By Staff Writers
May 26, 2020
Nurse practitioners (NPs) specialize in a specific patient population, such as adult-gerontology, family practice, or clinical, and those with a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) achieve the highest level of training in their fields. The NP profession also includes nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) and nurse midwives (CNMs). CRNAs assist those undergoing surgeries or procedures. CNMs help women through pregnancy, delivery, and post-delivery.
Online DNP programs offer students the flexibility to continue working while earning their degree. The best online DNP programs hold accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
Our ranking of best-value online DNP programs provides information on accreditation, available NP specialties, and course delivery methods to help you in your search for the best DNP program.
Methodology
View our ranking methodology here.
Top 10 Best-Value Online DNP Programs
What to Expect From an Online Doctorate in Nursing Program
Virtually all U.S. states require NPs to earn a master of science in nursing (MSN), but many pursue DNPs. Before pursuing an MSN, most candidates earn a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree. The number of DNP graduates rose to 7,039 in 2017-18.
The typical paths for distance learners consist of either a 3-4-year BSN-to-DNP program online or a 1-3-year MSN-to-DNP online. Students should expect to take web-based courses and attend periodic on-campus immersions, completing at least 1,000 hours of on-site internship and clinical experiences.
Course content varies by specialty, but most DNP curricula include organizational and systems leadership; clinical scholarship and analysis; information systems and technology; and healthcare policy.
NPs become licensed as advanced practice registered nurses. Most U.S. state licensure boards require a registered nurse license, a graduate degree from an accredited program, and a passing score on the applicable national certification exam.
Career Outlook for Nurses Practitioners
As primary care providers who work with specific patient populations — whether neonatal, pediatric, or psychiatric — NPs perform many of the same tasks as physicians. Their daily duties include physical exams, diagnostic testing and analysis, and prescribing treatments and medications. Depending on their jurisdiction, they work independently or in collaboration with supervising physicians.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment in the NP profession to grow by 26% from 2018-28, which significantly outpaces the projected growth of all occupations. The top industries for NPs include physicians' offices, hospitals, and outpatient care centers. New York, California, and Texas boast the highest employment levels.
The 2018 median annual wage for NPs, CRNAs, and CNMs reached $113,930, with CRNAs topping the pay scale at $167,950. California ranks as the highest paying state, followed by Washington and Hawaii. NPs in the California metropolitan areas of Vallejo-Fairfield and San Francisco-Oakland, along with those in Spokane, Washington, outearn NPs in all other cities, with mean wages above $155,000.
The Best-Value Online DNP Programs of 2020
University of Florida
This highly ranked public university traces its beginnings to 1853, making it one of the oldest schools in the State University System of Florida. UF's College of Nursing offers two practice-focused online DNP programs. Students who have completed a bachelor of science in nursing may enroll in the BSN-to-DNP option.
This program requires 75-78 credits, depending on the specialty, and three short on-campus residencies. Program specialty tracks include adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner, pediatric acute care nurse practitioner, pediatric primary care nurse practitioner, and psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner.
A student who already holds a master of science in nursing and an active Florida APRN license can pursue the MSN-to-DNP online degree, which requires 35 credits and several brief residencies. In both options, distance learners may need to travel outside their local areas to fulfill clinical placements.
The DNP is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
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SUNY Upstate Medical University
Upstate, as part of the State University of New York System, established its college of nursing in 1959 to help alleviate the state's nursing shortage. The university's nursing division offers one of the best doctor of nursing practice online programs in the northeastern United States, designed for the post-master's nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist.
Degree-seekers may complete this part-time program in approximately 2.5 years, taking six credits each semester for 6-7 semesters with minimal residency requirements. Required courses include public health policy; biostatistics for the DNP; epidemiology and population health; and advancements in information quality and safety.
The DNP program meets the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice criteria and holds accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
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Purdue University
The nationally ranked online DNP programs at Indiana-based Purdue fit the educational needs of post-baccalaureate RNs, post-master's APRNs, and post-master's non-APRNs. The accelerated sequential curriculum enables nurses to pursue this advanced degree part time while maintaining their employment.
The BSN-to-DNP and MSN-to-DNP options combine hybrid, asynchronous, and synchronous formats with opportunities for in-person classroom instruction. This evidence-based degree emphasizes health promotion, disease prevention, chronic disease management, and healthcare systems engineering. Each degree-seeker may transfer up to 40 credits from an accredited master's program.
