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DNP Versus Master’s Degree

The ultimate career goals and aspirations of an individual as far as nursing is concerned determines their choice to join DNP or master’s degree program. A graduate degree program allows an individual interested in the nursing career to choose a more specialized path in their career and expose them to opportunities in the upper nursing level. Doctor of Nursing Practice is quite different from master’s degree nursing on various grounds including their graduate nursing degree and experiences. The Doctor of Nursing Practice is a doctoral program that prepares an individual for more nursing roles and leadership opportunities in a healthcare facility. It’s a terminal degree that allows nurses to achieve the highest practice levels. The qualifications required for DNP program varies depending on the program. Some may require a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing while others may require a Master’s in the same. According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports, the median income for NDP nurses is approximately $117,670, depending on the leadership path they choose. As NDP nurse one can specialize in private practice, nurse educator and NPS management.

On the other hand, Master’s degree is a graduate degree that allows licensed nurses to further their studies and advance career wise. Most master’s degree in nursing requires a minimum qualification of a bachelor’s degree in nursing from a recognized nursing program and a license in the field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) the mean annual wages of registered nurses under this program is approximately $80,010. With a master’s degree in nursing, one can specialize as a nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner and certified nurse-midwife. Both MSN and NDP are lucrative programs in the nursing field and allows for specialization in a desired field in the nursing career