I’ve felt something along the lines of what you mentioned in your post about discouragement or tension received by peers when discussing the personal topic of pursuing the DNP degree. Currently pursuing the DNP and working in a busy California emergency department, I’m a little surprised to find that other providers such as Attending/Resident Physicians and PAs have been the most encouraging when sharing with them that I’m pursuing the terminal degree. Nursing peers, especially those working in upper management/administration or as educators are not as receptive to the news of me pursuing the DNP. I can relate to your hesitancy surrounding even mentioning that you’re studying for your DNP. Peers will ask, “why don’t you just go to medical school?” alongside other similarly exhausting questions. To this I say, stay focused, keep studying. Remind and reinforce your peers of the merits of the DNP and why it is essential to the future of healthcare.

Negative comments in life often come from individuals who themselves have insecurities in the area in which they are discouraging or talking negatively about. To be completely honest the very act of telling people I am in a doctorate program shocks myself. My experience with both telling others and remarking on others mile stone of being in a doctorate program has been extremely positive mixed with confusion and doubt. I love what the anonymous author stated about doctors wishing they had became nurse practitioners so that they could be involved with their family more instead of just education. I too have come across doctors who in addition to losing time with loved ones have substantial debt oppositely of nurse practitioners. Fear or discouragement often comes from a lack of education. I am excited when people ask me what a DNP is because I get the opportunity to explain the relevance of the doctorate nurse practitioner and the difference we are as practitioners. Often times when I am met with discouragement or confusion by other colleagues I encourage them to themselves get a doctorate. As nurses and lifelong learners we are one of the only professions that see education as a necessary part of our career. This element is instilled in us in our undergrad programs. We just need to refresh and remind our colleagues of its importance.

I agree with all your comments regarding the negative stigma of the DNP degree in clincal practice. Patricia says it best, individuals who themselves have insecurities in the area they are discouraging. I feel we as DNP’s need to talk about it more often and not be discouraged in expressing our views about how important the degree is to moving our profession forward to the future. WE have to educate others and show the difference and our worth.

From a profession that has been discouraging formal, advanced education for decades (ADN vs BSN), none should be surprised. I would go on to say that until we decide as a profession that we are (collectively) going to be a force in healthcare, this discouragement is likely to continue. Nursing continues to evolve. Many would like to lead the way in healthcare innovation and policy. In my opinion, nurses are the best suited to have the predominant voice in healthcare. But, as long as we fight amongst ourselves and continue to willingly mold ourselves into a system that is designed to “keep us in our place,” the less we will accomplish.

For those who think that sounds pretty negative, let me provide a little clarity. I am a new grad DNP. I am also 13 years an FNP, 20 years a nurse, and 50+ years old. Yep, I went back to school after 11 years in practice for the terminal degree. I have been asked all the same why?, will you make more money?, how will it channge what you do? questions. I have met and seen the same discuoragement. The simple answer is because it is important for all of us. Like Wichanee stated above, we are needed in all aspects of healthcare, as Doctors of Nursing. No other healthcare profession touches all aspects of our patient populations the way we do. We outnumber all other healthcare professions. I believe we do hold the answers for how to meet the healthcare needs of the population. We simply must stop hurting one another and stop letting other health professions (like medicine) define who we are and what we do. So, yes, get your DNP. Then get involved and make changes in your organization, in your community, and across the country.

Hello Avery,

I actually had a different response. My colleagues are very supportive of my decision on pursuing my DNP. They are just worried that I’m taking a lot on my plate- having a full time job, 2 kids, and school all at the same time. Our hospital also offers good tuition reimbursement and additional financial aid when classes are taken in their school. I’m sorry that you didn’t have a positive reception from your co-workers. I do encourage you do to keep pursuing your dreams because at the end of the day, it is your life and for your future.

