Doctor of Nursing Practice
The OHSU School of Nursing Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program helps prepare nurses for expanded clinical roles.
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ractice-ready. The OHSU DNP graduate is ready for practice as an APRN in their specialty area. - Evidence-Based. The OHSU DNP graduate has a strong foundation in clinical and improvement science.
- Future-Focused. The OHSU DNP graduate looks to the future and embraces emerging models of healthcare.
- Leadership-Oriented. The OHSU DNP graduate is prepared for growth in health care leadership in a variety of diverse settings.
Program at a Glance
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) represents the highest degree in nursing practice. Graduates receive additional preparation to expand practice in breadth and depth as well as coursework and mentorship to facilitate leadership and practice-related scholarship in their professional career. Implemented at OHSU in 2007, the DNP program prepares leaders in a culture of innovation and inquiry. For more general information about the Doctor of Nursing Practice, please visit the American Association of Colleges of Nursing website.
Three pathways exist to the DNP
- Post Baccalaureate (BS) (BSN) for those who desire to become an advanced practice nurse and earn a DNP.
- Post Master's program for those who already have a Masters degree as an APN or in healthcare management, leadership or administration.
- Additionally, a student may choose to earn a second APN specialty by completing the specialty DNP.
The Post Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is designed to prepare leaders to drive the application of evidence to promote excellence in nursing practice and health care. As a practice-focused doctoral program, innovation and inquiry are central to graduating DNP -nurses prepared in leadership to identify, develop, and evaluate solutions to the most troubling challenges found in clinical practice and health care. In addition to the competencies for the MN degree and specialty, DNP graduates are expected to meet DNP program competencies.
DNP graduates are expected to meet DNP program competencies.
1. Demonstrate readiness to enter clinical practice via specialty competencies with the appropriate scientific knowledge, and considerations for its application to practice.2. Apply ethical principles along with the standards of professional conduct to clinical care, research, and education.
3. Evaluate emerging healthcare systems and policy that influence delivery of cost effective patient care.
4. Generate entry level practice scholarship through the completion of a clinical practice improvement project based on the principles of improvement science.
5. Model interprofessional communication and collaboration to improve individual and/or population health outcomes.
6. Identify and address gaps in professional knowledge through ongoing reflection to support the principle of life-long learning.
For program specifics, Student Learning Outcomes and detailed school information, check out the School of Nursing Catalog/Student Handbook.