Choosing the right doctorate will be key to your career. But should it be a DNP or PhD? To help you make your decision, we’ve broken down each degree into a handy comparison chart. Here you can decide whether you’re a research-focused guru or a data-driven clinician.
AdvertisementFeatured Online DNP Programs
School Name | Program Name & Tracks Available | More Info |
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Regis College | Online MSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice Pediatric NP (PNP), Psychiatric Mental Health NP (PMHNP), Women’s Health NP (WHNP), Family NP (FNP), Adult Gerontology - Primary Care NP (AGPCNP), Nurse Education |
program website |
Regis College | Online BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice Adult Gerontology - Primary Care NP (AGPCNP), Adult Gerontology - Acute Care NP (AGACNP), Family NP (FNP), Pediatric NP (PNP), Psychiatric Mental Health NP (PMHNP), Women’s Health NP (WHNP) |
program website |
Bradley University | Online DNP Program Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Leadership, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner |
program website |
Duquesne University | Online Doctor of Nursing Practice, BSN-DNP Executive Nurse Leadership |
program website |
Duquesne University | Online Doctor of Nursing Practice, MSN-DNP Clinical Leadership, Executive Nurse Leadership |
program website |
The University of Texas at Arlington | Online Doctor of Nursing Practice | program website |
Purdue University Global | Online MSN to DNP Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP, Executive Leader, Family NP, Nurse Educator, Psychiatric Mental Health NP |
program website |
Purdue University Global | Online BSN to DNP Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP, Executive Leader, Family NP, Nurse Educator, Psychiatric Mental Health NP |
program website |
Northern Kentucky University | Online Post-Master's Doctor of Nursing Practice Nursing Leadership |
program website |
Capella University | Online Doctor of Nursing Practice | program website |
Georgetown University | Online BSN to DNP Program Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP (AG-ACNP), Family NP (FNP), Dual Nurse-Midwifery/Women’s Health NP (NM/WHNP), Women’s Health NP (WHNP) |
program website |
Simmons University | Online Post-Master's Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) | program website |
Sacred Heart University | Online Post-Master's Doctor of Nursing Practice Nursing Leadership |
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Choosing Your Doctoral Degree
Defining the Difference
The DNP and PhD in Nursing are both terminal degrees – the highest you can go in your education. The main difference between the two is focus:
- The DNP is a practice degree designed for nurses who want to use evidence-based ideas in their clinical and administrative work. DNP students spend a lot of time applying existing research to healthcare settings on a day-to-day basis.
- The PhD is a research degree aimed at nurses who wish to explore areas of knowledge that could improve patient health and/or the delivery of healthcare. PhD students generate the new research that DNP students put into effect.
Some people think of the DNP as the nursing equivalent of the MD or DDS – a degree intended for the working professional.
DNP vs. PhD Comparison Chart
The DNP | The PhD | |
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Focus | Clinical Practice | Research |
Typical Entrance Requirements | BSN or MSN | BSN, MSN, or a related master’s degree |
Program Length | Variable. 1-2 years for MSN-holders; 3-4 years for BSN-holders. | 4-5 years |
Degree Objective | Prepare students for high-level clinical, administrative, and academic careers. | Prepare students for research and academic careers in public or private healthcare sectors. |
Curriculum Focus | The application of existing research/knowledge. | The creation of original research/knowledge. |
Daily Tasks | Students lead interdisciplinary care teams, measure health-related outcomes of patients and communities, and translate evidence-based research into real-life practice. | Students design, conduct, and manage an independent research project on a new field of inquiry. Their primary aim is to make significant advances in nursing science or practice. |
Typical Clinical Requirements | 1000 post-bachelor’s degree practicum hours | None |
Sample Courses |
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Final Product |
DNP capstone project | Dissertation + oral defense |
Career Paths |
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Note: If you’re a keen researcher, you may also wish to consider a dual doctorate. Similar in structure to a MD/PhD program, the DNP/PhD option allows you to combine leadership training in advanced clinical practice with the study of nursing science.
Want to learn more about the DNP? Head over to our DNP degree guide, where we discuss its history, how it works, and what the future holds for DNP programs.