Spotlight on the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

“When I heard about the DNP degree, I was immediately drawn to the opportunity to expand practice,” says University of Michigan School of Nursing (UMSN) alumna Andreea Toader, a member of the 2013 DNP cohort.

“For me, it was a way to take evidence-based research that pertains to nursing and really be able to apply it to practice in the community or in the clinic, not just in the lab," says Toader. “If you’re interested in clinical work, but more interested in the fundamentals and the theory behind it, what goes into developing a study, working with certain populations, and looking for ways to improve certain settings or dynamics, you should consider a DNP. It's a great choice for anyone looking to go beyond hands on clinical work.”

The DNP is now the preferred terminal degree for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). It aligns nursing with other health professions that offer practice doctorates, such as medicine (MD), dentistry (DDS), pharmacy (PharmD), and psychology (PsyD).

UMSN offers a post-master’s DNP program for nurses who have a master’s degree in any specialty of nursing. Its emphasis is on innovative and evidence-based nursing practice, applying research processes to decision-making, and translating research findings to increase the effectiveness of both direct and indirect patient care outcomes.

“I have a really strong passion for clinical work, especially patient education,” says Corinne Lee, who was also part of UMSN’s 2013 DNP cohort. The program fit Lee’s desire to work directly with patients, and do more. “I want to see what can be done to help patients with self-care and illness prevention at home. It’s intensive, but you learn a lot in leadership and evidence-based practice,” says Lee.

The Michigan DNP is designed to prepare graduates for a broad range of established and emerging opportunities in health care. It has a special focus on leadership and scholarship in translational and implementation science. UMSN students benefit from the resources of a highly respected university and are a part of a small, close-knit community of scholars who will become the basis of a professional network.

“When I talk to the freshman in the fall, I tell them ‘this is the first day of your graduate education,’” says UMSN Dean Kathleen Potempa, Ph.D., RN, FAAN. “The DNP is a means for our students to be prepared for leadership roles in organizations, hospitals, and in policy and education.”

The Michigan DNP program prepares the highly qualified clinical scholars who will improve health and health care outcomes—and train the next generation of higher-education leaders. Graduates leave our DNP program with a well-rounded portfolio that emphasizes clinical scholarship, innovation, and evidence-based nursing practice with special skills in translating research findings into practice to increase the effectiveness of health care delivery.

Learn more about UMSN's DNP program.