The Positives And Negatives Of Going For Your Doctorate Nursing Degree

One of the beautiful things about working in the medical field is that you can almost always take your career further with further education. Perhaps this statement is no truer than if you are in nursing. Many nurses set out to obtain their DNP or doctorate of nursing practice. If you are trying to decide if this is the right decision for you to take, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the positives and negatives of this educational career path. 

Positive: The job market for DNPs is steadily growing. 

Healthcare demands are even higher now than they have ever been before due to the fact that more people have health insurance. This means that doctorate nurses are consistently relied on to take on some of the load that most doctors simply do not have the time to handle on their own. Because of this fact, the job market for DNPs is on a steady upswing, so you should have no problem finding a good job once you are finished. 

Negative: Obtaining your DNP can be a lengthy process. 

If you are already a nurse or nurse practitioner, it can still take a while to obtain your DNP. This is especially true if you continue in your current line of employment while you are in school because you won't be able to devote as much time to classes and credits. However, most schools do make it easy to take the classes you need in your spare time via online learning. 

Positive: Having your DNP opens up new fields of opportunity in employment. 

DNPs do often hold practical job positions in treatment settings, but they can also step into roles that are more behind-the-scenes that are associated with the medical field. For example, a DNP may be able to find a job position as a teacher at a local college to teach students in nursing programs or something similar. 

Negative: Obtaining your DNP can involve ongoing training. 

Pretty much all nurses must have continued training, but if you have your DNP, you may find that you have a few more requirements to retain your license over the long term. Naturally, positions that cover a broader range of care services are going to have more topics to brush up on as the years go by, so this is less a negative and more something that is rightfully expected in higher nursing licensure. 

For more information about obtaining your doctorate of nursing, contact a college near you.


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