Doctoral Program
BSN to DNP
Choose Your Online Program Pathway
CLASSES START
Jan 6th
28-32 Mo. Program Length | CCNE Accredited† |
Online Format | We Pledge Clinical Placement |
Doctoral Program
BSN to DNP
Choose Your Online Program Pathway
Advance to DNP with Herzing University
| Accreditation | CCNE accredited†, Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission |
|---|---|
| Pathways | Choose one of several advanced nursing specialization options |
| Format | 100% online didactic classes, hands-on clinical experience, and completion of a DNP Practice Project |
| Clinicals | We pledge your clinical placement |
| Admissions | Eligibility requirements include a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and a minimum 3.0 GPA |
| Curriculum | Competency-based; developed in compliance with the model for advanced nursing education of the AACN new Essentials (2021) |
Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best online graduate nursing programs in 2024
Become a specialist, scholar, and leader
The BSN to DNP pathway offers you the opportunity to both pursue an advanced nursing specialty and earn the terminal degree in nursing – accelerating your climb to the top of the nursing field.
Our program is built for working nurses who hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and is supported by experienced practicing faculty with extensive real-world experience. We support your every step to earning a DNP and reaching your highest career goals in nursing.
Career-focused curriculum
Discover the crucial knowledge and skills required to succeed in your work and build a foundation for continued career growth.
Flexible schedule
We work hard to help you maintain school-life balance, striving to be as flexible as possible for busy non-traditional students.
Virtual services
Access to extensive virtual services, including academic advising, tutoring, support services, technical support and library services.
Lifelong support
We support your ongoing career advancement by providing comprehensive, personalized student services with lifelong career coaching.
Rolling admissions
No application deadlines to worry about. Apply when you’re ready and prepare to get started soon.
Classes Start January 6th
Learn More Today
Choose your path from BSN to DNP
You may choose from several specialties to take the next step up to new heights in your nursing career.
Your clinical placement is our pledge.
We understand securing clinical placement as part of a BSN to DNP program is one of the biggest concerns students face. At Herzing, we offer guidance and support through our step-by-step Clinical Guidance Process to ensure you can get the clinical practice experiences you need.
As a Herzing student, we’ll encourage you to find your own preceptor and clinical sites as there are many benefits to doing so. However, we provide extensive support should you find difficulty along the way. With Herzing, you are never on your own.
Because of our strong relationships with healthcare providers across the U.S. and our comprehensive Clinical Guidance Process, we are confident in our ability to help you find clinical placement. So much so that if you are unable to find a clinical site on your own, we pledge to step in and help you secure clinical placement.*
* Subject to terms and conditions outlined in the enrollment documents.
Ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the best online graduate nursing degree programs in 2024.
✝The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program at Herzing University Madison is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). Herzing University is approved to offer programs in an online learning modality through association with the main campus in Madison, Wisconsin.
Herzing University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Accreditation & Recognition
Our accredited & recognized online school
We strive to earn rank as one of the top private, nonprofit universities in the United States. Just as you work every day to become the best version of yourself, so do we as a university.
We are proud to have attained institutional and programmatic accreditation in addition to industry recognition for our accomplishments helping students earn a college education and find career success.
Classes Start January 6th
Waived Enrollment Fee
Meet our DNP Leadership
Dr. Julie Penick PhD, DNP, FNP-BC
"The ‘I’m Possible’ campaign at Herzing University is not just a marketing tagline! It is a reality for any student that invests time and energy in their education. Join us in the DNP program where we will invest our time and energy with you!"
Julie Penick is an experienced educator and certified Family Nurse Practitioner who serves as the DNP Program Chair. Her clinical practice is delivered through application of a mind-body-spirit care approach. She completed her ASN through LSU Health Sciences in New Orleans, LA; her BSN through Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA; her MSN at UMKC, her PMC-FNP at UMC, and her DNP at UMSL (all in the state of Missouri). Rapidly approaching 40 years of experience in nursing, with the last 28 years as an FNP and 14 years as a nurse educator, Dr. Penick has an experiential, multi-dimensional foundation that translates positively in the service to students.
Dr. Julie Penick
DNP Program Chair
Program Finder
BSN to DNP Degree Programs
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To learn more about this program, click the Request Info button to the right.
To learn more about this program, click the Request Info button to the right.
To learn more about this program, click the Request Info button to the right.
To learn more about this program, click the Request Info button to the right.
