DNP - Doctor of Nursing Practice
The Ultimate Advanced Practice Nurse
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) 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.
Available to students in two pathways, a BSN to DNP pathway and an MSN to DNP pathway, nurses who have earned DNPs are highly sought after by health systems across the country given the expanse of their strengths and capabilities.
Hybrid format
Among the best
Expansive career opportunities
Money for school
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.
Of particular note is the School's new BSN to DNP pathway, which offers an efficient plan of study that meets the needs of today's working nurses. 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 DNP offers all the personal, professional, and financial benefits a doctoral degree confers and a UVA association that opens doors.
The BSN to DNP pathway program offers:
- In-person class about 1x/month with the balance of learning completed online
- 3-year plan of study requires less time and costs less than a traditional DNP program
- 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)
- 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 as advanced practice registered nurses (APRN):
- 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.
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.
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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)
Specialty Track Concentration and Elective Courses
- Electives (9 credits)
- Specialty track courses (22-26 credits)
Students select courses in consultation with their academic and faculty advisors based on the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to conduct their DNP projects. Additionally, students select master's and/or doctoral-level didactive coursework from across the University.
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.
Practicum
All DNP students enroll in 14 credits (750 hours) in direct care practicum. Students select courses in consultation with their academic and faculty advisors based on the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to conduct their DNP projects. Additionally, students select master's and/or doctoral-level didactic coursework from across the University.
Clinical requirements do not need to be met at the UVA Medical Center; the School has existing clinical contracts across the Commonwealth and beyond and students may also "bring their own" clinical sites from the area or outside of Virginia. Clinical/practicum activities are generally conducted within the Commonwealth of Virginia. Clinical/practicum activities may be conducted outside Virginia if the University is authorized to place students in that state and pending faculty approval.
The length of time required to complete the program depends on several factors: whether you have enter having already earned a BSN or MSN degree; whether you are a full-time or part-time student; the number of practicum hours required; and your final scholarly project. Full-time students with a BSN degree can typically complete the DNP pathway in 33 months; students in the combined Adult-Gerontology Acute Care CNS and NP (for military students only) typically complete the program in 36 months. Part-time students complete the program in 5-6 years.
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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