Doctor of Nursing Practice
Advance your impact in healthcare with the Orvis School of Nursing’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. Designed for nurses ready to lead in clinical practice, healthcare systems, and policy, the DNP program offers both BSN and MSN-prepared nurses a clear path to expand their roles, deepen their expertise, and drive transformative change in healthcare.
Our DNP program, fully online and accessible nationwide, includes specializations in Family Practice, Adult-Gerontology, Pediatric Acute Care, and Psychiatric-Mental Health. As a program within a Carnegie R1 research institution with a Community Engaged classification, Orvis delivers affordable and high-quality education that supports clinical placements, emphasizes evidence-based practice, and prepares graduates to lead and innovate across healthcare settings.
Choose your path to the DNP
Orvis offers two pathways to the DNP, depending on your educational background and career goals. Explore each path below to see which aligns best with your next career step.
BSN-to-DNP
For BSN-prepared nurses ready to take on an advanced role, the BSN-to-DNP path prepares you for both a clinical specialty and leadership in evidence-based practice.
MSN-to-DNP
MSN-prepared nurses can pursue the DNP to expand their leadership abilities, enhance their practice, or add a new specialty concentration. This option allows you to complete the DNP either by deepening your expertise within your current specialty or expanding your impact with a new concentration.
Explore DNP specializations
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
The Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program prepares nurses for advanced practice in acute care settings through a program of study focused on the care of acutely ill patients and their families.
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)
The Adult Geronotology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) program prepares nurses to provide advanced practice in primary care settings through a program of study focused on the care of adult and geriatric patients.
Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL)
The Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) program prepares nurses to lead care coordination, enhance patient outcomes, and drive quality improvement across diverse healthcare settings.
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program prepares graduates to provide comprehensive primary care across the lifespan to individuals and families in community-based settings.
Nurse Educator (NE)
The Nurse Educator (NE) program prepares graduates to provide ethical, evidence-based nursing education services for multi-cultural and ethnically diverse, students, staff, families, populations, and communities.
Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (PACNP)
The Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (PACNP) program provides holistic care for pediatric patients with acute, complex, critical, and chronic illness across a variety of care settings, from hospitals to specialty clinics.
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program prepares graduates to assess, diagnose, intervene (e.g., psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy), and provide follow-up to facilitate an ongoing level of mental wellness.
Why choose Orvis for your DNP?
Our DNP program provides a robust and flexible online education, allowing you to pursue your degree from anywhere in the United States. Supported by the resources of the University of Nevada, Reno—a Carnegie R1 research institution with a Community Engaged classification—Orvis provides a unique environment for practice scholarship, leadership development, and clinical expertise.
Affordable and respected
As part of the University of Nevada, Reno, the Orvis School of Nursing delivers high-quality, affordable education. Our DNP program is online and available nationwide, so you can earn your degree and develop the expertise needed to transform health outcomes in diverse communities across the U.S.
Exceptional clinical placement support
At Orvis, we prioritize your clinical experience by coordinating and securing all clinical placements, allowing you to focus fully on building advanced skills without the hassle of organizing placements.
Your path to innovation and leadership
The DNP at Orvis equips graduates to do the following:
- Lead healthcare teams in delivering evidence-based, patient-centered care.
- Design, implement, and evaluate practice innovations that improve healthcare outcomes.
- Translate scientific research into practical solutions for healthcare challenges.
- Drive meaningful change in healthcare systems, policies, and population health.
Whether you’re ready to specialize in a new role or advance within your current expertise, the DNP program at Orvis School of Nursing is your pathway to leadership and impact.
Start your journey
Select your specialty concentration to learn more, or apply today to join Orvis in shaping the future of healthcare.
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN certificate program at University of Nevada, Reno Orvis School of Nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.