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Graduate Programs

Doctor of Nursing Practice Program

Earn a DNP degree to take your practice to the next level and apply real-world solutions across the health care system.

It's an exciting time to become a doctorally-prepared nurse. As a practice leader, learn how to advance evidence-based practice to drive meaningful innovations across your organization or health care system. Now, more than ever before, doctorally-prepared nurses are needed to improve patient outcomes and transform health care delivery.

DNP Program Format

Part-time, hybrid online

DNP Program Length

3-4 years

Next Application Deadline

April 15 

for Fall 2023 entry

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) recommends the DNP degree as the entry to advanced nursing practice. Nurse practitioners prepared at the doctoral level serve a critical role as high-quality clinicians, leaders in care delivery, and contributors to transforming health care. Likewise, doctorally-prepared clinical nurse leaders are integral to building evidence for practice at the point of care delivery.

Pursuing a DNP will prepare you to lead innovative efforts to overcome today's challenges and create new opportunities in health care. Gain essential knowledge and skills to expand your future professional opportunities as a practice leader, clinical scholar, and change agent. Make an impact as a DNP-prepared nurse at the University of Rochester, the No. 1 ranked DNP program in Upstate NY.

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Post-BS to DNP Curriculum

For highly-qualified nurses with a bachelor’s degree in nursing who want to earn their DNP degree. Post-baccalaureate students will select an area of practice specialty (NP or CNL).

Post-MS to DNP Curriculum

For nurses with a master’s degree, previous coursework will be transferred into the program upon transcript analysis.

Applications Requirements

Application requirements to apply to the DNP program.

Quotation Mark

My DNP project looked at ways to expand capacity across upstate New York for diagnosing children with FASD. Having my committee and having mentorship in the School of Nursing has allowed me to do this project in a much more structured and organized way to make sure we evaluate outcomes so that we know this is an effective intervention. It's really exciting to see when kids have the supports in place how successful and happy they and their families can be.

Quotation Mark

My DNP project looked at ways to expand capacity across upstate New York for diagnosing children with FASD. Having my committee and having mentorship in the School of Nursing has allowed me to do this project in a much more structured and organized way to make sure we evaluate outcomes so that we know this is an effective intervention. It's really exciting to see when kids have the supports in place how successful and happy they and their families can be.

UR Nursing and the DNP Degree

UR Nursing Ranks No. 27 by U.S. News

UR Nursing Hosts 7th DNP Summit

UR Nursing Advances National Dialogue on DNP Impact

Lydia Rotondo, DNP, RN, CNS, FNAP

Lydia Rotondo, DNP, RN, CNS, FNAP

Associate Dean for Education & Student Affairs
DNP Program Director

Lydia Rotondo has directed the Doctor of Nursing Practice program since 2014 and has become a national contributor to the dialogue on DNP education. She spearheaded the creation of the highly successful DNP Summit, featuring speakers from across the country discussing the future of the DNP and DNP-prepared nurses, and has published on DNP clinical scholarship, as well as presented nationally on several DNP-related topics. She was also selected as a 2018 Leadership for Academic Nursing Fellow by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

See bio

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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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