What is a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)?
A Doctor of Nursing Practice is a high-level nursing degree focused on clinical practice rather than research. Alongside a PhD, it is a nursing doctoral-level credential.
The biggest difference from any doctoral credential is that it is highly focused on applying evidence to:
- Improve patient outcomes
- Lead healthcare organizations
- Influence health policies
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) has championed the DNP as the preferred entry level for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) since 2004.
While that recommendation hasn't become a hard requirement everywhere, the degree has become significantly more popular. In many competitive specialties, a DNP gives graduates a meaningful edge.
DNP vs PhD
How does a DNP differ from a PhD in nursing?
A PhD in nursing typically focuses on generating new knowledge through research. Graduates typically conduct studies, publish findings, and advance the science of nursing.
The DNP, by contrast, is designed to translate research into practice.
In a nutshell, DNP graduates don't produce the evidence; they figure out how to apply it by:
- Redesigning care workflows
- Developing clinical guidelines
- Implementing evidence-based programs at scale
Why choose a DNP?
Here are some reasons why nurses pursue a DNP.
DNP is the standard for specialties
In some specialties, the DNP has effectively become the standard.
For example, nurse anesthesia programs are now required to award doctorates, and many healthcare systems increasingly prefer or require doctoral preparation for top advanced practice and leadership roles.
Career advancement
A higher career ceiling is another draw. A DNP opens doors to positions such as:
- Chief nursing officer
- Health system administrator
- Academic faculty roles
These roles are harder to reach with an MSN alone.
How much does a DNP make?
Finally, there's earning potential. While salaries vary by specialty and region, DNP-prepared nurses generally out-earn master's-prepared nurses in comparable roles. For example, nurse anesthetists are among the highest-paid nursing professionals in the country, with average salaries ranging between $155,250 and $339,500 per year.
DNP-prepared nurses average around $117,000–$133,000 per year, depending on the setting and specialty mix. The DNP credential adds roughly $7,000–$13,000 per year to earnings in comparable roles compared with an MSN.
What can you do with a DNP?
With a DNP, you can work in almost any setting.
A DNP is considered one of the highest academic credentials a nurse can achieve. The DNP opens doors across advanced practice, leadership, and policy. Common DNP career options include:
- Nurse practitioner (NP): Pursue DNP preparation in family, adult-gerontology, pediatric, psychiatric-mental health, or women's health tracks—among the most common DNP specializations.
- Certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA): Complete a doctorate-level program, now the required and standard entry point for CRNAs as of 2025.
- Certified nurse-midwife (CNM): Provide reproductive, obstetric, and gynecologic care with a DNP grounding in evidence-based practice.
- Clinical nurse specialist (CNS): Serve as an expert consultant in specialized clinical areas, driving quality improvement across a unit or system.
- Nursing executive and administrator: Lead large clinical teams and engage at the C-suite level, often as a Chief Nursing Officer or Director of Nursing with doctoral credentials.
- Healthcare policy and advocacy: Influence legislation, design population health programs, and lead public health initiatives.
Common DNP pathways
There are 2 primary ways to become a DNP.
1. BSN-to-DNP
This path is designed for registered nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) who want to reach the doctoral level without stopping for a separate master's degree.
These programs typically take 3-4 years full-time and integrate MSN-level content before advancing to doctoral coursework and the practice project.
2. MSN-to-DNP (post-master's DNP)
For nurses who already hold a Master of Science in Nursing, this pathway builds directly on graduate preparation.
Most post-master's programs run for 2-3 years and require fewer total DNP credit hours because MSN coursework is credited toward the degree.
Many programs offer part-time and hybrid formats, which are popular with working nurses who need scheduling flexibility. Online coursework is common, though clinical hours must always be completed in person.
What are the DNP prerequisites?
Although the requirements for a DNP vary depending on which program you choose, most of the DNP programs expect you to have:
- An active RN license
- A BSN or an MSN, typically with a minimum GPA of 3.0
- Clinical nursing experience (usually 1-3 years, except in nursing anesthesia, which requires more)
- Letters of professional recommendation
- A personal or goal statement describing your practice focus
If you are considering a DNP program, you need to research the one you are interested in, as requirements can vary widely.
What’s in the typical DNP curriculum?
The AACN guides DNP curriculum design across programs. Your coursework will likely vary depending on the specialty and the school you choose. However, you can expect your coursework to have the following characteristics.
Core doctoral coursework
- Advanced physiology and pathophysiology
- Advanced pharmacology
- Advanced health assessment
- Evidence-based practice and research translation
- Biostatistics and epidemiology
- Healthcare informatics
- Population health and health promotion
Leadership and systems coursework
Your coursework will probably also focus on:
- Organizational and systems leadership
- Healthcare policy and advocacy
- Quality improvement methodologies
- Interprofessional collaboration
DNP clinical hours requirements
The AACN requires a minimum of 1,000 post-baccalaureate, supervised clinical practice hours for DNP completion.
In the BSN-to-DNP, students complete the full 1,000+ hours across the program; post-master's students typically complete a subset based on the hours already earned during their MSN.
DNP project
Instead of a traditional dissertation, DNP students complete a practice-focused scholarly project. This capstone applies evidence to a real clinical or organizational problem—such as quality improvement initiatives, program evaluations, or policy analyses—and is presented to faculty and peers.
The DNP project typically unfolds over the final year of the program and is developed with a faculty mentor. Topics can range from reducing hospital-acquired infection rates to improving care coordination for patients with chronic conditions—real-world problems with measurable, practice-changing outcomes.
Are you interested in a DNP?
If you are wondering whether a DNP is the right path for you, consider that it is a substantial commitment. However, a DNP can position you as a nurse leader in clinical care and system change.
Whether you're a BSN-prepared RN eyeing advanced practice or an MSN-holder ready for the next credential, there are programs across the country built to fit your goals.
Browse nursing programs near you.
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