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Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Executive Track

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OVERVIEW

Innovate

Planning to drive healthcare innovation and influence policy? Get the analytic skills and evidence-based practice principles you need in the DNP Executive Track at Johns Hopkins. You’ll address significant healthcare problems-defined by your interests and based on your experience-in real time and in your practice setting. And you’ll find numerous opportunities for collaboration, challenging problems for study, and a tradition of rigorous scholarship.

The DNP Executive Track also offers dual degree programs in partnership other schools at Johns Hopkins, including the DNP/MPH with the Bloomberg School of Public Health and the DNP/MBA with the Carey Business School.

DNP graduates remain in practice, leading cross-professional teams in the improvement and provision of informed quality healthcare. The knowledge, skills, and abilities to conduct such work is developed across the program and applied in the conduct of the DNP final project.  The DNP final project is the student’s original work that establishes them as a Hopkins Nursing clinical scholar.

Program Details

Tuition & Fees

Estimated Tuition Cost: $1,939 per credit See Cost of Attendance Details
Financial Aid: There are numerous options for financing your education including grants, scholarships, federal loans, and employment programs. Learn more.


Upcoming Deadlines

Summer entry: Nov 1 and Jan 15

#1

 No. 1 in the nation for its Doctor of Nursing Practice Program (DNP)

#2

No. 2 in the nation for its Nursing Master’s Program (MSN)

#3

No. 3 nursing school in the world, according to 2023 QS World University rankings

Curriculum

The program’s executive session format can be completed in six semesters of study, integrating approximately 3 days of on-site immersions during the first year with online and virtual learning experiences.

Onsite Dates

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – Executive program’s executive session format can be completed in six semesters of study, integrating approximately 3 on-site immersions of 3-4 days each during the first year and one on-site symposium event lasting 1 day the second year combined with online and virtual learning experiences. The DNP/MBA joins the DNP Executive program in year 2 of their 3 year program.

Course of Study

First Year (21 Credits)

  • Problem Discovery (3)

  • Health Finance (2)

  • Introduction to MPH Studies (0 credits)
  • Nursing Inquiry for Evidence-Based Practice (3)

  • Advanced Nursing Health Policy (2)

  • Organizational and Systems Leadership for Quality Care (2)

  • Introduction to MPH Studies (0 credits)
  • Translating Evidence into Practice (3)

  • Project Advancement (3)

  • Electives* (3)

Second Year (19 credits)

  • Analysis and Evaluation of Individual and Population Health Data (3)

  • Health Information Systems and Patient Care Technologies (2)

  • Elective* (3)

  • Project Application (3)

  • Elective* (3)

  • Project Evaluation and Dissemination (3)

  • Clinical Data Management and Analyses (2)

*Electives may be taken at the School of Nursing, School of Medicine, Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Carey Business School.
Note: A minimum of 1000 practice hours are required for the DNP program (prior MSN -552 clinical hours plus 448 DNP practicum hours).
** DNP Executive Track students are not permitted to take Electives in the first 2 semesters.  A total of 9 elective credits are required.  Course credits can range from 1 to 3 and dispersed across semesters 3 through 6

“I currently work in pain management. I love what I do, I enjoy my patients. But I also wanted to learn more about what I could do to help them on a larger scale. The knowledge I gained is going to help me do that.”
Iquo Andrews-Cooper DNP, MSN, RN, FNP-C
Iquo Andrews-Cooper DNP, MSN, RN, FNP-C

Iquo Andrews served the U.S. Army for 21 years, retiring to further her nursing career. In addition to work as a family nurse practitioner mostly within the military community, Andrews-Cooper spent about five years in medical surgical and cardio-thoracic step down units and in the surgical intensive care unit.

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Tuition & Other Costs

Financial aid

View the costs for the DNP Advanced Practice Program.
2023 – 2024

Scholarships & Grants: Grants are awards based on financial need that do not have to be repaid. Many students also benefit from scholarships and awards based on merit. Learn more.

Loans: Many students will avail themselves of loans to help finance their School of Nursing education. If necessary, we encourage you to borrow only what is absolutely essential to cover your educational costs. Learn more.

Employment: Many students locate part-time employment to help pay education expenses. Numerous positions are available on campus and within various community based organizations. These jobs provide students with opportunities to gain practical work experience. Most positions are funded through the Federal Work-Study Program. Learn more.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a doctoral degree for nurses at the highest level of nursing practice (https://www.aacnnursing.org/Education-Resources/AACN-Essentials).

The DNP program prepares nurse leaders for evidence-based practice in both direct patient care and executive roles. This requires competence in translating research in practice, evaluating evidence, applying research in decision-making, and implementing viable clinical and organizational innovations to change practice.

The PhD program is designed to prepare nurses for careers as research scientists, often in academic or governmental positions.  View Comparison Chart

Yes, many schools of nursing offer tenure track faculty positions to nurses with DNPs and PhDs.  Additional coursework and training as an educator can also be beneficial for those with a doctoral degree in nursing that would like to teach.  Check out our Nurse Educator certificate at https://nursing.jhu.edu/academics/programs/post-degree/nurse-educator/ .

Yes, our DNP program has full accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education until 2028.

GRE scores are not required for the DNP Executive track. If interested in a dual degree program, please refer to the specific program page for additional information surrounding GRE requirements.

The DNP-Executive track is designed to fit into the schedule of someone working full time in a clinical setting.  The course work and scholarly project are intended to complement their work focus. 

A dissertation is not required. A DNP scholarly project will be completed by the end of the program.  The DNP final project is the students’ original work that establishes them as a Hopkins Nursing clinical scholar.  DNP Scholarly Project Requirements and examples of previous Projects can be found on our website.

All applicants must have earned a minimum of 552 clinical hours as part of their post-licensure master’s program. Nurses who do not have advanced practice licensure should contact the Office of Admissions for an eligibility review at [email protected].

The DNP-Executive track is a post-Master’s program for nurses who have already obtained advanced practice licensure.  The DNP-Advanced Practice track at the JHSON is for nurses who are seeking advanced practice licensure as a Nurse Practitioner or Clinical Nurse Specialist.

There are four onsite visits associated with the DNP-Executive track that are spread throughout the program.  Specific onsite immersion dates will be posted on the program website.

Contact Laura Panozzo, Assistant Director of Recruitment for the DNP Executive tracks, at [email protected] with any additional questions or to schedule a phone call to discuss ways to make your application as strong as possible.

If you are not currently working in a practice environment where a DNP project might be feasible, please contact the Office of Admissions, [email protected], to discuss your options.

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