DNP Programs in Kentucky

Eastern Kentucky University offers a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program with a concentration in Organizational Leadership, designed for nurses aiming to lead and innovate in healthcare settings. This online program focuses on developing advanced leadership skills, enabling graduates to implement evidence-based practices and drive systemic improvements. The curriculum spans 32-38 credits, tailored for working professionals with flexible 8-week terms and no need for campus visits. At $716 per credit hour, the program provides an affordable pathway to career advancement, including free textbooks. Recognized among the top 50 online nursing programs, it offers individualized mentorship and a practice-focused approach to prepare students for high-level healthcare roles.

• Online DNP with Organizational Leadership
• 32-38 total credit hours
• No campus visits required
• Online tuition $716/credit
• Free textbooks for students
• Individualized mentorship
• Practice-focused curriculum
• Competitive admission
• Career advancement opportunity

The University of Louisville's Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program offers BSN and MSN entry options with various specialties. The program emphasizes evidence-based practice, healthcare leadership, and policy. Students complete between 1000-2880 clinical hours and a DNP project. Flexible online and hybrid learning options are available.

• 75-112 credit hours total
• Online first year, hybrid format
• BSN and MSN entry pathways
• 7 nursing specialties available
• Minimum 1000 clinical hours
• Leadership and policy focus
• Comprehensive DNP project

University of Louisville's DNP program with a Family Nurse Practitioner concentration prepares nurses for advanced clinical practice and leadership roles. This program offers BSN and MSN entry pathways and utilizes hybrid online and campus-based learning. The curriculum focuses on evidence-based practice, leadership, and innovative healthcare solutions to improve patient outcomes.

• 75-112 credit hours total
• Hybrid online/campus format
• 1000+ clinical hours required
• Multiple entry pathways
• Leadership-focused curriculum

The University of Louisville's Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) DNP program is a three-year, full-time, hybrid format. Combining theory and clinical training, the 77-credit hour curriculum covers psychopathology, assessment, psychopharmacology, and psychotherapy. Prior work experience is recommended.

• 3-year full-time BSN-DNP track
• 77 total credit hours
• Hybrid program format
• Extensive clinical practicums
• Work experience recommended
• Advanced mental health focus
• Comprehensive coursework
• Evidence-based practice emphasis

The University of Louisville's DNP program offers BSN and MSN entry pathways and emphasizes evidence-based practice and leadership development. Students gain skills in improving population health, interdisciplinary collaboration, and healthcare innovation. The program requires 1000+ clinical hours and a capstone project.

• BSN and MSN entry pathways
• Minimum 1000 clinical hours
• Online and hybrid learning
• Seven nursing specialties
• Leadership-focused curriculum
• DNP project capstone experience
• Prepares APRN certification

The University of Louisville's DNP program prepares advanced practice nurses for leadership roles. Open to BSN and MSN graduates, the program emphasizes translating evidence into practice and driving systemic change. Students complete a minimum of 1,000 clinical hours and focus on collaboration and quality improvement.

• 75-112 credit hours total
• Hybrid online/campus delivery
• BSN and MSN entry options
• Minimum 1,000 clinical hours
• Specialty tracks available
• Leadership-focused curriculum
• Practice-focused doctoral degree

The University of Louisville's DNP program prepares nurses to be advanced clinical leaders. Accepting BSN and MSN graduates, it offers various specialties, including Family Nurse Practitioner, through online and hybrid learning. The program requires 1,000 clinical hours and a DNP project demonstrating advanced practice skills.

• BSN and MSN entry options
• 7 nurse practitioner specialties
• 75-112 total credit hours
• 1,000 minimum clinical hours
• Online and hybrid learning
• Leadership-focused curriculum
• Culminating DNP project

Western Kentucky University's DNP with Family Nurse Practitioner concentration provides a cutting-edge pathway for advanced nursing professionals seeking comprehensive healthcare leadership training. The intensive 76-credit hybrid program meticulously blends scientific foundations with evidence-based practice, enabling students to develop sophisticated clinical skills across diverse patient populations. Emphasizing advanced health assessment, pharmacological interventions, and primary care strategies, graduates are strategically positioned to obtain national FNP certification and transform patient care delivery. The curriculum uniquely integrates technological innovations, policy development, and hands-on clinical experiences to cultivate adaptable healthcare leaders.

