Whether you're an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), clinical educator, or aspiring nurse leader looking to advance your nursing education, it could be time to pursue a terminal degree in your field. Specifically, a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is designed for nursing professionals seeking the highest level of nursing practice in areas of leadership, clinical practice, and health policy.
Of course, a DNP is far from the only advanced nursing degree option, so taking the time to understand what a DNP program entails and how it differs from other types of nursing degrees is essential as you decide which path to pursue. Continue reading to learn more — or if you already feel that a Doctor of Nursing Practice is suitable for you, check out the DNP program offerings through Bay Path University.
What Is a DNP?
The Doctor of Nursing Practice is a terminal nursing degree often regarded as the professional standard for modern and advanced nursing practice. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), "The DNP is designed for nurses seeking a terminal degree in nursing practice and offers an alternative to research-focused doctoral programs."
Practice-Focused Doctoral Degree
What does it mean for a DNP to be "practice-focused," anyway?
A DNP degree program is ideal for nursing professionals who intend to remain in clinical practice — either as nursing leaders, change agents, or even primary care providers. Unlike many other types of doctoral degrees that center on theory and research, a DNP focuses on applying knowledge in evidence-based practice to improve patient outcomes.
DNP vs. PhD in Nursing
A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing is a primary example of a terminal nursing degree that revolves more around research than practice. Typically, a PhD in Nursing would be better suited for a nursing professional who is looking to move into the academic/research side of the field — whereas a DNP would remain optimal for those planning to stay in clinical practice, policy, and/or leadership roles.
DNP vs. MSN
Compared to a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), a DNP also differs significantly. For some DNP programs, an MSN is a prerequisite for applicants, and it is generally designed for Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)-holding nurses who wish to advance into more specialized roles in clinical care.
A DNP, on the other hand, typically takes longer to complete (three or four years compared to about two years for an MSN) and is tailored more to those seeking advanced systems-level leadership and policy roles.
Why Is Demand for the DNP Growing?
Across the United States, Doctor of Nursing Practice demand continues to rise. In fact, one 2022 study found that the numbers of DNP programs and enrolled students have steadily increased in recent years.
1. Increasing Clinical Complexity
One primary reason for the greater demand for DNP graduates is due to the increased complexity of clinical care. As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve and scientific knowledge improves, the need for knowledgeable and specialized nursing providers rises alongside it.
2. Healthcare System Leadership Needs
DNP programs prepare nursing professionals to advance into high-level leadership, including executive-level roles in healthcare. As the need for nursing leaders and educators to prepare future generations of nurses grows, so does the demand for capable DNP-educated leaders.
3. Expanded Scope of Advanced Practice Roles
Today, many DNP-educated nurses can also serve as primary care providers and family nurse practitioners (FNPs), making it possible to fill care gaps caused by a severe lack of primary care providers across the country. As the scope and autonomy of advanced practice expands, DNP-prepared nurses can continue to address these shortages. In this sense, DNP employment outlook may hold greater potential for those interested in primary care roles.
4. Emphasis on Evidence-Based Practice
DNP program curricula center on evidence-based practice: the act of applying field research directly to nursing practice. This emphasis empowers DNP-educated nursing professionals to provide the highest standard of care to patients in their everyday work.
Is the DNP Becoming the “New Standard”?
When it comes to advanced nursing degree trends, there has been some ongoing debate regarding whether a doctoral education should be required as the "standard" for certain nursing roles.
Historical Context
In the early 2000s, the AACN officially endorsed a Position Statement on the DNP, calling for moving the level of preparation necessary for advanced nursing practice roles from the master's to the doctoral level. The idea behind an APRN doctoral requirement is that a DNP curriculum will better equip APRNs and other nursing leaders with the evidence-based practice, leadership, systems thinking, and quality improvement skills needed in these advanced roles.
Current Reality
As of June 2022, an AACN report found that the number of DNP programs and enrolled students has steadily increased — but officially, a DNP is still not a formal requirement for APRNs. However, the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (among other industry entities) announced its support for doctoral education becoming a requirement for entry into the practice by 2025.
Is a DNP required today? No. Yet the reality is that many employers do prefer to hire DNP-educated nurses; thus, having a DNP could improve your competitiveness for certain roles.
