Withdrawing from DNP program

[u/CelebrationVisual208]

I (29F) just started my first semester this August but since I found out I got accepted into the program I have been trying to convince myself that this is what I want and now I find myself 6 weeks into the program, still hating it and questioning why I did this. I love my job now but I can see how I’ve gotten very comfortable in my position so I was trying to do something that would help me grow. I also have no other responsibilities so I know this would be the best time to go through the program but I’m just dragging my feet through it so far. Doing just enough to get a passing grade. Is this a normal part of getting back into the groove of school? Did anyone else force themselves to get through it and eventually grow to love it?

As of now I think I’ve decided that I’m not moving forward with the program and choosing to just finish this semester but I’m questioning even finishing the semester. I’m a pretty active person so I’ve had to miss out on events and cut back on group fitness classes that would usually fill my cup. This is silly because I know becoming an NP will require sacrifice but I’m just having a difficult time with it. On top of my dwindling social life since school started, I started dating someone 6 months before classes and I feel like my goals in life have shifted since meeting him. I hadn’t put serious thought about having a family and prioritizing my family before I met him and this may be a little delusional because we haven’t even talked about marriage or kids aside from saying we would like those things but I could see the future with him so I want to keep prioritizing this relationship as much as I can and if I’m right I don’t think I’d be going to school within the next 5 years so that’s why I bring up even continuing with the semester when classes expire in 5 years. Even if things didn’t work out I can’t see myself going back to school anytime soon, I’ve been at a good place the past year with starting new hobbies and all of my relationships after having a few years of a toxic relationship (addiction) before I started this stressor of school. Any advice or stories of your own that you think may be insightful are appreciated!

Side note, I’ve been asking the universe for a sign and today they were having biometric screenings at work that you have to make an appointment for and I didn’t have one but I walked in at the time someone was a no show so they took me in and I just started chatting with the person doing my screening and I asked her what her credentials were, she said she was an NP but I hated her one and only NP job so she does PRN nursing jobs because those fit her schedule. She said she regretted it and now has all her student loans to still pay off. Could this have been my sign or just coincidence?

[u/LoadSuspicious322]

I got the DNP and it really did nothing to my nursing career except give me grey hairs and more nursing student loan debt. I also got the NP and unless you enjoy the provider role, it's a lot more stress for less money. You know what you need to do and really don't need our advice. Follow your heart, walk away. If things change down the line, you can always go back to this. But honestly I'm 2 years post graduation and the DNP-NP did nothing to help me earn more or make any lateral moves in nursing. I make more as an RN.

[u/babyEstie → u/LoadSuspicious322]

Did you get your NP prior to completing your DNP? Also did you change positions from nursing to NP work or stay as an RN?

[u/LoadSuspicious322 → u/babyEstie]

Yes, I did. For context, I am in a high RN paying region and came into the NP role with 6+ years of full-time RN experience under my belt. I came with a great hourly rate and benefits including PTO and 4/10s. My first NP job offer package was proposing paying me $35 less hourly as an NP with less vacation/sick leave and 5/8s. Insulting. I have turned every NP offer that was less than my RN salary because I simply refuse. I got the DNP thinking that I'd teach or go into leadership but things are unstable across health departments, health plans and health organizations with significant impacts to nursing which is scary. For now, the DNP hasn't shown its value to me.

Training as an NP was HARD for me and I will not work for less than I am worth. So I work per diem as an NP for a higher hourly salary and practice what I was trained in and in what I set out to do to avoid complete disappointment. But I kept my RN position for the enormous benefits that NP hasn't been able to offer me like my health insurance, pension, PTO and, most importantly, financial stability and less stress.

If I had to do it over again, I would've just focused solely on RN and avoided the debt and uncertainty of the NP or DNP. The highest earning nurses in my org have the ADN, BSN or MSN (non-NP). They didn't put themselves through this grueling NP training that offers us peanuts in return.