Online DNP Programs
Overview
Impact patient care from a higher level
- Access coursework 100% online with no campus visits required.
- Apply with no GMAT or GRE scores required.
- Earn your DNP in as few as 20 months or your DNP-NP in as few as 36 months.
- Complete clinicals locally in your preferred setting.
- Enjoy no waiting list once you’re accepted.
Lead the future of nursing practice
Maryville’s online Doctor of Nursing Practice programs are ideal for experienced nurses who want to prepare to advance their careers by earning the highest credential in nursing practice education.
If you’re already a nurse practitioner, you can earn your DNP in as few as 20 months or add a concentration to become a DNP-NP in as few as 36 months.
Either way, you’ll gain the skills to become a leader in evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and systems leadership.
Why choose Maryville’s accredited online DNP programs?
- Graduate from a program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
- Enjoy the convenience of a 24/7 online learning model that allows you to plan time for work, life, and family.
- Study important topics that can pave the way to a better future.
- Conduct research via clinical inquiry courses that challenge assumptions.
- Learn from experienced faculty and nursing leaders who share their goals for public health and the nursing profession.
Program Details
The Maryville online DNP programs are designed to:
- Prepare you for more autonomy and professional growth
- Develop your expertise with a focus on the scientific underpinnings of nursing, healthcare policy, and organizational leadership
- Help you advance your credentials and improve patient care in your specialization
- Equip you for the complexities of community healthcare needs
- Expand your knowledge of evidence-based practice, clinical care research, patient outcomes, and clinical systems management
Online DNP Programs: Choose Between a DNP and DNP-NP
Despite having already earned your master’s degree and established an advanced nursing career, you still feel a sense of urgency to learn more. Now you can gain even more satisfaction, momentum, confidence, and experience through Maryville University’s two online DNP programs:
- DNP
- DNP-NP
DNP
For advanced practice nurses who have completed their MSN and wish to lead at the highest level.
A DNP degree can deliver the skills you’ll need to pursue a wide range of advanced healthcare positions, including specialized careers, administrative leadership positions, policy roles, and academic positions. All of these roles offer the opportunity to improve patients’ lives and make healthcare better, whether by leading other nurses, educating future nurses, or influencing health policy.
DNP-NP
For nurses who have completed their MSN and wish to become NPs while also working through their terminal Doctor of Nursing Practice program.
The DNP-NP creates a pathway to earn your DNP while also earning the credits needed to take the respective NP credentialing examinations to earn your NP certification. Maryville’s online DNP-NP program offers you a choice of five specialty areas: AGACNP, AGPCNP, FNP, PNP, and PMHNP.
Five ways to specialize your online DNP-NP:
Why earn your Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree?
You have your Master of Science in Nursing. Now, gain even more confidence and career momentum with a DNP.
The field needs you now
You’ll have dedicated student support
As healthcare evolves and becomes more complex, the demand for advanced practice nurses is growing across the country. An aging population and upcoming retirements among the baby boomer generation of healthcare professionals are further driving this need. The strength and stability of our healthcare system hangs in the balance, and we believe its future depends on the recruitment of qualified and capable leaders in nursing practice — leaders like you.
Learn more about our dedicated student support coaches here.
Careers
What can you do with your Online DNP degree?
Online DNP programs job outlook
There are many factors propelling the advancement of the nursing profession, such as:
- A shortage of primary and specialty care physicians that may reach as high as 139,000 by 2033, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges
- The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects job openings for nurse practitioners to increase by 45% between 2022 and 2032.
- The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) now recommends the DNP as a minimum standard of education.
There are many factors propelling the advancement of the nursing profession, such as:
- The AACN reports that U.S. nursing schools have turned away more than 80,000 qualified applicants in recent years due to insufficient faculty and other factors
- The emergence of nurse-run clinics to meet the needs for improved access to local community healthcare
- Rising healthcare needs of an aging population
- Increasingly complex healthcare system and patient needs
- Rapidly expanding knowledge underlying practice
- National concerns about quality outcomes and patient safety
The role of a DNP gives you the chance to:
- Conduct clinical research or advocate for legislative change in healthcare policy
- Become a practice manager or CEO in a healthcare organization
- Potentially earn a six-figure salary with greater autonomy
- Apply evidence-based research to improve the quality of patient care
The role of a DNP gives you the chance to:
- Advocate for patient safety rights and practices
- Drive collaborative projects as a leader for the future of nursing
- Sit at the executive table or in a government seat, where key decisions are made
Where do DNPs find job opportunities?
