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Hi guys! Today I want to help you to understand the differences between a master's degree in nursing and a DNP or doctor of nursing practice. As your nursing career progresses you may decide you would like to have an advanced degree so this lesson may help you to identify which route you would like to take!
MSN versus DNP, which path to take? Well this will depend on your career goals but keep in mind both of these degrees would be awesome and they are both graduate-level degrees. Guys in nursing there is nothing higher than earning your DNP.
So let's take a closer look at each of these degrees. The nurse who has a masters degree in nursing typically practice medicine in the clinical setting like nurse practitioners, flight nurse, clinical nurse specialist, or nurse midwife. The masters prepared nurse although they follow evidence-based guidelines they do not utilize research or conduct research in their daily work. The classwork that is involved in earning this degree focuses heavily on diagnosis skills and management and leadership. The masters program will be shorter than a DNP program which also means it will typically be cheaper in terms of tuition as a student.
A nurse who earns their DNP focuses heavily on scientific and clinical research although more an more nurse practitioners are choosing to earn a DNP over a masters degree. You will find nurses with a DNP who work in the clinical as well as the academic setting but you will probably see many nursing administrators or executives of hospitals with a DNP over a MSN. Keep in mind the DNP track will typically take longer than earning a Masters with a different type of classwork focusing on administration, research, and nursing theories.
Ok, guys so I definitely want to point out that many programs are making the DNP the standard over an MSN particularly you will start seeing this more and more with nurse practitioner programs as well as nursing anesthesia programs. We are even starting to see more BSN to DNP bridge programs completely skipping the MSN altogether!
Ok lets review! MSN prepared nurses to practice primarily in the clinical setting with no research in daily work, the programs are shorter than DNP programs and the preparation for this degree focuses on diagnostic skills. The DNP degree is heavy on research and science, these nurses work in the clinical and academic settings are can also be executives and administrators. This pathway takes longer than the MSN route. The future of graduate nursing is showing the DNP route becoming standard and more BSN to DNP bridge programs.
As advanced practice nurses, we are always using clinical judgment, our goal is always to promote health in our patients, and as advanced practice nurses, professionalism is paramount!
We love you guys! Go out and be your best self today! And as always, Happy Nursing!
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