Purdue's innovative DNP allows enrollees to choose from cognate courses in specialized fields such as quality improvement, rural health, public health/homeland security, and practice design and management. Clinical preceptorships place nursing students in interdisciplinary teams with graduate students from other fields to work with underserved populations in urban and rural settings.
The doctor of nursing practice degree is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
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University of Virginia
Founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819, UVA has become one of the best public universities in the U.S. Its nationally ranked school of nursing offers two doctor of nursing practice online programs with post-baccalaureate and post-master's pathways that both include residencies.
The post-baccalaureate option, ideal for nurses seeking national specialty certifications as APRNs, provides a seamless pathway to the DNP degree. The BSN-to-DNP degree features two pathways: a 2+2 standard plan that takes two years of study, along with a three-year accelerated plan.
The post-master's pathway requires 39 credits beyond the MSN degree. Applicants who have valid APRN licenses and clinical certifications can pursue the MSN-to-DNP degree, but graduates from other advanced specialty areas, such as public health or health administration, also receive admission.
These accredited online DNP programs combine the convenience of web-based courses with sessions that meet on campus in an executive format, at the beginning and end of each term or monthly, at the campus in Charlottesville, Virginia.
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>University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
UTMB, as a part of the University of Texas System, operates medical, nursing, health professions, and biomedical schools; research centers; and a comprehensive hospital system. The UTMB school of nursing, established in 1890, offers one of the best doctor of nursing practice online programs in the southwest.
Designed to accommodate the needs of working nurse practitioners, the fully accredited DNP degree allows students to take two courses each semester for eight semesters, requiring only 2-3 on-campus residencies each term. The curriculum prepares nursing professionals to work with vulnerable populations, emphasizing information technology and public health policy.
Courses include foundations of DNP practice; advanced nursing leadership and management; economics and business of healthcare; population health strategies for improving the nation's health; and healthcare policy.
Each app must hold a license as an advanced practice registered nurse, clinical nurse leader, or executive nurse leader from an accredited program, along with a 3.0 GPA or higher in all graduate coursework.
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Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins, one of the nation's top-ranked private research institutions, established its school of nursing in 1889 at its campus in Baltimore, Maryland. Its school of nursing offers several of the best online DNP programs in the U.S.
Distance learners choose from eight tracks for nurses seeking licensure as nurse practitioners or clinical nurse specialists. The accelerated executive track post-master's degree provides an option for nurses who already hold advanced practice licenses.
The school of nursing also offers an online executive track/MBA dual degree that prepares graduates for leadership positions in healthcare and educational organizations. All DNP tracks deliver courses online, paired with required immersions.
Online learners may need to make adjustments to their employment schedules once they begin their clinical practicum experiences. The DNP program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
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Drexel University
Established in 1891 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Drexel has received recognition for its interdisciplinary approach to applied education. Drexel offers a 48-credit online doctor of nursing practice program that takes approximately two years to complete. Distance learners enroll in four 10-week quarters each year, enabling them to finish all degree requirements more quickly than in a semester-based program.
Each applicant must possess a master of science in nursing, a master's in a health-related field, or a master's in business administration. A non-MSN degree-holder must have a BSN. All candidates must have passed a graduate-level research methods course with a grade of B or higher and hold a current RN license.
While the fully accredited program delivers most coursework online, in both synchronous and asynchronous formats, students must attend an in-person orientation at the beginning of the first term. Degree-seekers may also participate in a week-long global engagement experience in the spring quarter of the second year at a host university outside the United States.
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University of Illinois at Chicago
The highly ranked UIC administers degree-granting programs in applied health sciences, dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, and more. Its fully accredited doctor of nursing practice online programs provide training in 12 focus areas, with 10 concentrations leading to advanced practice and two focus areas preparing graduates for system-related roles.
Students already certified with a master of science in one of the program's focus areas may enroll in the MSN-to-DSP online option. The hybrid DNP programs consist of online and blended courses with some on-site requirements.
Students entering with a master's typically finish all requirements in 2-4 years, while BSN degree-holders may take 3-5 years. The DNP transition program provides a route of entry for students with RN licenses and bachelor's degrees in non-nursing fields. This option may take 4-6 years to complete.
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Jefferson (Philadelphia University + Thomas Jefferson University)
This private, professional-oriented university was formed through a merger between Philadelphia University and Thomas Jefferson University in 2017. Jefferson offers 160 undergraduate and graduate programs in 10 colleges and four schools. Its college of nursing partners with the nationally ranked Thomas Jefferson University Hospital to provide programs in clinical care education.
