Are you ready to advance your career?
DNPs are in demand across the health care industry and with our hybrid program you can obtain your doctorate in as little as 2.5 years (full-time). Transition to an Advanced Practice with confidence, while being prepared to provide exceptional high-quality care to your community. The Doctor of Nursing Practice program is a hybrid program utilizing a mixture of online didactic coursework, on-campus intensives and on-ground practicum and clinical placements.
Students will receive a broad foundation of educational preparation in advanced care of the selected specialty population, nursing theories, evidence-based practice and quality improvement methods. Graduates of the program are prepared as providers of care at a beginning level of advanced practice within their specialty, and as scholarly clinicians who use evidence-based practice methods to improve the health-care quality and patient safety. Health assessment, health promotion, health-care maintenance, clinical decision-making and illness management are emphasized in the classroom and clinical practice settings. Students complete a minimum of 1,000 practice immersion hours with extensive clinical time and a faculty-mentored DNP project. Upon degree completion, graduates will be eligible to take the national certification exam and then apply for licensure in the graduate's practice state.
Explore Our Specialties
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Full-Time OptionPart-Time OptionClinical Specialty
The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) DNP specialty prepares nurses to work primarily with adult patients from 17 years old and up that tend to have life-threatening issues. Students will be trained to work in very fast-paced positions where they may be required to order labs and diagnostic tests, interpret the data, and potentially perform invasive procedures to act on information.
Explore the AGACNP Specialty »Executive Health Systems Leadership
Full-Time OptionPart-Time OptionGlobal Program
The Executive Health Systems Leadership (EHSL) DNP specialty prepares nurses to be management leaders in the healthcare industry. Students learn advanced competencies essential to leadership roles: Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), Associate Chief Nursing Officer (ACNO), Clinical Nursing Director, Director of Nursing Professional Practice, etc.
Explore the EHSL Specialty »Family Nurse Practitioner
Full-Time OptionPart-Time OptionClinical Specialty
The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) DNP specialty prepares nurses to provide healthcare to individuals and the family. Students will be prepared to manage a variety of conditions from episodic conditions (coughs, earaches, fevers, etc.) to chronic conditions (diabetes, hypertension, asthma, etc.) utilizing a holistic approach that evaluates all the current conditions for the patient to formulate a treatment plan.
Explore the FNP Specialty »Nurse Anesthesiology
Full-Time OptionClinical Specialty
The Nurse Anesthesiology DNP specialty prepares nurses to provide quality anesthesia care utilizing high levels of scientific knowledge and practice expertise. Students will learn to care for patients during the perioperative period so that they are safe and comfortable during their surgical procedures, while utilizing pharmacological and scientific techniques.
Explore the Nurse Anesthesiology Specialty »Nurse-Midwifery
Full-Time OptionPart-Time OptionClinical Specialty
The Nurse-Midwifery (DNP-NM) specialty is a hybrid program utilizing a mixture of online didactic coursework, on-campus intensives and clinical placements. Applicants may enter the DNP program as a post-BSN student or a post-MSN student. The program has both full-time and part-time options. Graduates of the NM specialty are prepared according to the ACNM Core Competencies for Basic Midwifery Practice and are eligible to apply for certification through the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB).
Explore the Nurse-Midwifery Specialty »Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Full-Time OptionPart-Time OptionClinical Specialty
The Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) DNP specialty prepares nurses to focus on helping patients as young as infants and as old as 21 years of age. Students will learn to address patient issues and make sure they are reaching their developmental goals for each age and that older patients are learning about health risks and getting prepared for daily life.
Explore the PNP Specialty »Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Full-Time OptionPart-Time OptionClinical Specialty
The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) DNP specialty prepares nurses to focus on mental health care and the mind-body connection for patients. Students will learn the modalities to diagnose and treat depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, social disorders, and more. Graduates will work with the patients over the short term or on long term to diagnose and develop treatment plans with the patient.
Explore the PMHNP Specialty »Post-Master’s DNP
Full-Time OptionPart-Time Option
The Post-Master’s (MS-DNP) DNP specialty builds on experience earned in a traditional Master of Science program. MS prepared students will explore the underpinnings of practice, healthcare policy, leadership, and quality improvement. Students will gain the understanding of how to address population health issues in addition to individual health issues.
Explore the MS to DNP Option »Graduate NP Certificates
If you are already an APRN but not ready to commit to the DNP program, consider applying to one of our Graduate Nurse Practitioner (NP) Certificates. We offer NP certificates in the following specialties:
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
If you are interested in attaining broader advanced clinical practice skills with strong research competencies, consider taking advantage of our dual Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degrees. You will be prepared at the highest level of nursing science and professional nursing practice, and with advanced skills for engaging in research to create, apply and translate new knowledge to improve health care – in practice domains and/or academia.
