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New healthcare systems, changing policies, complex finances – the time has come to have more trained nurse executives at the helm of organizations! If you’ve already committed to the DNP, feel free to jump ahead to our program listings. But if you’d like advice on certification options, details of the DNP curriculum, examples of DNP capstone projects, and real-world tips from an NEA-BC nurse executive, read on!
Becoming a Nurse Executive
The Modern Nurse Executive
Like military generals of old, modern nurse executives have a challenging job. Every day, they juggle issues such as government policy, AI & emerging healthcare technologies, fiscal constraints, and HR debates. With a finger in almost every pie – from organizational research to quality management – they must still keep an eye on how their actions will improve a patient’s quality of care.
Fortunately, they’re well-equipped to deal with reality. Though programs like the DNP, nurse executives learn how create predictive models, implement cost-effective strategies, design sustainable healthcare policies, and put big data to work. Evidence-based practices and smart resource management serve as the foundation of their approach.
Today, these savvy leaders work as Chief Nursing Officers, VPs for Nursing & Clinical Services, Health Officers, Quality Improvement Directors, or even Commissioners of Health.
Helpful Professional Organizations
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
- American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN)
- American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL)
- American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE)
- American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
Nurse Executive Certification Requirements
If you’re interested in nurse executive positions, there are 4 major certifications that you may wish to pursue. The first two – the Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML) and the Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP) – are offered by the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) in conjunction with the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN). The second two – the Nursing Executive (NE-BC) and the Nursing Executive, Advanced (NEA-BC) – are offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Nurse managers should consider the CNML and the NE-BC; nurse executives and those upper-level administrative positions should explore the possibilities of the CENP and the NEA-BC. If it is not already stated on the program website, ask your school if the program will prepare you for nurse executive certification exams after graduation.
CNML Requirements
- Current, active RN license
- Bachelor’s degree or higher; at least one degree must be in nursing from an accredited institution
- Has acquired at least 2,080 hours of experience in a nurse manager/primary unit leader role or at least 4,160 hours of experience in a comprehensive nursing leadership support role
NE-BC Requirements
- Accredited bachelor’s degree or higher in nursing
- Current, active RN license
- Has acquired at least 2,000 hours of experience in a leadership, management, or administrative role with a primary responsibility for the daily operations and outcomes of one (1) or more unit(s)/departments within the last 3 years
- Has completed 30 hours of continuing education in leadership, management, or administration within the last 3 years
CENP Requirements
- Current, active RN license
- Master’s level degree or higher + at least 4,160 hours of experience in an executive/senior nursing role (one of your degrees – e.g. the BSN – must be in nursing from an accredited school) or a bachelor’s degree in nursing + at least 8,320 hours in an executive/senior nursing role
NEA-BC Requirements
- Accredited master’s degree or higher in nursing or a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a master’s in a relevant field
- Current, active RN license
- Has acquired at least 2,000 hours of experience in a leadership, management, or administration position, with primary responsibility for organization-wide or system-wide operations and outcomes, that include nursing, within the last 3 years
- Has completed 30 hours of continuing education in leadership, management, or administration within the last 3 years
The Nurse Executive DNP
Typical Nurse Executive DNP Curriculum
The American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) is 100% behind the DNP. As early as 2007, they published a paper that supported the DNP as the terminal degree for practice-focused nursing, including top level nurse executive positions in healthcare systems. That means you’ll find a healthy amount of choices for both BSN-DNP and MSN-DNP Nurse Exeuctive programs.
Although the curricula will obviously be different for 2-year and 4-year programs, they share common threads. Good DNPs will echo the guidelines laid down for nurse executive practice from AONL. In addition to offering strong practicums in clinical and administrative environments, they should also provide you with useful tools for your job. For instance, a solid nurse executive curriculum might include coverage of advanced diagnostic and client care skills, care of vulnerable populations, fiscal and HR management, quality assurance, and emerging technologies.
Unlike APRN DNP programs, courses for a Nurse Executive DNP tend to focus less on nursing and more on management techniques. That means you may be taking classes in areas such as statistics for healthcare administrators, health services research, healthcare finance, and leadership theory. On the same level, your practicums and DNP capstone project will not be like the clinical experiences required for the RN. Instead, they will allow you to experiment with your new knowledge in a leadership setting.
DNP Experience Requirements
Program eligibility will depend on your choice of degree (e.g. BSN-DNP vs. MSN-DNP) and school. For example, to be eligible for an MSN-DNP Nurse Executive program, you may be required to have 2 years of leadership experience within the last 5 years. BSN-DNP students seeking NE-BC certification may be required to have at least 2,000 hours of experience in a leadership, management, or administrative role. Check your program’s website for specific details. Almost every school is going to demand that you hold an active RN license.
Combined MBA/DNP Programs
Involved in the private sector or business? You may wish to consider a dual degree. A few schools have combined the DNP and MBA into one package. This will allow you to add hard-core business course credits (e.g. accounting, finance, economics) to a nursing-focused management program. Some schools will ask you to complete your first year of the DNP program before allowing you to enroll in MBA classes.
Examples of Nurse Executive DNP Capstone Projects
- The Effect of Coaching on Nurse Manager Leadership of Unit Based Performance Improvement: Exploratory Case Studies (University of Kentucky)
- Nurse Leaders and the Use of Social Media (American Sentinel University)
- Creating a Pipeline to Increase Diversity in Executive Leadership Positions (University of San Francisco)
- Nurse Leaders’ Psychological Safety Education and Culture of Safety in Medical Surgical Units (University of Pennsylvania)
- Comprehensive Peer Review: Exploring the Impact on Nurse Engagement (Wake Forest School of Medicine)
Real-World DNP Advice
Dr. Rachel Behrendt, DNP, RN, NEA-BC
Dr. Rachel Behrendt is COO/Senior Vice President at Hospice of the Valley. She has more than 30 years of clinical and administrative experience in academic health care settings, including work as the Chief Nursing Officer at Banner-University Medical Center Phoenix, VP of the Nursing Professional Development and Magnet Recognition Program at Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, and an Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist & Nurse Educator at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. She holds advanced certification in nursing administration (NEA-BC) and oncology (AOCNS). Dr. Behrendt graduated with a DNP from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) in 2009 and received the “Excellence in Cancer Nursing Education” award from the national Oncology Nursing Society in 2010.
