DNP Careers & Outcomes

Nurses with DNP degrees are prepared as clinical scholars and practice leaders to advance nursing and improve patient outcomes and optimize health care delivery for all. 

Program Goals


The DNP program learning outcomes reflect integration and application of the knowledge and skills obtained in the program based on AACN's DNP Essentials. The goal of the DNP program is to prepare clinical scholars and practice leaders who transform healthcare delivery, optimize health outcomes for diverse populations, and generate practice knowledge to advance the discipline of nursing.

Program Learning Outcomes


At the completion of the program, the DNP graduate will be prepared to:

  1. Employ clinical scholarship, implementation science, and healthcare analytics to advance evidence-based practice at the individual, organizational, community, or population level through systematic investigation of an identified practice issue.
  2. Drive organizational and systems innovation to improve patient outcomes and optimize health care delivery.
  3. Emerge as practice leaders that utilize collaborative, consultative, and leadership skills on intraprofessional and interprofessional teams to achieve high quality, highvalue patient-centered care.
  4. Develop leadership skills to effectively advocate for policy initiatives related to health care economics, regulation, access, and delivery.
  5. Integrate advanced nursing knowledge and specialty competencies with clinical scholarship in an identified area of nursing practice.

Careers & Success Stories

Faith Carini-Graves, DNP, RN, PMHNP-BC, RAC-CT headshot
Quotation Mark

The most amazing thing is about being a nurse, for me, is being in those human moments — even the difficult ones. We have such amazing access to key human experience moments that are amazing. The power of nurses is knowing what to do in those intense human moments.

Faith Carini-Graves, DNP, RN, PMHNP-BC, RAC-CT

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, Hillside Children's Center

Laurie Athans, DNP, RN, CNL, CCRN-K headshot
Quotation Mark

Every single thing that I have learned has made me better in the role that I'm currently in. And so I would not tell you that it's easy. It's actually been difficult, but has been incredibly gratifying as well because I feel that it makes me a more effective leader and a more effective nurse.

Laurie Athans, DNP, RN, CNL, CCRN-K

Director of Pediatric Nursing, Golisano Children's Hospital

Ann Leonhardt-Caprio, DNP, RN, ANP-BC, FAHA headshot
Quotation Mark

Doctorally-prepared nurses are in a unique and strong position to evaluate systems of care, and where the needs are for patients within systems of care, in order to make improvements that benefit both the patients and the healthcare system.

Ann Leonhardt-Caprio, DNP, RN, ANP-BC, FAHA

Program Coordinator, Comprehensive Stroke Center, Strong Memorial Hospital

Connect With Us

Interested in earning your DNP? Connect with us to discuss what a DNP degree from the University of Rochester means for you. 

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