As a nurse in Pennsylvania, you know the importance of providing the best, most well-researched care to your patients. Whether you’ve been in the field for a long or a short period of time, you may have the drive to become an even better nurse. Many nurses decide not to further their education because they enjoy providing direct patient care. Earning your doctorate of nursing practice degree can give you the best of both worlds.
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Nurses who earn their doctorate of nursing practice become experts in advanced medical techniques, organizational leadership, and nursing research. Nurses who have their DNP can perform advanced medical techniques and can educate new nurses to do the same. Nurses in this position can continue to provide top of the line patient care, or they can shift their focus to organizational leadership.
The benefits of earning your DNP degree are numerous. Whether you choose to continue providing direct patient care or choose to shift to healthcare administration, your DNP degree will open up new doors for your career. You’ll have a new breadth of knowledge and options to fit your ever-changing career needs.
In Pennsylvania, many schools provide an excellent DNP education to nurses who are at the top of their field. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular DNP programs in PA.
1. Penn State
A Penn State education is recognized by healthcare professionals across the United States as a research-based, state of the art education. The Penn State College of Nursing prepares nurses to become leaders in their organizations with their DNP degree. This program is offered completely online, with the exception of three-day intensives available at both the Hershey and University Park campuses.
- Campus: University Park, Pennsylvania and Hershey, Pennsylvania
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $924 per credit, the total number of credits dependent on student’s prior education
- Minimum time commitment: Two years
- Online availability: Some
- Degree requirements: Applicants must have a BSN or MSN with a GPA of 3.5 or better, as well as a B+ or better on all subsequent coursework. Applicants must also submit three letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and must attend an in-person interview.
- Programs: Doctor of Nursing Practice
- School Site: Penn State – Doctor of Nursing Practice
2. Bloomsburg University
Bloomsburg University is proud to prepare future leaders in healthcare with their DNP degree. The program emphasizes the analysis of healthcare outcomes, leadership, health education, and the application of research concepts.
- Campus: Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: Approximately $12,000 per year for in-state students, $13,000 per year for out-of-state students
- Minimum time commitment: Two years
- Online availability: Yes, but students are expected to present their final research project in-person on campus
- Degree requirements: Applicants must have an MSN, an RN license, three letters of recommendation, and must have completed graduate-level advanced health assessment, advanced pharmacology, and advanced pathophysiology courses.
- Programs: Doctor of Nursing Practice
- School Site: Bloomsburg University – Doctor of Nursing Practice
3. Drexel University
Drexel University offers a practice-focused approach to higher education for nurses who are ready to become leaders in their organizations. Drexel trains nurses in best practices in the field to set them up to implement the latest research provided by nurse researchers and those with nursing Ph.Ds. One of the hallmarks of Drexel’s program is its emphasis on training nurses to exercise sensitivity to the needs of patients and their families.
- Campus: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Type: Private
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: Approximately $23,000 per year
- Minimum time commitment: Two years
- Online availability: Yes
- Degree requirements: Applicants must have a master’s degree. If the applicant’s master’s degree is not an MSN, they must hold a BSN. Applicants must have earned a B or higher in a graduate-level research methods course, and must hold an RN license.
- Programs: Doctor of Nursing Practice
- School Site: Drexel University – Doctor of Nursing Practice
4. Millersville University
Millersville University’s DNP program is ideal for nurses who need some online classes but still value a traditional classroom experience. Millersville combines online and traditional learning to create a program that offers the best of both worlds to nurses who work busy schedules.
- Campus: Millersville, Pennsylvania
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: Approximately $13,000 per year for in-state students, approximately $18,000 per year for out-of-state students
- Minimum time commitment: Two years
- Online availability: Some
- Degree requirements: Applicants must have their MSN, MPH, or related graduate degree with a GPA of 3.5 or higher, an RN license, writing sample, written goal statement, and an in-person interview.
- Programs: Doctor of Nursing Practice
- School Site: Millersville University – Doctor of Nursing Practice
5. La Salle University
La Salle University offers a DNP program that emphasizes faith and community while training leaders in nursing to create change within their organization. This heavily research-based program helps nurses understand the reasoning behind best practices in nursing, and sets them up to help other nurses improve their practice. La Salle’s DNP program emphasizes the importance of giving a voice to people who are underserved in the field of healthcare.
- Campus: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Type: Private
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $1,040 per credit, total number of credits per year will depend on the student’s decision to enroll full or part-time
- Minimum time commitment: Varies based on student’s decision to attend full or part-time
- Online availability: No
- Degree requirements: Applicants must have an MSN or a master’s degree in a related field plus a BSN, with a master’s GPA of 3.2 or higher. Applicants must have satisfactory performance in a statistics course and graduate-level research course.
- Programs: Doctor of Nursing Practice
- School Site: La Salle University – Doctor of Nursing Practice