Doctor of Nursing Practice is the highest level of academic
achievement in the nursing career.
DNP is the highest degree in nursing education available for
practice-based training. The skills and knowledge attained during
the program enable the nurse to be considered for nursing
leadership-focused positions.
These nurses are also considered to be the future key players in
healthcare within the United States. This is because they possess
the knowledge and skills that would influence the outcomes of the
healthcare industry. They do this by influencing health policy
implementation, organizational leadership, and patient care.
As a nurse, personal and career growth are the ultimate goals. To achieve this, one must advance their education to the highest
levels to attain both of these. In nursing, learning is a constant process.
In this ever evolving career, the only way that a nurse will always stay competent in the field is by advancing their studies.
While a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is the minimum requirement for most specialty advanced practice nursing roles, the
nursing practice field is still advancing and nurses are taking up leadership roles. The number of APRNs who are MSN holders is
quite vast. Therefore, most of them are opting to go back to school to advance their education levels to the doctoral level.
It can be obtained as an online program. An online DNP program is the easiest way to attain this degree, especially for practicing
nurses. DNP nursing online programs are considered to be the most convenient way to bridge from RN to NP.
As a practicing nurse, you might be considering a DNP program. There are many strong opinions on this degree program
throughout the nursing community. There are some truths and some myths to this degree. This thus makes a nurse question the
worthiness of this degree. Here are some reasons why it is worth it.
Most practicing nurses are either BSN or MSN accredited. However, the nursing profession is moving forward from these. But in a
bit to involve nurses in more leadership and advanced practicing roles, more employers are looking to endorse the DNP program
as the minimum entry requirement. A DNP adds a competitive edge to the professional field
Advanced practice nurses are becoming essential nursing professionals. This, therefore, means that this field is projected to grow
in terms of opportunities in the coming years. However, most nurses in the current employment pool are MSN accredited.
Therefore, a nurse with a DNP has the skills and knowledge that puts them at a higher advantage.
2. Access to a variety of job opportunities
The current healthcare practice environment requires nurses that possess a certain set of scientific skills. These skills are
accompanied by scientific knowledge and leadership qualities that can only be attained through a DNP program. This, therefore,
allows a DNP-accredited nurse to work in various settings whether public or private. They are mostly needed to fill in the
shortages of doctoral-prepared nurses in the pharmacy, psychology, and physical therapy fields.
3. Competitive Incomes
The average registered nurse earns a five-figure income. An advanced practice nurse can make on average a six-figure income
annually depending on the field of specialty and the level of experience. Therefore, as a practicing nurse, attaining a DNP
translates to higher income. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a nurse with a DNP earns over $100,000. This is a great
return on investment.
4. The convenience of attaining a DNP
Working and learning is no easy feat. Lucky for you, a DNP can be attained online as most programs consider the busy schedule of
the nurses. Online DNP programs offer both competitive DNP programs as well as the convenience of studying online. This is
because you can pursue your DNP nursing online program without having to drop everything else. It also implies that you can
achieve your career growth in a short period.
5. Attain hands-on experience
There are two doctoral-level degrees in the nursing field. These are the Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) and the Doctorate of
Philosophy (Ph.D.). Both are terminal degrees, but the DNP is a more practice-focused field that places precedence on translating
and implementing evidence into practice. Therefore, as a nurse, if you want more hands-on practical training in nursing, then the
DNP program is worth it.
6. DNP offers longevity in the nursing field
Nursing is a tasking profession. As a nurse, you can spend your whole career catering to the needs of the patients and not taking
into account the strain on oneself. Having a Doctorate degree allows the nurse to take on less strenuous roles. They take on
supervisory roles as well as nurse educators. These roles ensure that the nurse remains in the profession longer as well as the
continuity of the nursing field
7. DNP gives you more autonomy
Most nurses are attracted to the Doctorate program as it affords the nurse a sense of independence. This is because most states
have given advanced-practice nurses some sense of autonomy depending on their specialty. Therefore, APRNs can function as
primary care providers and they also have prescriptive authority.
8. An opportunity to network and be a pioneer
As a nurse considering a DNP degree, then it means that you’re a higher up in the nursing professional food chain. This means that
you will be interacting with high-caliber professionals in your field. These professionals will offer opportunities to learn and
diversify your knowledge and expertise. Further, sharing ideas with the leaders in this field allows you to shape policies.
If you are considering advancing your career in nursing, then getting that DNP is a great idea. The journey to achieving it may be
long and tiresome but you have us at Elite Custom Writings to walk with you and help you with those stressful nursing
assignments and loads of paper work because, we care about your success as much as you do.