Online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Degree
Develop Leadership Skills To Drive Organizational Change in Nursing
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree at GCU highlights the advanced clinical, leadership and evidence-based practice skills nurses need in today’s complex healthcare environments. In this online(See disclaimer 1) DNP program, you can examine and expand upon the theoretical and scientific foundations of nursing through engaging peer discussions and scholarly activities led by knowledgeable instructors. This degree may be well-suited to those that hold a master's degree in nursing.
According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), nurses who hold a DNP are “well-equipped to fully implement the science developed by nurse researchers” and are prepared to work toward better patient outcomes through evidence-based practices.(See disclaimer 2) This DNP, offered by the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions, is designed to empower nurse leaders to effect positive change within their healthcare facilities and for their patients.
Follow a Purpose-Driven Path to Your DNP
GCU is committed to supporting working professionals with an education that’s both enriching and accessible. As a DNP student, you can benefit from a curriculum grounded in evidence-based practice, leadership development and Christian values that emphasize compassion in healthcare. You’ll be taught by experienced nursing faculty and have access to resources designed to help you in your program, such as student support services and research opportunities.
Take your Doctor of Nursing Practice courses via our online platform to help you better manage the coursework and in-person practicum hours with your existing schedule.
Core Curriculum for the Doctor of Nursing Practice
The DNP program blends theoretical knowledge with clinical application, teaching nursing concepts and skills that are immediately applicable in your clinical practice. As you develop core competencies in nursing science, you’ll be prompted to reflect on ethical issues in healthcare research. There is an emphasis on the application of evidence-based nursing science to optimize patient outcomes. Expand your healthcare knowledge and nursing skills as you participate in immersion activities and advance to a high level of nursing practice.
This program covers a broad array of nursing competencies, including:
Foundations of Healthcare Informatics
Study the foundations of healthcare informatics, including HIPAA-compliant technology that improves patient outcomes and programs of care. Explore principles in organizational change leadership that you can apply to enhance the technological infrastructure.
Advancing Nursing Excellence
GCU encourages DNP learners to establish programs of clinical excellence to address emerging areas of human health. Stimulate personal and professional growth, positioning yourself to work toward the pinnacle of your career while better meeting the needs of your patients.
Theories That Guide Nursing Practice
Examine best practices in clinical solutions and become a compassionate servant leader who inspires nursing teams to strive for nursing excellence. Demonstrate your grasp of advanced theories that guide nursing practice through your DPI Project.
Principles of Public and Community Health
Explore public health principles, including the promotion of community, environmental, occupational and cultural dimensions of health. Analyze epidemiological and biostatistical data to develop evidence-based interventions.
Direct Practice Improvement (DPI) Project
This advanced nursing curriculum culminates in an evidence-based research Direct Practice Improvement (DPI) Project. The DPI is completed across three structured phases, where you will take part in project development to implementation and evaluation. Throughout this process, you will identify a meaningful healthcare issue, design and carry out an evidence-based intervention, and analyze its impact on patient outcomes.
Each phase builds on the last, guiding you through Institutional Review Board preparation, data collection, and dissemination planning while completing required immersion hours and documenting progress through the DPI Project Milestone Guide. This comprehensive experience is designed to strengthen clinical scholarship, leadership abilities and the capacity to drive measurable improvements in practice settings.
Career Paths for Doctor of Nursing Practice Graduates
Doctor of Nursing Practice degree graduates can go on to pursue roles that affect positive change in healthcare organizations and promote favorable patient outcomes. There are multiple career possibilities after earning a DNP degree. If you would like to continue providing direct patient care, consider pursuing licensure as an advanced practice registered nurse, such as a nurse practitioner. (See disclaimer )
Alternatively, you may decide to become a nurse educator, teaching the next generation of nurses. Medical and health services management is another career possibility.
Some employment settings may include the following:(See disclaimer 3)
Hospitals and clinics
Physicians’ offices
Outpatient care facilities
Academic settings
Median annual salary for nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners as of May 2024(See disclaimer 4)
Projected job growth for nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners from 2024 to 2034(See disclaimer 5)
Earn Your DNP Degree From an Accredited University
We are proud to be an institutionally accredited university that prioritizes academic excellence and a comprehensive nursing curriculum. The Higher Learning Commission has continually accredited GCU since 1968. The College of Nursing and Health Care Professions shares the university’s commitment to upholding the principles and standards established by our accrediting bodies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Making an informed decision for your future in nursing requires careful research and planning. Take a few minutes to read through our frequently asked questions to gain more information on enrolling in an online(See disclaimer 1) DNP program.
What is a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree?
What is the difference between a DNP and a PhD?
What jobs does a DNP degree prepare me for?
Is a Doctor of Nursing Practice worth it?
Program Curriculum
Core Courses
Take the next step in your journey toward pursuing clinical excellence in nursing. Apply today to earn your Doctor of Nursing Practice at GCU.
(See disclaimer §) MOU-Alumni 2000 Doctoral-Jan2026: The Alumni Scholarship for Doctoral Programs is only valid for those applicants who submit a complete application and begin a Doctoral program in January 2026. This scholarship cannot be used in conjunction with any other GCU scholarship or awards and only applies to online and evening programs. Please speak to a university counselor for complete details.
While this program is offered online, it includes required synchronous activities that students must attend at scheduled times. These include, but are not limited to, class meetings, midterm checks, remediation and project defenses.
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2025, June). AACN Fact Sheet – DNP. Retrieved November 2025.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2025, Aug. 28). Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives and Nurse Practitioners: Work Environments. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved November 2025.
- The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives and Nurse Practitioners as of May 2024, retrieved November 2025. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as nurse practitioners, nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It is very unlikely that a median salary will reflect an entry-level salary. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
- COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective August 2025, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives and Nurse Practitioners, retrieved November 2025.
- Gaines, K. (2025, May 30). DNP vs. PhD in Nursing – What Is the Difference? Nurse.org. Retrieved November 2025.