DNP Careers & Outcomes

Nurses with DNP degrees have the education, expertise, and access to be those leaders and move the agenda for nursing along the path of achieving health equity.

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

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 health care system

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

Program Coordinator, Comprehensive Stroke Center, Strong Memorial Hospital

Sheniece L. Martin-Stancil-El, DNP, RN, CNL headshot
Quotation Mark

I hope to be able to walk into Strong Memorial Hospital and not only see a change — different faces that show diversity—but see that the change goes much deeper, beyond the surface level. It will be a change in the way people feel when they come to work. They will be able to say, 'I feel like I’m valued, appreciated, respected.'

Sheniece L. Martin-Stancil-El, DNP, RN, CNL

Nursing Director for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, URMC
Assistant Professor of Clinical Nursing

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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