Skip to Main Content Skip to bottom Skip to Chat, Email, Text

Online doctorate in nursing degree

Become the nurse leader patients deserve

Combine scientific findings and advanced nursing practices in your online doctorate in nursing degree to help improve health care environments and treatment outcomes. This degree program is designed for working nurses who want to complete an online doctorate in nursing. They’ll learn advanced practice and leadership strategies to improve practice settings, healthcare outcomes and design, deliver and evaluate projects to impact project outcomes.

Flexibility is key as a doctoral candidate. That’s why all our courses are 100% online and typically 8 weeks long. You’ll begin your applied project from the start. This allows you to follow scheduled milestones throughout your program, which organizes your project into achievable segments. You’ll work with your Applied Project Chair and receive helpful feedback from day one.

Let's get started

Find the nursing doctoral degree for you

31

credits

The number of credits required to complete a doctorate in nursing degree with UOPX.

credits

4

The number of times a year you can start your degree based on your schedule.

20

months

The program length of a doctorate in nursing degree with UOPX.

months

Skills you’ll develop with core doctorate in nursing degree courses

Doctor of Nursing Practice

  • Advanced nursing 
  • Executive leadership
  • Scholarly Innovation 
  • Advanced practice management 

Outlook for workers with a doctorate in nursing degree

BLS CATEGORY: Medical Health and Services Managers

JOB GROWTH: 28%

Bureau of Labor Statistics job growth for medical health and services manager occupations is projected to be much faster than average between 2022 and 2032.

JOB TITLES:

  • Associate Professor
  • Clinical Nursing Instructor
  • Lecturer
  • Nurse Educator
  • Nurse Professor
  • Clinical Nursing Instructor \Health Information Management Director
  • Nurse Manager
  • Practice Manager

*The DNP does not prepare students for professional certification or state licensure as a nurse or as an advanced practice nurse.

Doctorate in nursing degree course requirements

Doctor of Nursing Practice

You’ll take 31 credits of advanced program-specific knowledge to complete this terminal degree. Your Applied Project begins during the first course instead of later in your program so you can build on the advanced knowledge learned at each stage of study. This helps you build your project gradually and identify obstacles early to avoid possible delays and rushing at the end of your program. You’ll work with an assigned Applied Project Chair throughout your program so you can benefit from critical feedback along the way.

Program Purpose Statement

The Doctorate of Nursing Practice degree program prepares graduates in innovative and evidence-based nursing practice that integrates evaluation and application of research evidence and leadership into practice, and develops a commitment to scholarship and advancement of the nursing profession. This program does not prepare students for any type of professional certification or state licensure as a nurse or an Advanced Practice Nurse.

Tuition and financial aid

Affordable, locked-in tuition

Tuition guarantee
Compare tuition costs and see how affordable a degree can be

Ways to pay — and save. Explore your options.

From grants and scholarships to transfer credits and federal financial aid, there are a variety of ways to pay for school and save on tuition.

Financial Aid

Federal Financial Aid is money from the U.S. Department of Education to help you pay for your college tuition and expenses.

Financial Aid

Employer Tuition Discounts

Check if your employer provides tuition assistance, benefits, or reimbursement programs toward your degree.

Employer Tuition Discounts

Scholarships

Starting with your first course, every new qualifying student will be awarded one of our scholarships.

Scholarships

Military or Veteran Benefits

See if you qualify to use veterans’ education benefits or tuition assistance to help pay for school.

Military or Veteran Benefits

Student experience

Over 1 million alumni have earned their degrees while balancing work, school and life. So can you. 

Manage Time with Flexible Courses

Manage Time with Flexible Courses

Use Robust Student Resources

Use Robust Student Resources

Learn Online

Learn Online

How to apply for your Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program

Once you’ve selected your degree program, choose your start date from our calendar, apply for free and register before the deadline (usually one week before the program starts). Then you'll speak to an enrollment representative to begin class.

  • No application fee — no obligation!
Apply for your Doctor of Nursing Practice degree online

Meet your college deans

Our college deans focus on developing a career-relevant curriculum. They bring industry experience to the classroom and lead a faculty of academic professionals with one goal in mind—to help you earn the skills you need to pursue your career.

Raelene Brooks, Dean

Raelene Brooks, PhD, RN

Dean, College of Nursing

Patrick LaRose, Associate Dean

Patrick LaRose, DNP, RN

Associate Dean of Undergraduate and Doctoral Studies, College of Nursing

Programmatic accreditation

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the University of Phoenix are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is aligned with leading industry organizations, such as:

  • American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN®)
  • Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN)
CCNE Accredited

Doctorate in nursing degree FAQs

The approximate program length is 22 months, but it depends on a few factors including whether you take breaks during your program.

 

Completing this degree can prepare you to take on the most senior health care practice positions, including Nurse Manager, Health Information Management Director or Clinical Director. You can also qualify to teach nurses as a Nursing Professor, Clinical Nursing Instructor or Associate Professor.

Yes, all our courses are available online, including the Applied Project. You’ll take one course at a time over 8 weeks. You and your peers will engage in discussions, assignments and learning activities. Plus, you’ll learn from faculty who bring their own real-world experience and an average of 25 years of industry experience. You’ll learn skills important to drive your career growth, impact care outcomes, help you lead care institutions and guide the next generation of nurses.

What Is a BSN vs. RN? 5 Differences

Online Degrees

November 29, 2023 • 10 minute read

A Guide to Leadership and Management in Nursing

Online Degrees

November 03, 2023 • 6 minutes

How to Build a Career in Nursing Administration

Online Degrees

October 27, 2023 • 4 minutes