As a nurse in Alabama, you know how important it is to stay on top of your continuing education requirements to provide your patients with state-of-the-art care. If you’re ready to take your career to the next level and become an expert in patient care, it’s time to think about earning your doctorate of nursing practice. This advanced-level degree is well-respected by healthcare organizations and direct care providers and opens up a wide field of career options.
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While many nurses choose to earn their doctorate degree, some choose to earn a Ph.D. in nursing. This is different from a doctorate of nursing practice, or DNP degree. While both degrees are valuable in the healthcare industry, nurses who have their DNP are experts in providing advanced patient care. A Ph.D. in nursing is more research-based. Nurses who earn their Ph.D. are more likely to work in research and education, while nurses who earn their DNP usually work in healthcare settings.
SEE ALSO: Alabama DNP Salary
In Alabama, many schools help nurses earn their DNP degree. Nursing schools understand how demanding your schedule can be. Many offer online and hybrid programs to make it possible for you to get your education while continuing to provide your patients with the care they need. Let’s take a look at five of the most popular DNP programs currently offered in Alabama.
1. The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
The University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa’s DNP program prepares nurses to provide excellent patient care while also taking on leadership roles within their organization. This program is available both to students who have their BSN and to students who have already completed their MSN.
- Campus: Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: Approximately $600 per credit, the total number of credits will depend on the student’s prior education and specialty.
- Minimum time commitment: Two 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 advanced practice registered nursing.
- School Site: University of Alabama – Doctor of Nursing Practice
2. The University of Alabama, Birmingham
The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s DNP program provides students with the information they need to succeed in a variety of specialties within nursing, including informatics, clinical practice, administration, and nursing education. This program is available both to students who have their BSN and to students who have already completed their MSN.
- Campus: Birmingham, Alabama
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: Approximately $660 per credit for in-state students, $660 per credit for out-of-state students for online classes, and $1360 per credit for out-of-state students for traditional classes. The total number of credits will depend on the student’s prior education and specialty.
- 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, three letters of reference, and a personal statement.
- Programs: Students may specialize in advanced practice registered nursing or in administration.
- School Site: The University of Alabama at Birmingham – Doctor of Nursing Practice
3. The University of Alabama, Huntsville
At The University of Alabama in Huntsville, nurses in the DNP program become experts in the ever-advancing field of excellent patient care. Students in this program graduate with the knowledge they need to be leaders in their specialty. This program is available both to students who have their BSN and to students who have already completed their MSN.
- Campus: Huntsville, Alabama
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: Approximately $425 per credit, the total number of credits will depend on the 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, an RN license, and a professional statement.
- Programs: Students may specialize in advanced practice registered nursing.
- School Site: The University of Alabama in Huntsville – Doctor of Nursing Practice
4. Troy University
The DNP program at Troy University is perfect both for nurses who want to continue providing direct patient care and for nurses who are interested in becoming leaders in the healthcare industry. This program is available both to students who have their BSN and to students who have already completed their MSN.
- Campus: Troy, Alabama
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
- Tuition: Approximately $500 per credit, the total number of credits will depend on the student’s prior education and specialty.
- Minimum time commitment: Three years
- Online availability: Yes
- Degree requirements: Applicants must have a BSN or MSN, an RN license, an essay, letters of recommendation, and an in-person interview.
- Programs: Students may specialize in family nursing or clinical nursing.
- School Site: Troy University – Doctor of Nursing Practice
5. University of South Alabama
At the University of South Alabama, DNP students have the option of several specialties. No matter how specific your interests may be, it’s likely that there’s a specialty to match your needs. This program is available both to students who have their BSN and to students who have already completed their MSN.
- Campus: Mobile, Alabama
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: Approximately $500 per credit, the total number of credits will depend on the student’s prior education and specialty.
- Minimum time commitment: Two and a half years
- Online availability: Yes
- Degree requirements: Applicants must have a BSN or MSN with a GPA of at least 3.0, an RN license, and two years of nursing experience relevant to the applicant’s desired specialty track.
- Programs: Students may specialize in women’s health nursing, adult-gerontological primary care nursing, adult-gerontological clinical nursing, adult-gerontological acute care nursing, public health administration, psychiatric family nursing, pediatric acute care nursing, pediatric primary care nursing, family nursing, neonatal nursing, or nursing informatics.
- School Site: University of South Alabama – Doctor of Nursing Practice