- Internal medicine practice
- Specialty practice, such as cardiology or oncology
- Universities and colleges, teaching tomorrow’s nurses
- Autonomous practice (24 states now permit those with a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree to open their own clinics and become their own boss)
- Hospitals and other healthcare institutions
- Administrative and political offices
Jobs for graduates of online DNP programs
Completing your online DNP or DNP-NP at Maryville can qualify you for roles such as:
Completing your online DNP or DNP-NP at Maryville can qualify you for roles such as:
- Nurse midwife
- Nursing professor
- Director of nursing services
- Chief nurse anesthetist
- Chief nursing officer
- Hospital CEO
Find out more about DNP and DNP-NP careers here.
An online DNP degree can equip you for careers with salaries such as:
- Adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner (AGPCNP): $90,000
- Family nurse practitioner (FNP): $97,000
- Pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP): $92,000
What is the typical salary for online DNP program graduates?
- Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP): $112,000
- Chief nursing officer (CNO): $135,000
- Director of nursing services: $89,000
Source: PayScale.com, September 2021
Testimonial
“The way that the curriculum is set up at Maryville, each semester built upon the previous one, so we’re learning as we go. It’s not an overwhelming process. A lot of times, that’s much like our careers are in the healthcare field. We all have something new to learn, every single day.”
Tiffany N., graduate, Doctor of Nursing Practice
Move forward in your nursing career
Online DNP Curriculum
What is the curriculum for the online DNP programs?
As you push toward the height of your nursing career, you’ll need an education that prepares you for the challenges you’ll face and the opportunities you’ll find. That’s what our online Doctor of Nursing Practice curriculum prepares you to do.
Maryville’s programs offer you the chance to pursue your online DNP degree on its own (graduate in as few as 20 months) or with a nurse practitioner concentration (graduate in as few as 36 months, depending on the concentration you select).
Online DNP-NP Curriculum
If you want to become an NP, you can develop those skills while you earn your DNP online with just 17 additional credit hours. You’ll have the opportunity to build your general nursing skill set with courses such as Professional Role Development, and you’ll build your NP competencies through advanced courses in pathophysiology, health assessment, and pharmacotherapeutics.
You can start either program in the spring, summer, or fall. All courses can be completed 100% online.
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Core and Capstone Courses
The DNP program is 11 courses, 33 credit hours
Doctor of Nursing Practice Foundation Courses (15 credit hours)
This course is designed to introduce students to the purpose, content, and methods of epidemiology and biostatistics. Students will learn to evaluate and use output from statistical computing software.
Prerequisite: NURS 710
This course is designed to explore the phenomenon of interest related to the DNP scholarly project. Students will systematically develop a project protocol that is supported by the literature and submit it for department approval.
Course objectives:
- Develop a clinical question that guides the scholarly project.
- Read critically from professional nursing literature and other related disciplines to interpret, analyze and apply current research to improve practice.
- Apply a systematic approach to address clinical problems within healthcare organizations, including outcome measures and a sustainability plan to create meaningful changes in clinical outcomes.
- Develop a protocol and submit it to the DNP council for project approval.
- Develop the first chapter of the scholarly project that includes needed sections based on the selected DNP project format.
This course is designed to emphasize an objective approach to the integration and synthesis of knowledge. Manuscript preparation and practical use of evidence are incorporated to prepare students for the design of research proposals.
Prerequisite: NURS 700 and NURS 701
This course is designed to provide an understanding of the measurement of phenomena as it relates to the research process. Procedures for selecting, applying, and interpreting the correct statistical application to a research problem will be presented with students processing the results.
Prerequisite: NURS 700
Doctor of Nursing Practice Capstone Courses (18 credit hours)
This course will allow the students to design an evidence-based project that will guide clinical practice. The feasibility of conducting this initiative will be explored. Potential funding sources and budget issues will be examined. Students will apply the elements of protection of human subjects and complete the Maryville IRB.
Prerequisite: NURS 700, NURS 701, NURS 702, and NURS 703
This course is designed to expand the students knowledge of clinical project data collection and analysis of data. Students will apply integrated research concepts pertaining to the clinical project. Utilization of various methods of data analysis and data management systems will be explored. Complete project data is needed prior to the start of this course.
