Doctor of Nursing Practice FAQs

What is the DNP?

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is the terminal practice degree for the advanced practice nurse. It integrates advanced theoretical and clinical skills for providing leadership in evidence-based practice. This degree requires competence in translating research into practice by evaluating evidence, applying research in decision-making, and implementing viable innovations based on research findings that improve delivery of care, patient outcomes, and effective health care systems.

Why the DNP?

On Oct. 25, 2004, American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) member schools voted to endorse the Position Statement on the Practice Doctorate in Nursing. The position statement called for moving the current level of preparation necessary for advanced practice nursing from the master’s degree level to the doctoral degree level by 2015.

Some of the factors included:

• the continuous expansion of health care knowledge and technology
• an aging patient population with more acute, complex, and chronic needs
• national concerns about the quality of care and patient safety
• a shortage of nurses who can lead the design and assessment of care delivery
• a shortage of doctoral-prepared nursing faculty members
• increased educational expectations for all health professionals
• parity with other disciplines in offering practice doctorates, such as medicine (MD), dentistry (DDS), pharmacy (PharmD), psychology (PsyD), physical therapy (DPT), and audiology (AudD).

What organizations other than AACN support the DNP?

The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists Council on Accreditation requires that all new Nurse Anesthesia graduates hold a doctoral degree to be eligible to take the certification exam.

The National Nurse Practitioner (NP) Coalition includes the following NP organizations: American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, American College of Nurse Practitioners, Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association, National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health, and the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. The coalition states, “The DNP degree more accurately reflects current clinical competencies and includes preparation for the changing health care system.”

The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties endorses the DNP and has developed competencies for NP practice at the doctoral level.

How many schools of nursing have DNP programs?

DNP programs are available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Because this information changes frequently, check the AACN website for current numbers and locations.

Will master’s-educated advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) be required to have a DNP to practice?

While most accrediting bodies have not yet mandated a DNP to practice, the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists’ Council on Accreditation has admitted no new programs at the master’s level since 2015 and no longer accredits programs that have not changed to a doctoral format.

How will this degree help me in my work?

• The DNP is based on competencies that prepare graduates for today’s complex health care environment. The competencies include evidence-based practice and translation, informatics, and health policy.
• In a fully integrated curriculum, baccalaureate-prepared nurses receive the competencies for advanced clinical practice and the skills and knowledge associated with the practice doctorate: leadership, clinical scholarship and analytical methods for evidence-based practice, information systems and patient care technology, health care policy, and interprofessional collaboration. Nurses must be prepared to meet the greater challenges of the complex health care system, including the use of advanced technologies and evidence-based practice to ensure quality and safety of patient care.
• Doctoral-level preparation enhances advanced practice education for nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists and nurse anesthetists. In addition to building on the nationally recognized advanced practice nursing specialties at UMSON, the DNP program incorporates preparation for leadership in nursing and health care, evidence-based advanced nursing practice, and use of technology in health care at the doctoral level.

Are there different licensure requirements for the DNP?

Scope of practice is determined by state law and varies from state to state. Graduates are able to sit for licensure within their specialty.   

What roles can the DNP graduate assume?

After passing a certification exam and licensure, graduates assume roles in the APRN specialty they complete (NP, certified registered nurse anesthetist, clinical nurse specialist). Post-master’s DNP graduates assume roles as practice experts within their current area of expertise, such as nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, community/public health nurses, nurse executives, informaticians, and clinical nurse specialists.

How will the DNP benefit me?

DNP graduates have a different and more advanced skill set to integrate evidence into practice and to utilize policy, informatics, and interprofessional competence to improve outcomes for patients and families within the complex health care environment.

What is the difference between the PhD and the DNP?

The DNP is a practice doctorate similar to the practice doctorates in other health disciplines, such as pharmacy, physical therapy, and medicine. DNP students focus on advanced practice areas of specialization, acquiring a population perspective in addressing common patient problems within a specialty. DNP students complete a final practice-based project that applies existing knowledge to address a clinical problem. The DNP project is a culmination of the program competencies and results in a poster and a presentation that demonstrate the effectiveness of practice-focused projects.

The PhD is a research degree, and the PhD program is specifically designed to teach students how to conduct original investigation that advances the knowledge of a discipline.

The distinguishing characteristic of the DNP educational program is an intense, mentored immersion experience in practice, while the distinguishing characteristic of the PhD program is intense mentorship in an area of research by an experienced cadre of nurse investigators. The completion and defense of an original research project is required for the PhD, while the final project is the last component of the scholarly portfolio for the DNP.

Learn more about the difference between the DNP and PhD programs at UMSON.

Can DNP graduates assume a nurse educator role in schools of nursing?

Yes. DNP degree holders can assume academic and advanced clinical roles. Tenure and rank promotion is institution specific.

Are there resources that indicate a pay differential for DNP-prepared nurses versus master’s-prepared nurses?

Nurse practitioners (NPs) who hold a DNP degree earn about $9,000 more annually than their master’s-prepared colleagues, according to the most recent American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) National Nurse Practitioner Compensation Report.

How often are students admitted to the program?

Students are admitted once a year, in the summer or fall. Students in a three- or four-year plan of study start in the summer, while students in a five-year plan of study begin in the fall.