Q&A with Dr. Behrendt
Q. Why did you choose the DNP? Were you considering any other kinds of degrees?
A. To me, the DNP offered the best of both worlds. I gained advanced knowledge of topics from a leadership perspective – health policy, epidemiology, finance, and business – as well as higher level research knowledge – statistics, research methods, and theory development. I had always wanted an advanced nursing degree, but a PhD didn’t align with my ultimate goals for the kinds of knowledge I would gain and apply.
Q. How did you decide which school to go to?
A. I chose the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) based on their curriculum, faculty reputation, and geography. When I first started the DNP program, it was in its very early stages and the curricula varied widely. I remain very pleased with my choice. Dr. Sue Salmond, the UMDNJ Nursing Dean, is an innovator and set very high standards for the DNP program, faculty, and students. I definitely got my money’s worth!
Q. Did you have any worries going into the program?
A. Handling full-time work with full-time school was a big concern. I will never forget my first paper in the DNP program; it was my health policy class with Dr. Tony Forrester. The assignment was a 45-page paper and we only had 3 weeks to complete it. After that, I scaled back on other outside interests and it was school and work for the next 3 years!
Q. How did you finance it?
A. I was fortunate to be able to take advantage of RWJUH’s tuition reimbursement policy and paid for the balance out of my savings.
Q. Was it an online/hybrid DNP or a traditional one? Would you recommend that format?
A. I completed an executive model where we had classes every other month. During the first and fourth week of that month, we would meet Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and online in-between. Assignments were due each week and a large assignment was due at the end. I loved this model. Students were able to bond and form lasting relationships, have face-to-face dialogue, and still have the flexibility of working online for half of the class. The “month on, month off” schedule was fantastic; it really allowed you to catch your breath. It felt like true knowledge acquisition, not just a paper chase for a degree.
Q. What were your favorite courses or experiences?
A. My favorites by far were theory development and health policy. I really had my horizons broadened by my classmates’ work and experiences. Florence Dowrie set up a program to help midwives in Sierra Leone have access to evidence-based practice in order to improve maternal mortality rates. Cassie Groll’s project was turned into a book that is available on Amazon and provides a resource for novice L+D nurses. I loved seeing the diverse interests of my classmates come to life!
Q. What did your DNP capstone project focus on?
A. I did a qualitative research project that evaluated the benefits of certification to certified nurses. I have always believed in the value of certification but – up to that point – no one had studied it from a certified nurse’s perspective. My research validated my own feelings about why certification matters.
Q. Has the DNP had any effect on your job? How?
A. I believe that the DNP helped me realize that I needed to spread my wings a bit. A mentor, Regina Cunningham, once said if you stay in a place longer than 20 years, you will likely retire from there. When I got my doctorate, I started looking for how I could better use that knowledge. Hard as it was to leave my nursing “home,” I had an opportunity to leave RWJ and go to Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals. Thanks to my experience at TJUH, I was able to stretch again and take a CNO position at one of the largest health systems in the country. I don’t believe either of these would have been possible without the knowledge and the confidence in my abilities that the DNP program gave me.
Q. Did you earn a DNP in order to qualify for certification?
A. No. But, I did get my NEA as a way of demonstrating the knowledge I gained through DNP and the leadership expertise I had amassed through the years of my career.
Q. Any other advice or tips you have for future DNP students?
A. Plan for your DNP. Don’t let it be a race for a title or degree. Spend time learning and enjoy the ride! Lastly, make sure people know that you have earned this degree – many think this is an “easy way” to get a doctorate. Coursework is rigorous, capstones are expanding nursing knowledge, and the time commitment is considerable. There is nothing easy about doctoral-level coursework!
DNP Programs with a Nurse Executive Focus
61 schoolsNurse Executive DNP Programs in Alabama
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Accreditation: CCNE
Nurses who want the skills to lead health care organizations at the highest level and find innovative solutions to systemic issues can prepare for such a career at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. UAB has a post-MSN to DNP pathway for nurse executives. In this program, students focus on ways to improve quality and ensure that underserved populations have access to the health care system. Classes are mostly online, but students must come to campus three times over the six-semester program for intensive sessions that run for four or five days. Classes focus on topics such as creating a culture of safety and quality, using technology and analytics for data-driven decisions, finance strategies, executive coaching, and project execution.
University of South Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Accreditation: CCNE
University of South Alabama leverages its USA Health system and Mobile-area clinics to provide DNP enrollees with abundant practice opportunities. Yet MSN-DNP students spend all five semesters without visiting the state. The Executive Nurse Administrator specialty is the rare online program that doesn't require any campus visits, even if participants add a subspecialty in one of four areas: Cardiovascular, Palliative Care, Nursing Education, and Clinical Lipidology. Plus, all three 180-hour residencies can be done from students' home states. The College of Nursing's BSN-DNP Executive Nurse Administrator specialty is different, as enrollees come to campus for some classes and evaluations. There's also a bridge program for USA grads holding an MSN with Advanced Concentration in Leadership. That pathway adds two courses - one in administration and management and the other in finance - to the DNP degree's 36 credits. To get in to any pathway, students need nursing experience, not necessarily management experience.
Nurse Executive DNP Programs in Arizona
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Accreditation: CCNE
The University of Arizona prepares nurses for leadership roles such as clinical nursing director through the Doctor of Nursing Practice in Executive Health Systems Leadership. Classes are online, and full-time students can complete the degree in as few as two and a half years of study. Part-timers can complete the 50 credits in three and a half years. Students must attend intensive sessions in Tucson two summers during the program, beginning in the first year. The focus of the executive leadership program is to prepare nurses to serve as change agents, using data and resources to improve outcomes for their organization and patients. Classes cover topics such as evidence-based practice, interprofessional collaboration, evaluating safety improvements, and management theory.
Nurse Executive DNP Programs in Colorado
American Sentinel University
Aurora, Colorado
Accreditation: ACEN
Targeting current and aspiring healthcare executives, the online DNP program in Executive Leadership covers content ranging from the theoretical to the practical. For instance, by the end of the program, graduates should not only understand the economics that underlie the healthcare system but should also be able to make strategic decisions about how to deploy financial and other resources. The capstone is meant to drive this home. It's such a strong focus that it's the only class that requires a (short) on-campus residency. Everything else happens online. Even with two electives, the 42-credit program is 28 months. To apply, RNs need an MSN or a master's in something else. If that master's is an MBA, MHA, MPH, or MEd, students can earn an MSN on their way to a DNP. If it's not, the school offers a bridge program that bypasses the MSN and goes straight to a DNP.