• 76-credit hybrid DNP program
• Family Nurse Practitioner concentration
• National FNP certification eligible
• Full and part-time options
• Leadership and policy focus
• Minimum 3.25 GPA required
• Clinical practicum included
• Advanced health assessment training
• Evidence-based practice emphasis
• Healthcare technology integration

Western Kentucky University's Family Nurse Practitioner DNP track offers an innovative educational journey designed for nurses aspiring to elevate their clinical expertise. Through a dynamic hybrid format, students engage in rigorous coursework spanning advanced physiological assessment, pharmacological interventions, and comprehensive primary care strategies. The program's 76-credit curriculum emphasizes evidence-based practice and leadership development, preparing graduates to deliver sophisticated healthcare across pediatric, adolescent, and adult patient populations. Graduates emerge as highly skilled practitioners poised to drive meaningful healthcare transformations.

• 76-credit hybrid DNP program
• Family Nurse Practitioner concentration
• National certification eligible
• Minimum 3.25 GPA required
• Full and part-time options
• Evidence-based practice focus
• Leadership-oriented curriculum
• Clinical practicum included
• Advanced health assessment training
• Comprehensive primary care courses

Western Kentucky University's Nurse Executive DNP concentration provides a strategic pathway for nursing professionals seeking advanced leadership roles in complex healthcare environments. This meticulously designed 63-credit program cultivates sophisticated management skills through interdisciplinary coursework focusing on organizational behavior, strategic planning, and innovative healthcare delivery models. Students develop critical competencies in financial management, ethical leadership, and systemic change management, preparing them to drive transformative improvements across healthcare organizations with nuanced strategic insights.

• Hybrid program format
• Leadership-focused curriculum
• 63 total credit hours
• Concentration in Nurse Executive
• Advanced healthcare management skills
• Interdisciplinary leadership courses
• 3.25 GPA admission requirement
• Clinical practicum included
• Professional licensure required

Western Kentucky University's comprehensive DNP program offers unparalleled flexibility for nursing professionals seeking advanced practice leadership credentials. Presenting both BSN-to-DNP and MSN-to-DNP pathways, the 76-credit curriculum emphasizes evidence-based practice, health policy development, and organizational innovation. Students can strategically choose between Family Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Executive concentrations, gaining sophisticated skills to address contemporary healthcare challenges. The program's integrative approach combines scientific foundations, clinical expertise, and transformative leadership training to produce highly adaptable healthcare change agents.

• 76-hour BSN to DNP program
• Two concentration options
• Competitive 3.25 GPA requirement
• Practice-focused leadership degree
• National certification eligible
• Full and part-time options
• Clinical practicum included
• Advanced leadership coursework
• Evidence-based practice focus
• Professional reference required

Bellarmine University's DNP program revolutionizes nursing education by offering comprehensive online tracks that empower healthcare professionals to become advanced practice leaders. With flexible pathways in Advanced Nursing Practice, Executive Leadership, and Nurse Anesthesia, students develop sophisticated clinical expertise and strategic management skills. The program accommodates working professionals through adaptable credit hour structures ranging from 35-68 credits, ensuring accessibility and comprehensive professional development. Emphasizing evidence-based practice, systemic healthcare improvements, and interdisciplinary collaboration, graduates emerge as transformative practitioners prepared to elevate patient care quality and drive meaningful healthcare innovations across diverse clinical environments.

• Fully online program
• Multiple specialized tracks
• 35-68 total credit hours
• Post-master's and BSN options
• CCNE accredited program

Bellarmine University's Advanced Nursing Practice DNP concentration provides an exceptional online pathway for nurses seeking to enhance clinical leadership capabilities. This meticulously designed program enables working professionals to advance their expertise through a flexible 35-38 credit curriculum focused on sophisticated patient care strategies. Students gain advanced skills in documentation, trend analysis, and systematic healthcare improvements, preparing them to implement meaningful interventions across complex healthcare landscapes. The program's comprehensive approach emphasizes critical thinking, evidence-based practice, and advanced clinical reasoning, positioning graduates to make significant contributions in evolving healthcare delivery models.