Prerequisite: NURS 705 and NUS 705L
This course is designed to expand the students understanding of methods of dissemination in translational research. Variables that impact the analysis of data related to the scholarly project will be examined. Implications for patients, clinical practice and the healthcare systems will be explored and findings disseminated.
Prerequisite: NURS 706
Doctor of Nursing Practice with NP Concentration (DNP-NP)
DNP-NP students complete the courses listed above plus:
Graduate Nursing Core Courses (6 credit hours)
DNP-NP Credits by Concentration:
AGPCNP 62 Credit Hours, AGACNP 68 Credit Hours, FNP 68 Credit Hours, PNP 65 Credit Hours, PMHNP 71 Credit Hours
Nurse Practitioner Core Courses (11 credit hours)
This course explores focused and comprehensive health assessments in a variety of settings and patients across the lifespan. This includes development of health promotion strategies and prioritization of care.
Prerequisite: Online - NURS 611, NURS 615
Corequisite: On Ground - NURS 615
This course focuses on the pharmacological foundation for safely prescribing medical regimens of illnesses for individuals across the lifespan. Also included are illness prevention, non-pharmacological and legal implications for prescriptive authority for the nurse practitioner.
Note: Selection of appropriate therapies, patient education and evaluation parameters are stressed.
AGACNP Concentration Curriculum
This is the first didactic management course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program. Focus is on individuals experiencing illness seen in the acute care setting. Students will analyze practice guidelines and develop differential diagnoses, implement clinical judgment and decision-making, as it relates to evidence based care management.
Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612, and NURS 615
Corequisite: NURS 641 or NURS 641C
First practicum course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program. Students will apply and integrate concepts presented in NURS-640 with focus on applying knowledge and skills in acute care practice settings.
Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612, and NURS 615
Corequisite: NURS 640
This course is the second didactic management course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program. Students will continue to expand on knowledge, decision making and management of acute and emergent physiological alterations in health. Students will analyze practice guidelines and develop differential diagnoses, implement clinical judgment and decision-making, as it relates to evidence based care management.
Prerequisite: NURS 640 and NURS 641 or NURS 641C
Corequisite: NURS 643 or NURS 643C
This is the second practicum course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program. Students will apply and integrate concepts presented in the NURS 642 with focus on comprehensive health care to complex, acute and critically ill patients in a clinical, preceptored practicum experience.
Prerequisite: NURS 640 and NURS 641
Corequisite: NURS 642
This is the final didactic management course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program. Students will continue to analyze practice guidelines and develop differential diagnoses, implement clinical judgment and decision-making, as it relates to evidence based care management in complex symptomology.
Prerequisite: NURS 640, NURS 641 or NURS 641C, NURS 642 and NURS 643 or NURS 643C
Corequisite: NURS 645 or NURS 645C
This is the final practicum course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program. The student will apply and integrate concepts presented in the NURS-644 with focus on comprehensive health care to complex, acute and critically ill patients in a clinical, preceptored practicum experience.
Prerequisite: NURS 642 and NURS 643
Corequisite: NURS 644
AGPCNP Concentration Curriculum
This course covers the care of adults experiencing acute, chronic and complex health problems of select body systems in this first of two sequential courses. Current research based interventions are analyzed. Individual, family, and group counseling/education for patients and families are incorporated. Included is primary, secondary and tertiary disease prevention and management of complex symptomatology.
Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612, and NURS 615
Corequisite: NURS 621 or NURS 621C
This course will cover the theoretical, clinical and role components of care by an advanced practice nurse and are integrated in a supervised clinical practicum.
Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612, and NURS 615
Corequisite: NURS 620
This course covers the care of adults experiencing acute, chronic and complex health problems of select body systems in this second of two sequential courses. Current research based interventions are analyzed. Individual, family, and group counseling/education for patients and families are incorporated. Included is primary, secondary and tertiary disease prevention and management of complex symptomatology.
Prerequisite: NURS 620 and NURS 621 or NURS 621C
Corequisite: NURS 624 or NURS 624C
This course will cover the theoretical, clinical and role components of care by an advanced practice provider and are integrated in a supervised clinical practicum. Opportunity is provided for the assessment, management, and evaluation of adults with chronic and acute health problems in a primary care setting.
