Doctor of Nursing Practice: Nurse Educator
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Nurse Educator track is designed to prepare you for advanced educational roles in academic and practice settings, with an emphasis on doctoral-level competencies in teaching, curriculum design, assessment, leadership, and the scholarship of teaching and learning.
Two completion options are offered to accommodate diverse educational backgrounds:
- Post-Master’s option (39 credits)
- Post-Baccalaureate option (58 credits)
The DNP-NE track will be delivered in an online format, with required in-person engagement through a two-day orientation and a culminating scholarly dissemination event. Post-Baccalaureate students will also be required to complete a three-day, in-person residency in an advanced physical assessment course.
Graduates of the track will be prepared to assume faculty roles across undergraduate and graduate nursing tracks, as well as leadership positions in nursing professional development, staff education, and clinical education within healthcare organizations.
Applications for Fall 2026 are open.
Program Information
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Nurse Educator is a two-year (post-master) or a three-year (post-bachelor) track in which students combine their advanced nursing practice with evidence-based teaching strategies. Graduates will be able to demonstrate expertise in translating evidence into educational practice and advancing nursing education.
Program Type
Major
Degree
Doctorate
School
Duration
2-3 years
Required Credit Hours
39 (Post Master) 58 (Post Bachelor)
Modality
Online
Admissions
Admission Requirements
To qualify to the Post-Master's track of our Nurse Educator DNP track, you must:
- Hold a current, unencumbered RN license.
- Hold a master’s degree (nursing or non-nursing) from an accredited college or university with a 3.0 GPA or higher. MSN degree preferred.
- Have completed an undergraduate statistics course with a “C” or higher or graduate statistics course with a “B” or higher.
- Have at least one year of full-time work experience as an RN prior to registration in the clinical or specialty courses.
To qualify to the Post-Baccalaureate track of our Nurse Educator DNP track, you must:
- Hold a current, unencumbered RN license.
- Hold a bachelor’s degree (nursing or non-nursing) from an accredited college or university with a 3.0 GPA or higher. BSN degree preferred.
- Have completed an undergraduate statistics course with a “C” or higher.
- Have at least one year of full-time work experience as an RN prior to registration in the clinical or specialty courses.
Admission Process
- Submit a resume or curriculum vitae.
- Provide official transcript(s).
- Include a 2-3 page goal statement that addresses the following:
- Why are you interested in pursuing a Doctor of Nursing Practice Nurse Education degree?
- Why is this Doctor of Nursing Practice track a strong fit for your goals?
- What experiences have you had with evidence-based practice and quality improvement?
- Briefly discuss your topic idea for a Doctor of Nursing Practice project that could involve improvement of patient/family, nursing, and/or nursing student outcomes.
An interview may be required as part of the selection process.
Curriculum
39 Credit Hours
6 Semesters
Year One
Fall
- GPNS 969 Analytical Methods for Evidence Based Practice (50 hours) (3 credits)
- GPNS 970 Evidence Based Practice - Translation of Research to Practice (50 hours) (3 credits)
Spring
- GNED 523 Theory, Technology, and Ethical/Legal Decision-Making in Nursing Education (3 credits)
- GNED 535 Emerging Trends and Innovations Used in Teaching Nursing (3 credits)
Summer
- GPNS 971 Evidence Based Practice Methods for Health Policy and Program Evaluation (75 hours) (4 credits)
- GNED 526 Curriculum Design and Evaluation for Nurse Educators (3 credits)
Year Two
Fall
- GPNS 908 Evidence Based Practice - Leading Change Management (50 hours) (3 credits)
- GPNS 906 Healthcare Informatics (50 hours) (3 credits)
Spring
- GPNS 980 DNP Practicum I: Implementation (up to 350 clinical hours) (4 credits)
- GNED 905 Advanced Clinical Nurse Educator Role Practicum (2/2) (4 credits)
Summer
- GPNS 981 DNP Practicum II: Evaluation (up to 350 clinical hours) (4 credits)
- GNED 909 Nursing Professional Development and Wellness (2 credits)
58 Credit Hours
9 Semesters
Year One
Fall
- GPNG 538 Advanced Pharmacology/Pathophysiology (4 credits)
- GPNG 548 Evidence Based Nursing Practice & Policy Advanced Nursing (3 credits)
Spring
- GPNG 550 Clinical Prevention and Population Health Promotion for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 credits)
- GPNG 535 Advanced Physical Assessment (2/1) (75 clinical) (3 credits)
Summer
- GPNS 977 Transcultural Health and Global Health Delivery (3 credits)
- GPNG 549 Nursing and Health Care Ethics in Practice Policy (3 credits)
Year Two
Fall
- GPNS 969 Analytical Methods for Evidence Based Practice (50 hours) (3 credits)
- GPNS 970 Evidence Based Practice - Translation of Research to Practice (50 hours) (3 credits)
Spring
- GNED 523 Theory, Technology, and Ethical/Legal Decision-Making in Nursing Education (3 credits)
- GNED 535 Emerging Trends and Innovations Used in Teaching Nursing (3 credits)
Summer
- GPNS 971 Evidence Based Practice Methods for Health Policy and Program Evaluation (75 hours) (4 credits)
- GNED 526 Curriculum Design and Evaluation for Nurse Educators (3 credits)
Year Three
Fall
- GPNS 908 Evidence Based Practice - Leading Change Management (50 hours) (3 credits)
- GPNS 906 Healthcare Informatics (50 hours) (3 credits)
Spring
- GPNS 980 DNP Practicum I: Implementation (up to 350 clinical hours) (4 credits)
- GNED 905 Advanced Clinical Nurse Educator Role Practicum (2/2) (4 credits)
Summer
- GPNS 981 DNP Practicum II: Evaluation (up to 350 clinical hours) (4 credits)
- GNED 909 Nursing Professional Development and Wellness (2 credits)
Questions?
Do you still have questions about the DNP-NE track?
The DNP Nurse Educator track at Duquesne University School of Nursing is accredited
by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Learning Outcomes
Accreditation