Nurse Executive DNP Programs in District of Columbia
George Washington University
Washington, District of Columbia
GW's 43-credit DNP in Executive Leadership is mostly online, with two visits to the nation's capital built in. Successful applicants will have received a 3.3 or above on their way to an MSN focused on administration, leadership, or a nurse practitioner role. First-year students take courses in organizational concepts, healthcare policy, populations, quality improvement, and knowledge management before heading to DC for an intensive. Second-year enrollees learn how to put research into practice, identify possible innovations, and take care of finances before setting out to complete a final project and going to campus for one more intensive. The third year, which has just nine credits, is mostly about implementing and evaluating the project, though students also study healthcare economics. Innovation is stressed in multiple ways. For instance, the Joffries Innovation Award is earmarked for DNP students who can put learning into practice.
Nurse Executive DNP Programs in Florida
Palm Beach Atlantic University
West Palm Beach, Florida
Accreditation: CCNE
Palm Beach Atlantic University's DNP Executive Leadership track prepares nurses with a BSN for jobs such as chief nursing officer and CEO. The degree requires 71 credits, and full-time students can complete the requirements in eight semesters. Courses directly related to the executive leadership major include organizational leadership, health care administration, independent practice management, and legal and ethical aspects in health care. Aspiring nurse executives get plenty of hands-on practice, too. In the early semesters, students enroll in two advanced nursing practicums, where they gain experience in health systems leadership. Later in the program, students work a DNP practicum that prepares them for a leadership role in a complex organization. Finally, candidates fill a leadership role while working on an evidence-based project.
University of Central Florida
Orlando, Florida
Accreditation: CCNE
With two start dates and no GRE requirement, UCF College of Nursing makes it straightforward to enroll in the DNP Nurse Executive track. Indeed, it's for busy people - current healthcare executives and managers - who want to start tackling pressing nursing issues at their workplace. The program is part-time, with students taking three to six credits per term, and can be finished online across nine semesters. Enrollees take 42 credits and participate in at least 730 clinical hours, often at where they work. Each practicum covers a different topic - evidence-based practice, program management, and advanced leadership - before giving way to a DNP project and executive residency in the second and third years. While the program accepts applicants from anywhere, enrollees must travel to Orlando for a two-day intensive each fall and spring. Those applying need to have an MSN or a master's degree in a related area.
Nurse Executive DNP Programs in Georgia
Augusta University
Augusta, Georgia
Accreditation: CCNE
Post BSN DNP - Nurse ExecutiveBSN to DNP option
University of North Georgia
Dahlonega, Georgia
Accreditation: ACEN
The University of North Georgia's DNP nurse executive leader track is open to APRN nurses with a master's degree. The curriculum uses an online format that incorporates synchronous and asynchronous elements, and students only visit campus two times - for orientation and an intensive session. Both full-time and part-time students are welcome, and the program is designed so that students can continue to work while pursuing the Doctor of Nursing Practice. Core classes cover topics such as health care informatics, leadership, ethics, and process improvement. In the executive leader track, students explore decision-making, management theory, ensuring safety, managing employees, and creating change strategies. Students synthesize what they have learned by identifying a need and implementing an evidence-based practice intervention.
Nurse Executive DNP Programs in Hawaii
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Honolulu, Hawaii
UH Manoa's Department of Nursing offers a post-master's DNP in Organizational Leadership. As the name implies, it's for RNs with a master's degree. Yet that degree can come in multiple forms and doesn't have to be an MSN. RNs who have an Executive MBA in the Health Care Management track from UH Manoa Shidler College of Business have a strong incentive to apply. From there, they'd need as few as 15 credits to get the DNP, some of that coming from a final project. Students with other master's degrees face at least 32 credits, taking some of the courses covered in the EMBA program. The school adjusts each student's exact credit and practicum hour requirements based on their graduate school transcripts and work experience. That's not the only thing that's flexible: The program is part-time and online, with the exception of summer intensives, so working nurses can attend.
Nurse Executive DNP Programs in Illinois
Governors State University
University Park, Illinois
Accreditation: ACEN
Governor's State University has two options for nurses who want a Doctor of Nursing Practice with a leadership track. Nurses who have an MSN can enter the 44-credit post-master's DNP program and follow the leadership/administration concentration. The specialty includes courses in economics of health administration, innovation and entrepreneurship, and a leadership residency. The post-baccalaureate DNP program offers a specialty track in nursing executive and innovative leadership. Courses in the specialty cover topics like financial management, professional writing, quality improvement, human resource management, and informatics. Students can also take an elective in management information systems or communication studies. No matter the entry point, all DNP students complete a capstone project that requires them to produce an academic deliverable.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Edwardsville, Illinois
Accreditation: CCNE
Nurses with an MSN can accelerate their business and nursing skills with the interprofessional DNP/MBA program at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The 54-credit program uses an online format with two immersion sessions in Edwardsville (the first immersion is three days, and the second is two days). MBA courses use an accelerated eight-week format as students learn about quantitative analysis, improving quality, innovation, program management, and decision-making. The nursing curriculum, which uses a traditional semester schedule for classes, places a heavy emphasis on using evidence-based practice to improve outcomes. To that end, courses cover informatics, evaluating evidence, and ethics. Students also complete a scholarly DNP practice project where they put what they have learned into action.
Nurse Executive DNP Programs in Indiana
Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana
Accreditation: CCNE
Post-MSN to DNP - Executive LeadershipMSN required
Nurses seeking a career as a nurse executive can prepare through IUPUI's Executive Leadership DNP. The degree is designed for nurses with an MSN, although there is also a bridge program for BSN-prepared nurses with an MBA or MPH. The DNP curriculum includes courses such as data analysis for administrative and clinical decision-making, leadership in complex systems, and trans-disciplinary approaches to influencing public health policy. Future executives also gain skills in strategic resource leadership, performance improvement, and project planning. Candidates complete clinical practicums in executive leadership and for the DNP project. Nurses in the MBA/MPH transition track must take four bridge classes before entering the DNP program, with required courses covering nursing theory, research methods, and health systems leadership.
