What Is a DNP and Is It Worth It?
What is a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Degree?
A Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, or DNP, is a terminal degree in nursing, meaning that there is no higher level of education available for practice-based training in nursing. Nurses who have their DNP are sought after for positions in nursing leadership focused on clinical applications and are considered key players in the future of healthcare in the United States.
The Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) is ultimately designed to produce leaders in nursing. DNP-prepared nurses possess the highest level of nursing expertise and work either in a clinical setting or leadership role upon obtaining the required credentials. They have the knowledge to influence healthcare outcomes through organizational leadership, health policy implementation, and direct patient care.
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If you’re considering a DNP degree, you might be having a hard time deciding if it’s right for you. There are strong opinions on the degree throughout the nursing community, and while some are true, there are also a lot of myths. Before I decided to pursue my DNP, I heard all sorts of comments,
- “The DNP is a watered-down Ph.D.”
- “The DNP is another excuse to squeeze more money out of nursing graduates.”
- “The DNP is not worth it.”
You may have found this article as a brand-new researcher who knows very little about the DNP. I’m here to share the first-hand experiences I received while trekking toward and completing my degree, including,
- Debunk myths and false information about the DNP degree
- Provide valid resources regarding the DNP
- Explain the DNP meaning and what it's like to earn a DNP
- Discuss the career outlook - benefits, salary, job growth, specialties, requirements
5 Things to Know Before Pursuing a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP)
1. The DNP is a Degree, Not a Role
This is an important distinction that people often get confused about. A DNP is an educational credential awarded by academic institutions upon the completion of a rigorous doctoral-level program. It signifies a high level of education and training in the nursing field, similar to how a Ph.D. signifies a high level of education in research fields.
Other degrees include a Doctorate of Philosophy in Nursing (Ph.D.), a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
On the other hand, examples of roles are Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) or Registered Nurses (RN). You need a certain degree to fulfill these requirements of these roles and to sit for each of the required certification exams.
2. Earning Your DNP Does Not Make You a Physician
The training of a doctorally educated Nurse Practitioner versus a physician is very different. A DNP is an advanced nursing degree focusing on clinical practice, leadership, and applying research to improve patient care, whereas physicians with an MD or DO complete medical school and extensive residency training. Both are imperative and valuable to patient care, but they are not the same.
3. Not all DNP Programs are Created Equal
Do extensive research on your program to make sure you will meet the educational requirements of the APRN Consensus Model if you plan to practice as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) upon graduation.
4. You Can Have a DNP and Not Practice as an APRN
With a DNP, you can choose to focus on either a practicing role as an APRN or a non-practicing role focused on leadership, healthcare administration, academia, or healthcare policy (more on that in the next section). APRNs include nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists, and clinical nurse specialists.
5. You Can Still Earn a Masters for APRN Training
Although the AACN is suggesting all master’s in nursing programs transition to doctorate programs for APRN training, many master’s programs still remain for APRN training.
However, nurse anesthetist programs are now required to be at the doctoral level, specifically the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP). The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) mandated that all entry-level nurse anesthesia programs must transition to awarding doctoral degrees by 2025.
Where Do DNPs Work?
DNP-prepared nurses generally work in one of two settings:
- Leadership and administration roles
- APRN direct patient care roles
Leadership and Administration DNP Roles
DNP-prepared nurses who choose to work in leadership and administration play a key role in strengthening executive nurse leadership roles and directly influencing healthcare outcomes through scientific findings.
They play an essential role in creating innovative care programs that are not only sustainable but also economical.
In the workforce, you may find DNPs in the following roles,
- Nurse management
- Organizational leadership
- Health policy - state and national
- Health informatics systems
DNP Direct Patient Care Roles
DNP graduates who take the advanced practice nursing (APRN) pathway will provide direct care to patients, including managing, assessing, and evaluating care.
DNPs who focus on advanced practice nursing are required to sit for the advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) certification exam. They may also be required to sit for advanced specialty certification as well.
In the workforce, you may find DNPs in the following roles,
- Nurse Midwife (CNM) - professionals who provide reproductive health services before, during and after childbirth. They also provide primary care and counseling throughout infancy.
- Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) - professionals who work collaboratively with the healthcare team to administer anesthesia.
- Nurse Practitioner (NP) - clinicians who work autonomously to provide patient care and manage illness. Nurse practitioners specialize in a specific patient population, such as,
Is a DNP Different From a Ph.D.?
There are only two doctoral-level degrees in the nursing profession - the Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) and the Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Both degrees are terminal degrees, which means that neither is considered more “advanced” than the other. However, it’s important not to confuse the two.
Upon earning the proper credentials, both DNP and Ph.D. graduates are eligible to work as nurse practitioners. If you’re planning to work as a Nurse Practitioner after graduating and you earn a Ph.D., you’ll typically need a post-graduate certificate. The Ph.D. degree is heavily research-focused and generally pursued by those interested in scientific and scholarly work.
A practice-focused degree will focus more on translating and implementing evidence into practice. While both degrees require extensive research reported in a final DNP Project or dissertation, practicing doctorates generally include integrative practice experiences, and the manuscript is like “telling the story” of research implementation.
