A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is one of those degrees that tends to come after many years of education and experience. Nurses considering these programs tend to be in pursuit of higher leadership roles, educator positions or a desire to have a large-scale impact in healthcare.
“At age 45, I made a personal commitment to pursue my Doctor of Nursing Practice degree,” says Michele Distler, DNP, MBA, MSN, RN, CNE and instructor in Rasmussen’s graduate nursing programs.
“Five years later, I’d successfully completed degree,” Distler says. “I went in and out of nursing education through my career, which allowed me to continue developing professionally while effectively balancing both family and academic responsibilities.”
Trajectories like this are common in nursing, where there is always more to learn—but also plenty of work you can do between degrees. Distler says she knew she wanted to earn a DNP after she completed her master of nursing science (MSN) program.
“Earning my DNP has expanded my professional opportunities beyond those available with an MSN alone,” Distler says. “It has enabled me to assume leadership, scholarship, and academic roles at a higher level.”
For many nursing professionals, a DNP degree is about building on their experience, strengthening their clinical decision-making and expanding the ways they can lead.
“What the DNP opens up for you is really higher education and nursing leadership,” says Chris Schreier, DNP, CPNP-PC and instructor in Rasmussen’s graduate nursing programs.
Health services managers, nurse pracitioners who want to open their own private practice, professionals who want to lead or even found nursing organizations, nurses who want to become full time nurse faculty at a university, and so many more types of people could benefit from this terminal degree in the nursing practice field.
No matter the setting, the DNP degree is designed to prepare nurses to make a broader impact in today’s healthcare systems.
If you are interested in research, nursing leadership, academia or advanced clinical practice, you might well find yourself considering a DNP at some point.
1. A DNP prepares you for advanced nursing leadership
“Many of our DNP graduates are interested in executive-level roles, such as chief nursing officer or other senior leadership positions,” Distler says. “They are looking for roles where they can influence organizational strategy, improve patient outcomes, and lead system-wide change.”
Roles like director of nursing or chief nursing executive can give DNP-educated nurses a chance to be part of healthcare system and organization decisions.
Directing the nurses in your system
Some DNP graduates pursue director-level roles in nursing, where they help oversee nursing units, support staff development and improve day-to-day operations.
These roles often blend clinical knowledge with leadership skills, making them a strong fit for nurses who want to guide teams while staying near patients.
Depending on the healthcare facility, a director of nursing may help manage staffing, support quality improvement efforts and create processes that improve patient outcomes.
For more on this role, check out What Does a Director of Nursing Do?
Pursuing clinical director or clinical lead roles
Other nurses may move into roles like clinical director or clinical lead. These positions carry added responsibility for team oversight, workflow improvements and clinical standards.
“A DNP might be required for positions like division chief, chief of pediatrics, clinic directors or clinical lead,” says Schrier.
Titles can vary by setting, but the larger idea is the same: a DNP can help prepare nurses to lead within clinical environments while using their advanced education to support both staff and patients.
Pursuing chief nursing executive positions
For nurses who want to move into top leadership positions, a DNP is often required to apply for executive roles such as chief nursing officer and other senior leadership jobs.
These roles usually focus less on individual patients and more on the bigger picture. That can include setting strategy, leading healthcare teams, guiding organizational priorities and helping a health care system respond to changing patient and workforce needs. These professionals make decisions that impact a string of outpatient care centers, nationwide networks of hospitals and more.
2. A DNP prepares you for research and scholarship
“Our DNP students pursue a wide variety of career paths that reflect their advanced education and leadership preparation,” Distler says, speaking about the DNP students at Rasmussen.
“Many of them are passionate about advancing the nursing profession through the promotion of evidence-based practice, engaging in research translation, and contributing to scholarly publications that shape clinical standards and healthcare policy.”
A DNP can also prepare nurses to improve care beyond one patient interaction at a time. While this degree is not usually focused on becoming a traditional lab researcher, it does help prepare nurses to use research, apply evidence in clinical settings and lead changes that improve patient outcomes.