Nurse Executive DNP Programs in Kentucky
Bellarmine University
Louisville, Kentucky
Accreditation: CCNE
Bellarmine University has a Doctor of Nursing Practice with a track in executive leadership and options for students with an MSN or a BSN. Classes for either option are entirely online, so students don't have to come to campus for any course. Some courses do have an optional on-campus meeting, typically one per semester, but these sessions are also available in a video format. Classes cover topics such as the economics of health care, managing resources, and organizational leadership. Students also gain skills in working with a variety of stakeholders to meet organizational goals. Through practicums, they get hands-on experience in various administrative roles, including clinical and evidence-based practice leadership. The post-MSN program requires 38 credits, while the BSN to DNP requires 68 credits.
Spalding University
Louisville, Kentucky
Accreditation: CCNE
Spalding University has an online DNP program for post-master's nurses who can choose an emphasis in informatics, executive leadership, academic leadership, or advanced clinical practice. The curriculum includes 10 core DNP courses and two electives in the emphasis area. Courses are delivered in eight-week sessions, and students also complete precepted practice hours in their community. Courses cover topics such as quality management, informatics and business intelligence, health care finance, strategic planning, and evidence-based practice. Students also get hands-on experience with interdisciplinary collaborations. After selecting a capstone topic, students participate in a virtual residency to refine the proposal and choose the research method they'll follow. A second capstone class includes another virtual residency to prepare students to implement the project.
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Accreditation: CCNE
The University of Kentucky has post-BSN and post-MSN pathways for the Executive Leadership in Health Care DNP. Nurses can complete the BSN to DNP program by following a three-, your-, or five-year plan. The post-MSN program takes six to eight semesters. The curriculum prepares nurses for a leadership role, and courses also focus on nursing practice. Courses cover strategic leadership methods, using statistics to make decisions, designing complex health care systems, ensuring quality and safety, financial considerations, and ethics. Students also gain hands-on experience through a leadership practicum and a DNP project where they design a solution to a real-life problem in health care. Graduates are eligible for nurse executive certification exams. Classes are delivered online with immersions in Lexington at the start and end of the semester.
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, Kentucky
Accreditation: CCNE
Western Kentucky University uses a variety of formats for classes in the BSN to DNP Nurse Executive program. Some courses use a weekend format, with seminars conducted on four Saturdays during the semester. Some classes are entirely online or online with one on-campus meeting, and a few mandate weekly attendance on campus. The 63-credit program requires students to take a graduate statistics class and an "introduction to the DNP" course in the summer before officially starting the program in the fall. The program has a focus on leadership skills, with students taking classes in organizational communication, effective leadership, ethics, nursing administration, leading teams, and program development. Evidence-based practice is another area of emphasis, with courses in nursing research, epidemiology, and quality improvement.
Nurse Executive DNP Programs in Louisiana
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
BSN to DNP - Executive Nurse LeaderBSN to DNP option
The School of Nursing at LSU Health runs an Executive Nurse Leader doctorate for licensed nurses with a BSN. The DNP is 80 credits, which equates to three years full-time. Enrollees begin in summer with foundational and epidemiological studies. The fall and spring semesters are packed with research methodology, biostatistics, and theoretical coursework. During this time, students begin practicing what they've learned via 120-hour practicums in healthcare management and leadership and a 60-hour practicum in patient safety and care. The second year explores human resources, organizational systems, health outcome measurement, and evidence-based practice. Second-year students also spend 300 hours in practicums, this time covering organizational behavior, advanced practice, and strategic planning and marketing. That spring they propose a scholarly project, which they'll develop, implement, and evaluate throughout their third year. That final year is practicum-heavy, with 420 hours outside of class to complement coursework in policy, budgeting, law, and economics.
Loyola University-New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
Loyola is based in New Orleans, but DNP students in the Executive Leader track can mostly avoid Bourbon Street during this online program, which only mandates short trips to campus each spring. The program is built around creating leaders who can see how policies and healthcare settings might be improved to increase patient safety, lower risk, and improve overall quality of care. Students experiment throughout the program, and their last task is defending a scholarly project on campus in the eighth semester. The School of Nursing requires incoming students to hold an MSN and have at least 1,800 hours of recent nursing experience. Although no application fee or GRE scores are required, students must show in their admission essay that they've thought about potential project areas. In addition to 39 credits exploring everything from organizational behavior to informatics, students can take an optional scientific writing course.
Nurse Executive DNP Programs in Maryland
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, Maryland
Accreditation: CCNE
Nurses with a master's degree can enter the DNP Executive track at Johns Hopkins University and earn their degree in six semesters. Coursework is primarily online, but students attend five days of on-campus immersions over the program. Students enter in the summer semester and take courses in health policy, finance, organization and systems leadership, and health information systems. The curriculum includes three electives, which students can select from courses offered by the schools of nursing, medicine, public health, or business, depending on their career goals. As a culminating experience, students select a practice problem, evaluate evidence related to it, organize teams in a quality improvement project, and evaluate the outcomes. The goal of the DNP project is to integrate new science into practice.
Nurse Executive DNP Programs in Massachusetts
MGH Institute of Health Professions
Boston, Massachusetts
Accreditation: CCNE
The Executive DNP program at MGH Institute's School of Nursing is explicitly for C-suite or executive-level nurses who want a quick path to a doctorate. In 16 months, successful participants go from having an MSN to holding a DNP. Interestingly, they only take four classes in that span because each semester has a theme: prepare, build, apply, and synthesize. The prepare semester compels students to explore the theoretical side of nursing and how they can leverage their practice and existing research to improve population health. The apply semester is about analyzing impact - for instance, how changing payment processing or information systems could affect patient access and care. During the apply semester, students start solving problems. By the synthesize term they're completing a project that changes a system or process. The program employs a case-study model for cohorts, with students completing most work online and coming to campus twice a semester.
Nurse Executive DNP Programs in Michigan
University of Michigan-Flint
Flint, Michigan
Accreditation: CCNE
Nurses enrolled in the DNP Executive Leadership program at the University of Michigan-Flint take several required courses from the School of Management. Those classes include organizational communication, organizational leadership, strategic innovation management, and organizational theory. The School of Management classes require students to come to Flint about twice a semester for a two-day residency, scheduled for Friday-Saturday. The rest of the courses are housed in the School of Nursing and are entirely online. To be eligible for this DNP, students must have a BSN and a master's degree in nursing (including administration or education), public health, business administration, or a related field. They must also have at least two years of experience in an administrative nursing job or as nursing faculty.