Where and how does the application process begin?

Visit the DNP page and see the DNP Admission Information dropdown for admission requirements. Then visit the Application Instructions and Deadlines page to apply.

The selection process is competitive. The admissions committee evaluates applicants’ past academic performance, work experience, and letters of recommendation. The number of applicants varies each year. 

Do I need to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) to apply?

No.

Do residents of Washington, D.C. need a Maryland RN license to participate in clinical rotations in Maryland?

Yes. Maryland is a compact state. Multi-State Licensure (MSL) will allow a nurse licensed in a compact state to practice across state lines in another compact state without having to obtain a license in the other state. However, Washington, D.C., is not part of the MSL, and licensure must be obtained to participate in clinical rotations in this area.

Learn more about compact state information.

How many days per semester will I have to be on campus or at clinical sites?

This varies, depending on your specialty and your plan of study. The core courses are offered online with synchronous web conferencing, but the majority of specialty courses meet on campus. All on-campus/face-to-face courses are held one day per week.

Can I use my workplace as a clinical site?

Students should not complete their clinical rotations in the specific environments where they are employed due to a potential conflict of interest. Final approval of clinical site placement is at the discretion of the faculty.

Is it possible to work full time while enrolled full time in the UMSON DNP program?

Students who choose to continue to work full time while completing the program should enroll in the five-year plan of study that starts in the fall.

Must a certain GPA be maintained?

All graduate students must maintain a “B” average, or a 3.0 GPA, to remain in good academic standing. Students must achieve a “B” or higher in specific courses, such as Pathophysiology (NPHY 612).

Please refer to the current student handbook for all academic policies and procedures.

What is the final project?

As students progress through the DNP program, they complete a final practice-based project that applies existing knowledge to address a clinical problem. The DNP project is a culmination of the program competencies and results in a publishable paper and a presentation that demonstrate the effectiveness of practice-focused projects.

What do you mean by "an area of advanced nursing practice?"

Advanced nursing practice role: One of the four advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) roles: certified registered nurse anesthetist, certified nurse-midwife, certified clinical nurse specialist, and certified nurse practitioner.

Advanced nursing practice specialty: Advanced nursing practice specialties include informatics, administration/practice leadership, public health/population health, and health policy. Specialties may evolve over time to address future health care needs.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing affirms that the discipline of nursing education encompasses an entirely separate body of knowledge and competence and is not an area of advanced nursing practice. 

I am interested in learning more about DNP program options. Can I meet with someone to discuss the options in detail?

UMSON holds online DNP chats bimonthly to provide prospective students with information related to applying to and completing the DNP. UMSON also holds graduate open houses every fall and spring. Learn more about and join an online chat and/or open house.

This additional information is for students who wish to pursue the post-baccalaureate DNP with specialty or the post-master's DNP with specialty. Learn more about the pathways to the DNP.

Is there a part-time plan of study?

Yes, except for in the Nurse Anesthesia specialty. A part-time plan of study offers courses over a four- or five-year period. Classes must be taken in sequence to assure timely completion of the program. Students will need to work closely with their advisors to ensure in-sequence progression through the chosen specialty. Please view the relevant DNP specialty page for available plans of study.

Is clinical experience required for admission?

The ideal candidate will have at least two years of RN clinical experience (post-graduation from a baccalaureate or master’s program in nursing) at the time of application to the DNP program. Please view the relevant DNP specialty page for specific requirements.

Is it possible to be accepted into a master’s-level NP, CNS, or CRNA program at UMSON?

No. All NP, CNS, or CRNA education is offered at the doctoral level at UMSON. Nurses who have already earned a doctoral degree and wish to become an NP, CNS, or CRNA should consider a postdoctoral certificate.

Is there an option to “stop out” and receive a master’s degree?

No. This is an integrated program combining  advanced-level competencies throughout the student’s specialty curriculum. Courses are in a specific sequence and must be taken as stated in the plan of study, culminating in the DNP degree.

When are students eligible for national specialty certification examination?

Students are eligible after successful graduation from the DNP program.

Does the DNP program offer any online classes?

Yes. DNP core courses are offered online with synchronous web conferencing, but UMSON’s DNP program isn’t offered fully online. Students will need to attend some face-to-face classes in Baltimore or at the Universities at Shady Grove (Family Nurse Practitioner only) each semester.

Are any special supplies or equipment needed?

Students in an NP, CNS, or CRNA specialty are required to purchase a full-length white lab coat and have a high-quality stethoscope (with diaphragm and bell functions), reflex hammer, tuning fork (256 Hz recommended), penlight, and tape measure.

I started my master’s program at another institution, but I would like to transfer to UMSON. What are my options?

If you apply and are accepted to UMSON, your transcript will be evaluated and up to 6 credits from your current program can be applied toward the DNP program at UMSON. Only courses NOT used for another degree can be applied. You will need to provide course syllabi, and courses will be evaluated to determine if they are transferable.

I am a student in UMSON’s master’s program, but I want to switch to the DNP program. What do I need to do?

You are encouraged to apply to the DNP program.

I completed my master’s degree and am interested in the post-master’s DNP with specialty. Can any of my courses be waived?

If you hold a master’s degree, a gap analysis is completed after you are accepted to determine a plan of study.