Roles Where a DNP May Be Increasingly Valued
Where, exactly, might a DNP be preferable to an MSN alone? Again, this may vary from one employer to the next, but common examples of roles for which a DNP may be highly valued include:
- Chief nursing officer (CNO)
- Director of nursing
- Certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA)
- Nurse practitioner (NP) or family nurse practitioner (FNP)
- Clinical nurse specialist (CNS)
Benefits of Earning a DNP
There are numerous potential DNP career benefits to consider if you've been thinking about pursuing an advanced degree in nursing — ranging from elevated credibility to the possibility for greater career mobility and higher pay.
Clinical Authority and Credibility
Because it is considered a terminal degree in nursing, earning a DNP demonstrates to others in the healthcare industry that you've achieved the highest possible level of education in your field. This could thereby help you build your reputation as a respectable thought leader while expanding your clinical authority and autonomy in the process.
Career Mobility
With a DNP, you may also be able to explore more specialized and advanced roles in the field that aren't open to BSN-educated professionals alone. This may present you with the opportunity to explore new areas of the discipline, from leadership and policy to informatics or education.
Potential Salary Impact
While salaries for DNP-educated professionals may vary widely from one role to the next, holding a terminal degree in your field can result in higher earnings compared to a lower level of education. For reference, the mean annual wage for a nurse anesthetist in 2023 was more than $214,000, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data — and many professionals who work in this role are DNP-educated or, at the very least, possess a specialized graduate degree.
Who Should Consider a DNP?
Still not positive whether a DNP could be right for you? Ultimately, you'll need to take your unique career goals and life circumstances into consideration in order to make an informed decision. In general, however, DNP programs are designed for nurses seeking more advanced leadership roles, expanded authority, and a greater impact in their everyday work.
MSN Nurses Seeking Leadership
Professionals who may already have an advanced nursing leadership degree (like an MSN) often go on to pursue their DNPs as a means of sharpening their leadership and management skills while achieving a highly sought-after and terminal degree in their field. More specifically, a DNP may be ideal for candidates pursuing executive-level nursing leadership roles, such as CNO or director of nursing.
APRNs Aiming for Expanded Authority
For APRNs, earning a DNP may be a go-to path to advance education, build in-demand skills, and demonstrate to potential employers their commitment to earning a terminal degree in the nursing field. With a DNP education, these professionals may be better prepared for expanded authority and autonomy in their clinical work.
RNs Interested in Systems Impact
Finally, registered nurses (RNs) may pursue DNP degrees in order to improve their application of evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and systems-level impact in their everyday duties.
Even RNs who don't have an MSN may be able to pursue their DNPs if they can find a reputable school that offers a BSN-to-DNP program. These bridge programs are designed to take RNs from a bachelor's-level to doctoral-level education with additional coursework and supervised clinical hours.
Explore Nursing Doctorate Degrees at BPU
For nurses striving to advance into leadership capacities, APRNs seeking expanded autonomy, or RNs ready to make a greater difference in the lives of their patients, a DNP can prepare nursing professionals for the changing demands and opportunities of today’s healthcare systems. And when it comes to nursing doctorate degrees that are flexible and student-centered, Bay Path University has options to suit your needs.
Specifically, BPU is proud to offer both a BSN-to-DNP/FNP and a post-master's DNP to accommodate nurses with various different educational backgrounds and career goals. Our BSN-to-DNP/FNP is ideal for nurses interested in becoming family nurse practitioners, whereas the post-master's DNP program is optimal for nurses with a graduate-level education who are ready to earn terminal degrees with a leadership focus.
Both programs feature flexible learning options to accommodate busy nurses, including online coursework and part-time study plans that allow you to work toward your degree without putting other areas of your life on hold.
Contact our team to request more information about our DNP or any of our other nursing programs, including:
Eager to take the next step toward your DNP? Get started with your application for admission today!
Do I Need an MSN Degree Before Pursuing a DNP?
One common misconception nurses have about pursuing a DNP is that they must hold an MSN in order to be considered for admission into a DNP program. At Bay Path University, our BSN-to-DNP program is specifically designed for students whose current highest level of education is a BSN. In this 70-credit, 19-course program, students explore coursework in essential topics such as advanced health assessment, nursing theory, population health, and more — in addition to completing 1,000 hours of supervised clinical hours in order to graduate.
This type of program can be an excellent option for RNs who know they want to pursue a terminal nursing degree but not necessarily spend the time and cost associated with earning a Master of Science in Nursing in between. Learn more about Bay Path’s BSN-to-DNP program and curriculum.