Translating evidence into practice
One of the biggest strengths of a DNP is learning how to take research and use it in real-world nursing practice. That means looking at what current evidence shows and reading through current research to understand what we are learning about acute and chronic conditions, new medicine and anything impacting health and wellness (which is a lot).
It might also mean conducting research yourself and proposing new studies in areas where more evidence and information is desperately needed.
DNP nurses can then use this research to suggest changes to current healthcare procedures and policy.
Leading quality improvement initiatives
DNP-prepared nurses may also lead quality improvement work in hospitals, clinics and other healthcare organizations. These efforts often focus on finding better ways to deliver care, reduce problems and improve the patient experience.
Clinical nurse specialists, consultants for nursing schools and similar positions can allow DNP nurses to implement changes to existing systems.
Depending on the setting, quality improvement projects may focus on safety, care coordination, workflow changes or other systems that affect quality of care. Because DNP graduates are trained to think at both the clinical and systems levels, they can be well-positioned to lead this kind of work.
Contributing to publications, standards and clinical change
Some DNP graduates also contribute to scholarship through presentations, publications and projects that help shape clinical standards, Distler says.
This kind of work may look like a full-time research role, or it may not. For nurses who want to improve how care is delivered across a unit, organization or specialty area, this can be another valuable way to use a DNP degree.
3. A DNP prepares you for advanced clinical practice
Typically, nurses who want to keep working with patients one-on-one pursue a Master of Science-Nurse Practitioner program (MSN-NP). “If your primary goal is to provide direct patient care in an advanced clinical role, becoming a Nurse Practitioner may be the most direct and efficient path,” Distler says.
“NP programs come in the form of a master's degree, and they focus heavily on clinical skills, diagnosis, and patient management, preparing graduates to work in a variety of healthcare settings.”
Advanced practice registered nurses like family nurse practitioner, pediatric nurse practitioner, certified registered nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners and many of the other types of nurse practitioners certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center don't need a doctoral degree.
But depending on your career goals, you might still decide to earn a DNP even after you’ve been working as a nurse practitioner. A DNP program integrates nursing science into actual practice.
“A DNP does not take a nurse away from patient care,” Distler says. “Instead, it enhances their ability to provide higher-level, more evidence-informed care within their clinical role.”
A DNP may also prepare nurses to guide teams and help shape systems that nurses work within. If you are working in advanced nursing practice, you are perfectly suited to see how policy and process impact your ability to provide care.
“I often explain that it is not necessarily an ‘either/or’ decision,” Distler says. “Many nurses choose to become an NP first and then pursue a DNP to further advance their careers. Ultimately, tit’s about whether you see yourself primarily at the bedside in an advanced clinical role, or also leading change, shaping practice, educating others, and influencing healthcare at a broader level.”
For example, a certified nurse midwife might start to recognize population health problems impacting their pregnant patients in a certain area. With a DNP, that nurse practitioner might find an opportunity to advocate for legislation changes in their area to help with that problem.
Many DNP graduates work in advanced practice roles that focus on direct patient care. That can include nurse practitioners serving different patient populations and specialties, such as family care, pediatrics or other population-focused areas.
A DNP can also prepare nurses for roles that combine patient care with leadership in a clinical setting. This may include positions such as clinical lead, division chief, clinic director or other specialty-based leadership roles.
These jobs often allow nurses to stay connected to patient care while also helping guide staff, improve workflows and support quality standards. Schreier points to roles like division chief, chief of pediatrics, clinic director and clinical lead as examples of the kinds of leadership opportunities a DNP can help support.
Applying evidence-based care
Distler explains that for nurse practitioners and other advanced practice nurses, a DNP “strengthens clinical decision-making, deepens understanding of evidence-based practice, and improves the ability to evaluate and apply research in real-world settings.”
That matters because advanced clinical practice is not only about treating patients in the moment. It is also about improving care coordination, leading quality improvement efforts and finding better ways to deliver quality patient care over time.
For nurses who want to remain in clinical practice but expand their influence, this can be one of the clearest benefits of a DNP degree.
