Doctor of Nursing Practice Program

In the tradition of established excellent and innovative education, the online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program at Wake Forest School of Medicine prepares nurses to assume leadership roles in practice, management, business, and education. The Doctor of Nursing Practice Program is a part-time, two-year program for registered nurses who want to build on their master’s degree and advance their leadership and clinical roles.

Through this program, you will:

Examine current, real health care issues impacting your practice.
Develop the skills necessary to influence health policy.
Learn to navigate political, legal and financial issues impacting your profession.
Advance your education and preparation to assume greater leadership and advanced clinical roles.
Learn to translate research in practice, evaluate clinical outcomes and improve the quality of health care delivery.
Increase your value to your organization.

Situated within the School of Medicine, the Wake Forest DNP has unique opportunities for inter-professional partnerships. You will learn from a diverse team of DNPs, PhDs, and JDs and take 3 credits of elective online coursework at the Wake Forest School of Law. Through interactive, engaging online courses, you will become prepared for a leadership role in practice, management, business or education.

Wake Forest School of Medicine has a long tradition of excellence in creating nursing leaders. The Academic Nursing department that has offered a highly-successful anesthesia program for 75 years is now offering professional nurses from any background an opportunity to earn their doctoral degree.

“The level of interest in the nursing profession for this practice doctorate is impressive and speaks to the value that master’s-prepared nurses have for advancing their education with an applied practice focus.” Cathleen Wheatley, DNP, RN, CENP, Senior Vice President and System Chief Nurse Executive of Wake Forest Baptist Health.

Our Curriculum

The post-master’s DNP is a part-time, two-year online program with occasional in-person sessions. Three credits of online elective will be taught by the Wake Forest University School of Law. The program’s objective is to advance the education and preparation of registered nurses so they can assume greater leadership and advanced clinical roles that will translate evidence into practice, evaluate clinical outcomes and improve models of health care delivery.

DNP graduates will:

Apply scientific principles in the provision of advanced practice nursing to promote the health of individuals, communities and populations
Translate scientific evidence into practice and policy to promote ethically sound, high-quality, cost-effective patient-centered care.
Employ strategic leadership in inter-professional teams within organizations and health care systems.
Evaluate and use data analytic methods, information systems and technology to improve clinical outcomes.
Apply legal, financial and regulatory principles to advocate for change in health care policy.
Disseminate scholarly work.

Curriculum Overview

Designed with the working professional in mind along with the convenience of online learning.

Costs and Financial Aid

Get the details on the cost of attendance and the tuition and fees payment schedule for the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program.

Admissions

The Wake Forest School of Medicine’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program is open to nurses who hold a master’s degree from an accredited university. In this competitive program, candidates must demonstrate academic excellence, a positive impact in their area of nursing practice, and leadership skills.

How to Apply

We consider applicants for the DNP Program based on academic and personal qualifications, with attention given to the values of Wake Forest School of Medicine.

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