Expand your career opportunities and become a leader. Wake Forest University School of Medicine has a long tradition of excellence, and the online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program will prepare you for advanced roles at the highest level of nursing practice. After you’ve earned your degree, you’ll expand your opportunities to create meaningful change in patient outcomes and prepare for the future of health care. You’ll not only benefit from a high-quality Wake Forest University School of Medicine education, but you will also enjoy the convenience of online learning. 

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.

Wake Forest School of Law LogoSituated within the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, our DNP program offers unique opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration. For example, you will learn from a diverse team of DNPs, PhDs and JDs and also take three credits of elective online coursework at the Wake Forest School of Law. Through interactive, engaging online courses, you will prepare for a leadership role in practice, management, business or education.

Wake Forest University School of Medicine has a long tradition in developing nursing leaders. The Academic Nursing department, known for its highly successful nurse anesthesia program (ranked 10th in the nation), 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, FAAN, President, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, and System Chief Nurse Executive and Senior Vice President, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist.

Committed To Excellence 

“I have a passion, a passion that I won’t settle for less for my patients. They need more. I want to be able to give more of myself and my knowledge to my patients.”Amy Hensley, radiation oncology nurse practitioner, Wake Forest DNP student

Exit Evaluation Outcomes

See what past students had to say about the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in our exit evaluation outcome infographic.