4. A DNP prepares you to shape public health and healthcare policy
A DNP can also support nurses who want to improve care at the systems level. That may include policy advocacy, public health leadership and work that helps shape how care is delivered across communities and organizations.
Advocating for new and better policies
Some DNP graduates use their advanced education to speak up for changes that support patients, nurses and the healthcare system as a whole. That may include advocating for better access to care, stronger practice standards or policies that improve patient outcomes.
Because DNP-prepared nurses understand both clinical practice and systems-level challenges, they can bring a practical voice to policy conversations.
Leading public health initiatives
Other nurses may use a DNP in public health-focused roles that serve broader patient populations. In these positions, they may help address community health needs, support preventive care efforts and work on programs that improve health on a larger scale.
This kind of work can be a good fit for nursing professionals who want to look beyond one-on-one patient care and focus on patterns, needs and outcomes across groups and communities.
Creating system-level change in organizations and agencies
A DNP can also prepare nurses to help lead change inside healthcare organizations, public health systems and government agencies. That might include improving care delivery, supporting quality initiatives or helping shape standards that guide practice.
Distler says some DNP graduates are interested in roles where they can influence organizational strategy, improve patient outcomes and lead system-wide change. For nurses who want to make an impact beyond a single unit or clinical setting, this can be another meaningful path.
5. A DNP prepares you for academic positions in nursing education
Many of the DNP graduates in the Rasmussen program are there because they want to educate and mentor the next generation of nurses, Distler says. “Many of them also want to contribute to curriculum development and academic leadership.”
For nurses who enjoy teaching, mentoring and helping shape the future of the profession, a DNP can also support careers in academia. This path can be a strong fit for DNP graduates who want to share their clinical expertise with nursing students, guide future nurse practitioners and contribute to the growth of nursing programs.
“I knew I loved teaching,” Schrier says. “I got my DNP to be able to teach nurses.”
Choosing between different nurse educator roles
Some DNP graduates become nurse educators in colleges, universities and other educational programs. In these roles, they may teach courses, support clinical learning and help prepare nursing students for real-world practice.
For Schreier, teaching was the main reason he chose to earn a doctoral degree. “I wanted to be faculty, so I needed a doctor’s degree.”
With a DNP, you can apply for roles teaching pre-licensure nursing students like brand new nurses) or advanced practice nurses who want to become nurse practitioners and beyond.
This can really open up your teaching areas to include any special areas you are passionate about, whether that’s working with the elderly, midwifery, hospital administration, critical care, or even teaching future nursing professors.
Schreier’s career path also shows that education and clinical practice do not always have to be separate.
“My sweet spot is being full time clinical practice--and teaching part time,” Schrier explains. “I think it’s an incredible benefit to the students at Rasmussen that so many of their instructors are active in clinical practice.”
Does a DNP fit your nursing career goals?
A DNP can be a strong next step for nurses who want to grow beyond their current role and expand the impact they have on patients, teams or healthcare systems. The key is to think about where you want your nursing career to go next.
It is also important to think about your timeline, your professional goals, and the kind of program that fits your life. If you decide earning a doctorate degree in nursing is a good step for you, get excited!
A DNP program can be incredibly stimulating. Distler says the students who come into this program are brilliant, passionate and looking to make an impact.
“My favorite thing about working with DNP students is watching them grow into influential leaders who are capable of driving meaningful change in healthcare,” Distler says./p>
“They come in with strong clinical backgrounds, and it is rewarding to help them expand their thinking to a systems and population level, where they can apply evidence-based practice to improve outcomes on a larger scale.”
Seeing students create scholarly projects is one of Distler’s favorite aspects of doctoral education. “I get to see their ideas take shape as they develop the confidence to lead initiatives."
The learning environment in this high-level program is also highly collaborative, Distler says. “All the diverse experiences of our students contribute to a dynamic exchange of ideas,” she says. “It enhances both teaching and learning.”
If a doctorate in nursing sounds like something you want, check out Rasmussen’s Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program page and get all the details about tuition, timing and more.
