Addiction psychiatry research

[priorities2]

Hello! *Note* please if you are immediately resentful at the fact that I am a psychiatric nurse practitioner, skip this post. I am really just another human being and potential colleague asking for your career wisdom if you feel called to share.

I had my PMHNP schooling paid for by the NURSE Corps scholarship so I'm working for two years in an underserved community and trying to figure out what I'll do next. I thought I'd open a private practice, but I'm starting to realize I am so passionate about addiction psychiatry research and general macro level field issues including pharmaceutical industry bias, public health of opioids/cannabis, for-profit business in the MH and addiction field, and psychiatric epidemiology. Like, I'm so concerned about the direction the field is going in and how to best educate the next generation of clinicians to improve care. I feel really called to go into research or at least dissemination or investigation of some kind.

So, I'm considering a nursing PhD. Does this make sense? Should I be considering looking into some kind of addiction fellowship or something? Does my goal even make sense, should I just give up and not try to control a tidal wave I have no power over, and just go into private practice? Or should I attempt to go about making connections in the field in more grassroots ways and stick with my master's degree while maybe working in an academic medical center? I'm so unaware of how to go about moving in the direction of policy/academia that I just want to post here and see if anyone can throw me a bone. Thanks!

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[SourceOfDenial]

The other avenue is look for an advanced research fellowship through the VA. Typically 2-3 year rather open ended funding sources. With so much data, and existing clinical and research infrastructure, a project could be more easily funded. Reach out to your local VISN.

 

[SeniorWrangler]

DNP's do research, it is not a big deal, they are better favored than MD's who are in clinical academic positions as far as I can tell. If you really want to do it, start talking to people who are actually doing it and get their advice on the best path to take, research is a steep and narrow path in these days of dwindling funding.

 

[priorities2]

thank you for the comments...

If I were to get a PhD in nursing at a school with an addiction psychiatry department, could I do research with that department even if it were housed in the medical school?

 

[SeniorWrangler]

I think it really depends on the institution.

 

[Monocles]

Don't bother with a PhD. Just come to any major city with a rampant opioid problem and work for a year in a public-sector or VA hospital with a heavy volume. You'll learn basically everything you need to know, and can always specialise in more.

Actually, a lot of VAs I know have advanced NP programs that are basically 1-year addiction "fellowships". Look into Boston, etc