The completely online doctor of nursing practice program, emphasizing leadership, healthcare policy, and evidence-based practice, provides part-time and full-time options. The 36-credit post-MSN-to-DNP option, designed for graduates who already hold MSN degrees, gives students a choice of two-year, three-year, or four-year plans of study.
The post-BSN-to-DNP program allows students to earn MSNs while progressing toward their doctorates. This degree offers eight MSN nurse practitioner specialty areas that lead to national certification. Distance learners typically complete all requirements for the BSN-to-DNP, including three practicum experiences, in 3-4 years.
Jefferson's online DNP programs are fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
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Duquesne University
This Catholic university, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, serves nearly 10,000 students through nine schools, including its highly ranked school of nursing. Duquesne offers two fully accredited online DNP programs.
The clinical leadership DNP track trains graduates for positions in clinical nursing management. This 35 credit MSN-to-DNP degree, ideal for a student who already holds a master's and APRN licensure, requires 11 courses completed in two years of study. The curriculum requires on-campus residencies at the beginning and end of the program.
The 62-credit executive leadership DNP requires 20 courses typically completed in four years. Students in the post-bachelor's DNP track focus on improving patient outcomes through financial, budgeting, human resources, and other business tools, preparing graduates for administrative positions in healthcare settings.
The DNP degree features three unique residency experiences: a self-paced online academic writing residency, an optional residency opportunity to study advanced practice nursing in Italy or Ireland, and the required doctoral practice project.
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Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, as a part of the State University of New York system, has established six professional schools in its health sciences division, including its school of nursing. The post-baccalaureate DNP, ideal for RNs who hold bachelor's degrees in nursing, requires 87 credits and 1,000 hours in clinical experiences.
Specialty focus areas include adult-gerontology-primary care nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner, pediatric-primary care nurse practitioner, women's health nurse practitioner, and neonatal nurse practitioner.
Nurse practitioners and nurse midwives who have already earned an MSN may enter the DNP program with advanced standing. The 42-credit post-master's DNP track typically includes a minimum of 500 hours of clinical practice to help meet the 1,000-hour post-baccalaureate requirements.
Both tracks include online and on-site coursework. The advanced standing curriculum offers classes in systems theory, biostatistics, genomics, health policy, and principles of epidemiology.
Stony Brook's school of nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
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University of Iowa
UI, founded in 1847, is the state's oldest institution of higher education and enrolls over 32,500 students in 11 colleges. Its college of nursing offers one of the Midwest's best online DNP programs and prepares graduates for executive leadership and clinical practice. UI operates a state-of-the-art nursing clinical education center as one of the largest and most acclaimed medical centers in the U.S.
UI offers an online BSN-to-DNP option that takes 3-5 years, depending on the specialty area. Students who have already earned master's degrees in nursing may enroll in the MSN-to-DNP online track that requires 2-3 years to complete.
Degree-seekers take most classes in an asynchronous format but must also complete in-person components. Iowa residents can fulfill the required preceptor experiences near their homes, although some placements may require travel to available providers.
All UI nursing degrees are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
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Saint Louis University
SLU, a Catholic university established by the Jesuit order, has operated its school of nursing since 1928. As a pioneer in online nursing education, SLU offers two online DNP programs with four population specialty areas: adult/gerontological acute care nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner, pediatric primary care nurse practitioner, and family psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner.
The BSN-to-DNP program requires approximately 68 credits to complete, depending on the specialty. Online learners may enroll on a full- or part-time basis to complete the program in 4-5 years. The MSN-to-DNP, available to students who have already earned master's degrees in advanced practice areas, requires 28 credits.
This degree offers two tracks in advanced practice nursing and nurse executive leadership. The program typically takes two years to finish, including two on-site components. SLU nursing programs have received accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and approval from the Missouri State Board of Nursing.
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Gonzaga University
Founded by Jesuit missionaries in 1887 in Spokane, Washington, Gonzaga currently enrolls over 7,500 students. This Catholic private university offers 75 undergraduate majors, 26 master's, a law degree, a Ph.D., and two doctor of nursing practice online programs.
The post-baccalaureate DNP admits students with bachelor's in nursing who hold a valid RN license. Students take their nurse practitioner exam at the end of the third year on their way to earning the DNP. The program offers two nurse practitioner specialties in family nursing and psychiatric-mental health nursing. Distance learners must complete up to eight in-person immersions. The curriculum offers a three-year, full-time pathway, along with a five-year, part-time track.
The post-master's DNP is a general degree designed for working nurses who have completed their MSNs. This track requires 28-34 credit hours, typically completed in two years, including two on-campus immersions and 1,000 hours of clinical practicum experience.
The DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
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Villanova University
Located 12 miles west of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Villanova is the only Catholic university in the U.S, sponsored by the Augustinian religious order. Villanova's School of Nursing, designated as Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing, offers a post-master's DNP online program that prepares its graduates for leadership roles in nursing practice and healthcare administration.
The MSN-to-DNP program features a full-time plan of study that requires five consecutive semesters, an eight-semester part-time plan, and an 11-semester flex plan. The 32-credit degree delivers most coursework synchronously, 1-2 evenings a week, to accommodate the needs of working nurses.
Distance learners must attend on-site residencies 1-2 days in the fall and spring terms and 3-4 days in the summer.
While admission to this Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education-accredited program does not require GRE scores, each applicant must demonstrate a 3.5 GPA in their master's courses and a grade of B or higher in a graduate-level research course.
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University of St. Francis
Founded by the Sisters of St. Francis over a century ago in Joliet, Illinois, this Catholic university enrolls over 3,700 students in four colleges. The Leach College of Nursing at USF offers a post-master's doctor of nursing practice online program for working nurses. DNP applicants must reside in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, or New Mexico.
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education-accredited program trains advanced practice nurses for leadership roles in healthcare organizations and education. The curriculum reflects Franciscan values, preparing graduates to provide services to the most vulnerable and marginalized populations, including the poor, elderly, and uninsured.
The 40-credit program covers areas such as information management in advanced practice; healthcare policy, politics, and practice; diversity and social justice; and healthcare finance and practice management. The program also requires several in-person meetings. Students interested in entering teaching roles after graduation may add a 12-credit nursing education credential.
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University at Buffalo
Part of the State University of New York System, UB has operated a highly ranked school of nursing for the past 75 years. UB offers two Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education-accredited DNP programs.
The post-BSN-to-DNP program provides training in four specialties: family, adult/gerontology, psychiatric/mental health, and anesthesia. The nurse anesthesia track requires three years of full-time study. Students may complete the other specialties on a full- or part-time basis in 3-7 years. The curriculum delivers approximately 40% of the courses in an online, hybrid format.
Qualified nursing students in their final semester of BSN programs can receive early acceptance to the DNP programs in family, adult/gerontology, and psychiatric/mental health specialties.
The 36-credit MSN-to-DNP program admits advanced practice nurses who hold active RN and APRN licenses and certifications as nurse practitioners in adult/gerontology primary and clinical care, child and family, anesthetist, psychiatric-mental health, and women's health. This part-time online degree takes 5-7 semesters to complete.
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Regis University
As the only Catholic Jesuit university in the Western Rocky Mountain region, Denver-based Regis offers doctor of nursing practice online programs with post-master's and post-baccalaureate options. These programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
The MSN-to-DNP advanced practice registered nurse specialization admits students who already hold master's degrees in advanced practice nursing. The advanced leadership in healthcare track prepares graduates for nursing administration. This online DNP program requires 26-31 credits, with options for 24-month or 36-month pathways. Most online classes last eight weeks, with no in-person requirements.
Regis also offers a post-BSN-to-DNP program with family nurse practitioner and neonatal nurse practitioner specializations. In the first two years, students take all courses at the Denver campus to earn their MSNs degree and certification. The final 2-3 years comprise DNP coursework, offered entirely online with no required campus residencies.
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George Washington University
The school of nursing, chartered a decade ago as the 10th school at GW, provides post-baccalaureate and post-master's DNP options. The online DNP programs deliver most courses in hybrid formats with some on-campus sessions for testing and training at the Virginia Science and Technology campus in Ashbury. The programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
The post-BSN-to-DNP pathway provides entry-level training for nurse practitioners in adult-gerontology acute and primary care, family, and psychiatric mental health specialties. This track requires 72-74 credits.
The post-master's DNP, designed for nurses who have earned MSNs, features three options. The 43-credit executive leadership DNP trains its graduates for senior management healthcare positions. The nursing practice option, which requires 36 credits, develops nursing skills to improve patient care and apply evidence-based methods, policy, and research.
The 42-credit health policy DNP focuses on legislative, regulatory, and judicial processes that shape healthcare policy, preparing nurse practitioners for policy analysis, advocacy, and consulting roles.
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Bradley University
This private university, based in Peoria, Illinois, enrolls 5,400 students in 185 undergraduate and graduate programs. Bradley offers two doctor of nursing practice online programs: a BSN-to-DNP family nurse practitioner degree and an MSN-to-DNP in leadership.