Is a DNP Worth It? Reasons to Earn a DNP
- The doctorate degree may soon be the standard entry-level requirement for certification and licensure in advanced nursing practice. In 2004, members of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) voted to increase the requirements of advanced practice nursing from a master’s degree to a doctorate level.
- The DNP curriculum builds upon the master's by including training in evidence-based practice, systems leadership, informatics, and quality improvement in nursing. Ultimately, the DNP produces “leaders” in nursing.
- The current healthcare environment demands nurses possess a comprehensive skill set of scientific knowledge, outcome measurement, and leadership qualities to ensure the best patient outcomes.
- Doctorally educated nurses are needed to address shortages of doctorally prepared nursing faculty, increasing educational expectations, and national concerns about healthcare quality. Of note, a practicing doctorate is not new in other professions; nursing is simply moving in the same direction. Pharmacists obtain the PharmD, Psychologists can obtain a PsyD, Physical Therapists obtain the DPT, Audiologists obtain the AudD, etc.
- Access to opportunities in a variety of settings that were previously unattainable to those without a DNP degree, from private practice to hospitals to universities and more.
- DNP salary and pay prospects will continue to increase for years to come. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, advanced practice nurses earned an average annual salary of $129,480 in 2023.
How Do You Get a DNP?
Most DNP programs have multiple specialties to choose from, including adult acute/primary, pediatric acute/primary, women’s health, family medicine, emergency medicine, neonatal, psych, and nurse anesthesia. These programs can be completed in three, four, or sometimes five years.
There are several tracks one can take toward earning a DNP:
- BSN-DNP: I completed a BSN to DNP program with a specialty in Adult-Geriatric Acute Care (AGAC). Upon completion, I met the requirements to sit for my AGAC-Nurse Practitioner and AGAC-Clinical Nurse Specialist certification exams. Therefore, once I pass both exams, I will be a doctorally educated, dual-board-certified APRN (it’s confusing, I know).
- MSN-DNP: One can already have a master’s degree, be working as a board-certified APRN in a given specialty, and go back to school to complete their DNP coursework.
- Post-Master’s DNP: Options are available for administrators or educators who work in healthcare to get their DNP without repeating coursework. This option is beneficial for applicants with MPH, MBA, or MPA.
How I Decided to Earn My DNP
My certainty regarding the DNP did not come full circle until the beginning of my third year. At times, I did not exactly understand what I was doing, but at my core, I knew I wanted to help lift the profession to the next level.
I learned to trust the process and not only grew as a researcher, leader, and clinician, but grew exponentially as a human being through the degree.
I feel equipped to educate new nurses, lobby for nursing policy, implement evidence into practice, and I have a better understanding of the historical aspects of nursing that have led us to our current state.
My Experience Earning My DNP
The purpose of my DNP project was to initiate palliative care consultations for end-stage heart failure patients in the cardiac critical care unit. I had a foundation of research, and heart failure guidelines, known as a literature review, strongly suggested palliative care consultations were necessary to provide the best care for patients.
Easy, right? Not exactly.
The DNP walked me through the process of making the current research become reality while taking into consideration stakeholders, unit culture, organizational behaviors, financials, and measurable outcomes. My research was not considered generalizable and was most beneficial to my institution. My manuscript encompassed my original plan, plus the story and the difficulties I encountered.
Why The DNP Was Worth It For Me
I wholeheartedly believe in the training of this degree and would not change my academic path. I feel pressure to deliver as an expert clinician first and foremost, but then to expand upon my leadership abilities to promote and professionally represent the DNP. I plan to use my inclusive education to its full extent in the future and feel equipped to tackle clinical, academic, organizational, and systemic challenges to advocate for the nursing profession.
Completing the BSN-DNP AGAC-NP/CNS track was my hardest academic challenge to date, but graduating was my proudest moment.
Keep in mind that much of the advice regarding the DNP that is currently available to the general public is often written by people who do not have one. Therefore, check sources before believing what you read. Below are some trusted sources with information on the DNP:
- AACN DNP Fact Sheet
- AANP Discussion Paper
- U.S. News and World Report Top-Ranked DNP Schools (Research the top school’s websites for information on each specialty DNP)
DNP Programs
Check out these articles on DNP programs to learn more about your options.
DNP FAQs
Looking to advance your leadership and management skills? Check out some of these master's degrees that can get you there:
- MBA vs MSN: How to Choose the Right Degree for You
- How to Earn an MBA in Healthcare Management Degree
- 8 Reasons Why Nurses Should Get an MBA
- How to Earn a Masters in Healthcare Administration (MHA) Degree
- How to Earn a Masters in Public Health (MPH) Degree
Danielle LeVeck, DNP, AGAC-NP, CNS, RN, CCRN an ICU Nurse Practitioner, blogger, writer, and social media influencer, who strives to empower and inspire nurses from all backgrounds, to partake in regular self-care and multidisciplinary teamwork, for the sake of providing optimal patient care. Follow her on Instagram @nurseabormalities and Facebook for her latest.
