School of Nursing

Doctor of Nursing Practice

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Earn your Doctor of Nursing Practice degree at the OHSU School of Nursing

We believe nurses change the world. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) represents the highest degree in nursing practice. Graduates at OHSU receive additional preparation to expand their practice in breadth and depth. Coursework and mentorship facilitate leadership and practice-related scholarship and prepares leaders in a culture of innovation and inquiry.

Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program

Nurses in clinical setting

Advance in adult-gerontology care with our hybrid program. Achieve acute and critical care excellence through online classes and clinical rotations.

Family Nurse Practitioner D.N.P. program

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Elevate your nursing career with a D.N.P. FNP degree that offers comprehensive coursework, clinical simulation and distant learning options across Oregon.

Nurse Anesthesia Nurse Practitioner program

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Our D.N.P. Nurse Anesthesia program offers personalized support, 100% certification pass rate, and immediate employment success.

Nurse-Midwifery Nurse Practitioner program

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Our D.N.P. Nurse-Midwifery program offers mentorship in diverse birth settings, robust clinical experiences and a commitment to rural care.

Pediatric Primary and Acute Nurse Practitioner program

Nurse with young patient

Deliver comprehensive pediatric care and advocate for young patients by enrolling in our D.N.P. PNP program, tailored for both primary and acute care settings.

Psych Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program

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Our D.N.P. PMHNP offers advanced specialty practice emphasizing intervention through psychotherapy and psychopharmacology.

OHSU D.N.P. programs

For each specialty we offer, students can enter with a bachelor's degree in nursing and exit with a D.N.P. degree. The D.N.P. curriculum is three years of full-time coursework.

The OHSU School of Nursing also offers multiple pathways to a D.N.P. degree via our Accelerated Bachelor in Science with a major in nursing dual admissions.  

Post Masters D.N.P. program

The Post Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) program is designed to prepare leaders to drive the application of evidence to promote excellence in nursing practice and health care. As a practice-focused doctoral program, innovation and inquiry are central to graduating D.N.P. -nurses prepared in leadership to identify, develop, and evaluate solutions to the most troubling challenges found in clinical practice and health care. In addition to the MN degree and specialty competencies, D.N.P. graduates are expected to meet D.N.P. program competencies.

Are you trying to decide between a Ph.D. or D.N.P.?

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing provides fact sheets, toolkits and white papers on the D.N.P. as well as the research-focused Ph.D.  

The OHSU difference

The School of Nursing puts tremendous care and intent behind its programs and aims to produce graduates ready to be the next nursing leaders wherever they take their new skills. All School of Nursing graduates will be:

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Practice-ready

The OHSU D.N.P. graduate is ready for practice as an APRN in their specialty area.

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Future-focused

The OHSU D.N.P. graduate looks to the future and embraces emerging models of health care.

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Evidence-based

The OHSU D.N.P. graduate has a strong foundation in clinical and improvement science.

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Leadership-oriented

The OHSU D.N.P. graduate is prepared for growth in health care leadership in various settings.

Scholarships available

OHSU offers a variety of scholarships that can help fund your education.

Nursing Education Xchange

Are you looking for a unique course not available at your institution? The Nursing Education Xchange (NEXus) has options for you. As an OHSU student, you can access over 250 courses through the NEXus Course Xchange annually. Students work with faculty advisors to identify the course/s that best fits their needs. You can take courses from expert faculty nationwide, expand your network, and collaborate with colleagues.