Is pursuing an online DNP worth it?

Are you looking to take your nursing career to new heights? If so, you’ve likely considered earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree – a key step toward advanced leadership and expertise in evidence-based practice and quality improvement. But you might be wondering: is it worth the investment? Pursuing a doctorate takes time, money, and energy – so the return on that investment needs to be clear. But what you might be asking yourself is, is it worth it?

In the following sections, we’ll take a closer look at that question and explore the value of a DNP degree, the promising job outlook, and the online programs and specialty tracks available to you through The Ohio State University. We’ll even investigate the difference between a DNP and a Nurse Practitioner (NP).

As the health care landscape evolves, the demand for DNP-prepared nurses continues to grow, with graduates often stepping into advanced leadership roles that enable them to lead policies and practices changes. A DNP degree signifies the highest level of nursing education and leads to increased career opportunities, higher earning potential, and expanded scope of practice. Pursuing a DNP degree elevates your impact on health policy and reform, as well as contribution to evidence-based nursing practice.

Whatever your ambitions may be, a DNP degree can help you achieve them. A DNP degree opens doors to advanced leadership, clinical, and evidence-based practice and quality improvement roles in health care. Clinical roles you’ll be prepared for include Nurse Practitioner, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, and Nurse Midwife – each playing a direct role in patient care through specialized assessment, diagnosis, and management. A DNP degree can also prepare graduates for a range of nonclinical positions like Chief Nursing Officer, Health Policy Advisor, Nursing Faculty, or Quality Improvement Director. These roles allow you to directly enhance health care practices and lead at an institutional level.

Moreover, DNP graduates typically enjoy substantial salary increases compared to their peers with only a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), with a median annual salary of around $126,260. Dive into even more detail around what you can do with a DNP degree here.

Now that we’ve covered what a DNP degree can offer, the next question is: which pathway to earning your DNP best aligns with your goals?

A BSN to DNP program is an accelerated educational pathway designed for registered nurses who hold a BSN and are eager to advance their careers by earning a DNP and an MS in Nursing at the same time. This streamlined approach reduces the time required to achieve your DNP degree, while equipping nurses with advanced clinical skills and positioning them for certification in a specialized area of practice.

The Ohio State University’s College of Nursing offers a fully online, top-ranked BSN to DNP program with various advanced practice specialty areas, allowing you to customize your educational experience to align with your passions and clinical aspirations. Ohio State’s online BSN to DNP specialty areas include:

• Family NP — Prepares nurses to work with patients across the lifespan, addressing various stages of health and navigating a range of complex family situations. 

• Neonatal NP — Prepares nurses to deliver healthcare to neonates, infants, and children up to two years old. 

• Psychiatric Mental Health NP — Prepares nurses to deliver mental health, addiction, and comorbid mental health services across various inpatient, outpatient, and community settings. 

• Nurse Anesthesia — Prepares nurses to deliver anesthesia care in every setting for patients of all ages. This specialty BSN to DNP track is the only one in which students do not earn their MSN. 

• Pediatric Acute Care NP — Prepares nurses for professional opportunities in the care of acutely ill, unstable children. 

• Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP — Prepares nurses to promote health and well-being, as well as to diagnose and treat adolescents, adults, and older adults with common conditions, illnesses, or injuries.

Since Nurse Practitioners (NPs) were referenced frequently above, let’s take a closer look at how this role differs from others in advanced practice. A DNP is a terminal doctorate degree focusing on clinical practice, advanced nursing leadership, and the application of research to improve patient outcomes. An NP is not a degree, but a job title for an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who provides direct patient care, typically acquired through earning a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). An NP often specializes in areas such as pediatrics, family health, or geriatrics.

While not all NPs hold a DNP, many do choose to pursue one. A DNP provides advanced training in evidence-based practice, leadership, and health care systems, which can enhance the NP role. NPs diagnose and treat illnesses, prescribe medications, and manage patient care, while DNP-prepared nurses – with and without their NP – may also take on broader responsibilities in leadership, policy, and education.

Designed for nurses who already hold an master’s degree, and at least one of their degrees in nursing, a post-master’s DNP program enhances existing knowledge and skills to prepare nurses for advanced leadership roles, implementing  evidence based practice and quality improvement, and other specialized areas of nursing practice like policy, finance, and health promotion. Ohio State offers two distinguished post-masters DNP tracks featuring 100% online courses for nurses with a master’s degree, helping you choose the path that best aligns with your career aspirations.

• Clinical Expert 
  • Ideal for those aspiring to achieve the highest levels of patient care expertise.
  • Requires a master’s degree in nursing from an accredited institution, along with a national-level advanced practice nursing certification.
  • Emphasizes direct patient care and advanced clinical skills, ensuring that practitioners can provide comprehensive, evidence-based treatments and interventions. 

• Nurse Executive
  • Ideal for those looking to transform health care organizations from the inside. 
  • Requires a master’s degree in nursing or a related field, such as a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or a Master of Public Health (MPH). If master’s is not in nursing, students must have a BSN. 
  • Emphasizes strategic planning, operational management, and leadership to improve healthcare delivery systems, focusing on quality enhancement, cost-effectiveness, and patient outcomes. 

We understand that furthering your nursing education involves significant sacrifices—not just financially, but also in terms of your time and energy. With so many responsibilities on your plate, it’s essential to choose a program that will truly pay off in the long run. That’s why Ohio State offers flexible programs specifically built to serve as a strategic investment in your nursing career, led by experienced faculty who are experts in the field. Our online DNP programs are designed to equip you with the essential skills and knowledge to lead in today’s dynamic health care landscape, all while offering the flexibility you need to start sooner and move forward with confidence.

So, what are you waiting for? Explore our programs today to discover all the exciting options available or reach out directly for more information. We can’t wait to help you unlock the door to advanced practice nursing roles and support you every step of the way.