As a nurse, you want to provide the best care for your patients. Earning your doctorate of nursing practice can help you become a leader in both providing advanced patient care and creating organizational change in healthcare systems. Nurses who have their DNP degree are at the top of their field, while still getting to practice the direct patient care they love.
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A DNP degree is different from a Ph.D. in nursing. While both are advanced degrees, a Ph.D. in nursing focuses on research, while a DNP focuses on advanced patient care. Most nurses who choose to work toward their doctorate prefer to earn a DNP, rather than a Ph.D.
SEE ALSO: Georgia DNP Salary
If you’re a nurse in Georgia, you’re in luck. Many nursing schools provide the education you need to earn your DNP. Many of these programs are flexible and offer online courses to help you fit education into your busy schedule. Let’s take a look at five of the most popular DNP programs in Georgia.
1. Georgia Southern University School of Nursing
As a busy nurse, you know the importance of getting the information you need quickly. At Georgia Southern University School of Nursing, the DNP program is designed to get you the information you need for your DNP degree quickly and efficiently, without interfering with your busy nursing schedule. The program is available online, and you’re able to do work on your own time. The program offers several elective choices, making it easy to tailor the program to your career goals.
- Campus: Statesboro, Georgia
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: Approximately $260 per credit for in-state students, $1,100 per credit for out-of-state students. The total number of credits will depend on the student’s prior education.
- Minimum time commitment: Two years
- Online availability: Yes
- Degree requirements: Applicants must have an MSN degree with a GPA of at least 3.0, successful completion of an introductory statistics course, three letters of recommendation, and an RN license.
- Programs: Students may specialize in several elective areas, including public health, business, nursing informatics, epidemiology, and other areas of study that are relevant to the work of a DNP.
- School Site: Georgia Southern University – DNP Online Program
2. Augusta University
Augusta University was the first institution of higher learning in the state of Georgia to offer a DNP degree. The school’s DNP program was established in 2005 and has since created many leaders in the nursing and healthcare administration fields. Students who attend Augusta University’s DNP program have the choice of several areas of specialization.
- Campus: Augusta, Georgia
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: Approximately $5,200 per year for in-state students, approximately $14,000 per year for out of state students. The total number of credits will depend on a student’s prior education and specialization track.
- 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, an RN license, three letters of recommendation, and an in-person interview.
- Programs: Students may choose to specialize in adult gerontology acute care, family nursing, pediatric nursing, or psychiatric and mental health nursing.
- School Site: Augusta University Doctor of Nursing Practice
3. Mercer University Georgia Baptist College of Nursing
Mercer University Georgia Baptist College of Nursing offers the opportunity to earn a DNP to both students who have their BSN and MSN. Two specializations are available, allowing nurses to tailor their education to fit their future career goals.
- Campus: Atlanta, Georgia
- Type: Private
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: Approximately $19,000 per year
- Minimum time commitment: Three years
- Online availability: Yes
- Degree requirements: Applicants must have a BSN or MSN, an RN license, three references, and must attend an in-person interview.
- Programs: Students may specialize in adult-gerontology acute care or family nursing.
- School Site: Mercer University Georgia Baptist College of Nursing – Doctor of Nursing Practice
4. Georgia College School of Nursing
Georgia College School of Nursing’s DNP program is designed with a nurse’s busy schedule in mind. While students do have to make some visits to campus, all classes are available online, making it easy for busy nurses to get their classwork done around their work schedules. The program emphasizes evidence-based care to improve patient outcomes. The program includes a capstone experience determined by each student’s unique interests, making the program ideal for nurses who are interested in a specific area of study.
- Campus: Milledgeville, Georgia
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: Approximately $300 per credit for in-state students, $1,100 per credit for out-of-state students. The total number of credits required dependent on student’s prior education.
- Minimum time commitment: Two and a half years
- Online availability: Yes
- Degree requirements: Applicants must have their MSN, a nursing license, three letters of recommendation, and must submit a statement of purpose.
- Programs: Doctor of Nursing Practice
- School Site: Georgia College – Nursing DNP
5. Georgia State University Byrdine F. Lewis School of Nursing and Health Professions
For nurses who value both a flexible online experience and a more structured course of study, the Georgia State University Byrdine F. Lewis School of Nursing and Health Professions provides the best of both worlds. While all classes are available online, some require students to “attend” class together, creating an experience similar to that of learning in a traditional classroom.
- Campus: Atlanta, Georgia
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: Approximately $350 per credit for in-state students, $1,200 per credit for out-of-state students. The total number of credits required depends on the student’s prior education.
- Minimum time commitment: Two and a half years
- Online availability: Yes
- Degree requirements: Applicants must have their BSN or MSN in nursing with a GPA of at least 2.75, an RN license, at least six months of experience as a registered nurse, three letters of recommendation, a personal mission statement, and a writing sample.
- Programs: Doctor of Nursing Practice
- School Site: Georgia State University Doctor of Nursing Practice, DNP