Doctor of Nursing Practice

Prepare for advanced, high-level leadership in nursing.


The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a practice-focused program that combines a scholarly approach to the discipline of nursing while advancing the profession of nursing through practice. The Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Aspen University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

The program is designed to prepare students for leadership roles in nursing. The program does not prepare students to obtain a state RN license. Intensive, immersive experiences inform the practice-focused DNP Capstone Project.

Enjoy Flexibility – 11 online DNP courses with program start dates every 2 weeks
Choose Where You Learn – Online courses & local immersion
Affordable Monthly Payments
Focus On Your Passion – Choose your Capstone Project

Intensive, immersive experiences inform the practice-focused DNP Capstone Project. The program requires students to complete 1000 hours of clinical practice immersion hours. Applicants who provide evidence of clinical hours from an MSN or other nursing-specific degree have the potential to have a percentage of those hours applied to the required 1000 before the Project course sequence.

While being a working nurse is not a program requirement, the DNP’s 1000-hour immersion experience requires students to have access to a clinical site and preceptor to successfully complete DNP courses with embedded immersion hours.

In accordance with accreditation standards, Aspen has designed an accelerated pathway that allows dedicated students to complete the current version of the DNP program in a minimum of two years. This approach includes an intentional two-week pause between course enrollments to ensure DNP immersion site coordination, project development, IRB application and review, committee feedback, and immersion hour integrity.

View the DNP Handbook

For more information about the program, see the Academic Catalog.

Why More Nurses Are Choosing Aspen

Coursework is
100% Online
Complete your DNP in
as little as 24 months

DNP Courses

Our DNP curriculum features 11 comprehensive courses designed to equip you with advanced nursing skills. Taught by experienced nurse educators from diverse healthcare settings, you’ll have the opportunity to apply new knowledge directly to your practice through the integration of your DNP Project. Additionally, our DNP program allows you to explore a wide range of essential healthcare topics, providing valuable insights into various related fields.

View the course schedule for this program: DNP Degree Plan

    This course focuses on the translation of evidence, integration, and its application to practice and learn disciplinary knowledge for advanced nursing practice. Students will examine knowledge within nursing science and its application to nursing history, practice, research, and education. Translation of theories from nursing and other disciplines related to practice will be synthesized. Foundational aspects of knowledge attainment related to liberal and social sciences will be explored.

    4 Credits
    Required Books
    What career-relevant skills will I be learning?
    • Data interpretation and analysis
    • Research translation
    • Research methods

    This course focuses on personal and professional development contributing to the promotion of life-long learning, self-care, and well-being. Examination of the management of complex environments where leaders demonstrate cognitive flexibility and advocacy for social justice, equity, and structural racism will be explored. Advanced leadership concepts will be integrated into cultures of collaboration, mentorship, and professional growth. Accountability of life-long learning in the profession will be using evidence-based practice explored to demonstrate a commitment to professional service to advance the nursing profession.

    4 Credits
    Required Books
    What career-relevant skills will I be learning?
    • Leadership strategy
    • Cultural competency
    • Effective communication
    • Health promotion

    This course will focus on the nurse leader, as a change champion, continually assessing the evolving healthcare system. Organizational strategic planning and interprofessional collaboration to optimize outcomes for safety and quality will be explored. The student will demonstrate strategies for internal and external solutions for organizational workforce demand, demonstrating cost-effective, data-driven, and strategic outcomes. Leadership strategies, including emotional and cultural intelligence for advancing systems-based initiatives to improve care delivery and outcomes, will be demonstrated. **Note: Students will begin Chapter 1 of the manuscript focusing on creating the Introduction, Problem, and Purpose for the Doctor of Nursing Practice project. The course requires documentation of 125 immersion hours associated with the DNP Project.

    4 Credits
    Required Books
    What career-relevant skills will I be learning?
    • Leadership strategy
    • Collaboration through leadership
    • Change management

    This course will focus on utilizing diverse evidence-based practice resources for quality improvement. Knowledge of the basic principles of the research process, evaluation methodologies, and critique of research is essential for the nurse scientist. Course concepts will build upon the foundation of translational research, demonstrating the generation and synthesis of evidence from nursing science into practice. This course will provide opportunities for the application of quality improvement initiatives for established and emerging principles of safety science. National quality and safety initiatives utilizing proven research within individual and systems-based settings will be explored. **Note: Students will begin Chapter 2 of the manuscript by creating the Literature Review. The course requires documentation of 125 immersion hours associated with the DNP Project.

    4 Credits
    Required Books
    What career-relevant skills will I be learning?
    • Research methods
    • Data analysis
    • Critical thinking
    • Professional writing

    This course focuses on examining best practices for advanced informatics and technological processes used to drive decision-making. Healthcare technologies and informatics will identify information and communication technologies to improve the delivery of safe, high-quality, and efficient healthcare services. State, federal, and regulatory policies for decision-making will be explored. Ethical and legal aspects for direct and indirect patient care using technology will be emphasized. Evaluation of patient outcomes, inefficiencies, and gaps will be explored when using data-driven decision-making in healthcare environments. **Note: The course requires documentation of 125 immersion hours associated with the DNP Project.

