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What DNP Specialties Are Available?
The U.S. healthcare system is facing a staffing crisis, and there’s never been more of a need for clinicians with specialized knowledge and the ability to analyze and improve systems and processes.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nurse practitioners are the fastest-growing job in the country, with a 43.85% increase in demand projected by 2032. On the administrative side of healthcare, the need for medical and health services managers (a broad category that includes healthcare executives and administrators) is expected to grow by 30.18% in that same timeframe.
Many health professionals prepare for these roles by earning a specialized Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. But what specialties are available, and how do those translate to jobs?
What Is a DNP Program?
As a doctoral-level program, a DNP is the highest practice-focused academic qualification a nurse can receive. The degree is rapidly gaining popularity as the nursing profession moves toward adopting the DNP as the standard qualification for advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) positions like nurse practitioner and nurse midwife.
DNP programs are also very popular with healthcare administrators and executives. That’s because these degrees take a holistic look at the healthcare system and prepare leaders to make substantive improvements that drive better patient outcomes.
“The DNP degree is focused on leadership and quality improvement with opportunities to become a nurse practitioner or focus on electives that meet the needs of a leader,” explains Debbie Conner, Ph.D., MSN, ANP/FNP-BC, FAANP, program chair of Franklin University’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program.
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Who Should Earn a DNP?
There are many different reasons to pursue a DNP, and the choice to enroll depends both on your career goals and your ability to invest time and energy into a doctoral-level program.
A DNP may be a rewarding degree to pursue if you’re interested in quality improvement and making evidence-based improvements in nursing practice and processes. The degree can open doors to higher-level leadership positions, up to and including executive-level roles like chief nursing officer for a hospital or healthcare system.
A DNP is also an excellent choice for nurses who wish to move into advanced practice nursing roles. Certification as a nurse anesthetist requires a DNP or a Doctor of Nursing Anesthesia Practice (DNAP). While it is currently possible to enter other advanced practice nursing specialties with an MSN, the Association of American Colleges of Nursing (AACN) is pushing to shift the standard qualification for advanced practice to a doctorate by 2025. However, state licensing boards have not yet taken steps in this direction.
What Can a DNP Specialize In?
DNP programs offer a number of clinical and non-clinical specialties. The specific programs available vary by school, but most clinical specialties prepare students for a specific type of APRN licensure.
Non-Clinical Specialties
Non-clinical DNP programs are designed for nurses who wish to move into positions that do not involve hands-on patient care.
DNP programs with a leadership specialty prepare nurses to take on high-level roles aimed at improving healthcare quality, safety and outcomes. These programs often include coursework in healthcare administration, health informatics and public administration.
Education
Education-focused DNP programs prepare nurses to take on teaching positions. Some graduates take academic positions within universities, while others work as nurse educators in a clinical setting.
Clinical Specialties
Clinical DNP programs are designed for nurses who wish to provide patient care at a higher level, with additional responsibilities and capabilities.
Nurse Practitioner
Nurse practitioner DNP tracks prepare nurses for advanced practice licensure in a specialty area. These roles have a high degree of autonomy since nurse practitioners may diagnose patients, create treatment plans and prescribe medications independently. The National Organization for Nurse Practitioner Faculties and the AACN are working to adopt the DNP as the educational standard for nurse practitioners by 2025.
Specialty DNP tracks for nurse practitioners may include:
- Adult-gerontology primary care
- Family primary care
- Neonatal
- Pediatric primary care
- Psychiatric mental health
- Women’s health
Nurse Anesthesia
A DNP focusing on nurse anesthesia (or a Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice) is required for students who wish to become Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs). Certification also requires passing a licensure exam. CRNAs are advanced practice nurses who administer and manage anesthesia in a surgical setting.
Nurse Midwife
Nurse midwifery DNP programs prepare nurses to seek licensure as certified nurse midwives. This type of advanced practice nurse focuses on women’s sexual and reproductive healthcare, especially pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum care.
Clinical Nurse Specialists
DNPs with clinical nurse specialist (CNS) tracks train nurses to work in specialized teams to deliver care, often in an acute or critical care setting. CNS focus areas for DNPs can include:
- Adult-gerontology critical care
- Adult-gerontology acute care
- Pediatric critical care
- Neonatal
- Oncology
- Women’s health
How Should You Choose a DNP Specialty?
At the end of the day, choosing a DNP specialty comes down to your personal preference and areas of interest. If you plan to pursue a narrowly focused pathway, after all, it’s important that you enjoy it!
Asking yourself a series of questions can help you make an informed decision.
1. Do you want to provide hands-on patient care?
If you’re passionate about interacting with and caring for patients, an advanced practice nursing specialty can help you maximize that engagement. However, if you hope to drive change on a broader scale, a leadership specialty can prepare you to work at the systems level.
2. What kind of environment do you wish to work in?
A DNP with a leadership focus might be a good fit if you're looking for an office job. On the other hand, a nurse anesthetist specialty might be more appealing if you thrive in the operating room. Some advanced practice fields, like critical care clinical nurse specialist roles, are usually limited to the hospital setting, while primary care nurse practitioners might also work for small medical practices or outpatient clinics.
3. What type of patient engagement do you find the most rewarding?
If you want to help patients at their most vulnerable, a clinical nurse specialist role might be right for you. If long-term relationships with patients are important to you, you might find more satisfaction as a primary care nurse practitioner.
If you’re still unsure, speaking to other nurses in the fields that interest you about their experiences can be an excellent way to gain perspective on the reality of their roles.
Explore DNP Programs at Franklin
Ready to make your next move? Franklin’s accredited DNP program offers a solid foundation for nurses with a wide array of personal and professional goals.
- The leadership track helps nurses become wise, decisive leaders who can address problems at both the micro and macro scales.
- The Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) track trains nurse practitioners to work with patients from their adolescent years through the end of life, with a focus on healthy aging and geriatric care.*
- The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) track focuses on health promotion, risk reduction and disease prevention and detection across all populations, preparing nurse practitioners to take on a wide-ranging primary care role.*
- The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) track prepares nurse practitioners to manage various mental health issues and illnesses and offer treatments including psychotherapy and medication.*
Each of Franklin’s DNP specialty tracks is open to registered nurses with MSNs as well as BSN-qualified RNs through the BSN to DNP pathway.
Learn more about Franklin’s DNP programs.
*Note that earning a DNP does not confer NP status, and passing a licensure exam is required.
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