A DNP is a practice-focused doctorate, so the emphasis is on using evidence to improve real healthcare practice and systems rather than producing the kind of original research typically associated with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) describes DNP education as preparing nurse leaders to translate research into practice, improve outcomes, and lead at the highest level of nursing practice.
In a nursing informatics specialty, that work centers on systems-level problems such as clinical workflows, healthcare technology, data, quality improvement, implementation, governance, and organizational change.
DNP programs require a minimum of 1,000 post-baccalaureate practice hours as part of a supervised academic program. At least 300 hours must be completed at Herzing as part of the DNP Practice Project, which represents the culmination of your DNP education.
Key elements of the DNP project include:
- Identify a problem
- Search, analyze, and synthesize literature and evidence
- Translate evidence to build methodology to address the problem
- Plan and implement
- Evaluate the outcomes, process and experience
Upon completion, you’ll work closely with your Project Chair to disseminate your findings, from presentation to the practice and University/community events including submission for publication.
Learn more about our DNP options in nursing informatics
* BLS pay estimates calculate the median annual wage for various occupations. Per the BLS the median wage for an occupation is: "The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount, and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey." Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2024. BLS median wage estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geographic market in which you want to work, and degree level and field, will affect career outcomes, including starting salary and earnings as an experienced employee. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the median salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, particular wage or salary, or other career growth.
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