    4 Credits
    Required Books
    What career-relevant skills will I be learning?
    • Ethics
    • Data analysis
    • Data-driven decision-making

    This course focuses on the evaluation, influence, and recognition of addressing health policy disparities and inequities within segments of a population by demonstrating advanced-level nursing leadership skills. Health policy, advocacy, and partnerships focus on advocating strategies related to health outcomes at the system, local, regional, and national levels striving toward health equity and improved health for all. Students will analyze principles for professional interdisciplinary collaboration when interpreting, evaluating, and leading policy change. **Note: Students will begin Chapter 3 of the manuscript creating the Method/Student Design and selecting their Doctor of Nursing Practice Project Team Committee. The course requires documentation of 125 immersion hours associated with the DNP Project.

    4 Credits
    Required Books
    What career-relevant skills will I be learning?
    • Diverse populations and cultural competency
    • Policy development
    • Health Equity
    • Critical thinking and analytical reasoning

    This course analyzes the continuum of healthcare delivery from public health prevention, disease management of populations, and health equity perspective. Students focus on the improvement of equitable health outcomes for populations within the community settings, public health, healthcare delivery systems, and government entities. Students will assess system-level capabilities to support and target a population's healthcare needs by recognizing ethical principles, bias, and barriers associated with health outcomes. Collaboration with systems-level stakeholders to evaluate crises and determine a coordinated response. An advanced-level nurse's role in response to public health emergencies to population health, perspective of prevention, surveillance, and containment will be assessed. **Note: Students are required to complete and pass the Oral Proposal Defense by the end of the course. The course requires documentation of 125 immersion hours associated with the DNP Project.

    4 Credits
    Required Books
    What career-relevant skills will I be learning?
    • Cultural sensitivity
    • Advocacy for diverse populations
    • Public health emergency preparedness
    • Ethics

    This course analyzes system-wide initiatives and processes that improve the delivery of care and outcomes within the advanced-level leadership role. Analysis of system-wide strategies that improve cost-effectiveness considering structure, leadership, and workforce needs. The student will describe models of quality improvement and effective communication and collaborative strategies needed for addressing gaps and failures in the delivery of service is a focus of this course. Evidence-based practice models and interventions for sustaining quality improvement will be analyzed. This course will focus on interprofessional collaboration working in management within complete system-level settings. Assessment and self-reflection on leadership skills will be a major focus of this course. **Note: Students are required to submit and obtain Aspen University IRB approval. The course requires documentation of 125 immersion hours associated with the DNP Project.

    4 Credits
    Required Books
    What career-relevant skills will I be learning?
    • Leadership skills
    • Professional communication
    • Interdisciplinary collaboration

    This course will focus on strategic healthcare practices for quality, access, value, budgeting, and cost-effectiveness. The student will evaluate and recommend system-wide strategies which focus on improving cost-effectiveness while assessing the organizational structure and workforce needs. Students will analyze relevant internal and external factors that drive healthcare costs, revenue and reimbursement between agency requirements and quality, fiscal, and value-based indicators. Evidence-based methodologies for the advanced level nurse related to the quality of care utilizing innovative solutions will be analyzed. Budgetary considerations, cash flow, cost to benefit analysis, and salaries are discussed in a forthright and comprehensive manner. **Note: Students will implement the Doctor of Nursing Practice Project within the approved immersion site. The course requires documentation of 125 immersion hours associated with the DNP Project.

    4 Credits
    Required Books
    What career-relevant skills will I be learning?
    • Critical thinking
    • Data analysis
    • Budget management
    • Change management

    This course will focus on the nurse as an advanced-level leader who analyzes and applies research and evaluation methodologies. Students will finalize a scholarly and academic response for Chapter 4 of the manuscript, post-project implementation, and data analysis. The course will focus on the implementation results of the DNP project. Project findings and recommendations will be reported within the manuscript. Implications for nursing practice will be integrated into practicum activities related to the Doctor of Nursing Practice Project and program outcomes. **Note: Students will be required to pass the Final Proctored Exam during this course and complete Chapter 4 of the Doctor of Nursing Practice Manuscript. The course requires documentation of 125 immersion hours associated with the DNP Project.

    4 Credits
    Required Books
    What career-relevant skills will I be learning?
    • Professional writing
    • Data analysis
    • Communication for creating change

    The DNP Capstone project course will focus on finalizing the final chapter of the manuscript. The student will demonstrate clinical significance, interprofessional collaboration and scholarship, reflect on personal and professional growth, leadership development, and defend the DNP project, findings, and recommendations before their full committee. Requirements for this course will include dissemination and defense. **Note: Students will complete Chapter 5 during this course and successfully defend their Doctor of Nursing Practice Project before their full DNP Project Team Committee in addition to dissemination of the DNP project findings.

