If you’re a nurse in Colorado, you’re already working hard to provide the best care possible to your patients. You know the importance of staying up to date on the latest advances in healthcare, and you pride yourself on staying at the top of your field. If you’re a nurse who is ready to take your career to the next level, you may be ready to work toward your doctorate of nursing practice degree.
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Doctorate of nursing practice, or DNP, programs focus on patient care and provide students with the education they need to perform advanced medical procedures. Some DNP programs accept nurses with their BSN, while others require nurses to have completed their MSN before entering a doctorate program. No matter where you’re at in your career path, there’s a Colorado DNP program that will get you to the top of your field.
One of the most common points of confusion about DNP degrees is whether it’s the same concept as earning a Ph.D. in nursing. While both degrees are doctorates, a DNP program focuses on direct patient care, while a Ph.D. program focuses on research. Nurses who earn their DNP tend to continue to work as nursing leaders or move into healthcare administration. Nurses who earn their Ph.D. typically work in nurse research or education. Both degrees are valuable, and the DNP is the best fit for nurses who want to continue to excel at providing excellent direct patient care.
SEE ALSO: Colorado DNP Salary
In Colorado, there are many different programs for nurses who are ready to further their education. Let’s take a look at five of the most popular DNP programs in Colorado.
1. American Sentinel University
Offering four different degree tracks, American Sentinel University’s online DNP programs are a great option for busy nurses who want to take on leadership roles within their organizations. This program is available to students who have already completed their MSN.
- Campus: Aurora, Colorado
- Type: Private
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: Approximately $800 per credit hour, the total number of credits required will depend on student’s prior education and specialty.
- Minimum time commitment: 28 months
- Online availability: Yes
- Degree requirements: Applicants must have an MSN or other nursing-specific master’s degree and an RN license.
- Programs: Students may specialize in executive leadership, educational leadership, professional leadership, or informatics leadership.
- School Site: American Sentinel University – Doctoral Degrees in Nursing
2. Colorado Mesa University
Colorado Mesa University’s DNP program gives nurses the knowledge they need to provide premium healthcare to diverse populations. Nurses graduate from Colorado Mesa University with the ability to become leaders within their organizations, using evidence and research-based techniques to improve patient outcomes. This program is available to students who have their BSN and to students who have already completed their MSN.
- Campus: Grand Junction, Colorado
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: Approximately $600 per credit, the total number of credits required will depend on student’s prior education.
- Minimum time commitment: Three years
- Online availability: Yes
- Degree requirements: Applicants must have their BSN or MSN with a GPA of at least 3.0 and an RN license.
- Programs: Students may specialize in family nursing.
- School Site: Colorado Mesa University – Doctor of Nursing Practice
3. Regis University
The DNP program at Regis University is unique in that it offers two valuable specialties: one for nurses who want to continue providing direct patient care, and one for nurses who are interested in moving to healthcare leadership. This program is available to students who have their BSN and to students who have already completed their MSN.
- Campus: Denver, Colorado
- Type: Private
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: Approximately $925 per credit, the total number of credits required will depend on student’s prior education and specialty.
- Minimum time commitment: Two years
- Online availability: Yes
- Degree requirements: Applicants must have a BSN or MSN with a GPA of at least 3.0 and an RN license.
- Programs: Students may specialize in becoming an APRN or in advanced healthcare leadership.
- School Site: Regis University – Doctor of Nursing Practice
4. University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
At the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, graduates of the DNP program emerge ready to take on leadership roles in their healthcare organizations. Inter-professional communication is stressed in this program, teaching students how to best communicate with other leaders within their practice. This program is available to students who have already completed their MSN.
- Campus: Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: Approximately $800 per credit, the total number of credits required will depend on student’s prior education.
- Minimum time commitment: Three years
- Online availability: Some
- Degree requirements: Applicants must have their MSN with a GPA of at least 3.0 or higher, national certification as an NP or CNS, and an RN license.
- Programs: Doctorate of Nursing Practice
- School Site: University of Colorado at Colorado Springs – Post-Master’s Doctorate of Nursing
5. University of Colorado Denver
The University of Colorado Denver offers several DNP programs for nurses who are ready to take their education to the next level. There are several different tracks available to meet your needs. This program is available to students who have their BSN and to students who have already completed their MSN.
- Campus: Denver, Colorado
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: Approximately $700 per credit for in-state students, $1,100 for out-of-state students. The total number of credits required will depend on the student’s prior education and specialty.
- Minimum time commitment: Less than two years
- Online availability: Yes
- Degree requirements: Applicants must have their BSN or MSN and an RN license.
- Programs: Students may specialize in becoming a master of public health, or in public health nursing.
- School Site: University of Colorado Denver – Doctor of Nursing Practice