Nurse Executive DNP Programs in Nevada
University of Nevada-Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
The Nurse Executive tracks at UNLV School of Nursing are available in two formats: BSN-DNP and MSN-DNP. Both train RNs for leadership positions in healthcare organizations and both are online. The only on-campus forays are an orientation and trips to defend the DNP project proposal and, later, the completed project. Students work on the project throughout much of the program, which is 60 credits (three years) for nurses with a BSN and 32 (two years) credits for those with an MSN. (Students can enroll in the BSN-DNP program part-time if they wish.) The MSN-DNP also involves a residency, but BSN-DNP students instead take three practicums covering systems organization, organizational change, and executive leadership. While there's no GRE requirement for either format, applicants need a year of professional RN experience. Post-master's students must also be eligible to get certified in a nursing specialty.
University of Nevada-Reno
Reno, Nevada
The post-master's DNP at UNR's Orvis School of Nursing is online and features a Nurse Executive track. Students start with a short orientation in early spring or fall before taking four classes that also apply to the Advanced Practice track. Those cover information systems, healthcare economics, the science of nursing, and organizational analysis. First-year scholars also start work on a DNP project proposal, which they travel to Reno to defend. In Year 2, full-time enrollees split off from the Advanced Practice track, as they complete a residency and learn about management strategies and performance improvement. At the end of the year, they come back to campus to defend their final project. The program's two tracks are closely linked, so even Nurse Executive track applicants must be eligible for advanced practice certification. They also need a 3.5 from their master's program - but don't have to take the GRE.
Nurse Executive DNP Programs in New Jersey
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Madison, New Jersey
Accreditation: CCNE
Post-Baccalaureate MSN-DNP: Nursing AdministrationBSN to DNP option
Felician University
Lodi, New Jersey
The DNP in Executive Leadership at Felician's School of Nursing is a 36-credit program that welcomes MSN, MBA, MPA, and MHA grads with a professional nursing background - especially those who want to continue working during the program. Students in this track look at healthcare as a series of interconnected systems, learn state and national policies, and see how they can navigate both to provide quality care. Though courses are online, students travel to New Jersey twice during the two-year program - once at the beginning and again at the end - for intensives. Students also spend 500 hours working on projects that can potentially improve patient outcomes. Classes explore informatics, social systems, business concepts, biostatistics, and evidence-based practice.
Rutgers University
Newark, New Jersey
With start dates in the spring and fall, the post-master's DNP Practice program at Rutgers' School of Nursing is already geared toward accessibility. But its most distinguishing characteristic is what it terms the Executive Weekend Model. Current RNs with an MSN and a New Jersey license can seek admission into the 38-credit program. Once admitted, they'll attend one class a month from Friday to Sunday for two years, or six semesters; each course starts with a weekend session and ends with a weekend session. The arrangement allows high-level nurses to continue working. Depending on their start date, students head to Newark or New Brunswick for classes that cover areas such as how to analyze data, make a budget, use IT appropriately, and put evidence into practice. They spend 500 hours planning and implementing a project.
Nurse Executive DNP Programs in North Carolina
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, North Carolina
The DNP at UNC Greensboro is designed for current leaders who hold an MSN. It's offered in the executive format, which means it mixes online coursework with on-campus intensives concentrated into three or five days per semester. Applicants must hold North Carolina licensure. At 30 credits, the program can be finished in five semesters without students ever taking more than 7 credits a term. The first three terms cover evidence-based practice, informatics, biostatistics, epidemiology, and leadership. Each semester involves work on a final project so students get off to a running start. The last two terms involve finishing up the project as well as work in healthcare policy, advocacy, and organizational leadership. Students also take an elective and a practicum in a semester of their choosing.
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, North Carolina
Accreditation: CCNE
MSN to DNP - Nurse Executive LeadershipMSN required
Master's prepared nurses can earn a DNP in Nurse Executive Leadership in as few as five semesters through the University of North Carolina Wilmington. The curriculum places a heavy focus on evidence-based practice to improve outcomes. Classes cover EBP theory and methods, using statistics for EBP, and EBP for quality, safety, and results. Students also learn about information technology in health, study the economics of health care systems, and consider legal and ethical issues. They complete a leadership residency and develop and execute an evidence-based project designed to improve health outcomes at the population level. The Nurse Executive Leadership track accepts nurses with an MSN or with a BSN and a master's in other health fields, such as public health or health administration.
Nurse Executive DNP Programs in Ohio
Mount Carmel College of Nursing
Columbus, Ohio
Accreditation: HLC
At Mount Carmel College of Nursing, post-MSN nurses can earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice with one of three specializations: executive health care leadership, executive academic leadership, or clinical practice leadership. All students receive a solid grounding in the knowledge necessary to transform complex systems, including evidence-based practice, data-driven decision-making, leadership, and ethical practice. Beyond the core classes, students gain skills in their specialization. Health care leadership students learn about strategic change management, health care economics, and regulation. Academic leadership majors learn about contemporary academic nursing and how to assess learning and organizational performance. Clinical practice leadership students study entrepreneurship and using data for marketing, finance, and innovative practice. The DNP project lets students put theory into action through an evidence-based practice project.
Ohio State University-Main Campus
Columbus, Ohio
With an MSN, MBA, MPH, or related degree, RNs who want to transform a healthcare organization may seek entry into the DNP Nurse Executive track at OSU's College of Nursing. The program, which welcomes enrollees each fall, is 36 credits and can be taken on a full- or part-time basis. Those choosing the former should be finished after five semesters. The program is structured so that coursework primarily happens in Year 1, with students passing an exam to move on to clinical immersions and a final project in Year 2. The only time students must travel to campus is to defend their final project. For the remainder of the program, they should expect synchronous online courses, meaning they'll need to set aside only Wednesday or Thursday to attend classes. Thus, the track is ideal for working students. In fact, enrollees can complete the 500 required clinical hours where they work.
