Why Earn a DNP?
Written by:
University of Tulsa
• May 20, 2026
In 2004, the schools affiliated with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) voted to endorse a call for moving the current minimum level of preparation necessary to become an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) from a master’s degree to a doctoral degree.
While the minimum requirement remains a master’s degree, many other institutions have called for this change to be made over the past two decades, including the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, which believes the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) should become the required entry-level preparation for becoming a nurse practitioner, which is a type of APRN.
Earning a DNP remains a highly respected pathway for registered nurses (RNs) who want to prepare for advanced practice and leadership roles. If you’re considering pursuing a DNP, learn more about how the program provides an evidence-based curriculum that enables graduates to offer patients the highest quality of care.
What Is a DNP?
A Doctor of Nursing Practice is a doctoral degree for registered nurses who want to pursue licensure as an APRN or leadership roles in health care. The DNP program is designed to help nurses grow in their practice and become better leaders in the nursing community.
One of the core goals of the DNP program is to prepare nurses for greater autonomy in their practice. These highly educated nurses can either step into specialized roles or become generalists who serve in roles similar to those of physicians. Following the completion of the program, a DNP graduate will have the skills they need to apply the program’s evidence-based curriculum in their real-world practice, improving the lives of their patients and the quality of the care provided by their health care facility.
DNP Subject Areas
The DNP program serves two key functions: preparing students to be able to provide patients with high-quality care and helping them become invaluable leaders in their role. In terms of the health care curriculum, students learn about essential subjects, such as:
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Advanced pharmacology
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Foundations for practice
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Diagnosis and management
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Epidemiology
Students also study subjects that prepare them for leadership and managerial roles in health care facilities, such as:
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Health care policy
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Organizational leadership and quality improvement
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Business development planning
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Translational research
3 Key Benefits of Earning a DNP
Earning a DNP can increase your opportunities and impact in the field. With a DNP, you can step into roles that come with higher responsibility, as well as higher salaries.
Increased Earning Potential
Becoming an APRN can increase your earning potential. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), registered nurses have a median annual salary of $93,600 as of 2024.
On the other hand, nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, and nurse midwives — all APRNs — had a median annual salary of $132,050 in 2024.
Opportunities for More Advanced Roles
Earning a DNP can provide you with a pathway to an APRN position, as well as other nursing leadership roles. DNP holders in these roles, who have the most extensive knowledge and training of any advanced practice-trained nurses, can have a huge impact on the quality of care their health care facility provides.
Take, for instance, the role of a nurse practitioner. In many states throughout the U.S., nurse practitioners can provide care to patients that is similar to the care provided by physicians, including ordering tests, making diagnoses, and prescribing medication. Particularly in underserved communities, nurse practitioners are helping to fill a critical physician shortage and ensure patients have greater access to care.
With a DNP, you can also develop the skills you need to fill leadership roles in your health care facilities. This might include taking on an educational or administrative role, such as becoming a nursing manager or director of nursing, where you can mentor the next generation of nurses and oversee the nursing staff at their health care facility.
Application of Evidence-Based Curriculum
If you’re pursuing advanced education, you might consider both the DNP and the PhD in nursing. There are key differences between these two education paths that may make a DNP a better option for some nurses.
While the PhD path may be a good choice for those looking to work in a research position, the DNP path prepares nurses for applying evidence-based practice in clinical leadership. These students learn up-to-date information on how to deliver the highest quality care to patients.
If you want to apply what you learn in hands-on work, you will find earning a DNP to be the best choice.
Take the Next Step in Your Nursing Career With a DNP From TU
Earning a DNP prepares today’s nurses to become tomorrow’s health care leaders. Graduates of this program have the skills they need to pursue an APRN role or to become an effective manager and mentor.
If you’re considering a doctorate in nursing, learn more about how The University of Tulsa (TU)’s flexible, online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program can enable you to earn your degree while continuing in your career.
Designed to be completed in three years, the program teaches nurses essential health care knowledge while enabling them to develop quality improvement, organizational leadership, and data management skills that will enable them to become more effective nursing leaders.
Find out how you can advance in your nursing career with TU.
Recommended Readings
Your Guide to FNP Certification
APRN vs. NP: Is There a Difference?
Can Nurse Practitioners Prescribe Medication?
Sources:
American Association of Colleges of Nursing, About the Doctor of Nursing Practice
American Association of Colleges of Nursing, ACCN Fact Sheet — DNP
American Nurses Association, “Understanding the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Degree”
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners
