Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice

Our Post-Master’s DNP program equips master’s-prepared nurses with the skills necessary to excel in practice and policy leadership, making them uniquely poised to impact healthcare quality and health equity.

About the Program

Emerge as a leader in practice and broaden your potential.

Penn Nursing’s renowned faculty and world-class academic partners provide students with personalized learning and mentorship opportunities. Graduates of the Penn Nursing Post-Masters DNP (DNP-PM) program are prepared to evaluate and apply nursing science to address practice gaps within communities and complex healthcare systems. Each track within the DNP program prepares students to excel in direct clinical practice, healthcare leadership, and policy development. 

All of Penn Nursing’s programs are accredited. To learn more about the accreditation and pass rates, please visit our Accreditation page.

Program Information

Part-Time

Program Length

21 months

Financial aid available?

Yes

Start Semester

Fall

Learning Format

Online

Program Details

Curriculum

With all classes available online, our curriculum offers flexibility and convenience, and allows master’s-prepared nurses to earn their Post-Master’s DNP while balancing a full-time career. Students can also complete their DNP project at their own site of employment, bringing additional value and impact to their own institution. For more information about the DNP Scholarly Project, please consult the DNP Handbook or view previous DNP Scholarly Projects.

Another advantage of completing a DNP at Penn Nursing? Course faculty and project mentors include thought leaders across domains of nursing and healthcare. Through these foundational relationships, students garner access to a global network of experts who are instrumental to scholarly project development and implementation.

The Post-Master’s DNP plan of study includes 10 course units designed to be completed online in 21 months.

Click the link below to view the curriculum for this program in the University catalog or download a sample plan of study.

View the curriculum

Requirements

Minimum qualifications for the program

MSN or Master’s degree in the field of Nursing.

Prerequisites

Graduate-level Research Methods Course with a grade of B or higher.

Licensure

RN and APRN

International Applicants

Click here for additional requirements

Application Deadlines

Fall 2024 Enrollment

Priority Deadline: November 1, 2023
Final Deadline: February 1, 2024
Latest Decision Notification: mid-February

*Dates subject to change without notice.

Costs & Tuition

The estimated total cost (tuition and fees) of the 2023 Post Master’s DNP program (11 CUs) is $74,995.

Your program costs will depend on your individual plan of study. Tuition is charged per CU based on your semester enrollment.

Discount available for employees of our Academic Practice Partners. Click here to learn more.

Program Outcomes

At completion of the DNP program, a student will demonstrate the competency to effect advance high-quality, equitable and accessible healthcare by:

  • Developing ways to improve health and healthcare outcomes through translating research, evaluating evidence-based practice, and implementing innovative ideas.
  • Applying project management acumen and data analytics to improve outcomes for patient/family, systems, or community-based care.
  • Disseminating practice knowledge that contributes to nursing and interprofessional scholarship.

The Post-Master’s DNP program provides content in health policy, informatics, quality improvement, epidemiology, data analytics, leadership skills and applied healthcare accounting and economics. Based on their work experience, graduates often seek roles or additional responsibilities in clinical practice improvement, nursing education, and clinical program leadership.

Patricia Bajaj

“I am proud to be a doctoral student at Penn, where the education is rigorous, yet manageable with all my other responsibilities.”

Events

 

March 27 | 7:00pm

Spring 2024 Graduate Programs Info Session

 

April 10 | 6:00pm

Spring 2024 Graduate Programs Info Session

Frequently Asked Questions

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Program Activities

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Influencing health care and health care workplaces through leadership, policy implementation, and patient care takes incredible skill and thoughtfulness. Penn Nursing’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program is an example of how to do it right.

Penn Nursing is leading to healthier, more equitable future.

Ready to take the next step?