DNP Program Overview

Georgetown University School of Nursing & Health Studies’ (NHS) CCNE-accredited online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs integrate advanced nursing science with organizational leadership and ethics to prepare you to improve patient care delivery in an increasingly complex health care system.

NHS is a nationally recognized nursing school committed to advancing health equity and improving population health around the world. In keeping with this mission, our online DNP programs focus on ethical leadership and prepare you to improve accessibility and quality of care for underserved populations.

As a DNP student, you will have several opportunities to visit our campus, located in vibrant Washington, DC, where you can make connections, engage in service, and learn about policymaking as you prepare to lead developments across the health system. 

We offer two entry points for our DNP programs: 

• BSN to DNP, designed for RNs with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• Post-Master’s DNP, designed for APRNs or nurses employed in advanced nursing roles with a master’s degree

BSN to DNP Program

This program is designed for registered nurses (RNs) with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

The BSN to DNP program is offered full time and part time. The full-time program can be completed in as few as 33 months and consists of eight 15-week terms. The part-time program consists of eleven 15-week terms. Both schedules include on-campus experiences. 

The number of program credits depends on the specialization you choose. You will complete both master’s- and doctoral-level coursework while preparing to pursue APRN certification in one of the following specializations:

• Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP): Gain the high-level experience to manage critical issues of patient safety and quality of care in acute and complex care settings.
• Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP): Develop your authority in clinical leadership roles open to DNPs, promoting excellence in family practice and clinical care environments.
• Dual Nurse-Midwifery/Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (NM/WHNP): Implement care models that provide the highest quality care to women across the life span and newborns.
• Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP): Advocate for women across the life span, providing woman-focused care and improving care delivery throughout the health system. 

Upon graduation, you will be eligible to sit for board certification examinations in your specialty area to obtain licensure.

On-Campus Intensives

In the BSN to DNP program, you will attend on-campus intensives (OCIs), which are academic visits that include working with standardized patients (SP) and genitourinary teaching associates (GUTA). You will engage in high-fidelity simulation and refine your clinical and leadership techniques.

Clinical Placements

As a BSN to DNP student, you will gain direct experience treating patients in clinical placements, which are supervised by a skilled nurse preceptor. Our clinical placement team partners with you to secure sites that meet NHS faculty standards, align with your specialization, and fall within a reasonable distance of your community.¹

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Post-Master’s DNP Program

The Post-Master’s DNP program is designed to build on the clinical experience of nurses in advanced nursing roles with master’s degrees. You will engage with a diverse group of students, including health care administrators, nurse informaticists, practicing APRNs, and nurses in a variety of other roles.

The Post-Master’s DNP program is offered in a part-time program of study, consisting of five 15-week terms, as well as DNP practice hours and on-campus executive sessions.

The 30-credit curriculum focuses on leadership at the systems level. Coursework is designed to encourage you to innovate, influence health care policy, and engage in the world in service to others, addressing topics such as:

• Implementing quality and safety initiatives to improve outcomes
• Integrating economic and financial principles in practice
• Evaluating ethical and legal challenges in health care

This program is intended for students who have an advanced nursing specialty or role and does not provide clinical preparation in an area of specialization. If you are interested in pursuing additional certifications, Georgetown University offers an online Post-Graduate Certificate program with four APRN specialization options.

A Faculty of Active Practitioners

You will grow as a leader under the attentive guidance of NHS faculty, who are fellows, active clinicians, and innovators in health care. Inside and outside of the classroom, they will share their knowledge gained from decades of multidisciplinary, real-world practice and experience.

NHS faculty lead all aspects of course delivery, including designing the curriculum; teaching the most current research and techniques; and monitoring on-campus experiences, clinical placements, and DNP scholarly projects.

“Georgetown University’s DNP programs follow the philosophy of leading from where you are. We move our students into a higher level of practice, regardless of a student’s level of experience.”

- Peggy Slota, DNP, RN, FAAN, Director of DNP Graduate Studies