Nursing Career Advancement Opportunities
NPs can also apply their skills outside of clinical settings by seeking employment in roles such as corporate wellness consultant, medical writer, and health educator. In these professions, nurses can help maintain the health and wellness of a community without being based in a traditional care facility.
For those who want to take their nursing education and career prospects to the next level, enrolling in a DNP program can put them on the right path. A DNP enables nurses to master more specialized medical knowledge and practice in specialty areas that are typically out of reach for nurses who have only a bachelors degree.
How Do Career Outlooks Differ
U.S. News & World Report ranks the profession of nurse practitioner as #4 and physician as #5 in its 2020 Best Healthcare Jobs list.
The demand for nurse practitioners is growing rapidly. Employment growth is projected to grow 28.2 percent between 2018 and 2028, with an estimated 53,300 jobs being added during that period. sup9 In 2019, the median base salary for full-time NPs was $115,800. This is significantly higher than the median base salary for RNs, which was $73,300 in 2019.
The estimated growth rate of physician employment is much lower than that for nurse practitioners, but still above average at 7 percent, with an estimated 55,400 jobs being added between 2018 and 2028. The BLS says that in 2019, the median annual wage for physicians and surgeons was equal to or greater than $208,000.
Phd Nurse Salary & Employment
Salaries for Ph.D. nurses vary based on the type of employment a nurse seeks after graduation. Nurse researchers, a primary career path for Ph.D. nurses, can expect a median salary of $90,000 according to Payscale.com. For Ph.D. nurses who pursue a teaching position, the median annual wage for post-secondary nursing instructors is $77,360 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2017. Geographical location, career length and experience level are all factors that can influence a Ph.D. nurse’s annual salary.
The nursing profession as a whole has a particularly bright employment outlook, with employment of registered nurses projected to grow 15 percent from 2016 to 2026 according to the BLS. In addition, a large number of healthcare facilities are looking for nursing professionals with higher degrees, which means the demand for Ph.D. and DNP level nurses will continue to grow. In fact, the Institute of Medicine‘s 2015 “The Future of Nursing Report” emphasized the need for more Ph.D. level nurses.
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Dnps In Advanced Practice Nursing
DNP graduates who take the advanced practice nursing pathway will provide direct care to patients that include managing, assessing, and evaluating care.
DNPs who focus on advanced practice nursing are required to sit for the advanced practice registered nurse certification exam. They may also be required to sit for advanced specialty certification as well.
In the workforce, you may find DNPs in the following roles,
- Nurse Midwife – professionals who provide reproductive health services before, during and after childbirth. They also provide primary care and counseling throughout infancy.
- Nurse Anesthetist – professionals who work collaboratively with the healthcare team to administer anesthesia.
- Nurse Practitioner – clinicians who work autonomously to provide patient care and manage illness. Nurse practitioners specialize in a specific patient population such as,
- Womens Health Nurse Practitioner
What Are The Roles And Duties Of A Phd Nurse
The majority of Ph.D. nurses pursue careers in either the research or teaching fields, so their day-to-day duties will vary depending on which career track they have chosen.
For a nurse researcher, typical duties may include:
- Identify research questions, and design and conduct scientific research in partnership with other scientists from various fields
- Collect and analyze scientific data and publish reports detailing findings
- Write proposals and apply for grants to help fund their research
- Establish and maintain quality assurance programs to ensure the validity of their data findings
- Train and supervise laboratory staff and other nurses or scientists
For a Ph.D. nurse educator who has chosen to pursue a faculty position, typical duties may include:
- Plan, prepare and revise curriculum and study materials for nursing courses
- Deliver lectures to undergraduate and graduate level nursing students
- Supervise students’ laboratory and clinical work
- Grade students’ classwork, laboratory and clinical performance
- Mentor and advise students’ regarding their future work in the nursing industry
For faculty members who pursue department chair or administration roles, additional duties may include:
- Hire, supervise and conduct performance reviews of faculty members
- Assist with the scheduling of classes and professors
- Oversee department curriculum and provide quality control as to the content and materials of given nursing courses
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How Much Does A Bsn Degree Cost
The cost of a BSN degree can vary depending on the college you choose and whether you live on campus or commute to school.
Online academic programs generally cost less than traditional in-person courses, due to lower staffing costs. The cost of tuition will depend on the degree program you select and the specific college that you attend.
The cost of a traditional BSN degree is approximately $4,000 to $5,000 per year at a public university and can be as high as $10,000 per year at a private university.
Towson Universitys online nursing program costs $645 per credit hour for Maryland residents and $895 per credit hour for all other students.
So, if you are a nonresident attending this school, tuition alone would cost $13,695 each of the two years that it takes to complete the program. If you live in Maryland and attend this program online, it would cost you $7,980 each of those two years.
