Doctor of Nursing Practice Program 

About the Program

Strengthen patient and health care outcomes with Vanderbilt’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program. Predominantly delivered online, our top-ranked DNP program includes an intensive on-campus experience in Nashville each semester. Students can enter the program through a variety of degree paths and layer additional education such as a post-master’s certificate in a particular specialty along with their DNP curriculum.   

By integrating course work with practice immersion experiences, the DNP program equips students to evaluate and manage complex health care delivery and bring evidence-based knowledge into the practice arena in order to improve health care outcomes. As prepared nurses, DNPs are found in leadership positions in nursing practice, management, information technology and academia. 

This post-master’s program offers study tracks in Advanced Clinical Practice, Advanced Systems Practice, and Executive Leadership. Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner or Family Nurse Practitioner/Emergency Nurse Practitioner tracks are also available for those who enter the DNP program with a BSN. 

Key Takeaways  

• Improve health care outcomes with the application of evidence-based knowledge into practice 
• Tailor the program to meet your scheduling needs and scholarly interests; specialty tracks are available 
• Maintain your current employment and location with a predominantly asynchronous online format that requires limited time on campus 
• Learn from actively practicing faculty who will mentor you to be a prepared nurse scholar 
• Apply without taking the GRE 

Who Should Enroll?

Vanderbilt’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program is designed for nurses who want to impact the future of health care and advanced nursing practice. If you’re interested in becoming a key influencer in today’s complex health care environment, the DNP program will prepare you to not only lead, but also improve patient and health care systems through clinical practice models, health policy, and organizational leadership skills.  

Entry into the program can be achieved through various degree pathways, so those with a BSN, MN, or MSN may be eligible for admission. A comprehensive list of admissions requirements can be found on the Vanderbilt Nursing website. Because the DNP program is delivered predominantly online in an asynchronous format, students do not need to relocate to Nashville or change their current employment.