For nurses who are interested in improving healthcare systems, committed to evidence-based practice, aiming to pursue positions in higher levels of clinical nursing practice, or wanting to tackle leadership responsibilities within nursing practice or administration, earning a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) could provide the resources to elevate your education and credentials in support of your goals.
The following sections provide a closer look at the DNP degree, its potential benefits, and options for specialization — in addition to information about preparing for and applying to doctorate of nursing practice programs.
A Closer Look at the DNP Degree
The doctor of nursing practice is designed to help nurses who aspire to further their education and knowledge with a doctoral-level degree path.
Definition and Scope of a Doctor of Nursing Practice
A terminal, professional degree, a doctorate of nursing practice provides registered nurses (RNs) with the opportunity to achieve the highest level of nursing education available. Through DNP programs, nurses may strive to develop their skill sets in order to improve patient care, strengthen healthcare systems, and implement evidence-based practices. Therefore, generally, the curriculum covers a broad scope of advanced topics in:
- Clinical practice related to direct patient care and specialized care.
- Leadership abilities in healthcare settings.
- Healthcare systems, particularly related to quality improvement, health policy, and designing and promoting evidence-based practices.
- Education skills for teaching, training, and curriculum development.
The Evolution of the DNP Degree in Nursing Education
Not to be confused with the doctor of nursing or nursing doctorate (ND) — which was developed in 1979 for individuals with degrees in non-nursing fields to obtain an entry-level nursing education and become practicing RNs — the doctor of nursing practice, or DNP, was established in 1999 to provide opportunities for registered nurses who already held graduate-level master’s degrees to expand their clinical expertise and targeted nursing knowledge.
Key Benefits of Pursuing a DNP
Through the process of earning a DNP, students may benefit from the following:
Enhancing Clinical Practice Skills
The DNP is intended to transform nurses into better leaders. Thus, it may also strengthen clinical practice skills as nurses become increasingly proficient in implementing evidence-based interventions, systems, and practices that help elevate safety design, quality, patient care models, and patient outcomes.
Leadership Opportunities in Healthcare Systems
No matter if a student selects a leadership-based degree specialization or not, the DNP program aims to help nurses reinforce their leadership skills by covering topics in:
- Evidence-based decision-making
- Systems-level thinking
- Team management
- Collaboration
- Advocacy and policy influence
- Teaching
With this in mind, a DNP degree program allows students to study topics and complete coursework that helps build competencies applicable to:
- Educational positions
- Policy roles
- Administrative, clinical, and system-level leadership
Impact on Healthcare Policy and Patient Outcomes
With advanced leadership capabilities, extensive specialized knowledge, and highly developed research and clinical skills, DNP graduates may leverage these to advocate for evidence-based practice, influence legislation and healthcare policies, and help implement improved patient care models for optimal outcomes.
H2: Curriculum and Specializations
DNP programs typically include a foundation of a core curriculum combined with a selection of specialized subjects based on the student’s chosen concentration.
Core Subjects Covered in DNP Programs
Key topics covered in a DNP degree program are selected to help provide nurses with a comprehensive educational background they could rely on in positions as either industry-experienced clinicians (delivering direct patient care) or non-clinical leaders in healthcare. Curricula are curated with the aim of helping students stay knowledgeable across a broad range of vital subject areas that support leadership in nursing and nursing education.
- Evidence-based practice – DNP students may study, practice, and evaluate the methods and analytical skills to measure performance, efficacy, safety, and patient outcomes. Students should learn to apply research in order to implement evidence-based policies and systems.
- Health informatics – Focused on healthcare technology, students may study the systems used to gather, manage, and learn from health data for the improvement of patient care and healthcare processes.
- Health policy and advocacy – Learn about the processes involved in policy development, implementation, and change — building skills for engaging in policy advocacy and influencing healthcare reform at various levels.
- Interprofessional partnerships – Hone professional skills to more effectively facilitate and participate in collaborations with other healthcare professionals.
- Population health – Practice studying health at a population level, developing knowledge in epidemiology and social determinants to better understand and address the healthcare needs of larger groups.
- Organizational and systems leadership – DNP students may learn about leadership roles in healthcare systems while working to develop their own leadership, critical thinking, problem-solving, and change management abilities.
- Quality improvement and systems thinking – Courses may also cover the nuances of complex healthcare systems, establishing a foundation for students to fully understand the system in which they work to improve patient outcomes, safety, and treatment satisfaction.
