Should i be a dnp

It should reflect your specialization and it will demonstrate your ability to think at the systems level. Find a program that meets your affordability, flexibility, and education needs through an accredited, online school. I first learned about the doctor of nursing practice DNP degree from an epidemiology professor in my undergraduate years.

At the time, it was hard to imagine having time for such things. After graduation, I found myself working in a rural mental health clinic, and I realized, quite quickly, how very wrong I was. The issues I faced were much bigger than just me in this small clinic; they were chronic and systemic. I took interesting courses like health policy and ethics, information technology, health outcomes management, and organizational behavior. For my final DNP Project, I conducted an integrative review and developed a clinical practice guideline on the use of bright light therapy to treat seasonal affective disorder.

There were five other students in my cohort, and upon graduation some remained in clinical practice while others branched into policy, technology, and administration. Since earning my DNP, I have had the opportunity to do many incredible things. I began blogging about nurse practitioner rights; I have served as a consultant on health policy and health system organization for technology startups; and I developed a curriculum for a brand new psychiatric nurse practitioner program.

Today, I work as a design researcher at Microsoft. I have no doubt that my DNP education provided the foundation and catalyst for these incredible experiences. Melissa DeCapua is a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner who graduated from Vanderbilt University. Her background is in child and adolescent psychiatry as well as psychosomatic medicine, and she currently works as a researcher Microsoft. She is a strong advocate for empowering nurses, and she fiercely believes that nurses should play a pivotal role in shaping modern healthcare.

For more information, visit melissadecapua. Share this article: Let me guess. Here are seven major points to get you started: 1. Does the DNP advance our profession? Does the DNP come with a pay raise? This depends on your employer, geographic location, and negotiation skills. After 40 credit hours on average of courses, I find it hard to believe you would come out with less knowledge.

Where Can I Learn More? NPs, have you earned your DNP? What did you think about the process? Comment below, or tweet us bartonlocums. All advanced nursing degrees require comprehensive education and several years of study.

A well-rounded DNP curriculum is about much more than just the technical side of nursing. While earning your DNP, you can work on developing leadership skills essential for entering fast-paced healthcare environments, such as the ability to make difficult decisions under stressful circumstances. DNP coursework can also help nurses learn just what goes into running a clinic, from managing a dynamic team to properly filing important paperwork.

The skills learned here can also help prepare you for an executive-level position in hospital administration. Do you have a passion for a specific field in nursing? You may be able to choose from a number of different concentrations, which might include the following specialties:. Unlike many traditional BSN to DNP degree programs, an online model is tailored for current, practicing nurses with busy lives. While an online Bachelor of Science in Nursing to Doctor of Nursing Practice is still a significant time commitment, it offers unique flexibility.

Some types of professional knowledge never make it into a textbook. Learning from a faculty made up of experienced nurses, DNP students can gain important insights into modern nursing beyond what they have seen up until this point.

Unique opportunities for career guidance and mentorship are also benefits of this environment. Nursing professors typically specialize in an area of clinical practice.

Are you ready to earn your online nursing degree? Find the right nursing program for you. Popular Resources Resources and articles written by professionals and other nurses like you. The DNP emphasizes higher-level skills in nursing practice.

DNPs strive to improve patient outcomes. The Ph. A DNP curriculum centers on leadership in healthcare, evidence-based practice, and advanced practice nursing. Coursework covers statistics, clinical diagnosis, disease management, budget planning and administration, healthcare policy and the transformation of our healthcare system. Nursing Ph. While teaching is optional for DNP students, candidates must complete up to 1, clinical hours of practical experience requirements.

DNP candidates must complete a capstone project. Many programs are available online, and can often be completed by working nurses.