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. 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.
Specializations:
- Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
- Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (PACNP)
- Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
- Clinical Education Leadership
- Nurse Executive/Clinical Nurse Leadership
MSN-to-DNP
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program offers MSN-prepared nurses an opportunity to achieve the highest level of clinical or leadership expertise. A terminal degree, the DNP prepares clinician scholars to drive significant improvements in healthcare by translating evidence-based practices into real-world solutions and advancing patient outcomes across systems.
Specializations
- Advanced Clinical Practice and Leadership (for those already prepared as an APRN)
- Clinical Education Leadership (for those with master’s-level preparation as a Nurse Educator)
- Health Policy
- Nurse Executive
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.
*Students are required to self-place for the residency component of the DNP program
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.