Otterbein University
Westerville, Ohio
Accreditation: CCNE
At Otterbein University, nurses with an MSN can earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice with a Nurse Executive focus in two or three years. Most students take two courses per term for six semesters, but there's an option to enroll in just one course per semester for the first two years. Classes meet online, but some require students to log on at a specific time for an occasional virtual meeting, usually in the evening or late afternoon. Students must come to campus three times: for orientation in the first semester, to present their project proposal, and to present the DNP project. Courses cover topics such as evidence-based practice, informatics, leadership, and financial decision-making, and students complete a practice project in an area of interest. Applicants must have at least a year of experience in nursing administration.
Nurse Executive DNP Programs in Oklahoma
Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Accreditation: ACEN
Oklahoma City University's DNP Executive Leadership track is for aspiring nursing leaders in clinical settings, including tertiary care centers. The 30-32 credit hour MSN-DNP program builds leadership skills through a blend of practicum experiences and coursework. Students explore topics like healthcare policy, organizational theory, and resource management, focusing on addressing systems-level healthcare challenges and improving patient outcomes. The program also requires a DNP project, completed over two courses, to apply evidence-based practices in healthcare settings.
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Accreditation: CCNE
The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center recently added a 100% online BSN to DNP Executive Leadership track. Full-time students can complete the degree in three years, and part-timers can choose a four- or five-year plan. The leadership concentration requires 70 credits and 1,088 clinical hours. The curriculum is arranged so that students quickly begin taking courses in the specialty. By the second semester, students take a leadership and relationship management class and complete a practicum in leading strategic change. In the third semester, they perform a financial management practicum, and in the fifth semester, they complete an executive leadership practicum. Students also work practicum hours related to the DNP practice inquiry project, where they apply what they have learned and employ evidence-based practice to improve an outcome.
Nurse Executive DNP Programs in Pennsylvania
Chatham University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Accreditation: CCNE
Chatham University has a BSN to DNP Executive Track that allows RNs to earn two degrees and prepare for a nursing leadership career with just seven to nine semesters of study. Graduates receive both an MSN and a DNP after completing 53 credits and 1,000 practice hours. All classes are delivered online, and students come to campus only once, for a mandatory two-day residency where they will present the proposal for their DNP project and network with other DNP students. Some of the executive track courses include ethics and public policy, health care economics, and quality improvement. Several courses focus on the skills needed to be a leader, including collaboration, organizational leadership, and managerial decision-making. Students use their executive skills for the capstone project, where they implement a change project based on evidence.
DeSales University
Center Valley, Pennsylvania
Accreditation: CCNE
The DNP in Executive Leadership run by the DeSales Division of Nursing has several unique selling points. In addition to espousing Christian Humanism, the school allows a dual DNP so that nurses can get their MBA. The standard DNP is two full years of study, with three separate residencies: one each for scholarship, leadership, and a DNP project. Aside from a kickoff and final review in Center Valley, Pennsylvania, students have the choice of a completely online experience or can travel to campus for their residencies. Basic business principles are incorporated into the curriculum, with accounting and marketing management lined up next to health policy and epidemiology. Adding an MBA extends that knowledge and adds another year to the program. (The curriculum's first two years remain the same.) The MBA portion is five courses - spanning financial management and fiscal issues, legal issues, management strategies, and human resources - plus a capstone.
Drexel University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
In an attempt to build leaders, the Department of Advanced Practice Nursing at Drexel gives equal opportunity to aspiring advanced practice and executive nurses. Applicants need at least a BSN and an MBA, MSN, or related health degree to get in. Executive candidates also need recognized nurse executive certification. The 45-credit program is online with the exception of a two-day orientation, though enrollees will likely want to go on the optional foreign trip for the Global Perspectives class. While the DNP deemphasizes student research, it does ask students to apply outside research to the real world. They'll get the chance in two project seminars, spanning 200 hours. A 125-hour DNP role practicum dives into mentorship, professional development, and stress management. A separate practicum covers clinical nursing, with students exploring how to make interventions cost effective or put evidence into practice.
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Accreditation: CCNE
Nurses who want to help transform health care delivery can prepare for a leadership role by enrolling in the Health Systems Executive Leadership concentration that the University of Pittsburgh offers in its DNP program. Students can choose between an in-person or all-online format for the degree, which requires 41 credits. The program is designed for nurses with at least two years of management experience, and students will be able to put what they learn into practice on the job immediately. Courses cover topics such as the financial and economic drivers in health care management, public policy, informatics, database management, and clinical systems design. Students also complete two residencies with an administrative focus, allowing them to promote evidence-based practice and lead a team.
Nurse Executive DNP Programs in South Carolina
Anderson University
Anderson, South Carolina
Accreditation: CCNE
University of South Carolina-Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina
Accreditation: CCNE
The University of South Carolina-Columbia has post-BSN and post-MSN pathways for nurses seeking a DNP in Nurse Executive Leadership. The post-MSN degree requires seven semesters and 36 to 39 credits. Courses cover topics such as applied technology in health care, using evidence in nursing practice, and finances. The BSN to DNP program requires at least eight semesters, and students begin working clinical hours in the third semester. At first, students complete practicum in nursing administration with a specific focus, such as coordinating processes. As they advance through the curriculum, they also complete a role immersion as a nurse executive leader and prepare a DNP project synthesizing what they have learned. Courses are online, but students travel to Columbia for the DNP project proposal and to defend their projects.
Nurse Executive DNP Programs in Tennessee
Belmont University
Nashville, Tennessee
Accreditation: AACN
MSN to DNP-MBAMSN required
Nurses who want a more thorough understanding of business than they can get with an executive nursing DNP can enter a dual DNP-MBA program at Belmont University. Students earn both degrees in three and a half years, with the DNP classes using a hybrid format (online and four intensive weekend meetings per semester) and the MBA courses meeting in Nashville on weeknights. Future nurse leaders gain skills such as measuring outcomes for patients and populations, developing and implementing health policy, translating research evidence to practice, managing technology, and advocating for quality care. The program is open to nurses who have a master's degree. The MBA classes are offered through the Massey Graduate School of Business at Belmont, and students may be required to take prerequisite business classes before starting the program.
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, Tennessee
Accreditation: CCNE
ETSU's College of Nursing allows full-time and part-time students in both its BSN-DNP and MSN-DNP programs. At its most condensed, the post-bachelor's Executive Leadership in Nursing curriculum takes nine semesters, or 77 credits. That equates to three practicums, a final project, and coursework in organizational theory, leadership, fiscal management, project management, and other areas. The MSN-DNP with Executive Leadership concentration, meanwhile, is just four semesters (32 credits) and includes no practicums, though nurses still spend 500 hours on a project. Students spend most of the program online, with one or two trips to East Tennessee for four or five days each. Applicants to the concentration need a year in a nursing administration role. They may also have to be patient: The programs admit new students in alternating years.
