Reply To: Career Goals

[Christina]

Hi Jennifer,
I, too, have never considered going into academia after graduating with this DNP degree. As a hobby or something on the side, I wanted to spearhead mission trips to different third-world countries. Bring students and mentor them within the hospitals and clinics in these third-world countries. I have a love for traveling and have decided to do something more with it and make a difference in these countries that need our help. I’m still not a hundred percent sure of everything I would have to accomplish to get to this goal besides my degree, but thankfully, one of the professors at my school is doing the same thing, so I do have someone guiding me. I am also considering returning to the East Coast (New Jersey) to open my private practice since APRNs can practice independently in New Jersey versus California. It is one solution to the nursing faculty shortage; however, I would lose my clinical skills. I want to feel like I am physically and emotionally making a difference with my patients. I enjoy being hands-on at work and want to continue doing so. There will be times when we, as DNP graduates, will teach, mentor, or lead others, but I don’t believe solely focusing on academia is in my interest.