    2 Credits
    Required Books
    What career-relevant skills will I be learning?
    • Leadership
    • Collaboration
    • Dissertation defense
    • Professional presentation skills

For more information about the program, see the Academic Catalog.

“Aspen has laid a strong foundation for my career, and I continue to utilize the knowledge I gained through my studies on a daily basis as I face new challenges in my new role. I am grateful for the opportunities Aspen has provided and look forward to continuing my journey of growth and contribution to the nursing profession.”
Emily H.
DNP

Cost & Time to Completion

The Best Fit for Working Nurses

We understand the difficulties in pursuing your DNP when you have a demanding work schedule. The 8-week courses at Aspen University allow you to complete your program in approximately 24 months. 

Our Monthly Payment Plan Makes Us Different.

Paying for your DNP shouldn’t be complicated. Our Monthly Payment Plan makes it easy for working nurses to finance their DNP program.

 

Pay $450 per Month

The monthly payment plan is a private education loan with a 0% fixed rate of interest (0% APR) and no down payment. Each month you’ll make one payment of $450 for 83 months.

 

Tuition Rates

$31,080 Tuition
$6,300 Fees
$1,650
Estimated
Textbook
Costs
$39,030
The total cost of your degree program will vary depending upon the number of courses you take, course retakes (if applicable), transfer credits awarded, fees incurred and the cost of textbooks.

Ways to Finance Your DNP

Aspen University maintains employee tuition discount partnerships with a large and growing number of organizations. Tell your advisor where you work and ask them to check for you prior to enrolling.

Students who have served, or are currently serving in the United States Military and their legal spouses are eligible to receive a Military Affiliation Discount from Aspen University.

Aspen University is currently approved by the U.S. Department of Education to offer federal student aid for the DNP program.

Aspen offers several payment plans for students to fund their education.

Earn Your DNP with Confidence

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, the master’s degree program in nursing, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Aspen University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

“All of my DNP professors at Aspen University were paramount to my success”
Robert. C
DNP

Admission Requirements

Application – A completed application; Aspen does not charge an application fee.

Registered Nurse Licensure – Current, unrestricted licensure as a registered nurse, nurse practitioner, and/or advanced practice registered nurse in the United States, a US territory, or Canada. Registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and/or advanced practice registered nurses licensed outside of these areas are not eligible.

Masters of Science in Nursing – Evidence of a masters degree in nursing (MSN), or a relevant discipline, in the form of official transcripts from an accredited institution or an equivalently certified degree from a recognized foreign college or iniversity. GPA must be 3.0 or greater.

Government-Issued Photo Identification – Identification must be valid, current, and legible.

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Career Outlook

According to the American Association of Colleges in Nursing (AACN), the current demand for master’s- and doctoral-prepared nurses far outweighs the supply. Additionally, within the next 5 years, more than 25% of working nurses plan to retire or leave nursing. DNP graduates add unique value in key areas, including evidence-based practice, organizational change, quality improvement, and leadership.

According to the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for registered nurses, which includes DNP graduates, is projected to experience faster than average growth, and for advanced practice nurses much faster than average growth, through 2033.

DNP graduates are prepared for high-level administrative/executive, leadership, research, and education roles across many practice settings. AACN’s The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education were developed in collaboration with industry employers to produce highly desired skills including systems thinking, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, leadership, policy advocacy, and informatics. DNP graduates impact population health outcomes, improve care quality and safety, and add care value by translating research into practical applications.

Average Annual Salary for DNP-prepared Nurse

$133,600

Data pulled from NursingProcess.org in Fall 2024. Salary can vary widely depending on geographical location and role.

DNP Frequently Asked Questions

    The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree is a terminal nursing degree that prepares nurses for advanced leadership, clinical, research, and educational roles.

    Whereas a PhD program prepares graduates to conduct original research to generate new knowledge, a DNP program prepares graduates to translate existing knowledge into practice. This bridges the research-practice gap and promotes evidence- based quality improvement and innovation across various practice settings.

    DNP graduates are prepared for advanced roles in leadership and administration (such as nurse executives) and as clinical leaders, nurse researchers, and nurse educators.

    Applicants must have current, unrestricted licensure as a registered nurse or advanced practice registered nurse in the United States, a US territory, or Canada; and an MSN degree or master’s degree in a relevant discipline.

    The DNP program is designed to be completed in approximately 24 months.

    Graduates must complete at least 1,000 hours of immersion at a project site of their choice. Upon approval, up to 500 previously precepted hours may be banked toward the student’s DNP Immersion hour requirements.

    Yes, the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Aspen University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).

    No, a DNP degree does not qualify graduates for any licensure or certification.

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