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Discussion

When to start and is it worth it?

Hi: I'm getting ready to graduate with my MSN. Do you think I should wait to start a doctoral program and do some adjunct teaching? Or should I just jump in and get it started? For those of you who have your doctorate is it worth it in the long run ie. money and time. THINK SUMMER!!

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    I would need a lot more information before I could give you any particular advice. But here are a few generalizations that may or may not be relevant in your case.

    1. A PhD student should have a fairly good idea what their major area of research interest is prior to selecting and beginning a PhD program. That means having some practical experience in that field as well as just finding the topic to be interesting. Since you will be spending several years focusing on that topic and basing your early academic career on that topic -- it had better be a topic you are prepared to live with in depth for several years.

    2. Do you have any experience teaching in an academic environment and/or doing research or other academic work? Again, before you make the huge committment that is required of a PhD program, you had better be sure that you will actually enjoy such a career. The money in academia is not usually better -- and is often worse in the early stages of an academic career. So, you better actually like it to make the big financial investment worthwhile.

    I am still quite happy with my decision to get a PhD -- and sometimes wish I had returned to school earlier. So, I would never fault anyone for going back to school earlier than I did. However, I don't think there is a timing that is "right" for everyone. We each have to decide when it is right for us and our specific life situation. If your previous life experiences make you sure that you are ready to make that committment and sure that an academic life is the life for you ...then you need not wait. However, I would not recommend "going in blind." Be sure you know what you are getting into and be sure that it is the right choice for you before you make such a big investment. For some people, that means getting a little relevant practical experience at the Master's level first.

    llg, PhD, RN

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    Hi llg: I have been a geriatric nurse for 15 years in different community settings. As I get closer to graduation from grad school I am feeling a little ambivalent on my future career options. I know I can't work in a univ setting with an MSN (at least where I am living now). So my thought was to apply to an EdD program and work adjunct CH/PH, geri in a university (which I have already had offers to do). My application is in after doing my research re: schools; PhDvsEdD etc. My concern is how do I know that I am going to even like teaching? I don't have alot of teaching exp. Honestly, academia sounds appealing for the obvious reasons (lifelong learning, student contact, flex schedule etc.) I know the money is not the greatest. Another piece of me is saying that I really don't like the clinical aspect of nursing which is definitely my road block so how am I going to teach students? As you can see I'm a little confused;). Any words of wisdom?

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    I have been teaching fulltime at a community college with my MSN for 6 years, and I have been working on my PhD in education for the last two years. I love the variety of teaching opportunities. Clinical teaching requires a great deal of energy, but has its own rewards. I am currently very interested in online teaching, and I have developed some online nursing courses at the college. I am really glad I am pursuing my PhD. I am already done with my coursework and starting my dissertation. Although my PhD is in education and not nursing, I feel it will serve me well. A PhD in nursing is like gold, however, and for those that have the opportunity it is the best way to go. I chose the education degree because it is accessible. It is the only way I could get a degree while working and raising a family. I am going through Capella University and I highly recommend it.

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    Hi ProRN: I'd like to hear more about Capella Univ. I just checked out their website but can't find the admission requirements or how many credits needed to graduate. How did the first 2 years go? Was it very difficult to get through the courses? Thanks!

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