Earn Your Doctor of Nursing Practice Online with Ohio State
What is a DNP degree?
A Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, or DNP, is a doctorate in nursing degree for those who wish to achieve the highest level of expertise in the field of nursing. Ohio State offers two pathways for our DNP online program, one for registered nurses who have their BSN, and one for those who have their master’s degree. Choose which path is right for you.
Learn More About Our DNP Online Program:
BSN-DNP Online Program
Ohio State’s online BSN-DNP program is designed for registered nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Students who choose this pathway will earn their master’s degree along with their DNP degree.
This 72-credit hour program can be completed in 3 years while studying full-time or 4 years in part-time study. Our flexible BSN-DNP program provides all required coursework 100% online, with additional brief on-campus learning opportunities and skill assessments.
Students in our BSN to DNP program are also eligible for certification in an online advanced practice specialty including Family Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and Nurse Anesthesia. Are you ready to achieve clinical expertise in nursing?
Learn more about the BSN-DNP Program
Post-Master's DNP Online Program
Students who have already earned their master’s degree may enroll in Ohio State’s online Post-Master's DNP program. This pathway offers doctoral preparation to nurses who currently work in direct clinical nursing practice or transformative leadership as a nurse executive.
This 36-credit hour program can be completed in 2 years while studying full-time or 3 years in part-time study. Our flexible Post-Master's DNP program provides all required coursework 100% online, with additional brief on-campus projects and assessments.
Students in our Post-Master's DNP program will study innovation, policy change, and organizational and executive leadership, preparing them to climb to the most advanced roles within nursing.
Learn more about the Post-Master's DNP Program
What Can You Do With a Doctorate in Nursing?
Successfully completing your DNP degree online is the first step to many of the highest-level careers in nursing. You will obtain the skills needed to advance in the following positions as well as expand your horizons in protecting and expanding quality care for patients.
A DNP degree can prepare you for numerous careers in both clinical and leadership positions.
Clinical positions include:
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Nurse Practitioner (NP)
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Nurse Anesthetist
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Nurse Midwife
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Clinical Nurse Specialist
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Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)
Leadership positions include:
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Nursing Informatics Specialist
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Clinical Director
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Nurse Educator
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Nursing Home Administrator
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Public Health Nurse
In addition, you’ll be well prepared to work in a variety of environments, including hospitals, nursing facilities, physicians' offices, and government agencies. There may be additional training needed for some of these positions, but your DNP degree will propel you in the right direction.
Whether you’re best suited for our online pathway of BSN-DNP or Post-Master's DNP, your new DNP degree will forge a path for you to new opportunities. You will become a powerful voice in conversations about how healthcare is provided in an era of preventive healthcare and growing patient populations.
What You'll Learn by Acquiring Your DNP Online
While studying with Ohio State in two of the best DNP programs online, you will learn life-changing skills and expertise to lead advancement and change in the healthcare field.
Specifically, you will learn how to:
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Form partnerships with patients and encourage them to be their own advocates.
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Use your knowledge to improve your community’s health outcomes.
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Enhance outcomes for the organizations you serve by using your abilities and knowledge to improve how they function.
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Lead an organization in groundbreaking research, from oncology to infertility treatment research and new pharmacological product examination.
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Face an increasingly complex and demanding healthcare system with confidence.
Our 100% online curriculum for both BSN-DNP and Post-Master's DNP programs includes classes like Innovation and Leadership Development for the DNP Nurse, Nurse Executive Leadership, Quality Improvement in Doctoral Nursing Practice, and Health Policy for Doctoral Nursing Practice. Students earning their Post-Master's DNP will also complete and present a culminating final project demonstrating evidence-based learning and growth from the program.
Why Ohio State to Complete Your Online DNP?
Expert Faculty: Ohio State is home to top practitioners and researchers who are shaping the future of the healthcare field. Online students learn from the same expert faculty that are in the classroom on campus.
Flexible Online Experience: With 100% online coursework, students have the flexibility they need to complete the program from the comfort of their own homes.
Quality: Our DNP program is ranked among the top programs in the nation, according to The U.S. News and World Report, making it one of the best online DNP programs possible. Ohio State’s curriculum is top-notch and has been developed by qualified staff and experts in the field.
Supportive: Ohio State offers a robust network of both faculty and students that will engage with and support you through the entire program.
Alumni Network: Join over half a million Ohio State alumni across the world and connect with a large population of Buckeyes waiting to help you find your future career.
Ohio State values: Ohio State embraces diversity and equity as inherent to our mission of providing top-notch education to our student population. We are dedicated to fostering an environment where all students are valued, empowered, and celebrated.
FAQ
Is the online DNP program flexible?
Yes, both the Post-Master's DNP and the BSN to DNP program pathways feature 100% online coursework, eliminating the need to visit campus for classes.
What is a DNP degree?
A Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, or DNP, is a doctorate in nursing degree for those who wish to achieve the highest level of expertise in the field of nursing.
Is a DNP the same thing as an NP?
No. A DNP is a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, whereas a nurse practitioner (NP) is a professional job title requiring a degree and certification. However, many nurses that hold a DNP are already board-certified NPs. NPs often enter DNP programs to become more advanced nurses in their practices.
What’s the difference between a DNP and a PhD in Nursing?
The DNP is a practice-focused doctorate degree. Those who earn a DNP are experts in translating science in research into practice. The PhD in nursing focuses on research and generating new knowledge to advance nursing science. PhD and DNP-prepared nurses should work together to advance patient care.
What can a qualified DNP nurse expect to earn in a year?
Nurses with advanced degrees in healthcare attract higher salaries than those with bachelor’s or master’s degrees alone. This is in part because having a DNP qualifies you for higher-level nursing positions that present broader responsibilities. Having these additional tasks usually demands a higher compensation, however, the compensation is based on the role you are in. As an example, a Chief Nursing Officer makes an average of $137,000 a year based on information from PayScale.
Does a DNP prepare nurses to become physicians?
No. Nursing and medicine are distinct health disciplines that prepare clinicians to assume different roles and meet different practice expectations. This DNP program will prepare nurses for the highest level of nursing practice.
Can I teach once I have my DNP degree?
According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), having a DNP does compete with other practice doctorates favorably in faculty and promotional decisions, depending on the individual institution. If teaching is your primary goal, we recommend exploring Ohio State’s online Doctor of Nursing Education program which qualifies master’s-prepared nurses to become nurse educational leaders in academia or healthcare settings.
What Can You Do With an Online DNP Degree?
Learn what you can do with an online DNP and discover the role of a DNP.
DNP Grad Shares Her Experience with Ohio State's online program
Audra Hanners, DNP graduate, brings evidence to the bedside to improve patient outcomes.