DNP Careers & Outcomes (2024)

FAQs

Which DNP makes the most money? ›

About the Challenge:

The time commitment and rigorous curriculum are a few things that make BSN-to-DNP programs hard. Maintaining a healthy work/school/home balance is essential for success. You may feel that you have so many things to do for school that other things must be postponed or altogether avoided.

Less than 1% of nurses in the United States have completed doctoral-level education, and when looking at APRNs, only 14% hold a DNP. In 2018, the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) called for the DNP to be the entry degree for nurse practitioners by 2025.

What are the benefits of getting a DNP? Higher salary: Nurses who choose to pursue a DNP earn more than nurses with just a master's degree. The difference is not really that much, but it can pay off. According to most online sources, DNP nurses earn about $8,000 more per year.

How much does an NP and a DNP make? The national average salary for nurse practitioners is $122,054 per year . By contrast, professionals with DNPs earn an average annual income of $110,912 per year . It's important to remember that some of this salary data may overlap, as many NPs hold DNP degrees.

A DNP nurse can influence healthcare policies, take on administrative roles and provide clinical education for nursing programs. An NP without a DNP degree has not reached a terminal educational level that might be required for some roles.

NPs have additional responsibilities that RNs don't have, so you can expect NP school to be a higher level of difficulty than RN school.

Doctorate-prepared nurse practitioners are in high demand. They are highly sought after for important roles in health care, including education, administration, leadership and as clinicians, empowering you to work in multiple settings or pursue your dream career path.

Today, DNP programs are available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, making the transition much more feasible. In April 2023, the NONPF reaffirmed its goal of making DNPs the standard by 2025.

DNPs are doctors, but are usually not called that in clinical settings to prevent confusion with MDs (medical doctors). It may be more common for DNPs, or nurse PhDs, who teach in academia to be referred to as doctors, in the same way that non-medical professors can be called doctors of their field.

Can a DNP get tenure? ›

-The DNP degree makes it less likely to obtain academic tenure. This can be an issue for those who see themselves full-time in academia. A nurse with a PhD is much more likely to obtain a tenure track. If this is an end-goal for you, the PhD is the way to go.

So, the short answer is yes – in general, a DNP nurse may be referred to as "doctor," however, some states have regulations surrounding this. For example, California and Georgia forbid nurses, pharmacists, and other professionals from using the "doctor" title.

Earning a DNP opens doors to nurse executive roles, such as executive nursing director and chief nursing officer, and similar nursing positions of policy and operational influence. Completing a DNP program can also help nursing candidates differentiate themselves in an increasingly hot job market.

CCNE Accreditation

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredits everything from nursing baccalaureates to DNPs. However, the one area that the CCNE does not accredit is research doctorates (PhD or DNS).

The salary of nurse anesthetists is the highest of all nursing professions. According to the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA), certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) are anesthesia professionals who safely administer over 50 million anesthetics to patients in the United States annually.

According to Payscale, nurses with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree earned an average base salary of $112K as of November 2023. Nurses with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, on the other hand, earned an average salary of $102k, $10k less per year than the DNP degree.