DNP Advance Practice Registered Nurse

The Doctor of Nursing Practice is designed for nurses seeking a terminal degree in nursing practice and offers an alternative to research-focused doctoral programs. The DNP builds on traditional master’s programs through exploration of evidence-based practice, quality improvement, population health, and systems leadership. The ECU Post-Master’s Advanced Practice Registered Nurse DNP is a state-of-the art, accredited, part-time program where you can continue working while pursuing your doctoral degree. Nurses holding an earned master’s degree in nursing may apply to the Post-Master’s DNP. The 36-credit hour program includes 18-credit hours for core curriculum, 9-credit hours for the DNP Project, and 9-credit hours for electives (Graduate Catalog, 2024). Our curriculum allows the nurse to reach beyond their master’s preparation to expand their roles in healthcare education, leadership, policy, and innovation. Students may follow one of our planned elective pathways or seek to map their own pathway through dozens of graduate-level courses offered by ECU. If you are interested, explore our course schedules for nurses seeking to expand their careers through the following elective pathways:

• Nursing Education (PDF)
• Nursing Leadership (PDF)
• Emergency/Disaster Management (PDF)
• Find your own electives (PDF)

The DNP program at ECU is grounded in the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials, which are the foundation of the curriculum. Search through programs of study to your optimal educational pathway.

For more information about the ECU Post-Master’s DNP, please contact:

Janet Tillman, DNP, RN
Clinical Professor
Assistant Chair, Advanced Nursing Practice and Education
tillmanj@ecu.edu or Schedule a Meeting with Dr. Tillman.