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Frequently Asked Questions
After earning a master’s degree you may pursue further nursing credentials in a post-master’s certificate in nursing program. Herzing offers multiple certificate options with specializations in:
- Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
- Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGNP/AGPCNP)
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Nursing Education (Nurse Educator - NE)
- Nursing Leadership & Administration (NLA)
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
- Public Health (PH)
- Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)
After earning master's-level preparation in the specialty of your choosing, you can then advance to the doctorate level by enrolling in our online Post Master's DNP program.
Earning an MSN or DNP represents a huge step forward in your education, but there is always more to learn. We are your lifelong partner in learning, dedicated to helping you earn the education needed to reach your highest career goals.
Here’s a selection of the most common types of nurse practitioners:
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
- Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
- Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)
Each specialty has its own unique requirements in terms of job experience and certification.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nurse practitioners earn an average salary of $128,490 per year ($61.78 per hour). Pay depends on many factors, including your location, what healthcare institution you work for and your level of experience.*
Discover the average nurse practitioner salary by state and find out what nurse practitioners make on average near you.
A nurse leader sees the big picture without losing sight of the day-to-day. They are active in helping organizations move forward in response to an evolving healthcare industry.
Leaders in nursing have the administrative understanding and business expertise to make educated decisions and achieve the optimal balance between what’s best for the organization and what’s best for the patient(s). The importance of nursing leadership is highly evident when organizations struggle to find this balance.
Read more about the most important qualities and characteristics of leadership in nursing and what it takes to earn a higher level of roles and responsibilities as a nurse.
There are many different types of nursing leadership styles with varying levels of effectiveness depending on the working environment, including:
- Democratic
- Transformational
- Authoritarian (or "autocratic")
- Transactional
- Laissez-faire
...among several others. There are many unique theories of nursing leadership you’ll want to become familiar with throughout your development as a nurse leader. Understanding the right leadership techniques for you and your colleagues is crucial to keep morale high, ensure lines of communication are clear, maximize productivity and improve patient care.
Nurse practitioner represents an advanced practice role in nursing—it’s not an easy job, and our goal is to prepare you best for success! We strive to keep coursework manageable, but provide you with the knowledge, skills, and valuable clinical experiences to succeed as a nurse practitioner.
Our goal is to help you balance the challenge of an NP curriculum with everything else in your life, including your work, family and friends. You can take courses at the right pace for you, so you can get the most out of going back to school and be ready to practice as a nurse practitioner.
You can begin working towards the terminal degree in nursing right from the start and reach that goal faster by choosing a BSN to DNP specialization. You may earn a leg up on the competition for jobs in your specialty by earning a DNP, and you’ll develop a unique set of advanced knowledge and skills an MSN program doesn’t offer.
However, if your primary goal is to first establish yourself in a specialty, the BSN to MSN path might be a better fit. You can always return to school in the future and go from MSN to DNP in our online DNP program.
Increasingly yes, but it ultimately depends on the institution who issued the degree.
As the popularity of online degrees continues to rapidly trend upward in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, so has mainstream acceptance of online degree programs.
Attitudes toward online degrees were already becoming more positive before the pandemic forced the issue. According to a 2019 study from Northeastern University, 61 percent of HR leaders say online learning is “of equal or greater quality to more traditional methods.” More than half believe that in the future, most advanced degrees will be online.
Regarding nursing applicants who earned online degrees, there are a few important factors employers consider:
- The school and degree program’s accreditation. Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and programmatically accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).i
- If you have earned nursing licensure. Our programs are designed to help you pass any necessary exams and become licensed before getting your first job.
- The school’s reputation and history of producing excellent employees. Consider our many happy graduates and 50+ years producing more than 40,000 alumni.
For all these reasons employers know what it means when they see “Herzing University” on a resume!
i. Programmatic accreditation varies by program and by campus location. Find details about all Herzing University accreditations and approvals.
Sometimes hospitals form partnerships with schools like ours to provide employees with unique benefits should they choose to pursue an advanced nursing degree.
Employees of Herzing partners can potentially earn college credit for prior work or military experience, transfer existing credit, or earn a scholarship to make going back to school more affordable.
If you are currently an RN considering becoming a nurse practitioner, view our educational partnerships or check with your employer for potential possibilities.
Nursing administrators fall under the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) medical and health services manager category. According to the BLS, the average salary for medical health and service managers is $134,440 per year ($64.64 per hour).*
Discover how much nurse administrators can make by state and find salary estimates in the area near you.
Related Programs
Disclosures
Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
* Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics 2023 / Occupational Outlook Handbook 2022. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.
Program availability varies by state. Click your state of residence below for more details:
Related Blog Posts
My professors were great. When I had a question, I could quickly get in contact with my instructor. The academic resources that Herzing offered were also excellent. My favorite was the writing center. I could submit a paper for review and they would make suggestions on my writing.
