Online DNP degrees can suit a wide range of people, whatever your age, background, or experience. You may be considering a career in nursing and starting to plan your academic journey.
You might be unable to attend physical classes for a number of reasons or be looking to continue your nursing career alongside study.
Online DNP courses offer a flexible learning option that makes education accessible for a wider range of people.
Here are just a couple of reasons why an online DNP may be right for you and how it can help your career progress.
What is a DNP?
A DNP is a doctor of nursing practice and is a degree for those who already hold a master’s degree in nursing. There are various admissions requirements as well as the master’s degree, such as a 3.0 GPA and an unencumbered RN license.
The DNP is for practicing and licensed nurses who want to become nurse leaders and be at the forefront of new nursing technology, practices, and developments.
A doctor of nursing practice is the highest level of qualifications that practicing nurses can achieve. Therefore, it is a great way to expand your career options and develop your knowledge and skills.
The DNP is focused on nursing on a global level, rather than individual, and can include modules such as diversity and social issues, collaboration in healthcare delivery, and ethical principles for advanced nursing practice. The course is accelerated and can be completed in two years and features a combination of online learning and in-person placements.
This allows you to put your new skills and knowledge into practice in a clinical environment.
Why study online?
Studying DNP programs online has a whole host of further benefits. As well as the higher level of education that a DNP can provide you with, online study can help you save money, time, allow you to continue to work alongside your study, and give you more flexibility.
The ability to study from home means that you don’t have to spend as much money on accommodation and transport, allowing you to have more money and time to spend on the things you love and enjoy.
Furthermore, you can continue to practice alongside your studies, which is one of the main benefits of this style of learning. Online DNPs are designed for practicing nurses.
Studying online also allows you more control over your education and your learning environment and can help you develop important personal skills, as well as the technical skills you will learn. These are called soft skills and are transferable skills that are useful in every workplace.
They can include teamwork, communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving. While you may already have many of these skills, you can always develop them, and studying an online course can give you practical examples of times when you have used these skills in order to really impress potential employers.
You may go through: 7 Countries That Pay High Salaries to Nurses
What are the career outcomes?
When you have completed your DNP degree, there are many more career opportunities that may become available to you. These include nurse practitioners, executives, and educators.
- Nurse practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses who are trained to treat certain medical conditions, with or without the supervision of a doctor, depending on the state in which they practice.
- Nurse executives are administrative nursing professionals who play an important role in shaping the future of nursing and healthcare organizations. This is a less hands-on position but can be perfect for those with strong leadership skills who want to make a real difference to the future of a healthcare organization.
- Nurse educators help to educate, teach and inspire the next generation of nurses. Many nurse educators continue to practice alongside their teaching duties, and as a nurse educator, you can help to shape and design curricula, advise and evaluate students, and develop programs of study.
The DNP is a challenging degree to complete but will give you many valuable skills and experiences to help you progress in your nursing career and make you eligible for those higher-level nursing jobs.
If you want to continue practicing while you study, an online DNP can allow you to do this. Being able to combine online and in-person learning helps you put your knowledge into practice, work with others and make connections while giving you the flexibility to continue with your other responsibilities.
If you are a licensed RN with a master’s degree in nursing, then a DNP could be the next step in your nursing career.
Read Also:
