DNP - Doctor of Nursing Practice
The Ultimate Advanced Practice Nurse
The APRN with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree empowers nurses who want to practice at the highest clinical level: in addition to making treatment decisions, ordering tests, and prescribing medications, they also lead people and teams and improve systems and safety, occupying roles in academia, as nurse administrators, government affairs leaders, teachers and professors, and chief nursing officers.
The BSN to DNP pathway is designed for nurses who have earned a BSN or generalist MSN degree who wish to become advanced practice nurses and achieve the highest level of nursing practice. The MSN to DNP pathway is designed for practicing APRNs looking to earn a DNP, advance their careers, and specialize in a particular area of practice
Hybrid format
Among the best in the U.S.
Expansive career opportunities
Financial assistance available
The BSN to DNP pathway program offers:
- The opportunity for nurses who have earned a BSN or generalist MSN degree to become advanced practice nurses, specialize in a particular area of practice, and achieve the highest level of nursing practice.
- Enjoy the flexibility of online learning while staying connected through in-person sessions
- Full-time, 3-year plan of study
- 750 clinical practicum hours, and guidance in finding clinical placements with qualified preceptors
- 7 specialty areas from which to choose (listed below), and ample preparation for the certification exam of your choice
- Beginning with applicants matriculating in Fall 2027, admission to the BSN to DNP program requires one year of full-time work experience as an RN by the time the student matriculates into the program (typically Fall of each year)
- Expert faculty mentorship with the DNP project
- Guaranteed admission for UVA School of Nursing alumni
The MSN to DNP pathway program offers:
- The opportunity for practicing APRNs to earn a DNP and advance their careers
- Enjoy the flexibility of online learning while staying connected through in-person sessions
- Full-time, 2-year plan of study or Part-time, 3-year plan of study
- Expert faculty mentorship with the DNP project
- Guaranteed admission for UVA School of Nursing alumni
DNP Important Dates:
- Application open: Jul. 1
- Application deadline: Jan. 5
- Decisions announced: First week of March
Graduates of the BSN to DNP pathway are prepared for a national specialty certification exam of their choice in one of seven specialty tracks (listed below) as advanced practice registered nurses (APRN).
DNP Specialty Tracks
A DNP degree is a doctorate of nursing practice. A PhD is a research doctorate.
Graduates of PhD programs are prepared to conduct independent research and disseminate their findings. PhD graduates are preferred for academic faculty positions, but DNP graduates are also recruited for academic and leadership positions emphasizing evidence-based clinical practice and teaching.
A DNP will provide graduates with the skills and tools necessary to assess the evidence gained through nursing research, evaluate the impact of that research on their practice and, as necessary, make changes to enhance quality of care.
Scholarship is an integral part of both doctoral degrees.
| DNP | PhD |
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Focus: Nursing practice |
Focus: Nursing research |
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Goal: To perform at the highest level of nursing practice; assume leadership roles in healthcare delivery systems; critically appraise existing literature and evidence to determine and implement best practices; and improve patient outcomes by expanding knowledge of evidence-based practice. |
Goal: To prepare scholars with expertise in selected substantive areas to contribute to nursing theory and practice through systematic inquiry. |
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Focus of courses:
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Focus of courses:
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Point of entry:
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Point of entry:
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Length of program: 3 to 5 years |
Length of program: 3 to 7 years |
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Clinical requirements: 750 clinical hours (BSN to DNP) |
Clinical requirements: none |
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Scholarship opportunities:
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Scholarship opportunities:
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Job prospects after graduation:
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Job prospects after graduation:
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Students who attend UVA are mentored by faculty members who are experts in their field as educators, clinicians, researchers. Their experiences are additionally enriched by access to other disciplines across the University, including religion, ethics, contemplative sciences, mindfulness, and medicine. All graduate nursing students are required to have a laptop.
Though it depends on the degree with which students enter the program (whether it's a BSN or MSN), as well as the specialty area DNP students choose, core courses typically include:
DNP Core Courses (29 credits)
- GNUR 8180: Healthcare Data Analysis (3 credits)
- GNUR 8620: Quality and Safety in Healthcare Systems (4 credits)
- GNUR 8645: Ethics and Leadership in Interprofessional Practice (3 credits)
- GNUR 8650: Information Systems and Patient Care Technology (3 credits)
- GNUR 8660: Evidence-Based Practice (3 credits)
- GNUR 8680: Culturally Sensitive Care/Population Health (3 credits)
- GNUR 9026: Health Policy, Economics & Finance (3 credits)
- GNUR 9027: Practice Change Management (2 credits)
- GNUR 9710: Implementation of Practice Change (3 credits)
- GNUR 9720: Dissemination of Practice Scholarship (2 credits)
- Electives (9 credits)
BSN to DNP Program Specialty Track Concentration Courses
Specialty track courses (22-26 credits)
BSN to DNP students may choose from one of seven concentrations:
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist specialty
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner specialty
- Family Nurse Practitioner specialty
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner specialty
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care specialty
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care specialty
- Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner specialty
A dual-track Adult Gerontology Acute Care CNS + NP specialty is a full-time program and for military students only.
APRN Practicum
All BSN to DNP students complete 750 hours (14 credits) of direct care practicum.
Clinical requirements do not need to be met at the UVA Medical Center; the School has existing clinical contracts across the Commonwealth and in Washington DC and Maryland. We guarantee practicum placements within the state of Virginia; however, there are certain sites within Virginia that we are unable to secure due to factors such as site capacity, affiliation limitations, or specialty availability. While we cannot guarantee out-of-state placements at any point during your program, over the past three years we have successfully arranged practicum experiences both within Virginia and in nearby states, including North Carolina, Washington, D.C., and Maryland.
Clinical placement is a collaborative process that considers your professional connections in conjunction with program requirements and available clinical opportunities. Professional connections may help identify potential clinical sites or preceptors; however, the program will work with you to evaluate and finalize the clinical placement to ensure all requirements are met.
DNP Project
The DNP program culminates in the successful completion of a DNP project—a significant, evidence-based contribution to existing nursing knowledge suitable for publication in a peer reviewed journal or a book—designed by the student in collaboration with a project team.
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