Doctor of Nursing Practice – Post-Master’s Track

About

Program Highlights

  • Highly accessible online and hybrid courses with synchronous and asynchronous sessions 
  • Leadership systems and educational leadership focus
  • Planned, highly focused on-campus cohort sessions hosted once per quarter 
  • Pursue a degree without leaving current employment

You Should Apply If…

  • You are seeking a doctoral degree for advancement opportunities
  • You are a Nurse Practitioner (NP), Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), or another masters prepared nurse looking to stay ahead of your education requirements and remain in practice
  • You wish to design, direct, and evaluate quality metrics to improve health care outcomes
  • You are passionate about guiding, mentoring, and supporting other nurses to achieve excellence in nursing practice

Goals & Outcomes

  • Demonstrate advanced levels of clinical judgment, systems thinking and accountability in designing, delivering, and evaluating evidence‐based care to improve patient outcomes.
  • Integrate nursing science, science‐based theory, and systems knowledge into the development and evaluation of new practice approaches to care.
  • Employ advanced communication skills and processes to lead quality improvement and safety initiatives.
  • Apply analytic methods to the critical appraisal of literature and other evidence to develop and support best practice.
  • Disseminate data from evidence‐based practice and research to support improvements in health outcomes.
  • Convene and lead interprofessional, collaborative stakeholder teams to create change and advance positive health outcomes.
  • Generate, evaluate, and articulate innovative solutions to complex care issues.
  • Analyze the impact of local, national, and global health policy on determinants of care decisions.
  • Effectively synthesize data from research, practice evidence, and other credible sources to drive care recommendations and policy.
  • Advocate for nursing and socially‐ and ethically relevant policy in health care design and delivery.
Candice Whealon
Whealon, Candice
Co-Director, DNP Program and Assistant Clinical Professor
“I’m committed to advancing healthcare by preparing innovative nurse leaders and educators. As an academic nurse practitioner, I foster excellence in research, education, and practice, cultivating community partnerships essential for developing transformative nursing professionals.”
Leanne Burke
Leanne Burke
Director of Teaching Excellence & Innovation and Associate Clinical Professor
“I am honored to have the opportunity to impact healthcare and minimize health inequities by educating future nurses in the Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing. Working closely with students and my colleagues has allowed me to broaden my reach to improve maternal health outcomes.”
Tiffany Nielsen
Nielsen, Tiffany
Co-Director, DNP Program and Assistant Clinical Professor
“The complex healthcare landscape offers opportunities to cultivate innovative strategies that enhance patient outcomes, address disparities, and foster interdisciplinary partnerships. Collaborating with future healthcare trailblazers is a profound privilege, as we strive to advance quality care and accessibility for diverse populations.”

From Our Students

DNP Post Master's Student Elise Hukom
Elise Hukom, MSN-Ed, RN, PHN, CNE
DNP Post Master’s, 2025
I chose UC Irvine’s DNP-PM program because of the opportunities it gives to further develop my role as an educator. This program has exceeded my expectations with the flexible, accommodating, and caring faculty I have learned so much from.”
DNP Post-Master's Student Carin Resseguie
Carin Resseguie
DNP Post-Masters, 2025
I chose UC Irvine’s DNP program for its emphasis on innovation, leadership, and evidence-based practice. The program’s exceptional faculty and commitment to preparing nurse leaders to transform healthcare aligned with my career goals and made it the perfect choice for me.”
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DNP News & Stories

Nursing Insights

79.8%
In October 2023, a total of 1,977 full-time faculty vacancies were identified in a survey of 922 nursing schools with baccalaureate and/or graduate programs across the country (84.6% response rate). Besides the vacancies, schools cited the need to create an additional 103 faculty positions to accommodate student demand. The data show a national nurse faculty vacancy rate of 7.8%. Most of the vacancies (79.8%) were faculty positions requiring or preferring a doctoral degree. (AACN 2024)
1/3
One third of the current nursing faculty workforce in baccalaureate and graduate programs are expected to retire by 2025. (AACN 2024)
28%
The demand for nursing leadership roles, including CNEs and CNOs, is projected to grow by 28% from 2018 to 2028, indicating a significant increase in such positions. (Zippia 2021)

Take Action Towards Your Goal

Find out how to join the ranks of nurse leaders who strive to improve patient care, promote population health, as well as become trailblazers in research, education, and clinical practice, and who champion collaborative, compassionate, and interdisciplinary evidence-based practice.

Click below to explore your path to Nursing with Humanity in Mind.

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