hugs and prayers

Carol

ckh23, BSN, RN · Mar 26, 2011

You will definitely spend more time and money going the MD route. You have to figure in 4 years of med school plus another few years for residency and then possibly a fellowship depending on the area you want. If ANP is the route you want to go then I would suggest trying to get in soon before they do make them DNP programs as well.

Carolbknits · Mar 26, 2011

Yes that is what I'm afraid of too...by the time my ducks are in a row, it might be too late :crying2: :-( I was already misfortunate once before when I went back for my BSN. I was looking for a bachelors to masters program and only 2 schools (both far and expensive) offered it...the year I graduated, UCONN offered it in 3 years! (same amount of time it took me for my second BSN in Nursing...) Thank you for the information!

love hugs and prayers

Carol

kakamegamama · Mar 27, 2011

You can obtain a ANP via online at UMass. I would encourage you to check into that. Med school==4 years. Internship/residency==at least 4. And, while in residency you will work extremely long and difficult hours, often having little time at all for a life. ANP will allow you to work in Africa in all probability. I wish you well!

Mrs. Sparkle Pants · Mar 27, 2011

Just a small correction, a DNP does not equal a PhD in nursing. A DNP is a clinical degree meaning you actually practice in the field. A PhD is a research degree, meaning you do academic work, teaching, published research, etc...Ultimately, getting your MD or DO will likely take six years. There are MANY pre-reqs that are necessary for med school that are not needed for nursing school, but if that's what you want then go for it! (the six years of school for MD/DO is not including residency/specialty fellowship, etc which would likely be an additional six years). Since you already have a BSN, becoming an APRN would be two/three years depending on specialty and the program you choose, and when you graduate you are immediately able to work, whereas if you went the MD/DO route you would still have a lot of trainig after your schooling is finished. Good luck!

DPSGraduateNurse · Mar 27, 2011

You already have your foot in the door for nursing, go for that. MD, you will probably need a few more undergrad classes....biochem, gross anatomy, calculus, etc. plus residency working 60+ hours a week, MCAT, GREs, etc etc...yeah, you get my drift......Good luck!

jbjelus1 · Mar 27, 2011

Personally I would focus my time on watching my children grow. If you already have two degrees why not just go for an advanced nursing degree as opposed to going for a MD. If you had no children I would say go for it, but your kids will only be kids once, so why not focus on them, but if it is something that you feel that you need to do then go for it, especially if you have a good support system.

neuroms · Mar 27, 2011

Have you considered PA school? It's more comparable to NP training than med school. If you prefer the medical approach you should look into it.