The dual degree DNP/MPH option addresses the need for nurses to have advanced education in public health that prepares them to improve population health services and expand the scope and quality of the healthcare for diverse populations of individuals across the lifespan. The dual degree DNP/MPH option seamlessly blends the College of Nursing – DNP Program with the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health MPH online programs to provide students with a structured 3.5-year full-time program of study. Students are admitted simultaneously into both programs so they can begin them both at the same time.
SANEs are essential nurses, who provide specialized care to survivors of sexual assault. Our program aims to improve awareness around sexual assault, increase available resources and training, and expand service locations. Applications open to students in the University of Arizona DNP program who are in their clinical year.
The Rural Health Professions Program (RHPP) is an innovative program to create a community of doctorally-prepared advanced practice registered nurses who have didactic and clinical expertise in providing care to rural and medically underserved patients and will serve as leaders in improving the quality and access to care for these patients. RHPP scholars complete additional coursework that focuses on the care of rural and medically underserved populations.
The Rural Telehealth Certificate Program (RTCP) is a graduate certificate available to DNP students. Students complete additional coursework and clinical hours that focus on the use of telehealth technology in a rural setting.
Interested students may pursue two advanced practice specialties simultaneously. More information on our DNP Program of Study page:
Students should be aware of the following additional requirements when pursuing a dual specialty option:
- Timeline: Requires one additional year (3 semesters).
- Clinical Requirements: 720 hours for each specialty, total = 1440 hours.
- RISE and CPI: Attend RISE 3 times and CPI 2 times
- DNP Project: During the last year with second specialty.
- Apply: First fall semester the student must meet with their academic advisor, with advisor approval can apply in the spring semester.
Program Outcomes
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program strives to prepare professionals in all specialties to provide equitable care of unsurpassed excellence to lead in today's progressively complex healthcare structure. Students are immersed in an educational environment that cultivates the development of their professional identity and nurtures personal health, resilience, and well-being. The DNP program prepares graduates to work and make expectational improvements in the healthcare environment by:
- Applying theory and evidence-based practice to develop interventions positively impacting persons, families, and communities.
- Engaging in scholarship to evaluate the quality, safety, and effectiveness of nursing interventions in healthcare environments.
- Applying leadership skills in complex practice and organizational structures that induce positive change.
- Utilizing collaborative methods in healthcare environments to foster innovations that contribute to the advancement of healthcare.
- Using information and communication technologies to support clinical judgment and improve health outcomes.
Ready to take the next step?
See the full admissions requirements and application process on the DNP Admissions page.
Accreditation
The Doctor of Nursing Practice program at The University of Arizona College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
The University of Arizona College of Nursing is approved by the Arizona State Board of Nursing, and affiliated with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the Western Institute of Nursing.
The Nurse Anesthesiology program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs. 222 S. Prospect Avenue, Park Ridge, IL 60068-4001. Main Number: 847-655-1160. Fax: 847-692-7137. Email: accreditation@coa.us.com
Interim DNP Program Director
Lindsay Ann Bouchard
Associate Clinical Professor
AGACNP Specialty Coordinator
Jennifer Hunter
Assistant Clinical Professor
EHSL Specialty Coordinator
Cindy Rishel
Clinical Professor
FNP Specialty Coordinator
Ambur Lindstrom-Mette
Assistant Clinical Professor
Nurse AnesthesiOLOGY Program Administrator
Kristie Hoch
Associate Clinical Professor
PNP Specialty Coordinator
Gloanna Peek
Associate Clinical Professor
PMHNP Specialty Coordinator
Sara Edmund
Associate Clinical Professor
Post-Master's DNP Coordinator
Lindsay Ann Bouchard
Associate Clinical Professor
Disclosure Statement: DOE 34 CFR 668.43 (a) (5) (v)
In accordance with regulation 34 CFR 668.43 (a) (5) (v) by the Department of Education, The University of Arizona College of Nursing discloses that the curricula of the DNP program meet licensure and certification requirements of all states. This has not yet been determined for the Territories of American Samoa, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Although The University of Arizona has sought information from other jurisdictions regarding licensure requirements, these requirements are subject to change. If you intend to seek professional licensure or certification outside of Arizona, you should contact the appropriate state licensing agency to obtain the most up-to-date information regarding licensure or certification requirements in your desired state of practice prior to accepting admission offers.