Transform Your Career with a DNP in Nursing Administration
A nursing administration DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) is a post-master study. It is designed for registered nurses who want to take on a leadership role. If you want to guide complex care with evidence-based knowledge, a nursing administration DNP can teach you how to improve care outcomes.
The main topics covered in this course include healthcare policy and advocacy, human resource management, organization theory, and systems thinking.
Do you think you’d benefit from this DNP program? There are several institutions that offer online courses to make attaining this DNP as easy as possible.
What You Can Do With a Nursing Administration DNP?
A DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) course is designed to prepare future nursing practice leaders. As a clinical nurse specialist, you’ll be tasked with pushing your nursing practice forward. You’ll need to embrace the latest in nursing research and translate it to real nursing scenarios.
Specifically, an administration DNP can help you apply for the following roles:
- Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)
- Health Care Executive
- Health Care Lobbyist
If you’re looking to become a director of nursing, having an administration DNP will certainly help your job prospects. This job role will also require you to have an MSN with a focus on leadership.
Benefits of a DNP Program in Nursing Administration
Besides the career-advancement benefits of this DNP program, enrollment in an administration DNP will improve your skillset as a nurse. You can benefit from this course with the ability to better the care and safety of patient care. Additionally, you’ll also be trained to develop health policies yourself and oversee their implementation.
You’ll also be able to successfully administer healthcare organizations and programs. If you’re passionate about the advancement of nursing generally, this program will qualify you as an advanced practice nurse. That means you can take the latest in scientific findings and implement that into your nursing.
Additional coursework is also available that prepares you to teach in the school of nursing.
Most DNP program courses in nursing administration take place online and can be completed alongside your current nursing position. This means you don’t have to relocate or temporarily leave your position.
Requirements
For most DNP programs, you need to be already working as a professional nurse. You’ll need to have completed at least 1 year as a paid registered nurse. Preferred positions include:
- Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Anesthetist
- Clinical Nurse Midwife
You also need to have an MSN or BSN degree. The main admission criteria for a DNP degree are as follows:
- An MSN in another advanced nursing practice course
- An MSN in Nursing and Health Care Leadership/ Nursing Administration
- A Master’s and a BSN in health-related or non-nursing practice fields
Certain DNP facilities have special requirements for applicants. This includes having your cumulative GPA for your Master’s degree at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.
You may also need personal letters of recommendation from previous educators or current employers.
Job Outlook
Attaining an administration DNP can certainly widen your job prospects on several fronts.
Like many areas of nursing, there is a nursing shortfall in nursing administration. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Medical and Health Service Manager roles are expected to increase by 28% between now and 2031. There are healthcare positions that need to be filled across the board, and this DNP program can help you qualify for many of these positions.
Top Programs
The best online courses to enroll in this nursing practice DNP include:
Samford University
Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing
The course involves: 500 practicum hours
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
School of Nursing
The course involves: 1,000 clinical hours
University of North Carolina
Carolina Nursing
The course involves: 420 clinical hours
All of the above courses are accredited by the Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Check the university websites for application fee information, as well as details regarding application deadlines.
FAQs
Is a Doctor of Nursing Practice the highest degree level for nurses?
A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in administration trains registered nurses to take on leadership positions. DNPs are for those who want to have decision-making responsibility and who want to implement new nursing practices in their work. With that in mind, a DNP could be classed as the highest degree level for nurses.
What is the salary of a DNP-qualified nurse?
The salary of a nurse with a DNP depends on what their specialization is. The top salary for a DNP nurse is $205,360.
Final Thoughts
Enrolling in a Collegiate Nursing Education-approved Nursing Administration DNP will help you meet your professional goals. A Doctor of Nursing Practice will train you on how to carry out leadership responsibilities. It will also train you on how to carry out administration and quality improvement roles.
Samford University and the University of North Carolina offer this course, and so do a lot of other educational institutions across the U.S. This includes Rush, Vanderbilt, and George Washington University.
If you’re working as a registered nurse, enroll in a program alongside your work to secure a DNP executive leadership role.