Hi Avery,
I actually have been in your boat before where they questioned why I decided to pursue my DNP degree. It’s mostly coming from my coworkers or other healthcare professionals. As someone who’s a pretty new nurse I often understand why they would ask questions as to why I would jump into getting my DNP degree right away instead of getting experience first and other things. I get where they’re concerns are coming from but I do not let that get into me. I am grateful that I am in a program where it allows me to jump into the program while getting my experience at the same time. It allows me to grow as a nurse while preparing me to become a future practitioner. Similarly exhausting questions on the other hand, others would ask me why I decided to become a DNP instead of going to medical school or become a physician assistant instead? Of course I gave them my reasoning as to why I chose to become a DNP. Remind and reinforce them of the merits of the DNP and why it is essential to the future of healthcare. However, I think the reason others ask these questions for me is to discourage me in pursuing a higher degree and what I love instead of trying to encourage me to become something bigger and better in life.When you dream big, some people just see the magnitude and enormousness of your dreams and goals as way too threatening to them. My suggestion for you is to keep your head up and don’t listen to all of the negativity that people give to you. If DNP is what you love, pursue your dream until the end. Become a DNP provider where you can help educate others the importance of DNP role while doing the things you love! Best of luck!

Hello Avery,
I am so sorry for all the negative feedback you have received from coworkers and classmates when you have mentioned that you are studying to earn your Doctorate in Nursing Practice. I identified with you. So far, I am the only one from my cohort pursuing graduate-level education. During the undergrad program, many in my cohort wanted to only finish the ADN program. Some student nurses in my cohort stayed to pursue the BSN. Very few have expressed the desire to pursue graduate-level education and are contemplating far in the future. Since my undergrad, I knew I wanted to pursue the DNP but I received a lot of discouragement from my cohort and from many registered nurses during my clinical rotations. Many of the registered nurses and unit managers in different units disagree with undergrad student nurses and discourage them to go to grad school right after finishing the BSN. I was advised to work and get experience first as a registered nurse to find out what I like first. I have been told that the extra money I am investing I will never see again. Now that I am working as a registered nurse, I have been told that all the effort will not be worth it in the end.

There is truth the debt to degree argument and I think about this often. That’s one of the ways that nursing remains stuck in this elitism/ colonizer mindset. We make advancing prohibitive for a lot of people who would be wonderful in a different area. However, the benefit is do you want it? It’s a terminal nursing degree. There is nothing anyone else can ask of you, unless you want to augment your education with an MBA or another degree. It allows you access to teach, to be in executive leadership. It’s about knowing what doors you want to open for yourself. If money is truly the only factor that makes a DNP seem less than desirable or pointless, there’s a whole world of corporate nursing out there. If you look, you will find a job that will reward the degree. Personally, I just don’t believe in limiting myself. I want a degree that unlocks all doors, and that’s the DNP.

I have kept my admission into a DNP program mostly to myself. However, the coworkers whom I have told have been supportive and encouraging, saying that I will be their boss someday. I think this is because many nurses in my department are pursuing masters degrees. It’s almost become the culture at my workplace to go to graduate school, because we work in an emergency room and we are burnt out. We know we can’t work there forever.

Hi Avery,

I do not currently have that issue in the moment. When I tell my co-workers that I am currently studying for a DNP degree they seem to be interested in what the degree entails.

However, I do receive some comments from others like “Why don’t you just be a doctor?” or, “That’s going to take a long time to pursue”. It does get a bit frustrating sometimes trying to explain why I want to pursue further education in the field.

The roadblock to understanding and clarity of what the degree is, seems to be that others believe the DNP is just more letters to add to your name.

A lot of nurses, especially those who have been practicing for quite a while now, do not have much information regarding what the Doctor of Nursing Practice is. I tell my colleagues that while I enjoy being a bedside floor nurse, I also what to get into the world of nursing education, mentorship, and research application. When I explain this to them, it opens up their mind more about what the degree entails.

I am truly sorry that you feel discouraged by your colleagues, but I hope that one day you will be able to work with them or others as a DNP and educate them about what the role of the advanced practice nurse encompasses. Also, maybe they will see that the APRN can be a powerful collaborator and resource in the workplace.

Thanks for sharing.