The 83-credit post-baccalaureate family nurse practitioner program, designed for students who have earned BSNs, prepares its graduates to take the American Nurses Credentialing Center or American Academy of Nurse Practitioners certification examination for family nurse practitioners.
The post-master's DNP in leadership, for graduates who have already earned their MSNs and RN licenses, requires approximately 39 credits. The curriculum features courses in leadership theory and includes a 300-hour practicum with a nurse manager or executive preceptor in preparation for a capstone project and up to 1,000 hours in clinical experiences. The leadership DNP prepares graduates to sit for nurse executive or nurse leader certifications.
Bradley's doctor of nursing practice programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
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Lewis University
Lewis, a small Catholic university located 35 miles southwest of Chicago, Illinois, has provided quality nursing education for over 40 years. The school of nursing offers a fully online doctor of nursing practice program that emphasizes patient care improvement, evidence-based performance, and systems approaches.
Applicants to the DNP program must hold an MSN degree with a specialty focus, a valid RN license, and a minimum of two years of professional nursing practice.
The 30-credit curriculum provides training in research design and measurement for evidence-based practice; healthcare ethics and policy; quality and safety sciences; and financial and strategic management for healthcare decision-makers. The program requires a minimum of 1,000 hours of clinical experience, including up to 496 practicum hours already completed for the MSN degree.
Online learners must attend a minimum of two immersions at the Romeoville, Illinois, campus. The DNP program is regionally accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
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Seton Hall University
Established in 1856 in South Orange, New Jersey, Seton Hall is one of the oldest Catholic diocesan universities in the United States. With an enrollment of more than 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students, Seton Hall offers over 90 academic programs.
Seton Hall's college of nursing launched its graduate program in 1975 and currently offers doctor of nursing practice online programs for post-BSN and post-MSN students. The BSN-to-DNP option calls for 73-79 credits, and the post-master's DNP track requires 31 credits. The curriculum covers population health, statistics, healthcare systems, and evidence-based methods and practice.
Students take a majority of courses online and take part in short on-campus residencies throughout the program. Each enrollee must attend a graduate student orientation and up to three immersion experiences at the Interprofessional Health Sciences Campus in Nutley, New Jersey.
Seton Hall's DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
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Clemson University
Clemson, a public university located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in South Carolina, administers over 80 undergraduate and 120 graduate programs. Its school of nursing, recognized as a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing, offers a post-master's DNP program that trains nursing professionals in evidence-based practice, leadership, healthcare policy and advocacy, collaboration, and clinical advanced nursing practice.
Each applicant must provide transcripts demonstrating a bachelor's degree in nursing and a master's degree in nursing with a minimum 3.0 GPA, both from nationally accredited programs. A candidate must also possess an unencumbered, active APRN license, along with current NP/CNS national certification in a specialty area.
While the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education-accredited program delivers the majority of coursework online, degree-seekers must attend on-campus immersion experiences for 2-3 days each year during the summer term. The DNP accommodates working nurses by offering coursework in a part-time format over six semesters.
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Gannon University
This Catholic diocesan university, based in Erie, Pennsylvania, has been a leading provider of high-quality distance learning programs in targeted, high-demand areas of study. Gannon offers a doctor of nursing practice degree as a fully online bridge program from an MSN.
This master's add-on program, ideal for nurse administrators, nurse educators, and advanced practice RNs who hold active certifications, requires 26-32 credits. Part time distance learners typically complete all degree requirements in 4-6 semesters.
Core coursework explores leadership and health policy; evidence-based practice theory; epidemiology and the role of the clinical nurse doctorate; healthcare informatics; and transcultural influences on healthcare. Rather than a research dissertation, the curriculum requires a capstone immersion experience consisting of an evidence-based practice project focused on the student's clinical area.
Gannon's DNP program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
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Gwynedd Mercy University
One of 17 Catholic colleges and universities sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, GMercyU administers over 40 academic programs online and at its main campus in Pennsylvania.
The university's school of nursing and health professions, recognized for its expert faculty and state-of-the-art laboratories, has provided quality nursing education for more than 60 years. The online doctor of nursing practice program offers a convenient pathway to the DNP degree designed to expand the skills of nurse practitioners, certified registered nurse anesthetists, clinical nurse specialists, and certified nurse midwives.
Distance learners complete this 39-credit accelerated degree in approximately two years of full-time study. The DNP comprises 13 courses exploring topics such as healthcare ethics, organizational behavior, social policy, technology for advanced practice nurses, and research utilization.
While the curriculum offers all courses online, distance learners must make arrangements to complete 400 hours of preceptor clinical experience and attend one on-campus executive session at the end of the program. The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.