What Will A Dnp Prepare You For
A Doctor of Nursing Practice has many applications. Whether you want to work as a Nurse Practitioner, become a clinical leader or affect change in an administrative capacity, a DNP will put you on the path to career advancement.
Here are 5 practical ways a DNP will help you meet personal and professionals goals and put you at the top of the nursing profession:
- Improve the quality and safety of patient care using principles of evidence-based practice.
- Develop and manage interprofessional teams that meet the highest standards of quality and safety.
- Analyze and evaluate the local and global impacts of a healthcare organizations policies, practice, and funding.
- Become a change agent and accelerate transformation to improve complex healthcare delivery systems.
- Educate the next generation of nurses to provide safe and effective patient care.
DNP programs typically focus on two different career pathsadvanced patient care roles or organizational leadership roles. Lets look at different careers in both clinical and non-clinical settings for nurses who earn a DNP.
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What Is The Career Outlook For Both Positions
The need for nurse practitioners continues to grow. Its projected that the role will grow 45% between 2019 and 2029. In 2020, the median base salary for nurse practitioners was $117,670.
The growth for doctors is significantly lower than for nurse practitioners. Its reported that physicians employment will only rise by 4% between 2019 and 2029, which is the average growth rate for all occupations. However, doctors do earn more at $208,000 per year.
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Attend A Residency Program And Possibly A Fellowship
After medical school, new physicians attend a residency program that is between two and four years. If an individual wishes to specialize in a specific field, a fellowship is required.
Fellowships can be up to five years in length. The more specialized the field, the longer the post-graduate training.
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Professional Doctoral Program: Md Or Do
- Eligibility: While every medical school has different acceptance requirements, the majority of applicants had the following based on 2019 admission numbers:
- GPA: The median undergraduate GPA in 2019 was 3.75. Most schools require a minimum of 3.3.
- MCAT: The median MCAT score was 512 out of a maximum score of 528.
- Prerequisite courses: Most programs require students to have a range of undergraduate courses that not only include the physical sciences but also English and math.
- Undergraduate degree: While there is no specific undergraduate degree required to enter a medical doctoral program, most medical schools prefer that their students complete a bachelor’s program from a four-year institution and not a community college.
The Benefits Of Earning A Dnp For Future Nurse Practitioners
The DNP is considered a terminal degree because it is the highest level of education for the nursing profession. One thing that distinguishes doctors of nursing practice from other nursing professionals is their ability to work as independent practitioners. In addition to leading the diagnosis and treatment of disease from a clinical perspective, DNPs can prepare to serve as certified nurse midwives , certified registered nurse anesthetists , and doctors of nurse anesthesia practice , among dozens of other specialties.
Stephen Ferrara writes on the website Daily Nurse that NPs are vital for addressing the main shortcoming of evidence-based practice on the front lines of the health care industry. Ferrara describes evidence-based practice as a foundational tenet of DNP curricula. However, decision-making in clinical settings cannot only be the result of the best available evidence. Nurses must take the research one step further and translate that discovered evidence into applied practice, according to Ferrara.
Even before the NONPFs announcement of the future DNP requirement, many practicing NPs had decided to pursue their doctorates. The professional goal of working toward a DNP is more practical now than ever because of the availability of convenient online degree programs.
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Graduating Student Will Focus On Creating More Diversity In Nursing
Salwa Mourtada Bamba began her nursing career as a teen in war-torn Liberia, West Africa, when relief workers enlisted her help triaging patients. This two-time CU Nursing graduate earns her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree next week. Read more about her story and the path that led her to where she is today.Salwa Mourtada Bamba, MSN, FNP-BC, FNP-C
DNP Tracks
There are five different tracks that students may pursue in either of the DNP pathways. Each track has a focus.
Clinical Experience
Pleasenote, all students completing clinical hours must meet very specific requirements concerning immunizations, background checks, etc.
Expected DNP Program Outcomes
What Is A Doctor Of Nursing Practice
The DNP is a practice-based doctorate in nursing, and one of two terminal degrees in the field. While its counterpart, the PhD, is more research-oriented, and intended for students who want to work as nurse scientists or scholars, the DNP is designed for those interested in working in direct patient care or leading teams in a clinical setting. Students can earn their DNP in a general leadership or administration focus, or pursue their doctorate along with an APRN specialty, such as one of the nurse practitioner concentrations listed above.
