There’s a lot of confusion about the recently established professional designation of Doctor, Nursing Practice (DNP). It’s going to be a replacement for the MSN designation for many of the advanced nurse practices, a transformation that supposedly will be completed by 2015. Does this mean that all MSN professionals will have obsolete credentials? No. Does it mean that a practicing MSN should return to school and upgrade the academic credential? That will be a matter of personal choice. There’s still a lot of confusion over this new professional designation, what the additional academic requirements are or will be, and how these issues will be resolved.
It has fallen to each graduate nursing program to define the academic parameters for the DNP. The curricula being developed for the MSN to DNP programs seem to be substantial, even for experienced advanced practice nurses. This example of a 35 credit-hour program focuses on the management and leadership roles assigned to a medical practitioner, including areas of health policy. Included in the program is a capstone, or thesis project.
Here are 10 of our most highly recommended programs with two of our distance learning picks.
- Walden University (*Highly Recommended) – Walden’s Online MSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice gives you the credentials you need to assume a greater leadership role within a healthcare organization, and it can help you contribute to improved patient outcomes and healthcare delivery. You can build on your expertise to further patient care, gain the knowledge and skills needed to train the next generation of nurses, and translate theory into an advanced nursing practice that enhances the health of populations and communities.
- University of Phoenix (*Highly Recommended) - The Online Doctor of Nursing program is designed for nurses that possess their master’s in nursing. Courses explore the ethical responsibilities of nurse leaders. Graduates work as researchers, administrators, educators, clinicians, and authors. This program is known for its passionate professors and dedicated students.
- Duke University offers the DNP program to post-bachelor’s degree nurses and MSN graduates. The program has the flexibility for working nurses to continue on the job when they return to school.
- University of Michigan/Flint has initiated a DNP program as an entry level option, as a choice for nurses holding a bachelor’s degree and for practicing MSN – credentialed professionals. The MSN to DNP option is open to nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists and nurse midwives. It is also available in an online format.
- University of San Francisco has had the MSN to DNP program in place since 2007 and was the first nursing school in the Bay Area to do so. The program is listed as a 64 credit option that meets every other weekend on Friday evenings and all day Saturday, taking two years for completion.
- University of Pittsburgh has a DNP program with multiple points of entry, including an option for students holding a master’s degree in a field other than nursing. The MSN to DNP option takes one to two years, depending upon full time or part-time status.
- Loyola University of Chicago established the DNP program in 2009. There is a full time and a part time option for MSN graduates. The additional training has a strong public health orientation.
- Purdue University has developed a DNP program that includes academic additions to the MSN developed in conjunction with the University’s Center for Healthcare Engineering, the Center on Aging and the Life Course, and the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
- University of Arizona offers the MSN to DNP program in these specialties: Adult Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. The program is an option for nurses who are certified in these specialties and those who have not yet achieved that status.
- Vanderbilt University has a post-master’s DNP program of 74 credit hours, 39 of which may be transferred from the MSN degree. It is a five semester program.
