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How Long Is a BSN to DNP Program?

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Today, many nurses are looking for opportunities to expand their skills and make a bigger impact by furthering their education.

One popular option is the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, which is increasingly seen as the gold standard for advanced practice nurses. In fact, organizations including the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and the National Organization for Nurse Practitioner Faculties are working to adopt the DNP as required preparation for nurse practitioners by 2025.

Depending on your prior experience and qualifications, it usually takes two to four years to earn a DNP. But what factors impact that timeline, and who is eligible to enroll in a DNP program?

What Is a DNP?

A DNP is a terminal practical degree for nurses. As a doctoral degree, it falls at the same level as a Ph.D. in nursing. While Ph.D. programs focus on conducting research, DNP programs focus on applying research to deliver evidence-based care, assess healthcare delivery systems and improve quality and patient outcomes.

DNP programs offer a range of focus areas to prepare graduates to take on leadership roles inside and outside the clinic, ranging from nurse practitioner to hospital executive.

Can You Go from a BSN to a DNP Without a Master’s?

While interest in DNP programs is growing fast, many people assume that you need to earn a Master of Nursing Science (MSN) degree before you can enter a DNP program. However, that’s not the case. Today, the AACN reports that 294 U.S. schools offer BSN to DNP programs designed for registered nurses who hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree but don’t have a master’s, and most DNPs now earn their degrees in this way.

Typically, these programs include prerequisite coursework to ensure students have the foundational knowledge they need before moving on to more advanced study. However, even with those additional courses, the BSN to DNP pathway is more streamlined and faster than completing an MSN followed by a DNP.

At Franklin University, for example, BSN to DNP students only need to take two bridge courses, which take about eight months to complete and cost a fraction of the price of a master’s, before they move on to the primary DNP curriculum. That means students who choose this path could save a year or more of study and thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars.

Get a FREE guide to help you advance your career, featuring helpful advice and thoughtful insights from nursing experts.

What Do You Learn in a BSN to DNP Program?

What you learn in a BSN to DNP program will partly depend on your professional goals and the academic track you choose to pursue.

In all BSN to DNP programs, you’ll learn to analyze and evaluate healthcare systems and processes and apply the latest research to improve quality, safety and patient outcomes. You’ll also learn how to create, nurture and manage effective healthcare delivery teams and to use data to make informed decisions.

Beyond this technical knowledge, DNP programs are also an excellent way to build soft skills like communication, ethical decision-making and critical thinking, all of which will serve you well in any leadership role.

In addition to the core DNP curriculum, BSN to DNP programs with clinical tracks also offer specialized coursework and clinical opportunities to help you get ready for licensure examinations. These pathways prepare you to work as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), in roles like nurse practitioner, certified nurse midwife or certified registered nurse anesthetist.

What Tracks Are Available in a BSN to DNP Program?

Many schools offer BSN to DNP programs with multiple academic tracks to offer more specific career preparation.

While specific tracks vary from school to school, common offerings include:

Leadership
Leadership tracks prepare students for positions as healthcare executives or hospital leaders or for roles in health informatics or policy.

Educational Leadership
With a chronic shortage of healthcare professionals in the United States, nurse educators are always in demand. These tracks prepare nurses to train other nurses in the clinic or in an academic setting.

Nurse Practitioner
Nurse practitioner tracks prepare nurses to work in advanced practice roles while also developing their knowledge of healthcare delivery and quality best practices. NP tracks are often broken down by area of specialty and may include:

Adult-gerontological acute care
Adult-gerontological primary care
Family primary care
Neonatal
Pediatric primary care
Psychiatric mental health
Women’s health

Nurse Anesthesia
Students who wish to become certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) must complete either a nurse anesthesia DNP or a Doctorate of Nursing Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) program and pass a licensure exam. CRNAs are a type of advanced practice nurse that administers anesthesia and related treatments in a clinical setting.

Nurse Midwife
Nurse midwifery DNP programs are a popular pathway for nurses seeking licensure as certified nurse midwives, a type of advanced practice nurse that delivers sexual and reproductive healthcare with a focus on pregnancy and childbirth.

Clinical Nurse Specialists
Clinical nurse specialist (CNS) DNP programs train nurses to work in highly specialized teams. CNS roles require additional licensure. Focus areas for DNPs can include:

Adult-gerontological critical care
Adult-gerontological acute care
Pediatric critical care
Neonatal
Oncology
Women’s health

How Long Does a BSN to DNP Program Take?

The time it takes to complete a BSN to DNP program will depend on several factors, including the school you choose, the track you pursue and whether you study full or part-time.

You can complete Franklin University’s BSN to DNP program in three to four years, depending on whether you pursue the leadership track or a nurse practitioner track. At Franklin, most practicum hours and the scholarly project required of all DNP students are integrated into your coursework. That saves you time, streamlines your degree process and helps you graduate faster.

You may be able to complete your DNP even sooner if you’ve already completed graduate-level nursing courses or clinical hours. However, since transfer policies vary between schools, it’s wise to reach out to programs you’re interested in to learn about their requirements.

Most DNP students balance their studies with work and personal responsibilities, but it’s important to ensure that you’re prepared for the time commitment involved. Look for programs that offer flexible scheduling and online or hybrid coursework, like Franklin’s 100% online BSN to DNP, to make that balance more manageable.

Is a BSN to DNP Program Right for You?

Choosing to enroll in a BSN to DNP program is a highly personal decision driven by your career goals and individual circumstances. That said, if you want to be a leader in your organization or in the nursing profession more broadly, a DNP can help apply the latest research to create lasting change.

“The ideal DNP student is interested in quality improvement and using evidence to address a gap in practice, policy, or process,” said Debbie Conner, Ph.D., MSN, ANP/FNP-BC, FAANP, program chair of Franklin University’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program. If that describes you, a doctoral degree can both expand your professional toolkit and open up new opportunities for engaging and impactful roles.

Earn Your DNP at Franklin

Franklin University’s BSN to DNP program is open to nurses who hold active licensure and a BSN degree from an accredited institution. Build your management skills through the leadership track or pursue licensure as a nurse practitioner with tracks focused on adult-gerontology primary care, family practice and psychiatry and mental health.

With two start dates a year, a flexible online format and practicum and scholarly project opportunities embedded within classes, you can start – and finish – your DNP sooner at Franklin.

Learn more about Franklin’s BSN to DNP pathway.