There are several different paths RNs can take to earn a DNP, depending on their current level of education, and the particular nursing focus they want to specialize in. In general, DNP programs fall under one of three categories:
At the DNP level, clinical hours are usually completed in conjunction with a students DNP capstone project, an original work that is developed and implemented over several semesters and practicum courses. This project is meant to demonstrate students mastery of the theories and practices learned throughout the DNP program, by giving them the chance apply these concepts and skills toward improving a certain aspect of the current health care system.
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Doctorate Of Nursing Practice: Take The Next Step
To easily compare DNP degree programs, filter by format . Or just look for programs in a preferred location. The next step from there is to simply contact the sponsored schools with the on-page form. All you do is fill out the form, and you’re on your way!
aacnnursing.org/Portals/42/News/Position-Statements/DNP.pdf?ver=2017-08-02-103159-760 | bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners.htm | aacnnursing.org/Portals/42/AcademicNursing/pdf/Adult-Gero-ACNP-Competencies-2012.pdf | aacnnursing.org/Portals/42/Publications/DNPEssentials.pdf | aacn.nche.edu/media-relations/fact-sheets/dnp
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Education Differences Between Nurse Practitioners And Doctors
When deciding between the two careers, some key factors to consider include the type of degree required, total clinical hours, and the length of time it takes to complete the program.
Doctors are required to complete a professional doctoral program in medicine and NPs must complete a master of science in nursing . The time it takes to complete these programs also differs. Doctors spend around twice the amount of time completing their program than NPs for an MSN degree. These differences often guide learners to one position or the other.
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Why An Online Nurse Practitioner Program From Penn State
Flexibility We understand the need for flexible and convenient learning options, using technology not just for convenience, but also to support learning outcomes. While the DNPNP program provides you with the flexibility of studying online, it also includes the same rigor you would expect from a traditional doctoral-level nursing program.
Curriculum While your course work will be online, in order to properly prepare you for the highest level of clinical nursing practice, you will be required to attend in-person intensive sessions and complete other doctoral benchmarks, including your qualifying examination, comprehensive examination, and DNP project with an oral presentation.
Reputation The Penn State DNP degree is one of the top online programs in the nation. The Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing is approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, masters degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs at Penn State are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791. Further information can be found at www.ccneaccreditation.org.
Salary And Job Outlook
No matter which career path you choose, youll earn a generous salary and quality benefits. On average, nurse practitioners earn $115,800 per year , according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics . Employment for NPs is projected to grow 45 percent from 2019-2029.
Physicians, on the other hand, earn an average annual salary of $208,000 according to the BLS. The number of physician job openings is projected to grow by roughly seven percent between 2018 and 2028. This is faster than the growth rate for all careers, but admittedly slower than the rate for nurse practitioners.
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Earn Your Doctorate In Nursing From Maryville University
What can you do with a doctorate in nursing? A DNP degree can open many doors, providing more autonomy and offering the opportunity for specialization in administrative, educational, and research fields. Nurses who want to make a difference in the lives and the careers of other nurses, as well as in the health of patients, might consider a DNP degree as the next step in their career progression.
If youre looking for the expanded opportunities that a doctorate in nursing makes possible, learn more about the Maryville University online DNP degree program.
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As A Uic Dnp Student Clinical Rotations Are Arranged For Youheading Linkcopy Link
All DNP students at UIC are assigned highly qualified preceptors at desirable clinical sites, selected by knowledgeable program directors. By partnering with skilled preceptors in a variety of healthcare settings, we ensure that each of our students is provided with the best mentorship experiences while learning the necessary clinical practice skills. These rotations, paired with high-quality simulation scenarios also included in our curriculum, combine to give students a broad range of advanced, hands-on patient-management experiences.
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The Groundswell Toward Full Practice Authority For Nps Makes The Push For A 2025 Dnp Migration Imperative
Arguing for the DNP presents something of a double-edged sword for NP advocates. While its difficult to argue that more training and more clinical education arent a good thing for anyone in the medical field, NPs and other APRNs have already been fighting to establish themselves as being well-qualified to practice and prescribe independently with nothing more than an MSN.
While requiring a DNP for licensure obviously answers this argument, if the initiative doesnt succeed it could provide ammunition for entities such as the AMA who seek to restrict APRN practice authority. If NPs themselves believe the role needs a higher education requirement, it tends to work against the argument for independent practice authority, and boosts the AMA position that NPs should only function under MD supervision.
If the push to move to a DNP as standard fails again, it may only reinforce the perception that independent practice for NPs should continue to be restricted.
The argument works in the other direction as well though. For the additional education a DNP offers to have any practical advantages, NPs would have to be allowed to put it to use in the field by being granted independent practice authority as a matter of course. Many states still restrict NP practice authority to levels below their capabilities when they come out of MSN programs, so proactively moving to the DNP standard could be the very thing that convinces state law makers to authorize that expanded practice authority.