Southern Adventist University
Collegedale, Tennessee
Accreditation: ACEN
RNs who want a more advanced education in both nursing and the business side of health care can earn a DNP and an MBA in Healthcare Administration at Southern Adventist University. The School of Nursing offers DNP pathways for nurses who have a BSN or an MSN. Post-BSN nurses take 42 credits in the BS to DNP core, 24 credits for the MBA, 11 credits in the health care administration emphasis, and 13 credits in electives or a second emphasis. For post-MSN nurses, the curriculum includes 16 credits in the DNP core, 24 for the MBA, and 15 for the health care administration emphasis. The MBA has prerequisites in financial accounting and finance for both pathways. Courses are online, but students must attend a DNP seminar on campus each fall they are enrolled.
Tennessee Technological University
Cookeville, Tennessee
Accreditation: CCNE
The Whitson-Hester School of Nursing at Tennessee Tech jointly sponsors a Doctor of Nursing Practice with Eastern Tennessee State University. The program uses a blended/online format and offers a concentration in Executive Leadership in both the post-BSN and post-MSN pathways. ETSU hosts the Executive Leadership concentration, but students learn from experienced faculty from both universities and have the chance to work with professionals from several disciplines. The courses are online, but students come to campus once a semester for intensives. The post-master's program requires 32 credits in classes such as strategic fiscal management, process improvement, systems management, and executive leadership. The post-BSN degree requires 77 credits and more than 1,000 practice hours. Full-time and part-time plans are available for both pathways.
The University of Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Accreditation: CCNE
Nurses who aspire for a management role can prepare through the nurse executive leadership program that the University of Tennessee offers through its BSN to DNP program. The specialty curriculum covers topics such as management theory, finance, labor relations, and marketing, and students learn to apply concepts such as planning and quality management to the health care setting. The nurse executive concentration uses a hybrid format, combining online classes with two visits to Knoxville each semester. During the campus visits, students take part in educational activities, skills enhancement, and networking events. Online courses may include occasional, mandatory live sessions for discussions and presentations. Students can complete the 60-credit curriculum in eight semesters, and graduates are eligible for the national nurse executive certification exam.
Union University
Jackson, Tennessee
Union University makes it possible for nurses to get a DNP in the Executive Leadership track whether they're starting with an MSN, BSN, ASN, or diploma. All the programs are online, so students apply with proof of licensure from their home state, though they must also be eligible for Tennessee licensure. Entrants with a BSN complete 68 credits in 36 months, including 1,060 clinical hours. RN-DNP enrollees must get up to speed before joining their BSN-holding colleagues. If they have a bachelor's in another field, this means taking nursing classes and courses in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, pathophysiology, and statistics. If they don't have a bachelor's, they must also take general education credits and Christian Studies. In fact, all enrollees take a class called 'Faith and Science.' MSN-DNP students have additional options, as they can take their course part-time or add an MBA dual degree from McAfee School of Business.
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee
Accreditation: CCNE
Vanderbilt University offers multiple entry paths for nurses seeking to enroll in the Executive Leadership DNP program. Nurses with an MSN or with a BSN and a non-nursing, health-related master's degree can enter directly into the program, as long as they are eligible for one of the national nurse executive certifications. A nurse with a BSN can enroll in Vanderbilt's MSN program, which offers a concentration in Health Care Leadership, and seamlessly progress to the DNP, although it's not officially a BSN to DNP program. The post-master's DNP is a five-or six-semester program offered online with on-campus intensives that span a week each semester. The Health Care Leadership MSN is a part-time program that uses a hybrid format, requiring students to visit the campus for a block of a few days most semesters. Classes are mostly asynchronous, but students may have to log on for occasional live sessions.
Nurse Executive DNP Programs in Texas
Abilene Christian University
Abilene, Texas
Accreditation: CCNE
Nurses with an MSN can earn a DNP in Executive Nursing Leadership in 26 months at Abilene Christian University. The curriculum places a heavy focus on leadership, with required classes including organizational and system leadership, theory and practice of effective leadership, leadership in diverse contexts, and human resource development. Other courses take a business approach to health care issues, such as finance, health care policy and clinical practice, and health care reform. Students also improve their teaching skills through courses in learning through technology and instructional design. Finally, students put what they've learned in class into practice through the DNP project, where they identify an issue of interest, design and implement an action plan, and create a report about their findings. Students also serve as peer reviewers for projects by fellow students.
Baylor University
Waco, Texas
Accreditation: CCNE
Nurses who earn their Doctor of Nursing Practice in Executive Nurse Leadership from Baylor University attend all classes online, and they are never required to visit the campus in Waco, Texas. They can also complete their DNP project in their home community. The program is open to nurses with an MSN and to nurses who earned a BSN and a business- or health-related master's degree, such as an MBA or MPH. Applicants need to have at least two years of professional experience in a post where they do budgeting, financial and strategic planning, and have a leadership role. Courses cover topics such as effectively using resources, trends in health care economics, and creating an environment that promotes excellence in nursing practice.
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi, Texas
Accreditation: CCNE
Students in the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Texas A&M Corpus Christi participate in the university's mission of addressing the health care needs of South Texas. One way that students advance that goal is by completing their DNP projects in the region, so all students must be eligible to practice in Texas, even though the courses for this degree are entirely online. The DNP program has an executive leadership track that is open to nurses with an MSN with an administration focus. The degree requires 36 credits, including health policy and economics, systems behavior, informatics and technology, and executive practice principles. For the scholarly DNP project, students select a complex problem and develop a solution. Students may lead an interprofessional team while performing project research.
Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, Texas
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas
Students in UT's DNP program can specialize in the Executive Leadership track, which features four 120-hour practicums. The rest of the curriculum - all five semesters - they'll take alongside their colleagues in the Advanced Practice specialization. After three courses in theory, roles, and evidence-based practice, students take eight courses in topics ranging from how to promote healthy behaviors in a variety of cultures to how to implement policies. While practicums occur sequentially starting in the second semester, there's no prescribed order for supporting coursework. As a bonus, students can add three electives to potentially qualify as nurse educators. Enrollees make an overnight trip to the Texas capital once a month, but assignments are handled online. The School of Nursing requires applicants to have an MSN, a 3.0 GPA in upper-level classes, 18 months logged as an RN, and a nursing license from Texas or a Nurse Licensure Compact state.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Houston, Texas
Doctor of Nurisng Practice - Nurse ExecutiveMSN required
Starting in their second semester, students in UT Health's DNP program begin putting together their Clinical Scholarship Portfolio, a combination of a project, case studies, and other writings. Each semester, they'll be given time to continue working on it as they enroll in one or two courses and a preceptorship or fellowship. By the time they present the portfolio during their eighth and final semester, they'll have taken 42 credits. The DNP program, though hybrid, requires a lot of time in Houston: Students come for overnight visits three times per term. However, the maximum course load in any semester is just seven credits, making it a viable option for practicing nurses or nurse directors who want to work while in school. They can apply with an MSN, MBA, MPH, or similar degree. The School of Nursing opens some doctoral fellowships to DNP students.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
The Executive Administration Management is one of three leadership tracks at UT Health San Antonio. The program encourages systems thinking and is best for nurses with an MSN and either a graduate degree in administrative management or related professional experience. The 41 credits are broken down into four categories: leadership, evidence-based, executive administrative management, and DNP major. The bulk of coursework is in the first two, exposing students to informatics, epidemiology, statistical analysis, practice methods, and translational science. Though the curriculum is nearly identical to the two other leadership tracks, students have 480 hours' worth of clinicals to apply what they've learned to the executive level. The School of Nursing boasts more than 400 clinical placements within commuting distance of campus, a big enough selection to cover both city hospitals with bustling emergency rooms and rural clinics reaching underserved populations.
Nurse Executive DNP Programs in Vermont
University of Vermont
Burlington, Vermont
Accreditation: CCNE
Postgraduate DNP - Executive Nurse LeaderMSN required
The University of Vermont has a postgraduate Doctor of Nursing Practice-Executive Nurse Leader that prepares graduates for leadership roles in health care organizations or agencies. The program includes 33 credits covering the knowledge and skills nurses need to transform health care delivery so that it is more effective and efficient. Students learn how to develop and implement health policy and evaluate health care delivery models. They also learn how to use data as the basis for decision-making in areas such as quality of patient care, finances, and improvement initiatives. Students get real-life experience in the executive role through an immersion practicum. As a culminating experience, candidates apply what they have learned by completing a DNP project to create and implement an innovative practice to improve care delivery or outcomes.
Nurse Executive DNP Programs in Virginia
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, Virginia
Accreditation: CCNE
BS-DNP - Nurse ExecutiveBSN to DNP option
Old Dominion's DNP curriculum pulls from the Nurse Administrator MSN to incorporate healthcare technology, HR, finance, and work with vulnerable populations. And it's just as relevant for researchers as it is for aspiring administrators. That means graduates will be comfortable finding ways to apply research and technology in ways that improve outcomes. Graduates could wind up with titles like Chief Nursing Officer or Policy Advisor. The program is primarily online, so students do four internships in their area and then meet up with professors and their cohort at ODU's Virginia Beach campus each semester. There, they'll provide updates on their research project, which they'll ultimately present at a professional conference and submit for publication. If applicants don't have an MSN, they should apply to the MSN program. It provides a straightforward path into the DNP program because the MSN and DNP degrees share some courses.
Nurse Executive DNP Programs in West Virginia
Shepherd University
Shepherdstown, West Virginia
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP - Nursing Leadership: Administration trackBSN to DNP option
West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia
The DNP program at West Virginia University has a nurse executive focus and prepares nurses to improve health care for diverse populations. Students can complete the program with as few as 33 credits, depending upon their educational background. Nurses generally earn the degree in seven to 10 semesters. Students in this program complete a DNP project, which they must present orally and in a manuscript. The DNP project usually involves a quality improvement or other scholarly study. Students also complete a clinical immersion where they master the skills in a particular area of practice. Required classes include scientific underpinnings for the DNP role, health research statistics, health care IT, and health care leadership. Students also complete a class that covers current issues in health care as well as ethical and policy issues. The School of Nursing has full-time and part-time plans of study available for DNP students.
Nurse Executive DNP Programs in Wisconsin
Edgewood College
Madison, Wisconsin
Graduates of the post-MSN Doctor of Nursing Practice in Executive Leadership program at Edgewood College are eligible for a variety of certification exams, including ones for Nurse Executive, Nurse Manager, and an informatics certification. The program is offered entirely online and requires 30 to 33 credits. Students can enter at the start of any semester, and full-time and part-time plans are available. Classes cover topics such as health care finance and regulatory environment, evidence-based practice, clinical quality, and health systems informatics. Students complete at least two leadership residencies and a capstone project. The program also accepts students who have a BSN plus a master's in a subject other than nursing. Such students may be required to complete additional coursework before starting the DNP program.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
DNP / MBABSN to DNP option
Nursing Systems Leadership - Nurse ExecutiveBSN to DNP option
The Nurse Executive track of UWM's BS-DNP in Leadership/Systems is 65 credits. Students can divvy those up in multiple ways. A fall start can get them out in under three years, but they can also go part time or even do a spring start and skip a few summers. The coursework remains the same regardless, and the course plan is best for students who don't mind doing most of the classroom-based work toward the beginning. Full-time enrollees take practicums and work on their DNP project in their second and third years; for part-timers, this happens in the third and fourth years). The College of Nursing considers applicants who have an RN license and earned a 2.75 GPA or above from their BSN program. Only students with a GPA below 3.2 need to submit GRE scores.
Viterbo University
La Crosse, Wisconsin
Accreditation: CCNE
Nurses with a BSN or MSN can earn a Master of Business Administration and a Doctor of Nursing Practice in an integrated dual degree program at Viterbo University. The program uses a blend of online and in-person formats, with some courses delivered completely online. The post-BSN program requires 62 credits and 1,080 practice hours, while the post-MSN program requires 49 credits and an individualized number of practice hours. For all students, the practice hours include 240 for the DNP plus additional indirect practicum experiences. For the MBA, students take courses in topics such as strategic management, change management, foundations of leadership, finance, and communication. The DNP content includes courses on epidemiology, quality improvement, and organizational leadership. Students can complete all the requirements in as few as nine semesters.