Online Post-Master's Doctor of Nursing Practice

College of Nursing

Become a leader in improving patient outcomes.

Achieve the highest level of expertise in the field of nursing through Ohio State’s fully-online Post-Master's Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. Students learn from world-recognized faculty while engaged in one of two specialized tracks for nurses whose career emphasis is in direct clinical nursing practice or transformative leadership as a nurse executive.

Students who have previously earned their Master of Science in Nursing or a master’s degree in a related field may be qualified to pursue their DNP online.

Campus Requirements: 100% online coursework.
Post-Master's DNP students are encouraged to attend an on-campus orientation at the start of the program and present and defend their final project in person at the conclusion of their DNP program.

Class Format: Most classes are offered in a synchronous format, meaning you have a scheduled date and time you must log in to attend. Synchronous courses typically meet weekly on weekdays and are scheduled for later in the day (Eastern Time).

Credit Hours Required: 36

Cost Per Credit Hour: $1,154.20 (includes instructional, general, and program fees). See the full cost breakdown here.

Admission Requirements: Completed master's degree, active RN license, active APRN certification (for clinical expert track students only), minimum of a 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale in the last degree earned that is relevant to the program of study, and completion of the prerequisite course with a B- or higher.

Time to Completion: Full-time students can complete the program in 2 years (5 semesters). Part-time students can complete the program in 3 years (8 semesters).

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Audra Hanners

Doctor of Nursing Practice Graduate

"As an online student, there's so many connections you can make that will have a really meaningful impact on your education. The opportunities that exist at Ohio State feel limitless."

Tuition and Fees

State Authorization

Application Info

Meet Jane Ginther: Nurse Practitioner and DNP Student

Newsroom

DNP Grad Brings Evidence to the Bedside to Improve Patient Outcomes

Staying Engaged in an Online Program

What Can You Do With an Online DNP?

Program Tracks

As a nurse with a master’s degree, there are two tracks you may pursue in the DNP program:

DNP Clinical Expert track

This track is the right choice if you want to reach the highest levels of patient care expertise. To be eligible, you must hold a master’s degree in nursing and a national-level advanced practice nursing certification. Learn more about this track.

DNP Nurse Executive track

This track is the right choice if you want to lead innovative, transformative healthcare organizations. To be eligible, you must hold a master’s degree in nursing or other field, such as a Master of Business Administration or Master of Public Health. A national-level advanced nursing certification is preferred, but not required. Learn more about this track.

Sample Courses

NURSING PRACTICE 8402

Innovation and Leadership Development for the DNP Nurse (Synchronous)

Examination of leadership development to maximize innovation and positive organizational impact with an exploration of own leadership development.

NURSING PRACTICE 8404

Nurse Executive Leadership (Synchronous)

Analysis of the role of the DNP nurse executive within complex healthcare systems.

NURSING PRACTICE 8480

Quality Improvement in Doctoral Nursing Practice (Synchronous)

Advanced concepts in collaboration, design, leadership, implementation and evaluation of quality improvement initiatives.

NURSING PRACTICE 8500

Health Policy for Doctoral Nursing Practice (Synchronous)

Principles of policy-making at the institutional, local, state, and federal levels to influence policy change affecting health care.

Featured Faculty

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Sharon Tucker, PhD, APRN-CNS, NC-BC, FNAP, FAAN

Grayce Sills Endowed Professor in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing, Professor, Director of the Translational/Implementation Research Core, Helene Fuld Health Trust National Institute for EBP, Director of DNP Program, Nurse Executive Track

Randee Masciola, DNP, APRN-CNP, WHNP-BC, FAANP

Associate Clinical Professor Director, DNP Program

Dr. Barbara Jones Warren, PhD, APRN-CNS, FNAP, FAAN

Director, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Specialty Track

Is this program offered in my state?

The selected program is available in the following states

Authorized

Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency

Limited Authorization

Please contact Ohio State Online for more information about the limited authorization status in this state

Program Not Available

Researching state requirements to offer distance education

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State/Territory	Status	Description	Disclosures Info
Alabama	Program Not Available	Researching state requirements to offer distance education	View Disclosure information for Alabama
Alaska	Program Not Available	Researching state requirements to offer distance education	View Disclosure information for Alaska
Arizona	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency	View Disclosure information for Arizona
Arkansas	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency	View Disclosure information for Arkansas
California	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency	View Disclosure information for California
Colorado	Program Not Available	Researching state requirements to offer distance education	View Disclosure information for Colorado
Connecticut	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency	View Disclosure information for Connecticut
Delaware	Program Not Available	Researching state requirements to offer distance education	View Disclosure information for Delaware
District of Columbia	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency	View Disclosure information for District of Columbia
Florida	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency	View Disclosure information for Florida
Georgia	Program Not Available	Researching state requirements to offer distance education	View Disclosure information for Georgia
Hawaii	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency	View Disclosure information for Hawaii
Illinois	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency	View Disclosure information for Illinois
Indiana	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency	View Disclosure information for Indiana
Kansas	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency	View Disclosure information for Kansas
Kentucky	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency	View Disclosure information for Kentucky
Louisiana	Program Not Available	Researching state requirements to offer distance education	View Disclosure information for Louisiana
Maine	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency	View Disclosure information for Maine
Maryland	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency	View Disclosure information for Maryland
Massachusetts	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency	View Disclosure information for Massachusetts
Michigan	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency	View Disclosure information for Michigan
Minnesota	Program Not Available	Researching state requirements to offer distance education	View Disclosure information for Minnesota
Mississippi	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency	View Disclosure information for Mississippi
Missouri	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency	View Disclosure information for Missouri
Montana	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency	View Disclosure information for Montana
Nebraska	Program Not Available	Researching state requirements to offer distance education	View Disclosure information for Nebraska
Nevada	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency	View Disclosure information for Nevada
New Hampshire	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency	View Disclosure information for New Hampshire
New Jersey	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency	View Disclosure information for New Jersey
New Mexico	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency	View Disclosure information for New Mexico
New York	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency	View Disclosure information for New York
North Carolina	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency	View Disclosure information for North Carolina
Ohio	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency	View Disclosure information for Ohio
Oregon	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency	View Disclosure information for Oregon
Pennsylvania	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency	View Disclosure information for Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico	Program Not Available	Researching state requirements to offer distance education	View Disclosure information for Puerto Rico
Rhode Island	Program Not Available	Researching state requirements to offer distance education	View Disclosure information for Rhode Island
South Carolina	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency	View Disclosure information for South Carolina
South Dakota	Program Not Available	Researching state requirements to offer distance education	View Disclosure information for South Dakota
Tennessee	Program Not Available	Researching state requirements to offer distance education	View Disclosure information for Tennessee
Texas	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency	View Disclosure information for Texas
Utah	Program Not Available	Researching state requirements to offer distance education	View Disclosure information for Utah
Vermont	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency	View Disclosure information for Vermont
Virgin Islands	Program Not Available	Researching state requirements to offer distance education	View Disclosure information for Virgin Islands
Virginia	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency	View Disclosure information for Virginia
Washington	Limited Authorization	Please contact Ohio State Online for more information about the limited authorization status in this state	View Disclosure information for Washington
West Virginia	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency	View Disclosure information for West Virginia
Wisconsin	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency	View Disclosure information for Wisconsin
Wyoming	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency	View Disclosure information for Wyoming