What Can Nurses With A DNP Do?
Nurses who have their DNP are trusted by other leaders in the field to guide them through today’s complex landscape using a combination of clinical, leadership, economic and organizational skills. Because of this, they spend less time working directly with patients and more time implementing new policies that improve patient care.
You’ll work with a variety of nursing professionals to conduct evidence-based research, design programs, and provide staff training that significantly impacts treatment outcomes. The credibility you gain by having your DNP can prepare you for executive-level positions.
With your DNP, you can:
- Manage nursing staff
- Implement new care practices for different patient populations
- Develop projects and policies regarding patient health and safety
- Analyze data to solve problems
- Act as a leader on an executive board
- Seek top positions in clinical nursing leadership, administration, and management
What’s the Market Outlook For Nurses With A DNP?
- More responsibility. The Institute of Medicine reports there should be twice as many doctoral-level nurses by 2020, and these nurses will play a part in shaping healthcare policy and practice.
- Growing demand. The ever‑evolving demands of the nation’s complex healthcare environments require the highest level of practice expertise to assure quality patient outcomes.
- Increased earning potential. A survey by Advance Healthcare Network revealed that nurse practitioners who hold a DNP received higher compensation than their MSN‑educated peers, and earn an average salary of $113,500.
Where Do DNP-Prepared Nurses Work?
- Public health departments
- Universities or colleges
- Hospitals
- Primary care offices
- Ambulatory care centers
- Government agencies
- Health systems
Do More For Patient Care With A DNP.
Patient care is becoming more complex, and the shortage of nursing personnel has made the demand for doctoral-educated leaders essential.
Although only a small fraction of the country’s nurses have a doctoral degree, a report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation declared that nurses need to be able to take on leadership roles with more responsibility. One way to do that is by earning your DNP.
Nurses with a DNP are drivers of innovation. A doctoral degree from Duquesne can position you to serve as a leader in everything from refining and modifying existing healthcare delivery systems to designing new ones. You’ll also find yourself in the top 1% of nurse influencers.
Chief Nursing Officer
Chief nursing officers are responsible for managing all nursing staff and patient care services in a hospital setting. You will be a member on the governing board of the hospital with other executive leaders and act as a representative of the nurses you manage.
Average salary: $125,413*
Advanced Clinical Educator
Advanced clinical educators typically work in hospitals, rehabilitation centers and other healthcare facilities. As a clinical educator, your main responsibility will be to train nursing staff in the facility where they work — from new employee orientation to developing patient care policies.
Average salary: $122,000**
Public Health Policy-Maker
Policy-makers in public health are responsible for advocating as a nurse leader in a state or community department of health. You’ll help develop, manage and improve public health programs that focus on disease control, safety and emergency preparedness.
Average salary: $53,940***
University Nurse Educator
The shortage of nurse educators in the United States has opened the doors for nurses with a DNP to teach at both the bachelor’s and master’s level. As a nurse educator at the university level, you may benefit from having summers and holidays off.
Average salary: $72,000*
*Payscale.com | **Salary.com | ***U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics