Doctor of Nursing Practice
Increase your scientific expertise and professional authority with a DNP degree from a leader in nursing education.
Oakland was the first Michigan university to offer a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, and our program remains at the forefront of DNP nursing education. Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), our DNP nursing degree offers rigorous training that prepares you for overlapping roles as organizational leader, advanced practitioner, research investigator and policy analyst. You’ll learn from nursing pioneers and innovators, gaining the expertise and credentials to participate in high-level decisions with far-reaching effects. Offered in a flexible online format to accommodate a full-time work schedule, this practice-based nursing doctorate equips you to improve outcomes for your patients, your organization and your community.
Oakland was the first Michigan university to offer a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, and our program remains at the forefront of DNP nursing education. Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), our DNP nursing degree offers rigorous training that prepares you for overlapping roles as organizational leader, advanced practitioner, research investigator and policy analyst. You’ll learn from nursing pioneers and innovators, gaining the expertise and credentials to participate in high-level decisions with far-reaching effects. Offered in a flexible online format to accommodate a full-time work schedule, this practice-based nursing doctorate equips you to improve outcomes for your patients, your organization and your community.
Doctor of Nursing Practice: The Oakland University Advantage
Our nursing doctorate builds upon Oakland University’s long tradition of civic engagement and reform-oriented advocacy. The post-masters DNP program (PM DMP) provides you with a holistic perspective that enables you to exercise high-impact, results-based health care leadership.
Oakland’s DNP degree excels for its:
- Exceptional clinical experience. Our PM DNP encompasses more than 1,000 hours of clinical training. Oakland’s School of Nursing partners with world-renowned health care systems, so you’ll work in settings that adhere to the highest standards and are helping to shape the future of nursing.
- Relevant, well-rounded professional development. You’ll cultivate a unique suite of skills that integrates advanced scientific expertise with proficiency in organizational leadership, communication, research and interdisciplinary collaboration. Our PM DNP equips you to exercise authority at multiple points in the health care system and collaborate effectively with stakeholders throughout the community.
- High-powered faculty. Oakland’s PM DNP nursing instructors have earned distinction as researchers, active practitioners and interdisciplinary collaborators. You’ll learn from high achievers who’ve made their mark on the nursing profession and the health care system more broadly, in specialties that include population health, palliative care, gerontological nursing, community health promotion and many other subjects.
- Research training. You’ll develop the ability to conduct applied research and translate the findings into evidence-based practice models that improve patient care. Oakland’s School of Nursing is active in a broad range of investigations at multiple levels, from individual patient care to system-wide issues.
- Problem-solving philosophy. We created Michigan’s first DNP program to meet the need for nurse-scientists who could work collaboratively toward improved health care outcomes. You’ll join a community of problem-solvers who are tackling key challenges and making a difference.
What Can You Do With a Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree?
Our Doctor of Nursing Practice qualifies you for various roles in health care leadership. DNP nurses collaborate not only with experts from other medical disciplines but also with health care administrators, business executives, elected officials and other high-level decision makers. While many DNP graduates remain in front-line care delivery as advanced practice nurses, others migrate into different roles. Our DNP degree may create opportunities for you in areas such as:
- Hospital leadership
- Patient care administration
- Nursing operations
- Public health research
- Policy analysis
- Community health advocacy
- Education and training
- Independent health care consulting
Doctor of Nursing Practice: What You’ll Learn
The Doctor of Nursing Practice at Oakland University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Our PM DNP nursing program requires 38 credits, with courses offered in a flexible online format that’s designed for working professionals. The DNP is structured around three distinct course sequences, beginning with a foundational sequence that covers:
- Nursing theory
- Health system policy
- Organizational leadership
- Healthcare informatics
- Research and evidence-based practice
The specialty course sequence includes Health Care Economics, an elective that supports your area of interest. Oakland’s PM DNP nursing program culminates in a research sequence that encompasses statistics, research methods, population health and an independent research project subject to academic review.
Doctor of Nursing Practice Program Resources
Programs Related to the Doctor of Nursing Practice
Not sure if the DNP program is right for you? Check out these other graduate degree programs at Oakland, and contact our admissions team to discuss your options.
- Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing
- Family Nurse Practitioner