A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is designed to prepare experts in nursing practice. It is the pinnacle of practice-focused nursing degrees, building upon master’s programs by providing an educational foundation in quality improvement, evidence-based practice, and systems leadership, among others. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), DNP nurses possess a blend of clinical, leadership, economic, and organizational skills that puts them in a unique position to deftly critique nursing practice and design programs of care delivery that are economically feasible, locally acceptable, and that significantly impact healthcare outcomes. The DNP nurses are prepared to perform nursing interventions that influence healthcare outcomes for individuals or populations by providing direct patient care, managing the care of patients and patient populations, administrating in nursing and healthcare organizations and developing and implementing health policy. The program consists of a 1,000-hour clinical component that may be combined with up to 500 hours from a master’s degree in clinical practice nursing. The hours must be completed before starting NRSE 704.
Employment Opportunities
- Senior administrator in the education sector
- Consultant
- Professor/Researcher
