Online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program Guide

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is the terminal degree for clinical nursing practice — the highest level of preparation for nurses who want to lead at the point of care. If you’re a working RN, online Doctor of Nursing Practice programs like the ones Herzing University offers give you flexible pathways to advance your practice, your career and your earning potential without stepping away from the work you already love.

What Is a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)?

The DNP is a practice-focused doctoral degree. It’s different from a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing, in which students produce a dissertation based on original research. PhD programs are designed to prepare graduates for careers in academia or clinical research. 

Instead, a DNP centers on application: using evidence to guide advanced nursing care, drive quality improvement initiatives or strengthening systems-level leadership. Depending on the specialty they choose, DNP graduates are prepared for the highest level of specialty practice or for leadership roles across healthcare.

Online DNP Program Pathways and Timelines

At Herzing, you don’t need to have a master’s degree before you start a DNP. We offer pathways for BSN- or MSN-prepared nurses. They lead to the same degree; they just have different program durations depending on where you’re starting from.

The BSN to DNP Pathway

BSN to DNP programs are designed for registered nurses who hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and want to earn a doctorate without first completing a separate master’s degree. 

• Who it’s for: BSN-prepared RNs ready to move toward the doctoral level.
• Typical timeline: Many BSN to DNP programs take up to 48 months (four years) to complete. At Herzing, you can go from bachelor’s degree to DNP in as few as 28-32 months. 
• Primary benefit: One streamlined pathway to the terminal degree, with no need to stop and earn a stand-alone master’s along the way.

The MSN to DNP Pathway

MSN to DNP programs are for nurses who have already earned a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and are ready to advance to the doctoral level. Because you’ve already completed graduate coursework, this is the fastest route to a DNP.

• Who it’s for: MSN-prepared nurses building on their graduate education.
• Typical timeline: At Herzing, you can advance to the doctoral level in 20-24 months. 
• Primary benefit: Elevates your knowledge and experience beyond the master’s level. If you have a generalist MSN, it also gives you the opportunity to add a specialty.

DNP Specialties at Herzing

DNP programs offer specialties that let you focus your doctoral work on a specific area of advanced practice or leadership. At Herzing, we offer the following options:

• Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
• Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
• Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
• Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PPCNP)
• Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)
• Nursing Leadership and Administration
• Public Health Nursing

MSN-prepared nurses can also choose a DNP with no specialty. It’s a good choice if you’ve already completed advanced practice training and want to focus on the core doctoral curriculum.

What to Expect from an Online DNP Program

Knowing how an online DNP is structured can help you plan around your work and life before you enroll. Here’s what most programs — including Herzing’s — have in common.

Flexible Format and Online Learning

At Herzing, all didactic coursework is delivered 100% online, with most classes offered asynchronously—that is, with no set login times. The goal is to make a doctoral degree realistic for working nurses balancing their shifts and their families.

Keep in mind that DNP programs preparing you for an advanced practice registered nursing role (APRN) also include an in-person clinical component, and non APRN programs may include brief in-person experiential hours. The number of in-person hours will vary depending on the specialty you choose. In some cases, you may be able to complete some of those hours where you currently work.

DNP Core Curriculum

Herzing’s DNP curriculum is developed in line with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials. Core courses for all DNP students include:

• Knowledge for Nursing Practice
• Improvement Science
• Collaborative Practice
• Technology and Nursing Informatics in Advanced Practice 
• Professionalism and Leadership for Advanced Practice 
• Systems-Based Practice 
• Scholarship for Nursing Practice
• Population Health 

These core courses prepare you to translate research into practice and to lead change across healthcare organizations. The remainder of the curriculum is spent on your specialty courses and on your DNP project courses.

The DNP Project and Clinical Hours

The DNP Practice Project is the culmination of your doctoral education. Rather than writing a traditional research-based dissertation, you’ll identify a real-world practice problem, apply evidence to address it and present your results.

DNP education also includes clinical hours. The AACN sets a standard of a minimum of 1,000 post-baccalaureate clinical hours for DNP candidates. Nurses entering through an MSN to DNP pathway can often apply qualifying clinical hours completed during their master’s program toward that requirement.

At Herzing, clinical and project hours are built into the program. For example, the MSN to DNP Family Nurse Practitioner track includes a minimum of 945 combined clinical and project hours.

How to Choose the Right Online DNP Program

As you compare DNP programs online, a few factors deserve close attention:

• Accreditation: Look for a program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Herzing’s DNP program is CCNE accredited.¹
• Program pathways: Confirm the program offers the entry point you need and that the timeline fits your goals.
• Student support: Strong support makes a doctoral program far more manageable. Look for academic advising, library services, career coaching and clinical placement help. Herzing backs students with its APRN Clinical Placement Pledge and personalized student services, including career coaching.
• Faculty: Research the faculty to be sure they bring experienced backgrounds in advanced practice and leadership.

Why Choose Herzing University for Your Online DNP?

Ready to take the step toward your doctorate? Explore Herzing’s online DNP programs to find the pathway and specialization that fit your goals, and get in touch when you’re ready to learn more.

¹The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at Herzing University Madison is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). Herzing University is approved to offer programs in an online learning modality through association with the main campus in Madison, Wisconsin. Herzing University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org).