Are you able to return to highschool?

Deciding to return to highschool to pursue a sophisticated degree is usually a difficult decision. Whether you’re a registered nurse with an engineering degree considering bachelor’s degree programs or a sophisticated practice nurse interested by a doctorate, so many aspects go into your decision, including time, money, availability, and program options. you’ll need a tough time knowing for those who’re really ready for the following step.

To learn more about this topic, I spoke with Wolters Kluwer Medical Research Division and NursingCenter Chief Nurse Anne Dabrow Woods DNP, MSN, RN, CRNP, ANP-BC, who earned her Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Texas Christian University this May. Dr. Woods has been a nurse for over 30 years and a nurse for 16 years. She currently serves as our chief nurse, in addition to editor of and . She also works every weekend as a nurse within the intensive care unit and likewise serves as an adjunct professor at Drexel University.

Although Dr. Woods definitely has enough on her plate, she still decided to return and pursue her Ph.D. “As health care continues to evolve,” Dr. Woods says, “I had to go back to get my Ph.D. to gain the skills, resources, and tools I need to be truly effective in the marketplace.” He sees the pursuit of upper education as a serious industry-wide trend. “The transition for nurses with an associate’s or diploma degree to a bachelor’s degree is really important. There are skill sets they haven’t learned before, and a bachelor’s degree will really help them practice. The other big push I see is the return of advanced practice nurses to the DNP. In fact, it is only in the last 10 years that we have been able to obtain a doctorate in practice. The The Future of Nursing Initiative. and the LACE nursing model posits that all of these advanced practice programs should be DNP by 2015.”

When she decided to pursue a doctorate, Dr. Woods knew it will be expensive, which is a serious concern for many nurses considering graduate school. He explains: “Going to school is really expensive. Nurses need to do their homework and find out where they can get funding – scholarships, grants, student loans.” Earning a sophisticated degree is pricey, but Dr. Woods knows the worth of an education. She says, “Even though it’s really expensive and I probably won’t make any more money by having it, I feel like it’s made me a better nurse and nurse. [Nursing] it’s about being able to provide better care to patients, communities and people from a global perspective… It’s never about money. It’s about practicing to your full potential and providing the best care for our patients.”

Money just isn’t the one issue for nurses searching for further education. Many nurses still work full time, juggling family, friends and other responsibilities. This was no different for Dr. Woods, who says: “The biggest challenge for me was time management. I work full time and practice every weekend as an intensive care unit nurse. Trying to adjust to school work, even though it was a part-time online program, was difficult. The classes weren’t difficult; it’s the amount of work and the time it takes to do that work that is difficult.” Being prepared for the associated fee and time commitment is crucial to earning a sophisticated degree.

After making the sacrifices she made to earn her doctorate, Dr. Woods is already seeing the advantages of her alternative, just three months after graduating. She says, “As a DNP currently working with nurses every weekend, they really like my new degree and will ask me how they can think differently about this situation or what they are missing. I find myself lecturing a lot more on issues related to patient care or ethics of care. Now I can help the nurse look at these issues differently.” And I do not plan on stopping learning any time soon. Dr. Woods explains, “I’m going to pursue additional certifications to become the best health care professional, the best nurse, the best nurse I can be.”

Choosing the next education path just isn’t for everybody. However, those that tackle this challenge understand the large advantages not just for themselves but for the complete nursing community. Are you able to return to highschool?

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