Popular Specializations and Their Focus Areas
DNP programs often provide options for a concentration or specialization in a particular area. These fall into two main categories:
- Clinical DNP specializations typically benefit professionals wanting to become certified as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) — such as a nurse midwife, clinical nurse specialist, nurse anesthetist, or family nurse practitioner.
- Non-clinical DNP specializations are more relevant to nursing leadership roles in public health, nursing education, healthcare system administration, informatics, and public health advocacy.
Whether an individual selects a clinical or non-clinical specialization could significantly impact their career path. Thus, students should carefully consider their future vision, goals and aspirations, preferred workplace setting, and interests before choosing a DNP specialization.
Admission Requirements and Application Process
DNP application processes vary depending on the university and the given specialization. The application for DNP programs usually involves satisfying a variety of personal and professional prerequisites as well as submitting documents — e.g., an application, personal statement, curriculum vitae outlining professional experience, nursing license, reference letters, transcripts, etc. Sometimes, completing an application interview is required before or after the application review process.
Before selecting a university for your DNP, conduct plenty of research to ensure that:
- You meet the application requirements.
- The school offers the DNP specialization that interests you.
- Its course schedule and format are flexible enough to fit your scheduling needs.
Typical Prerequisites for DNP Programs
There are numerous pathways to DNP program admission (for example, BSN to DNP or MSN to DNP), and the prerequisites may depend on the individual student. Additionally, specific prerequisites likely vary between universities and DNP specializations.
However, the basic prerequisites for DNP program admission may include:
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree in nursing
- Good academic standing (i.e., a GPA of 3.0 or higher)
- Current registered nurse license
- Foundational prerequisite courses in statistics, mathematics, physical assessment, pharmacology, and pathophysiology
- Documentation of professional experience
Tips for a Strong DNP Application
Aside from checking off all the prerequisite boxes, keep in mind the following tips to help refine your application:
- Align your resume and personal statement to the specific DNP specialization to which you are applying.
- Highlight your experience in clinical and nursing leadership.
- Discuss your goals and reasons for pursuing a DNP, and explain how the program aligns with your future aspirations in your chosen field.
- Demonstrate a clear understanding of the program’s focus.
Additionally, a strong professional network could help strengthen your application. DNP program applicants with a professional support system may network with mentors, obtain compelling recommendation letters, and seek experience-based guidance and advice.
Career Paths With a DNP
Earning a DNP signifies the highest level of educational background in nursing. In turn, a DNP graduate could pursue several different career paths. These potential paths vary based on DNP program specialization, as different niches of expertise are more desirable or applicable in certain positions, as well as professional experience and personal skills.
Roles and Positions DNP Graduates May Pursue
DNP graduates might seek out diverse positions in various healthcare sectors, depending on their degree specialization, certifications, licenses, and professional background. Some such career possibilities include roles in:
- Health informatics
- Clinical and advanced practice
- Leadership and administration
- Nursing education
- Policy and advocacy
Real-World Impact of DNP Professionals
Regardless of the chosen specialization, DNP professionals may have the potential to positively influence the current and future world of nursing and healthcare — thanks to their grasp of leadership, advocacy, policy reform, systems improvement, and evidence-based patient care.
Further Your Education With a Flexible, Online DNP Program
Available from the American Sentinel College of Nursing & Health Sciences at Post University, the online Doctor of Nursing Practice offers degree pathways that could prove relevant to professional settings such as healthcare practice and higher education. With four DNP program specializations to consider, advanced nursing students may customize their degree to align with their educational and professional goals.
- Educational Leadership – Focusing on the creation and delivery of innovative teaching models for clinical and academic settings, this specialization covers leadership development, management skills, and teaching strategies.
- Executive Leadership – This track is designed to help nurses lead by emphasizing the core and advanced concepts and skills associated with strong leadership.
- Informatics Leadership – This concentration focuses on the role and responsibilities of healthcare professionals working in informatics, covering topics like healthcare systems and payer organizations.
- Professional Leadership – This specialization emphasizes key competencies (including business intelligence, finance, health policy, health services research, and leadership). It provides maximum flexibility and customization — giving students the choice to select among seven supplemental courses that best align with their goals.
Each concentration seeks to enhance the DNP program’s core coursework with a curriculum covering specialized topics in addition to reinforcing skills in management, critical thinking, strategic thinking, problem-solving, and oversight of advanced nursing initiatives. Request more information to take the next step today.
