If you’re a nurse who is ready to affect organizational change in healthcare, you may want to think about earning your doctorate of nursing practice degree. A doctorate in nursing practice degree is ideal for nurses who want to continue providing direct patient care on a full or part-time basis, while also affecting change within healthcare systems on a greater scale.
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While a doctorate of nursing practice may sound similar to a Ph.D. in nursing, the degrees are quite different. A doctorate of nursing practice emphasizes leadership, advanced nursing skills, and organization management. A Ph.D. in nursing is more theoretical and research-based. Most nurses who want to earn their doctorate choose to do so through a doctorate in nursing practice program.
As a nurse, you may work long hours. It can be hard to think about going back to school, even if you want to further your education to open up new career paths. The good news: in Michigan, there are many DNP programs designed with working nurses in mind. Many schools offer weekend and/ or online classes, making it easier than ever to further your education without interfering with your work and/ or family schedule.
SEE ALSO: Michigan DNP Salary
Let’s take a look at five of the most popular doctorate of nursing practice programs in Michigan.
1. Grand Valley State University
The DNP program at Grand Valley State University works to create leaders who will change the future of healthcare in the United States. Through teaching nurses best practices in advanced patient care to improve patient outcomes, health care advocacy, and patient safety, graduates of Grand Valley State University’s DNP program emerge ready to become leaders in their organizations.
- Campus: Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $823 per credit, the total number of credits will vary based on student’s specialization choice
- Minimum time commitment: Three years
- Online availability: Some
- Degree requirements: Applicants must have a BSN or MSN with a GPA of at least 3.0, an RN license, submit a writing sample, and submit a vision statement.
- Programs: Students may specialize in child/ adolescent advanced nursing practice, adult/ older adult advanced nursing practice or health systems leadership.
- School Site: Grand Valley State University – Doctor of Nursing Practice
2. Madonna University
At Madonna University, DNP students get hands-on experience that teaches them how to provide excellent advanced patient care with a focus on business knowledge and improving patient outcomes. This program is designed to help nurses expand in their professional careers rapidly. The program culminates with the publication of the student’s research work.
- Campus: Livonia, Michigan
- Type: Private
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: Approximately $16,000 per year
- Minimum time commitment: Two years
- Online availability: Some
- Degree requirements: Applicants must have their BSN or MSN, and must hold an RN license.
- Programs: Students may specialize in family health, acute care adult gerontology, a combination of family health and acute care adult gerontology, or adult gerontology primary care.
- School Site: Madonna University – Family Nurse Practitioner – BSN to DNP
3. Michigan State University
At Michigan State University, students in the DNP program focus on providing high-level, evidence-based care to patients while also considering how to affect positive change in healthcare, especially in underserved communities. Michigan State offers several different specialization options and offers options that are completed completely online, making it ideal for busy nurses who do not have the time to commute to and from a traditional classroom.
- Campus: East Lansing, Michigan
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing
- Tuition: Approximately $800 per credit for in-state students, $1,500 for out-of-state students
- Minimum time commitment: Three years
- Online availability: Yes
- Degree requirements: Applicants must have an MSN with a GPA of at least 3.0, an RN license, successful completion of graduate-level health policy, statistics, and research methods courses, and submit three letters of recommendation.
- Programs: Students may specialize in family nursing, adult-gerontology primary care, psychiatric-mental health care, adult-gerontology clinical nursing, or nurse anesthesia.
- School Site: Michigan State University – College of Nursing – DNP Program
4. Oakland University
At Oakland University, nurses in the DNP program graduate prepared to take on vital leadership roles within healthcare organizations. DNP graduates have the ability to analyze and improve current systems in place within healthcare organizations while also providing education and leadership to other nurses and medical personnel. Oakland University’s DNP program emphasizes patient safety and pushes its students to analyze evidence to determine best practices for their patients.
- Campus: Rochester, Michigan
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: Approximately $16,000 per year
- Minimum time commitment: 2 years
- Online availability: Some
- Degree requirements: Applicants must have an MSN with a GPA of at least 3.0, proof of practicum experience, an RN license, and submit a written statement of purpose.
- Programs: Students may specialize in advanced practice roles or nurse anesthesia.
- School Site: Oakland University – Doctor of Nursing Practice
5. Saginaw Valley State University
Saginaw Valley State University provides a practice-focused program to nurses who want to learn more about caring for their patients using evidence-based best practices. Unlike most DNP programs, Saginaw Valley offers a practice-based final project, evaluated by how well the nurse’s initiatives improved patient outcomes.
- Campus: University Center, Michigan
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: Approximately $700 per credit for in-state students, $1,300 per credit for out-of-state students
- Minimum time commitment: Three years
- Online availability: Some
- Degree requirements: Applicants must have their BSN or MSN with a GPA of at least 3.3, an RN license, successful completion of a master’s level statistics course, two letters of recommendation, and an in-person or video interview.
- Programs: Students may specialize in family practice.
- School Site: Saginaw Valley State University Nursing – DNP