Why get a DNP degree? Is it worth it?
Following 2+ years of COVID-19 pandemic, you’d be hard pressed to find a nurse who isn’t rethinking their career! For many, going back to school is part of a solid game plan to make a change. Whether that means going from an ASN to a BSN, or earning a Master’s degree, there are tons of bridge, online, and part-time programs to make that happen without too much disruption.
No doubt, earning a bachelor’s or master’s degree comes with tangible benefits. Many hospitals now require a BSN as the minimum employable degree, so for nurses who may be wondering if the grass is a little greener somewhere else, they’ll need that BSN. For those who wish to simultaneously step away from the bedside altogether and bump up their pay, choosing to pursue a career as a master’s prepared nurse practitioner might be more appealing.
But, in the past two years, some nurses have been changed more…profoundly. For these nurses, they may feel a calling to delve deeply into one particular aspect of nursing, or perhaps to be part of the change so desperately needed in healthcare delivery at large. To achieve this kinds of professional shift, a doctoral degree is the answer.
The practical benefits of obtaining advanced doctoral degrees like a DNP or a Ph. D.—which require lengthy terms of study—may not be as obvious. You may be able to picture yourself fitting in a night master’s or bachelor’s program alongside the family and work life you currently have…but going for your doctorate? Weighing cost, day-to-day time-commitment, and program length are hefty considerations to make.
Yet…a nursing doctoral degree is a game-changer. A life-changer, if you will. If you have been considering this route, but aren’t sure if the calling is worth it, this is the guide for you.
Evidence-based investment
Obtaining a doctoral degree in is a significant investment, but one that will pay off. Particularly for those who wish to work in academia or research, having a doctoral degree can help to open doors that may otherwise stay shut due to lack of experience and connections. A DNP foretells a body of work you can leverage to obtain nursing roles in leadership, rather than management.
To help untangle career potential against the cost of a DNP program, make a list of your dream positions and corresponding salaries. This information can then be used to help determine how long it might take to recoup the cost of your degree.
Let your nursing flag fly
Maybe making more money is not your primary objective with pursuing a DNP. And that’s okay! (Who in nursing really gets into it for the money, anyways.) For those less concerned with a rising pay-scale, the biggest appeal for pursuing your DNP is to become an expert in your field.
Nurses are incredibly intuitive care-givers—plus, we have a “forest for the trees” POV that allows us to see many of the pitfalls of our healthcare delivery system. No doubt you have your own idea of where to make improvements! Where does your mind wander to (or get frustrated) in your current job?
Pursuing a DNP is a gateway into actually working to solve some of these problems. If you’ve been working clinically for some time, the value of being able to spend time studying critical issues in nursing is a wonderfully inspiring opportunity to reignite your nursing passions. Early graduate study will immerse you in the latest and greatest practice updates; following your curiosity can help narrow your focus for your dissertation work later on.
Nurses need a seat at the table
Undergraduate nursing degrees focus on learning clinical skills (and the science behind them). Ultimately, an ASN or BSN prepares you for hands-on patient care. Graduate work at the doctoral level—particularly with a DNP vs a Ph. D.—allows you to shape the care that will be delivered.
Currently, upwards of 4 million nurses are working in the US. The impact that COVID-19 has had on our profession is undeniable. It broadened cracks that were already present and created new ones. Problems that nurses have long accepted as just being “the way it is” became bigger and harder to ignore. PPE shortages, unsafe staffing ratios, racial disparities in healthcare access and delivery are just a handful of issues that desperately need to reformed.
At a time when nurses are feeling very frustrated, exhausted, and burned out, the thought of being part of a decision-making team is very enticing. Nurses are already in a strong position to inform healthcare reform decisions; it’s just that we need DNP-prepared nurses to be at the decision-making tables. Nurses that will carry with them, the tangible experiences that led them to wanting to make a change—not just for themselves, but for all the nurses coming after them.
Doctoral work allows you to immerse yourself in a specific area of study—and to be in the room, so to speak, with experts in that field. Best of all, when the time comes, you’ll be afforded the opportunity to contribute your own work towards it, too.
If you are driven, passionate, and a life-long learner, then pursuing a DNP might be the next best move. As you begin to search for schools, think about what sparks your curiosity and who might be doing similar work. Match that to what certain institutions can offer you in terms of tuition value. And then, take a deep breath and dive in!