Prerequisite: NURS 620 and NURS 621
Corequisite: NURS 623
The care of adults experiencing acute, chronic, and complex health problems are studied in this course specifically for students in the adult-gerontology nurse practitioner program. The course expands on current research-based interventions unique to adults of varying ages, from wellness to illness. Individual, family, group counseling, and education for patients and families are incorporated. Included is primary, secondary, and tertiary disease prevention and management of complex symptomatology.
Prerequisites: NURS 620, NURS 621, NURS 623, and NURS 624
Corequisite: NURS 627C
This course will cover the theoretical, clinical, and role components of care by an advanced practice nurse are integrated in a supervised clinical practicum. Opportunity is provided for the assessment, management, and evaluation of adults with chronic and acute health problems in a primary care setting.
Prerequisites: NURS 620, NURS 621C, NURS 623, and NURS 624
Corequisite: NURS 626
FNP Concentration Curriculum
This course covers the care of adults experiencing acute, chronic and complex health problems of select body systems in this first of two sequential courses. Current research based interventions are analyzed. Individual, family, and group counseling/education for patients and families are incorporated. Included is primary, secondary and tertiary disease prevention and management of complex symptomatology.
Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612, and NURS 615
Corequisite: NURS 621 or NURS 621C
This course will cover the theoretical, clinical and role components of care by an advanced practice nurse and are integrated in a supervised clinical practicum.
Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612, and NURS 615
Corequisite: NURS 620
This course covers the care of adults experiencing acute, chronic and complex health problems of select body systems in this second of two sequential courses. Current research based interventions are analyzed. Individual, family, and group counseling/education for patients and families are incorporated. Included is primary, secondary and tertiary disease prevention and management of complex symptomatology.
Prerequisite: NURS 620 and NURS 621 or NURS 621C
Corequisite: NURS 624 or NURS 624C
This course will cover the theoretical, clinical and role components of care by an advanced practice provider and are integrated in a supervised clinical practicum. Opportunity is provided for the assessment, management, and evaluation of adults with chronic and acute health problems in a primary care setting.
Prerequisite: NURS 620 and NURS 621
Corequisite: NURS 623
This course prepares Family Nurse Practitioner students to develop expertise and assume responsibility for health promotion, maintenance, and management of chronic and acute illness of children and women’s health. Emphasis is placed on the child within the framework of the family.
Prerequisite: NURS 623 and NURS 624 or NURS 624C
Corequisite: NURS 630 or NURS 630C
This course provides the student with an opportunity to assume responsibility for the primary health care services of individuals and families under clinical supervision. The student is expected to assume increasing responsibility for planning and implementing therapeutic processes and for documenting and evaluating outcomes of care. The role of the FNP in health care promotion and management and collaboration with health professionals.
Prerequisite: NURS 623 and NURS 624
Corequisite: NURS 629
PNP Concentration Curriculum
This course focuses on growth and development and milestones of pediatric patients using theories and evidence based practice. Students will learn anticipatory guidance techniques, health promotion and illness prevention concepts within the pediatric population, incorporating individual, cultural, ethnic, and spiritual preferences.
Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 615 and NURS 612 (may also be taken concurrently)
Corequisite: NURS 655C
This course is the first in a two-part pediatric primary care didactic sequence. In this course students will focus on acute and chronic primary health care problems of children and adolescents.
Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612, NURS 615 & NURS 650
Corequisite: NURS 652 or NURS 652C
This is the first practicum course in the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) program. Students will apply and integrate concepts presented in the NURS-651 with focus on applying knowledge and skills in pediatric primary care practice settings.
Prerequisite: NURS 650
Corequisite: NURS 651
This course is second in a two-part pediatric primary care didactic sequence. In this course students will focus on acute and chronic primary health care problems of children and adolescents.
Prerequisite: NURS 651 and NURS 652 or NURS 652C
Corequisite: NURS 654 or NURS 654C
This is the second practicum course in the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) program. Students will apply and integrate concepts presented in the NURS 653 with focus on applying knowledge and skills in pediatric primary care practice settings.
Prerequisite: NURS 651 and NURS 652
Corequisite: NURS 653
This practicum course in the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) program focuses on primary care setting and the preventative well child visit. Students will apply and integrate concepts presented in the NURS 650 with a focus on applying knowledge and skills in pediatric primary care practice settings around pediatric health promotion.
