Seeking serious advice re: MSN/FNP vs. DNP

[ChillyRN]

I came here on the advice of a friend who is in PA school. I understand and appreciate that there are some/many here who do not fully support the DNP for a variety of reasons. I'm not here to debate those issues, but rather to seek objective feedback on how to persue my best educational opportunitites.

A little background: I am 40 y/o, and I now live in a very small community. I have been a nurse for 15 years, 12 of those have been in critical care in large University med centers. I have been very proactive over the years in obtaining as much continuing ed as I could, acheived numerous specialty certifications, and have become expert in my field. I am RN-BC, CCRN-CMC, CEN, TNCC, SANE. yada yada yada. The ony point to be made by that long list of initials that mean little to anyone (except me, they mean a great deal to me) is that throughout my career I have always aspired to grow and learn, and be the best nurse I could be.

I just feel like I am at the end of this road, there isn't much else to learn or do here. I am getting complacent, and I don't like that trait in myself. Excepting hospital work and teaching CNA classes at the local community college (which I tried for a semester-not for me), there are no other job opportunities for a BSN nurse in this area, and with children at home, I don't want to drive 90 minutes to the tertiary medical center.

So, I clearly need to go to graduate school at this point. I am at a place in my life where I can do that, very successfully I believe. I have been strongly encouraged (by the MDs, PAs and NPs that I know) to study to be a NP. I love teaching, but to be perfectly frank, cannot afford to take the kind of paycut I'd face to teach. I'm at the top of my payscale and I make more than my friend, who has a PhD in Nursing Admin and education, and teaches in the BSN program about 50 miles from here (and again, I don't want that kind of commute). So I am leaning toward FNP, because I think I would like it, would be effective, and would likely earn about what I do now. I should add that though I'd probably really like being a clinical nurse specialist (cardiac especially), there is no such thing in this part of the country.

That brings me to my problem/question. I am not impressed with degree inflation. I want a good education. If I am going to be a midlevel provider, I want to be an outstanding midlevel provider. I am looking at several programs that offer distance learning (see remarks above about where I live, lol. DL is a must). Several of them offer the DNP as well as the MSN/FNP route, some only offer the DNP. I don't want to buy a degree that means nothing, but I don't want to go back to school again in my 50s. This is my last hurrah, I have kids that will need tuition dollars soon enough!

Under these circumstances, would you advice a MSN/FNP program, or taking the extra two years for a DNP program? It has also occurred to me that with a DNP, I'd be qualified to teach nursing in a BSN program, should I ever choose to do that on a part-time basis. I just don't wat to spend unecessary time and money pursuing additional initials that won't make me better at my job, lol. Specifically I have considered Univ of North Carolina, George Washington Univ, and Medical Univ of S. Carolina. The UNC program is not getting a lot of praise in my part of the country, so I am reluctant to choose it. Are there other distance FNP programs that you would recommend?

Than you for reading this far, and thanks in advance for sincere and reasoned input.

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[fab4fan]

I had planned on going with Drexel's program when I was looking at FNP. They have a pretty good reputation.

I think the reality is eventually NPs are all going to have to be DNPs, like it or lump it (I am clearly in the "lump it" camp). I think it's ridiculous because the classes most of the time do not add to skills or clinical knowledge. But they didn't ask for the opinion of groundlings, so there it is.

Good luck. Sounds like you have a lot of good experience that will serve you well!

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I think it's ridiculous because the classes most of the time do not add to skills or clinical knowledge. But they didn't ask for the opinion of groundlings, so there it is.

I think if you want to improve your clinical skills....do the FNP. You will need hands on training/mentoring, which I think would serve someone seeking more clinical knowledge better than taking a bunch of courses that aren't really meant to enhance the person's clinical skills.

 

[fab4fan]

I think what the OP is saying is should she just gut it out and get the FNP that also offers the DNP. I think she should if she has the means to do so. Maybe I misread the post.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Good word.

A nod to Shakespearean times if I'm not mistaken.

 

[isoman2000]

Go for FNP, You do not the DNP, if you want it later you can get it.

 

[ChillyRN]

I think what the OP is saying is should she just gut it out and get the FNP that also offers the DNP. I think she should if she has the means to do so. Maybe I misread the post.

Yes, that is what I was getting at, thanks.

 

[ChillyRN]

And, do any of you medical students know the reputation of the Medical University of South Carolina? The recruiter tells me it is great, lol. I'd have to pay out of state tuition to go there, which would be more than George Washington. However, there seems to me more "on the ground support" coming from MUSC, based on what I have researched. Thanks for your input.

 

[fab4fan]

A nod to Shakespearean times if I'm not mistaken.

It is. One of those words you keep in your "file." I love interesting words.

 

[primadonna22274]

MUSC is very well-respected for its MD and PA programs, but I don't know anything about the NP programs. I believe they've been around quite a while. I did interview for a teaching position in the MUSC PA program several years ago and was told the NP program is run very differently than the PA program (go figure).
I'll look at the curriculum and see what I can tell you. Of course the PA program is traditional (they all are) and inflexible

 

[bradt9881]

UNC- Chapel Hill has a very well respected FNP program; its just not in the mountains.

 

[ChillyRN]

UNC- Chapel Hill has a very well respected FNP program.

All my knowledge of it is anecdotal. My SIL got her PhD in Nursing there, but she is a oncology research fellow, not a FNP. She thinks it is good. I know of one grad who felt very underprepared after graduating that program and the physician oversite committee in our hospital system has given it a "U" (unsatisfactory) rating) and will no longer host those students. In contrast, they have given East Tenn State program an "E" (excellent) rating. Vanderbilt has gotten a "G" (good) but I'm not considering it. Duke has also gotten a "G." We haven't has students from GW or MUSC in our system.

I did my undergrad at U of Michigan and my Masters (of Social Justice) at Fordham, so I have been taught to appreciate the respect that accompanies rigorous curricula. I want to attend a good program at a well respected school, and then forget about it and get on with the rest!

 

[primadonna22274]

ChillyRN, you give some excellent reasons for your concern with the UNC program. I certainly wouldn't want to attend a program that my own hospital was unimpressed with either.
As far as MUSC, maybe you could talk with someone at Carolinas to find out what they think of the NP students.
I wouldn't do Vandy as it is soooooo expensive. I worked with a Vandy FNP and was pretty unimpressed with her (although keep in mind she was a direct-entry FNP, never a nurse before she did the program, so relatively small well of experience to draw from).
My sister is doing the PhD Nursing program at U of Arizona-Tucson. She's pretty pleased with it and says it is tremendously difficult, particularly with 3 kids. She has absolutely no interest in NP work; she wants to teach. Her specialty is NICU and she's minoring in Informatics. I find this all very interesting since I'm not a nurse and don't really know much about nurses except I've worked with a bunch of them. Of course UA is instate only
As far as the DNP vs FNP goes, I would go for FNP, but I'm (like a lot of PAs) not excited about the DNP movement. I know eventually it will be something you have to do, and that's sad. My office mate is a 55 yo ANP and she feels like she'll be forced to do a DNP but is unconvinced of its value in the clinical setting.
Good luck to you whatever you decide.
Lisa

All my knowledge of it is anecdotal. My SIL got her PhD in Nursing there, but she is a oncology research fellow, not an FNP. She thinks it is good. I know of one grad who felt very underprepared after graduating that program and the physician oversite committee in our hospital system has given it a "U" (unsatisfactory) rating) and will no longer host those students. In contrast, they have given East Tenn State program an "E" (excellent) rating. Vanderbilt has gotten a "G" (good) but I'm not considering it. Duke has also gotten a "G." We haven't has students from GW or MUSC in our system.

I did my undergrad at U of Michigan and my Masters (of Social Justice) at Fordham, so I have been taught to appreciate the respect that accompanies rigorous curricula. I want to attend a good program at a well respected school, and then forget about it and get on with the rest!

Right now, I am thinking MUSC is looking the best, even at out of state prices. They are giving me a lot more support, information and follow up already, after one phone call, lol. GW sent me a packet of stuff, for the wrong program, then forgot me until I called again to get the right material. I'm not too impressed by them so far! MUSC has said they will send nursing professors out to me, or meet me halfway, etc. They have already secured relationships with Carolina's Med Ctr, (Charlotte) and Memorial Mission. If I go GW, I'd have to do all that myself. GW costs less though, and gives me a choice between Masters level practice and DNP. I am still not sold on DNP, and that is myonly option through MUSC.

 

[bradt9881]

Have you considered PA as an alternative? If so, here is a possibility. A new program just started in North Carolina at Wingate University near Charlotte. Since its new, and not yet on the Central Application Service, they are not as flooded with applications as the other schools in the state, and your nursing experience is a plus.

http://pa.wingate.edu/

 

[core0]

Have you considered PA as an alternative? If so, here is a possibility. A new program just started in North Carolina at Wingate University near Charlotte. Since its new, and not yet on the Central Application Service, they are not as flooded with applications as the other schools in the state, and your nursing experience is a plus.

http://pa.wingate.edu/

Looking at the faculty there is no reason to expect that the program will be anything but outstanding.

David Carpenter, PA-C

 

[ChillyRN]

Have you considered PA as an alternative? If so, here is a possibility. A new program just started in North Carolina at Wingate University near Charlotte. Since its new, and not yet on the Central Application Service, they are not as flooded with applications as the other schools in the state, and your nursing experience is a plus.

http://pa.wingate.edu/

No, actually I had not considered that. Hmmmmm....
I followed the link and have already had all the prereqs on that list, save organic chemistry, so that would be an easy fix. I am reluctant to leave nursing, it is my true vocation, but it is worth considering.

The one thing that does give me pause is that tuition. It is as expensive as Vandy! I could do FNP at MUSC or GW for roughly half of that, or at ETSU or Carolina for 1/3. We are in our 40s and deliberately debt free; we do not borrow money for any reason. We make too much money to qualify for assistance of any kind, but not bearly enough to pay for Wingate, PLUS U of Chicago and Wake Forest respectively next year for our twins. I strongly feel I need to attend a program that we can pay for as I go, so I think I have to cap it at about $700 a credit hour.

PA school deserves consideration, but Wingate is not doable in my circumstances.

Thanks for the option!