College of Nursing reports record DNP enrollment

Advanced-Practice Registered Nurses (APRN)—registered nurses with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)—are in demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics backs this up, stating that the demand for nurse practitioners is expected to grow by 28% between 2018 and 2028, and the growth is much faster than average for other job categories it tracks.

In 2004, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) endorsed the Position Statement on the Practice Doctorate in Nursing, which calls for the DNP as the new standard for APRNs. Nurses are constantly working with professionals who hold the highest level of preparation in their respective fields—physicians, pharmacists and other providers—and the DNP is the option for advanced clinical preparation in nursing practice that brings nurses to a similar level of education as their interprofessional peers. In addition, research has established a clear link between higher levels of nursing education and better patient outcomes.

The University of Cincinnati College of Nursing came on-board with the AACN by developing and expanding BSN to DNP programs that prepare registered nurses at the highest level of clinical practice. The growing need for DNP-prepared nurses who can translate knowledge and research into practice and the college’s reputation have increased demand for our BSN to DNP programs and, in fall 2020, the college celebrated a record high enrollment, with a 35% increase in students over the 2019-20 academic year, despite challenging times due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are glad to watch our graduates evolve as nurses, present outstanding DNP projects and consistently deliver excellent first-time board pass rates,” says Richard Prior, DNP, FNP-BC, FAANP, associate professor of clinical nursing and director of the Doctor of Nursing Practice program for the UC College of Nursing. “We are committed to supporting our grads' success and could not be prouder of the reputation they build for our DNP program.”

The terminal practice degree prepares DNP nurses to:

• Become true experts in their specialty area
• Translate evidence into practice
• Apply quality improvement and systems leadership principles
• Teach at the highest academic levels
• Have a “seat at the table” in administrative/leadership positions
• Impact health care policy at the local, regional, and national levels
• Work with autonomy

UC College of Nursing offers BSN to DNP programs in a wide range of specialties:

• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP
• Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP (online)
• Family NP (online)
• Nurse Anesthesia
• Nursing Administration (online)
• Pediatric Acute Care NP (online)
• Psychiatric-Mental Health NP (online)

Nurses who already hold an MSN can get their DNP through the Post-MSN DNP (online) program. All BSN to DNP programs, with the exception of Nurse Anesthesia, admit for the Fall term. Nurse Anesthesia admits for the Spring semester and Post-MSN DNP admits for both Fall and Spring terms.