Prerequisite: NURS-612
Corequisite: NURS-650C
PMHNP Concentration Curriculum
This course will cover assessment and identification of discrete aspects of cognition, psychopathology, affect and behavior in the diagnosis and treatment planning of psychiatric illness across the life span. Also included is the appropriate use, monitoring and evaluation of prescribing psychotropic medication, including pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.
Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612 and NURS 615
In this course theories and models will be used to develop an understanding of the etiologies of acute and chronic mental health disorders among adults and older adults. Selection of appropriate treatment strategies including individual and group psychotherapies will be discussed.
Prerequisite: NURS 660
Corequisite: NURS 662 or NURS 662C
This practicum course is designed to synthesize advanced practice knowledge relevant to adult and older adult patients with psychiatric illness. A variety of psychotherapeutic strategies will be explored.
Prerequisite: NURS 660
Corequisite: NURS 661
This is the first of two didactic courses designed to assist the student in development of the advanced practice nursing role with the care and management of individuals with a mental health disorder across the lifespan.
Prerequisite: NURS 661 and NURS 662 or NURS 662C
Corequisite: NURS 664 or NURS 664C
This practicum is designed to synthesize advanced practice knowledge relevant to patients with psychiatric illness across the lifespan.
Prerequisite: NURS 661 and NURS 662
Corequisite: NURS 663
This is the second of two didactic courses designed to assist the student in development of the advanced practice nursing role with the care and management of individuals with a mental health disorder across the lifespan.
Prerequisite: NURS 663 and NURS 664 or NURS 664C
Corequisite: NURS 667 or NURS 667C
This practicum is designed to synthesize advanced practice knowledge relevant to patients with psychiatric illness across the lifespan.
Prerequisite: NURS 663 and NURS 664
Corequisite: NURS 665
Admission Requirements
- MSN degree from a regionally accredited institution and CCNE/ACEN/CNEA accredited nursing program
- Cumulative GPA of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale in all college work
- Have at least one year of professional nursing experience
- Hold current, unencumbered licensure as an RN in the U.S.
- Official transcripts from every post-secondary school where a degree was earned and any graduate-level coursework
- Transfer credit request form
- Applicants who do not meet the minimum GPA requirement will be required to submit an addendum.
- The acceptance of transfer credit is at the discretion of Maryville University, click to view our transfer credit policy.
- Maryville’s online nursing programs require students with an international education background to have their BSN from a CCNE/ACEN accredited program for the MSN and BSN-DNP programs, and their MSN from a CCNE/ACEN accredited program for the Post-Master's Certificate, DNP, and DNP-NP programs. Please reach out to an enrollment advisor for more information.
Interested in this degree?
University Details
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Online DNP Degree: Meet Our Faculty
Why should students choose to enroll in the DNP program at Maryville?
Maryville University has created a unique program that supports the work of emerging leaders in healthcare. We see each student as an individual with a unique background and area of interest. Faculty members support these interests and help them develop their body of clinical work.
How can nurses address issues of access to healthcare in rural communities?
Technology is solving many issues in healthcare. Telehealth has shown to be an effective way to meet patients in communities that lack access to care. Nursing plays a very important role in the delivery of care in this way. As telehealth evolves over time, nursing will be a key player in its development and implementation.
What are the most important skills employers are looking for?
Employers are looking for the DNP graduate to be a systems-level thinker who can create change in healthcare systems. They need people who can see not just the patient-and-disease process but also how the system works together to improve the health of communities.
What advice would you give to someone studying nursing?
Nursing education is challenging and rewarding. I would tell any nursing student to focus on the reason they decided to go into this profession. Keep that motivation to help patients and communities going forward. Give yourself the time and space to truly absorb and learn the material. Keep in mind that education is your foundation and much more learning will happen as you begin to practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Maryville online DNP graduates have the skills and knowledge to lead at the highest levels in clinical, nonclinical, educational, and administrative roles in a wide range of settings. Maybe you’d like to become a nurse educator in a hospital or a school of nursing. Maybe you feel a calling to pursue an executive-level position as a hospital administrator. You can become a clinical researcher or healthcare policy advocate — or even start your own private practice.
Because our online DNP programs offer the option to earn your Doctor of Nursing Practice on its own or alongside one of five nurse practitioner concentrations, you can tailor your education to fit your interests and career goals.
Maryville’s online DNP-NP program gives you the opportunity to specialize in one of five online nurse practitioner concentrations:
Online Doctor of Nursing Practice Careers
