DNP Program Overview
- Complete in as little as 2 years
- 500 DNP work hours
- Online coursework + in-person project presentation
- Prepares you to take the Nurse Coaching certification exam
- Earn nursing’s highest practice degree
After years of caring for patients, you’ve developed insights that can genuinely transform healthcare delivery. Texas Wesleyan’s online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) gives you the research foundation and leadership credentials to turn those insights into real change and better patient outcomes.
Our DNP program is challenging, but it’s designed to be manageable for working nurses. Most of the coursework is online and asynchronous, so you can fit it in around your shifts and personal schedule. You’ll join us on campus twice: once for orientation and then near the finish to present your final DNP scholarly project.
Download our program brochure to get comprehensive details about your doctoral preparation.
What Makes Texas Wesleyan Different?
Personal relationships matter here. Texas Wesleyan faculty and staff will know your name, your strengths and what motivates you. With small classes and instructors who still work in clinical practice, you get individual attention from people who truly understand your career.
Develop the credentials and skills to transform patient care delivery. Beyond patient care, you’ll learn grant writing, quality improvement methods, policy development and evidence-based practice to address real clinical and administrative challenges. Your capstone project gives you direct experience implementing solutions to actual healthcare problems in your community or clinic.
Understand the business side of care. Our faculty have owned practices and understand the business side of healthcare. They’ll teach you how to create business plans, navigate insurance credentialing and manage finances so you can run operations effectively or open your own practice.
Explore the DNP curriculum to see how we deliver this difference.
Request Information
To download a program brochure and learn more about the Texas Wesleyan online DNP program, please fill out the form. You can also get in touch with an enrollment specialist directly by calling us at 817-785-9307.
Is the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program for You?
This program is for advanced practice nurses with an MSN and APRN licensure who want to:
- Lead systems-level healthcare change and influence policy decisions
- Develop expertise in quality improvement and organizational strategy
- Advance to administrative positions or healthcare leadership roles
The DNP program is ideal for experienced APRNs who are ready to move from an MSN to DNP and transition from direct patient care into leadership roles.
If you want to earn your doctorate and prepare for your FNP certification, consider our online DNP-FNP degree program.
See the full DNP degree requirements and admissions steps.
The DNP is rapidly becoming the standard for advanced practice. The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties now recommends that all entry-level nurse practitioners hold doctoral-level education.
Frequently Asked Questions
- The DNP is for nurses who already have their master’s degree and advanced practice credentials. This program takes a minimum of two years and focuses on leadership, policy work and organizational change without clinical practice hours (though you will complete 500 work hours).
- The DNP-FNP is for nurses who want to earn their doctorate and become certified family nurse practitioners. The program includes leadership training, policy development and evidence-based practice coursework. This degree takes a minimum of three years and includes 1,035 clinical hours.
To apply for the DNP program, you need:
- Unencumbered RN license
- APRN licensure and/or clinical nurse specialist credential
- Master of Science in Nursing with federally recognized accreditation from a nurse education accrediting body
- Minimum 3.0 GPA in master’s-level coursework
- Completed undergraduate statistics and research courses with a grade of B or higher
When you apply, you’ll submit a resume, three professional or academic references and official transcripts. You’ll also complete a virtual interview.
Visit our admissions page to see application details and to start your application process.
With a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), you can step into high-level roles where you’ll make a systemic difference in patient care. Many DNP graduates work as nurse practitioners, clinical leaders or nurse educators, leading teams and improving organization-level patient outcomes.
You might find yourself in a hospital, a primary care clinic or even running your own practice. With a DNP, you'll have the authority to make clinical decisions and lead system-wide improvements.
Not sure which program fits your goals?
Download a brochure to compare the programs. You can also reach out for a one-on-one consultation: call us at 817-785-9307 or email us to set up a time to talk.