Yes, by earning a doctorate degree you can potentially be referred to as a “doctor.” However, some states may require DNP nurses to fully clarify their role if the title “Dr.” is used.

Even without formal state requirements, you should always clearly disclose your credentials with patients to avoid confusion.

The DNP is a practice-focused doctoral degree, while a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing is a research-focused degree. Some key differences include:

• PhD students are trained to develop new knowledge for both the science and practice of nursing, while DNP students learn the skills necessary to translate evidence from the research and put it into practice. Program curriculums vary accordingly.
• PhD students complete a dissertation, while DNP students complete a minimum number of clinical hours and/or a scholarly project
• Credit requirements can vary
• Unique employment opportunities upon graduation

Salaries vary widely across different types of jobs in advanced practice nursing, and earning a DNP can potentially apply to them all. However, earning a DNP can potentially help you compete for higher pay.*

According to the 2020 National Nursing Workforce Survey, registered nurses whose highest education was a DNP reported a median salary of about $100,000, 11% higher than the $90,000 median for those who had earned as much as a master’s degree.

Yes! There are many reasons why it’s worth pursuing a DNP, including:

1. Reach the height of the nursing profession with the terminal degree in nursing
2. Advance your skills regardless of your specialty
3. Prepare for future APRN education requirements
4. Doctorally-prepared nurses are needed to translate evidence and research
5. Earn a key role in improvement science
6. Become a better educator/teacher
7. The healthcare system needs doctorally-prepared nurses

How long it takes depends on the college education you’ve already earned and if you choose a full-time or part-time pathway.

The fastest path would be a situation in which you have earned an MSN and are ready to commit to the DNP program full-time. You can potentially earn your DNP in as few as 24 months (2 years).

The DNP represents the terminal degree in nursing, meaning it’s the highest degree you can earn in nursing. It’s one level higher than the MSN. The main differences include:

• Curriculum differences
• Certification requirements
• Enrollment trends
• Salary potential
• How long it takes to earn

Learn more about the difference between MSN vs. DNP.

In October of 2004, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) endorsed the Position Statement on the Practice Doctorate in Nursing, which recommended moving the current level of preparation needed for advanced nursing practice from the master’s to doctorate level.

The AACN set an initial goal to phase out master’s level prep for APRNs and transition fully to DNP by 2015. That deadline has come and gone, and a master’s level education remains the minimum requirement to practice as an APRN (additional requirements vary per certification).

However, the transition has been discussed for many years—and not only by AACN. The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) set a goal of 2025 to move all entry-level nurse practitioner education to the DNP degree.

While enrollment in DNP programs has increased continuously for 20 years running as of the AACN’s most recent Annual Survey, a DNP has not yet become required to practice as an APRN.

However, the landscape is changing and the DNP is trending towards becoming the standard for APRNs at the highest level.