• Fully online DNP program
• 35-38 total credit hours
• Advanced clinical leadership focus
• Flexible start times each semester
• CCNE accredited program
• Designed for working professionals
• Post-master's and BSN tracks available

Bellarmine University's Executive Leadership DNP concentration offers a transformative online program specifically designed for ambitious nursing professionals seeking high-level leadership roles. Through a strategic 35-38 credit curriculum, students develop comprehensive skills in organizational management, financial planning, and innovative healthcare strategies. The program uniquely blends advanced clinical knowledge with sophisticated business competencies, preparing graduates to drive systemic improvements and lead complex healthcare organizations. Emphasizing strategic decision-making, human resource management, and cutting-edge healthcare technologies, this concentration equips nurses to become visionary leaders capable of navigating increasingly complex healthcare environments.

• Fully online DNP program
• Executive Leadership concentration
• 35-38 credit hours
• Start any semester
• Designed for working professionals
• Post-master's and BSN to DNP tracks
• Healthcare leadership focus
• CCNE accredited program

Bellarmine University's Nurse Anesthesia DNP track represents an intensive, comprehensive 36-month program preparing advanced practice nurses for critical CRNA roles. Combining rigorous online coursework with extensive hands-on clinical experiences, this full-time program transforms experienced critical care nurses into specialized anesthesia professionals. Requiring a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA and one year of critical care nursing experience, students undergo comprehensive training across diverse medical settings. The 101-credit curriculum emphasizes technical precision, patient safety, and advanced anesthesia administration techniques, positioning graduates to excel in the National Certification Exam and enter a highly respected, autonomous healthcare profession.

• Doctoral degree in Nurse Anesthesia
• 9 semesters, 101 credit hours
• 20 student cohort size
• No GRE requirement
• Multiple clinical affiliations
• Full-time study only
• COA accredited program
• Critical care RN certification

University of Kentucky's DNP Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program provides specialized training for advanced nursing professionals targeting complex pediatric healthcare environments. This innovative curriculum prepares students to deliver critical interventions for severely ill children and complex chronic conditions. Students develop advanced skills in research integration, multidisciplinary teamwork, and specialized pediatric care strategies. The program uniquely positions graduates to excel in children's hospitals, acute care facilities, and specialized medical settings, emphasizing comprehensive, cutting-edge pediatric healthcare approaches.

• Only Acute Care PNP Program in Kentucky
• Doctoral-level pediatric nursing curriculum
• Multidisciplinary healthcare training
• Pediatric Nursing Certification Board recognized
• Advanced research integration skills

University of Kentucky's groundbreaking DNP program, established in 2001 as the nation's first, offers transformative advanced practice nursing education. This pioneering curriculum prepares healthcare professionals for high-level clinical leadership through flexible learning pathways. Students can select Post-BSN (3-year) or Post-MSN (2-year) tracks with hybrid online and on-campus formats. Graduates emerge as innovative healthcare leaders capable of designing, implementing, and evaluating complex healthcare delivery systems with sophisticated clinical and executive competencies.

• First DNP Program in U.S.
• Top 9% Nationwide Ranking
• Two Entry Point Options
• Hybrid Learning Model
• CCNE Full Accreditation
• Part-Time Study Available
• Nationally Recognized Faculty

University of Kentucky's DNP program in Adult Gerontology, Acute Care Nurse Practitioner concentration offers a comprehensive pathway for nursing professionals seeking advanced practice and leadership roles. As the pioneering DNP program in the United States, it provides flexible full-time and part-time study options with Post-BSN and Post-MSN entry points. The curriculum emphasizes evidence-based practice, innovative leadership, and patient-centered care, preparing nurses to transform healthcare delivery through advanced clinical and strategic perspectives.

• First DNP Program in U.S.
• Top 9% DNP Programs
• Hybrid Learning Model
• BSN and MSN Entry Options
• CCNE Accredited Program
• 2-3 Year Completion Time
• Advanced Practice Focus
• Clinical Leadership Preparation
• Nationally Recognized Faculty

University of Kentucky's DNP Family Nurse Practitioner concentration provides comprehensive advanced nursing education focusing on holistic healthcare delivery. Established in 2001, this pioneering program develops professionals with extensive skills in person-centered care, population health management, and innovative healthcare strategies. The curriculum offers flexible entry paths for BSN and MSN graduates, completing in two to three years through a hybrid learning model. Students gain expertise in evidence-based practice, system-level management, and advanced clinical interventions.

• 1st DNP Program in US
• Top 9% Nationwide Ranking
• Hybrid Learning Model
• Two Entry Point Options
• Full CCNE Accreditation
• BSN-DNP in 3 Years
• MSN-DNP in 2 Years
• National/International Faculty