Choosing between a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing is a pivotal decision for nurses aiming to reach the highest levels of their profession.
Both are terminal degrees, but they serve distinct purposes and prepare graduates for different career paths.
Here’s a guide to help you understand the differences and decide which path aligns with your goals.
Core Focus: Practice vs. Research
DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice)
The DNP is a practice-focused doctorate. Its primary aim is to prepare nurses for advanced clinical practice, leadership, and the translation of research into real-world healthcare settings.
DNPs are experts in applying evidence-based knowledge to improve patient outcomes, healthcare systems, and policy implementation.
PhD in Nursing
The PhD is a research-focused doctorate. It prepares nurse scientists to conduct original research, develop new nursing theories, and advance the science of nursing.
Graduates typically pursue careers in academic research, teaching, and policy development.
Curriculum and Program Structure
There are some key structural differences in how these programs are run and how the curriculum for them is designed.
The primary focus of the DNP program is to build leadership in clinical practice, while the focus in the curriculum for PhD in nursing online programs would be in research and theory development that can later be tested empirically or adopted into practice.
The coursework for DNP is largely centred around already established evidence-based practice, leadership, and improvement in healthcare policy and delivery. The coursework for a PhD course, on the other hand, will be centred mostly around statistics, data analysis, and dissertation work (depending on what exact thesis you would be working on)
A PhD program typically will not require any associated clinical work, while the DNP program usually would have between 400 and 1000 hours of clinical duty, depending on the program you select. DNP programs also tend to be a lot shorter (2-4 years) compared to PhD programs that require up to 6 years or more of full-time work.
There are also differences in the amount of flexibility, as most DNP programs are offered part-time while PhD programs are not.
Career Outcomes
DNP graduates usually have a career trajectory that takes them through clinical leadership roles (e.g., nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse anaesthetist) or healthcare administration and executive positions.
They can also go into clinical faculty in nursing programs, as well as roles in healthcare policy, informatics, and quality improvement
PhD graduates usually end up in more academically focused positions like teaching faculty or research. They are suited for positions in policy analysis and advisory boards.
They tend to be leaders in the cutting edge of academic research in nursing, heading new experimentation and data collection in research institutes, government, or non-profit organisations.
Questions to Ask Yourself
An easy way to make the decision of what is right for you is to ask yourself some poignant questions.
Do you want to work directly with patients and lead clinical teams?
If the answer is yes, the DNP is likely a better fit. It’s designed for those who wish to remain in or advance within clinical practice and healthcare leadership.
Are you passionate about research, teaching, or shaping the future of nursing science?
If so, the PhD is the clear choice. This path is for nurses who want to conduct research, teach at the university level, or influence healthcare policy through evidence generation.
Do you prefer hands-on problem-solving or theoretical exploration?
DNPs solve real-world problems in clinical settings, while PhDs focus on generating new knowledge and understanding through research.
What is your ideal work environment?
DNPs often work in hospitals, clinics, and executive roles, while PhDs are more likely to be found in academic or research settings, often working closely with data in labs.
Program Logistics and Considerations
Funding
PhD programs are more likely to offer full funding, including tuition waivers and stipends, especially at research universities. DNP programs may have less institutional funding, though scholarships and loan programs are available.
Flexibility
DNP programs are often designed for working nurses with part-time options. On the other hand, PhD programs usually require full-time commitment and may not accommodate ongoing clinical work. DNP programs are also shorter and typically take 2–4 years, whereas PhD programs often require 4–6 years.
Can You Do Both?
Some nurses choose to pursue both degrees over their careers to gain a comprehensive understanding of both clinical practice and research.
In fact, some universities offer accelerated PhD programs for DNP graduates, recognizing the value of both skill sets in advancing the profession.
Having said that, the two programs diverge quite a bit in their scope and application, making it quite rare for nurses to consider doing both.
Both the DNP and PhD in Nursing are prestigious, rigorous degrees that open doors to leadership roles in healthcare. The right choice depends on your career aspirations:
Choose the DNP if you want to lead in clinical practice, improve patient care, and drive change in healthcare systems. And choose the PhD if you want to generate new nursing knowledge, teach future nurses, and shape the direction of the profession through research.
