Frequently Asked Questions - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

The changing demands of our nation's healthcare environment requires the highest level of scientific knowledge and practice expertise to assure the best possible patient outcomes. The Doctor of Nursing Degree (DNP) builds on traditional nursing baccalaureate and graduate programs by providing education in evidence-based practice, quality improvement and systems leadership. The DNP degree is designed for nurses to fully implement the innovations in nursing care and contribute to the evolution of the healthcare system.

The 2004 AACN position statement on DNP identifies the following benefits of practice focused doctoral programs:

• Development of needed advanced competencies for increasingly complex practice, faculty, and leadership roles;
• Enhanced knowledge to improve nursing practice and patient outcomes;
• Enhanced leadership skills to strengthen practice and health care delivery;
• Better match of program requirements, credits and time with the credential earned;
• provision of an advanced educational credential for those who require advanced practice knowledge but do not need or want a strong research focus (e.g., practice faculty);
• Enhanced ability to attract individuals to nursing from non-nursing backgrounds;
• Increased supply of faculty for practice instruction.

While the DNP and the PhD in nursing are terminal degrees that involve demanding expectations, a scholarly approach to the discipline and commitment to the advancement of the profession, there is one main difference. In general, the PhD tends to focus on the development of new knowledge by use of research methodology. The DNP, on the other hand, is focused on the translation of that evidence into practice. Source: The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice. (2006, October). https://www.aacn.org/

DNP graduates are trained to influence health care outcomes for individuals and populations including direct care of individual patients, management of care for individuals and populations, administration of nursing and health care organizations and the development and implementation of health policy. (Source: AACN, 2004, p2)

We currently offer the following DNP options:

The Population Health Leadership plan of study in the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree program prepares registered nurses (RNs) with master's degree for leadership positions in a variety of settings within a rapidly evolving healthcare system. The program will give students the knowledge and skills to lead interprofessional teams and also to provide direct patient care.

Visit the Population Health Leadership DNP Homepage

The Executive Leadership Doctor of Nursing Practice curriculum is a practice-based program that, emphasizes systems leadership, entrepreneurship, advanced financial management, legal issues (including labor relations), enterprise risk management, information technology, and health care policy. Over the course of six semesters (two calendar years), students learn to apply research to clinical nursing practice and ethical decision-making at the highest administrative levels. The curriculum is based on the AACN Essentials for the Doctor of Nursing Practice and the AONE Core Competencies for Nursing Executives. The curriculum also maintains the standards and expectations set by the Council on Graduate Education for Administrative Nursing (CGEAN), the American Nurses Association (ANA), and the National Center for Healthcare Leadership (NCHL) Health Leadership Competency Model.

Visit the Executive Leadership DNP Homepage

Nurse Practitioner is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). APRNs are independently licensed practitioners who may focus on a particular specialty area, such as family practice, geriatrics, internal medicine, pediatrics, or women’s health care. Nurse Practitioners are educated and prepared to diagnose and treat patients with varying health care needs in primary and acute care settings. This care includes: counseling, disease prevention, acute/chronic disease management, health education and promotion, and prescribing medication.

As the nation faces a shortage of primary care, nurse practitioners (NPs) are quickly becoming the health partner of choice for millions of Americans, with over 870 million visits made to NPs each year. NPs provide high- quality, patient-centered healthcare using a unique blend of expertise that focuses on the whole person through the diagnosis and treatment of health conditions, as well as through disease prevention and management

For example, in 2017- 86% of NPs were prepared in primary care programs, while only 14.5% of physicians entered a primary care residency. View this Illustration created by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners to learn more.

Source: American Association of Nurse Practitioner (AANP)

A family nurse practitioner (FNP) is a nurse practitioner (NP) specialty with a broad range of skills and scope of practice. FNPs are trained to work with patients of all ages and often work in underserved communities. FNPs will often maintain long-term relationships with their patients, learning about intimate personal health details and tracking health performance over time.

The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) plan of study in the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program prepares registered nurses (RNs) with a baccalaureate or master's degree to function as advanced registered nurse practitioners in the FNP role. As an FNP, you will be trained to conduct comprehensive health assessments, diagnose and manage acute illnesses (with appropriate referral), manage chronic conditions, and serve as the primary health care providers in many settings. Students are able to design models of health care delivery, evaluate clinical outcomes, identify and manage the health care needs of diverse populations, and use technology and information to transform the field.

Visit the family nurse practitioner dnp Program Homepage 

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) provide primary mental health care in a wide range of settings and patients. A PMHNP provides comprehensive, holistic psychiatric-mental health services to family member sand individuals across the lifespan to emphasize health promotion and risk prevention.

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, DNP, plan of study prepares registered nurses (RNs) with a baccalaureate or master's degree as advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs) in the PMHNP role. A postgraduate PMHNP certificate program is available for the doctorally prepared nurse. With this degree you’ll be equipped to provide a wide range of services to adults, children, adolescents, and their families in settings ranging from primary care facilities, outpatient mental health clinics, and psychiatric emergency zones to skilled nursing and assisted living facilities, private practices, and hospital or community health centers.

View the psychiatric mental health practitioner, dnp Program Homepage

Practicum work to fulfill the clinical practice requirement may vary by DNP program or track. Practicum courses will allow students to operationalize advanced nursing roles specific to direct care or indirect care. Students work closely with their assigned faculty advisors to identify the total number of required practicum/clinical hours.

