Doctor of Nursing Practice at PLU
The PLU Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program prepares nurses who are ready to boost their careers, train in advanced specialties, and assume leadership roles in the nursing profession. In an increasingly complex healthcare environment, our DNP graduates are educated to design, advocate for, and implement research-driven improvements in individual patient care and healthcare systems.
PLU offers two high-demand DNP advanced practice specialties:
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
Our program accommodates diverse student backgrounds with three Doctor of Nursing Practice pathways:
- BSN to DNP
- MSN to DNP
- MSN-APRN to DNP
In the PLU School of Nursing, our dedication to care means we support and develop impactful nurse leaders who boldly commit to expanding wellbeing, opportunity, and justice in their professions and communities.
Why the DNP at PLU
Flexible Curriculum
The PLU DNP program is designed for the working nurse, with full-time and part-time options, hybrid course offerings, and individualized programs of study depending on your previous academic experience.
Clinical Placement Support
The program prepares students for advanced specialty practice careers as an FNP or PMHNP, and includes at least 600 clinical hours of direct patient care, arranged by PLU – you will not have to secure your own placements. These personalized clinical placements means you’ll have ample opportunity to practice your skills in different settings under the supervision of a licensed DNP faculty member.
Licensure Preparation
For DNP students who do not already have their APRN licensure, PLU’s DNP program includes preparation to take the national certifying exam for Family Nurse Practitioner or Psychiatric Mental Health Practitioner. Successful completion of this process qualifies you to apply under Washington State law for Advanced Practice Registered Nurse licensure.
Small Cohorts
Our specialty area cohorts range from 10-18 students to create a strong community with your fellow students and faculty, and provide an intentionally personal experience with mentorship and individualized support. For the core DNP coursework, cohorts will be joined allowing for a larger community and networking opportunities.
CAREER PROSPECTS
The demand for nurse practitioners in both primary and specialty healthcare areas continue to grow with the changing demands of our nation’s complex healthcare environment.
The need for nurses at the graduate level include: the rapid expansion of knowledge underlying practice; increased complexity of patient care; national concerns about the quality of care and patient safety; shortages of nursing personnel which demands a higher level of preparation for leaders who can design and assess care; shortages of doctorally-prepared nursing faculty; and increasing educational expectations for the preparation of other members of the healthcare team. American Association of Colleges of Nursing
CAREER PROSPECTS BY THE NUMBERS
National growth in demand for nurse practitioners (2024-2034)
National nurse practitioner median salary (2024)
Washington State average annual wage for nurse practitioners (2022)
National number of nurse practitioner jobs (2024)
*Statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics