DNP Program | Doctor of Nursing Practice
Be prepared to lead at the highest level of nursing practice, enhancing patient outcomes and transforming health care.
In addition to teaching you to apply the latest evidence-based methods for high-quality, cost-effective care and effective health promotion, our clinically practicing faculty enrich your experience with real-world expertise, current knowledge and strong mentorship.
Our DNP program supports work-life balance with flexible scheduling and asynchronous online courses, allowing you to study on your own time. Most courses are offered twice a year so you can keep moving through your program with no delays.
DNP Program Paths:
- BSN to DNP: designed for nurses with a bachelor's from an accredited nursing school and experience working as an RN. Visit respective DNP program specialty pages for more details.
- Post-MSN DNP: designed for nurses who already hold an MSN. Visit Post-MSN DNP online for details.
UC's DNP program is led by doctorally prepared faculty (PhD or DNP), with most core courses taught by practicing DNP-prepared experts. Our faculty are respected leaders who shape healthcare policy, set professional standards and advocate for nursing. They regularly present at major conferences and hold leadership roles in national and international organizations.
The DNP program expands on MSN-level specialty training with core courses in improvement methods, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, informatics, health care policy public health and leadership.Through this program, you will be prepared to:
- Provide exceptional patient care within your specialty
- Apply nursing science and clinical knowledge to practice
- Design and evaluate programs that promote health and prevent disease for individuals and populations
- Lead the delivery of ethical, safe, high-quality and cost-effective care
- Analyze and influence health policy at institutional, local and national levels
As a DNP student, you will complete a project to show mastery of advanced nursing concepts and ability to translate knowledge and research into practice. With faculty support, you will identify a DNP project topic that relates to your practice specialty and impacts health care outcomes at a systems or population level.
Guided by a project chair and team and supported by faculty mentorship, you will plan, implement and evaluate your project. In the final stage, you will publicly defend your work, with the option to submit it for publication or present at a professional event.
DNP students who live within a two-hour drive (about 100 miles) of campus are expected to defend their DNP proposal in person at UC College of Nursing's Procter Hall; students beyond that distance can present their DNP proposal virtually.
DNP Program Application and Admission
UC uses a rolling admissions process and closes the application window when the program reaches capacity. Submit your application by the priority deadline to have the best chance of acceptance.
The DNP program application process includes four parts:
- NursingCAS application
- Transcripts and recommendation letters (submitted through NursingCAS)
- UC Graduate School application submission
- Web-based interview
UC will complete a review of your application that considers your previous academic achievements, experience and other traits assessed during our interview process.
Not all application parts are due at the same time. Get more details and a breakdown of deadlines for each part.
Note: Because of individual state regulations, UC cannot accept applications for online or hybrid DNP programs from individuals who plan to live in these states while a student: Arizona, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee and Washington.
| Spring '25 | Summer '25 | Fall '25 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| BSN to DNP |
N/A | N/A | June 1 (Submission deadline) July 1 (Verification deadline) |
| Post-Master's DNP | Oct. 15 (Submission deadline) Nov. 15 (Verification deadline) |
N/A | June 1 (Submission deadline) July 1 (Verification deadline) |
| Nurse Anesthesia | Nov. 1 (Priority) Dec. 1 (Final) |
N/A | N/A |
DNP Program Specialties
Prepares nurses to treat patients 13 and older for brief, severe episodes of illness, injury or trauma in hospitals, ambulatory care facilities or short-term stay settings. All courses for this program, except one, are offered online. Labs are held on site. Applicants must live in Ohio, Kentucky or Indiana.
Prepares nurses to diagnose and manage common and complex medical conditions in patients 13 and older. All coursework for this program is offered online.
Prepares nurses to diagnose and manage common and chronic medical conditions across the lifespan in outpatient clinical settings. All coursework for this program is offered online.
Prepares nurses to safely administer anesthetics for surgical, obstetrical and trauma care in every type of practice setting. This program is offered on campus only.
Prepares nurses to apply knowledge, skills and abilities to use evidence from research to plan, implement and track health and safety programs and services to employees, worker populations and association groups. All coursework for this program is offered online.
Prepares nurses to manage infants, children, adolescents, and young adults with complex acute, critical and life-threatening illnesses across a continuum of health care settings.
Prepares nurses to provide effective care for patients with complex psychiatric and physical health needs. All coursework for this program is offered online.
The Public Health Nursing program prepares nurses to respond to public health emergencies and to lead efforts to advance public health initiatives at the local, state, tribal, federal and global levels. All coursework for this program is offered online.
Prepares nurses to lead and transform practice using evidence and effective collaboration in a variety of roles across complex health care systems. All coursework for this program is offered online.
Designed for nurses with an MSN who want to earn a terminal practicing degree and gain added knowledge and experience in leadership, evidence-based practice, health policy and population health. All coursework for this program is offered online.
Why choose a DNP vs. MSN vs. PhD?
If you are ready to position yourself as a leader, elevate your clinical expertise, empower yourself to apply the latest research to practice, collaborate with other health professionals at the doctorate level, and set yourself apart in competitive job markets and in academia, choose to earn a DNP.
The DNP is the terminal practice-focused degree, meaning it is the highest level of nursing education available for nurses who want to improve patient care outcomes and care delivery. By contrast, the PhD is the terminal research-focused nursing degree for those who want to develop new knowledge in the field. The DNP parallels the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in specialty coursework and skills training, but further builds on those concepts with education in evidence-based practice, quality improvement, policy/advocacy, informatics and leadership. Graduates are prepared to implement the latest science developed by researchers to improve patient and population care and transform health care processes and systems.
DNP-prepared nurses can more easily access leadership roles in health care organizations and academic settings and the degree differentiates nurses in more competitive job markets.
Finally, health care's increasing complexity and the rapid growth in new knowledge have created a demand for more nurses prepared at the doctorate level like their peers in other health professions, such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, psychiatry, physical therapy and audiology. For years, nursing's guiding organizations have pushed to require advanced practice nurses to earn a DNP. Nurse anesthetists must now earn a practicing doctorate and it is expected other advanced practice specialties will follow.
For answers to more frequently asked questions, visit our DNP Program FAQ page.
Talk to an Admissions Counselor
Our admissions counselors are here to answer all your questions about our DNP program. Contact an admissions counselor today via email at nursingbearcats@uc.edu or 513-558-3600.