Best quality DNP education

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Specializes in PMHNP-BC.

Hey there, so I have been searching on these threads in effort to find a discussion on the best QUALITY DNP program. So far what I have been finding are posts referencing cheapest, fastest, minimal requirement entry programs... that is not what I am looking for. I am aiming for a terminal degree in either Adult/Geriatric NP or psychiatric/mental health NP. By all the ads that pop-up, I am plenty aware of the vast amount of diploma mills available all across the US. However, I would like to attend a brick and mortar school that has a relatively high standing in terms of DNP education (I know that is a loaded discussion in its own right). I have read a forum today about one program in the Seattle area and was quite appalled at the quality of the applicants they had accepted for 2017 start. Not to be disrespectful, but most did not have a nursing degree and their GPA was questionable. I strongly believe that an advanced practice nurse has to have a nursing degree before applying for an "advanced" title. I would like to steer away from programs that offer direct-entry NP for this reason. Can anyone offer any insight to a good quality DNP program with a high standing? I believe the University of Washington might be one of them (feel free to object) and I have heard a positive comment or two about Rush University... what do you think? I do live in the Seattle area so something close by would be a plus but I am up for anywhere in the USA.

Last thing I want are for other providers to scoff at my education because they are plenty aware that the quality of DNP education can be questionable at times...

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Johns Hopkins has a psych program. Very reputable and just $1509/credit.

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

Duke was just voted #1 DNP program. I am in the MSN program and will be applying to roll into DNP for Spring 2018. They are online and they help with thesis/projects, which is huge. For the MSN, we have to come to campus once a semester twice during the program.

Not sure you can get a better reputation academically. I love the faculty there.

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Specializes in Neurosurgery, Neurology.

Columbia's programs all look great. Also their psych NP program includes therapy courses and rotations, which apparently is something few PMHNP programs include.

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Specializes in PMHNP-BC.

I thought of a stupid question.... please don't laugh! Within a DNP program there are often multiple tracts. Can other tracts be more superior in terms of quality within the same program? So for example, the FNP tract is stellar at school "A" but their psych/mental health program not so much? And vise versa for another school?

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Columbia has a well-respected direct-entry NP program so I'm not sure it fits your requirements.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Moved to the Student NP forum:

https://allnurses.com/student-nurse-practitioner/

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Specializes in Renal/Urology/HIV.

I will be attending Duke University's DNP program in the fall, i applied to Duke,Emory,Johns Hopkins,UPenn,and Yale I got accepted into all schools except yale. My friends and coworkers couldn't understand why I was applying to such expensive schools however I truly believe in getting a HIGH quality education..these schools are not easy to get into and they're definetly not easy once you get in. As an NP I want to get the BEST education that I can get so I applied to top 5 schools. I chose Duke because it was the most flexible with my job. If you have any questions regarding the application process for each school feel free to message me!

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Specializes in PMHNP-BC.

Thanks for the suggestions! I have been looking into all the programs that were suggested and found them to be very helpful.

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Specializes in PMHNP-BC.

Congrats on getting accepted into all those programs! It is quite an achievement. And I agree with you that the quality of education outweighs the price tag.

I have been looking a little more closely at Duke but I intend to apply to a handful of programs like you did and see where I get accepted before I set my heart on one program.

I will totally message you when I start the application process! I'm glad they have 3 start times a year for Duke because I have about 2 weeks left of my BSN program and have a ton of projects and tests to focus on.

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

I am graduating w/MSN and starting DNP app process to start in Jan. @ Duke. we can have a group chat or something :D

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Specializes in Renal/Urology/HIV.
Congrats on getting accepted into all those programs! It is quite an achievement. And I agree with you that the quality of education outweighs the price tag.

I have been looking a little more closely at Duke but I intend to apply to a handful of programs like you did and see where I get accepted before I set my heart on one program.

I will totally message you when I start the application process! I'm glad they have 3 start times a year for Duke because I have about 2 weeks left of my BSN program and have a ton of projects and tests to focus on.

Thanks! I truly believe that with the heavy influx of NPs it's really going to start to matter where you graduated from in order to get the best opportunities. Before I Decided on Duke I went to an Emory accepted students orientation and they said that at their hospitals they have a long list of NP schools that they refuse to take students from to precept or complete their rotations. they even named some of the schools...I won't personally name them but if you go into the NP forums you'll find a lot of people attending those schools. Had it not been for my job I would've attended Hopkins but I figured I couldn't go wrong with any of those schools since they're all amazing.

Feel free to message me at anytime, the application process was daunting but (obviously) totally worth it

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