How a DNP Can Prepare You For Advanced Practice NursingWritten by:
University of Tulsa
• Aug 19, 2026
Nursing is an in-demand profession, particularly for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), which is growing rapidly because the United States health care system is in need of nurses with specialized training. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that APRN employment will grow 35% between 2024 and 2034, significantly faster than the average for all careers in the United States.
To prepare for advanced practice nursing and obtain one of these roles, nursing students need to complete an accredited graduate degree, such as an online Family Nurse Practitioner, Doctor of Nursing Practice (FNP, DNP). This doctoral program provides nursing professionals with the skills they need for a specialized career track.
What Is Advanced Practice Nursing?
Advanced practice nursing is a type of nursing in which the registered nurse has completed graduate-level education and training from a nationally accredited nursing program. Additionally, this training cannot be general and must focus on a specialization. In addition to graduate-level education, an APRN must be registered as a nurse in their state and pass a national certification exam that measures their specialization-specific skills. These skills allow them to provide a more advanced level of care than general registered nurses.
What Is a DNP?
A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a terminal nursing degree focused on advanced clinical practice and leadership. DNP programs enable RNs to deepen their clinical expertise, strengthen their leadership skills, and learn to apply evidence-based practices, including the use of emerging tools and technologies.
Key Objectives in a DNP Program
Key objectives of a DNP program include the following:
- Apply advanced nursing theory and research to professional practice
- Use statistical methods to improve evidence-based clinical decision-making
- Use data and data management systems to inform health care practice and clinical decisions
Subject Areas Covered in a DNP
Doctor of Nursing Practice degree programs combine advanced clinical education with coursework in areas such as leadership, research, and health care systems. Specific study areas vary by program but may include:
- Advanced clinical practice: DNP students pursuing advanced practice roles may study subjects such as advanced physiology and pathophysiology, pharmacology, health assessment, diagnostic reasoning, and the diagnosis and management of health conditions.
- Organizational leadership: DNP programs can prepare nurses to take on greater leadership responsibilities, including roles such as chief nursing officer. Coursework may develop skills in interdisciplinary collaboration, performance management, and improving the quality of patient care.
- Research and evidence-based practice: Coursework may cover research methods, biostatistics, and the translation of research findings into clinical practice, helping nurses evaluate evidence and apply it to health care decisions.
- Health care systems and population health: Areas such as health care policy, informatics, and epidemiology can help nurses understand the broader systems and population-level factors that influence health care delivery and patient outcomes.
How a DNP Can Lead to Advanced Practice Nursing
A DNP can prepare nurses for advanced clinical practice as well as leadership roles across health care. Depending on their specialization and credentials, DNP-prepared nurses may provide direct patient care, translate research into practice, educate other nurses, shape health care policy, or lead health care teams and organizations.
For nurses pursuing APRN roles, a DNP program with an advanced practice specialization can provide the graduate-level education and clinical training needed to pursue certification and licensure. For example, nurses who complete an FNP, DNP program can pursue certification and licensure as family nurse practitioners, which will allow them to provide advanced primary care to patients across the lifespan.
Careers for DNP-Prepared Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
DNP-prepared APRNs can pursue several career paths depending on their specialization and certification. Four APRN roles include nurse practitioner, certified registered nurse anesthetist, certified nurse midwife, and clinical nurse specialist.
- Nurse practitioner: Nurse practitioners provide advanced clinical care within a particular population focus. For example, family nurse practitioners provide comprehensive primary care to patients of all ages, while other NPs may specialize in areas such as psychiatric-mental health or adult-gerontology. An FNP, DNP program provides specialized graduate education and clinical training for nurses pursuing certification and licensure as family nurse practitioners. According to the BLS, nurse practitioners earned a median annual salary of $129,210 as of May 2024.
- Certified registered nurse anesthetist: A certified registered nurse anesthetist provides anesthetic care to patients during surgical procedures. They work with the surgical team to safely administer anesthesia, offer emergency services, and suggest pain management tactics. According to the BLS, nurse anesthetists earned a median annual salary of $223,210 as of May 2024.
- Certified nurse midwife: A certified nurse midwife specializes in primary, reproductive, and gynecological health, although their main focus is on pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care. They offer family planning services, help mothers with prenatal and postnatal health and care, and can deliver babies. According to the BLS, nurse midwives earned a median annual salary of $128,790 as of May 2024.
- Clinical nurse specialist: Clinical nurse specialists diagnose and treat patients, but they also provide support to nurses who are caring for their own patients. They offer their knowledge and expertise to ensure that patients are receiving the best, most informed care possible. Payscale reported $108,634 as the median salary for clinical nurse specialists in 2026.
Learn more about careers for DNP-prepared nurses.
How an FNP, DNP Can Lead to Advanced Practice Nursing
Through the advanced clinical coursework and hands-on experiences of an FNP, DNP program, nurses can develop the skills to assess patients, diagnose and manage health conditions, and provide evidence-based primary care. DNP-level preparation can also equip nurses with leadership, research, and interdisciplinary skills that can support opportunities in nursing education and administration.
The University of Tulsa’s online Family Nurse Practitioner, Doctor of Nursing Practice (FNP, DNP) prepares RNs with a BSN to pursue certification and licensure as FNPs and take on roles as health care educators or administrators. The three-year program combines 100% online coursework with 1,000 practicum hours in a clinical setting and a final research project. Students develop advanced clinical and leadership skills while preparing to provide comprehensive primary care to patients of all ages.
Start your future in advanced practice nursing with TU.
Recommended Readings
APRN vs. NP: Is There a Difference?
Sources:
American Association of Colleges or Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
American Nurses Association, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)
Payscale: Average Clinical Nurse Specialist Salary