• Family Nurse Practitioner, DNP - 1035 Clinical Hours | DETAILS
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner , DNP - 1035 Clinical Hours | DETAILS
• Executive Leadership, DNP - 1000 practicum hours | DETAILS
• Population Health Leadership, DNP - 1000 practicum hours | DETAILS

• Family Nurse Practitioner DNP + Psychiatric Mental Health DNP Nurse Practitioner Clinical Hours:
  Nurse practitioner clinical placements arrangements are made in collaboration with the NP clinical faculty. Clinical faculty will select a placement for you unless you have a specific placement in mind. If you have a clinical placement contact the faculty will work with you to establish a clinical contract. Your place of employment may be used  as long as the designated preceptor is a nurse practitioner or physician.
• Executive Leadership and Population Health Leadership DNP Practicum Hours:
  Students in the Population Health Leadership and Executive Leadership DNP programs use practicum hours to develop the skills being taught in the didactic classes and to work toward the successful completion of a practice change or quality improvement project.  It is often possible to complete this project - and the practicum hours - in the context of your workplace. You will work closely with your advisor to select a project and identify the appropriate setting to complete the practicum work.

Yes, you are eligible to transfer in up to 500 practicum hours from approved nursing master's level practicum coursework. You will work closely with your advisor to identify which and how many practicum hours can be transferred and the best place(s) to complete them.

We have many students who are in academic settings and their projects benefit their university. We have strong connections to policy makers so we can connect students who are interested in those areas.

Yes. The final semester consists of a DNP residency immersion experience and completion of a comprehensive evidence-based project that demonstrates program subject mastery. It provides you with an opportunity to demonstrate your clinical and scholarly expertise through the development of a relevant, practice-related project designed to affect change or improve outcomes in the clinical setting. You’ll work closely with your advisor and other faculty to develop and implement a project which they then evaluate.

Sample practicum work may include the following:

• Partnership with community organizations to promote the health of high- risk populations and address screening or health education processes
• Collaboration with private sector companies to design health and wellness programs
• Design and implementation of wellness/health programs for private business or health care systems
• Management of patient populations within primary care settings (direct care provider or coordination of care transitions)
• Management of systems for coordination of care throughout the continuum
• Coordination of patient transitions within acute care and community care settings

Hours may vary depending on both the specific class and on your comfort level  with, and knowledge of, its content. You can expect to dedicate at least 2 hours per each unit of credit to study outside of class each week. 

Yes. New graduates with limited -to- no experience are eligible to apply to the Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner programs. Both programs require a minimum of a BSN degree; however, no experience is necessary to apply to our program.

We are seeing more and more positions requiring a DNP, especially in key nursing leadership roles. Many graduates are defining their roles due to the DNP project.

Some opportunities available with a DNP include:

• Advanced practice nurses, such as nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists who practice in a variety of settings throughout the continuum of care
• Case managers and care coordinators who follow a caseload of patients through the continuum of care, providing health education and disease management for patients with complex health problems
• Public health nurses, school nurses and health educators who manage systems of care for specific groups
• Community and ambulatory care nurse leaders moving into re-designed systems of care delivery
• Acute hospital-based nurses who have responsibility for quality and process improvement, infection prevention or health education
• Academia/Teaching
• Research
• Policy evidence-based practice improvement
• Chief nursing officer
• Chief operating officer
• Other leadership positions

The University of San Francisco will accept up to 12 credit units from a previous master's and doctoral degree upon transcript evaluation.

You will be able to pursue your degree without having to put your professional life on hold. Course delivery options may vary based on DNP program.

• Executive Leadership: Students meet twice a semester for three days in an intensive meeting format at a boutique hotel in San Francisco. Learn more about our Executive Leadership DNP program.

• Population Health Leadership: Courses are delivered via a hybrid model – an approach that encompasses both in-person teaching and distance learning. Students will be required to attend a one-day program orientation on campus. After the orientation, students meet twice each semester in person for a synchronous class. Online learning will supplement the two synchronous class sessions for the duration of the program. Learn More about our Population Health Leadership DNP program.

• Family Nurse Practitioner DNP & Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner DNP: Students attend classes twice a month on - Fridays (8 a.m. - 9 p.m.) and Saturdays (8 a.m. - 5 p.m.), called Teaching Weekends. For dates, see our Teaching Weekend schedule.

Learn more: Family Nurse Practitioner DNP | Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner DNP

The DNP program can take from 2 to 4.5 years to complete depending on both your program track and your current degree level.

• Executive Leadership (for nurses with master’s degree only): 2 years to complete.
• Population Health Leadership (for nurses with master’s degree only): 7 semesters to complete.
• Nurse Practitioner Programs - (for nurses with BSN or higher): 4- 4.5 years with a Bachelor's degree​ | 2 - 3 years with a Master’s degree.

The majority of our learners are employed; however, adjustments in work schedules may be necessary to accommodate your individual study needs and clinical practicum requirements. 

Admission to the program is based on an overall appraisal of the applicant's ability to undertake doctoral level studies as evidenced by the following:

• Baccalaureate or master’s degree from an accredited institution
• 3.0 undergraduate GPA (on a 4.0 grading scale)
• California RN license
• A written goal statement that describes your reason for pursuing a Doctor of Nursing Practice
• Three(3) letters of recommendation
• Résumé
• Copy of official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
• A completed application form and fee

For International Students

No, applicants to the DNP program are not required to take the GRE.

Our goal is to inform you of our decision within three to four weeks of submission of  your application.

For all DNP tracks except Executive Leadership:

• Cost is $1,480 per credit for the 2020-2021 academic year

For Executive leadership DNP only:

• The amount listed on the tuition and fees schedule is inclusive of tuition and fees, supplemental learning materials, hotel accommodations, most meals and transportation between hotel and university during teaching intensives. LEARN MORE

Yes, USF offers substantial financial aid. US citizens and permanent residents are eligible for $20,500 in federal loans per academic year. You can apply for Graduate PLUS loans to make up the reminder of the cost. Scholarship and grant opportunities will be provided to enrolled students upon availability.

Please visit our “Financing your Education” page for more information