Doctor of nursing practice leadership professionals

Doctor of Nursing Practice – Leadership Online

Strengthen your abilities in leadership, clinical studies and theoretical models while preparing to respond to the rising demand for nurse leaders and directors.

Next Apply Date: 6/16/25
Next Class Start Date: 6/30/25
Apply Now
Next Apply Date: 6/16/25
Next Class Start Date: 6/30/25

Program Overview

Expand your nursing expertise with the online DNP – Leadership program

Advance your practice with the online Doctor of Nursing Practice – Leadership from Arkansas State University. Whether you are seeking specialized credentials and cutting-edge knowledge for a promotion, or if you’re aiming to excel in your current position, this doctorate empowers you to flourish as a healthcare leader in any professional setting.

Lead innovative solutions to systemic challenges in healthcare when you engage with the cutting-edge, accessible and 100% online coursework in the DNP – Leadership program from A-State. Examine models of leadership and ways they are effectively used in the healthcare setting; study quality improvements in healthcare management while learning about current regulation rationales; and understand applications of healthcare economics in the context of nursing practice, nursing leadership and healthcare delivery. Use your leadership skills, real-world experiences and advanced knowledge to effectively discover, address and solve challenges in healthcare organizations.

Personalize this ACEN-accredited doctoral leadership program and make it relevant to your professional goals when you identify your areas of interest for study and complete the clinical requirements—and correlating assignments—in the context of your workplace. From health informatics to alternate population health, this online DNP – Leadership program delves deeply into contemporary topics that will prepare you to pilot innovative change in a dynamic healthcare environment.

For state approvals, please consult the Program Map.

In this online DNP – Leadership program, you will learn how to:

  • Demonstrate impact of implementations of academic research results in a healthcare organization
  • Understand the drivers of effective healthcare delivery and design/implement systems to address gaps within healthcare organizations
  • Learn to translate research findings into programs that improve patient and healthcare outcomes
  • Develop expertise in a specialty area that is of interest to you
  • Identify system or organizational gaps in patient care or organizational effectiveness and develop/implement solutions to solve for those gaps
In this online DNP – Leadership program, you will learn how to:+
  • Demonstrate impact of implementations of academic research results in a healthcare organization
  • Understand the drivers of effective healthcare delivery and design/implement systems to address gaps within healthcare organizations
  • Learn to translate research findings into programs that improve patient and healthcare outcomes
  • Develop expertise in a specialty area that is of interest to you
  • Identify system or organizational gaps in patient care or organizational effectiveness and develop/implement solutions to solve for those gaps

Prepare for a variety of educator roles in healthcare, including:

  • Nursing Director
  • Chief Nursing Officer
Prepare for a variety of educator roles in healthcare, including:+
  • Nursing Director
  • Chief Nursing Officer
+

DNP – Leadership Online FAQS

The DNP student will be assigned a student advisor. The advisor will contact the student to discuss the individual degree plan designed to fit the student’s part-time or full-time plan.
Yes, you will complete either a quality improvement or policy change project. This project is based on a needs assessment at your predetermined project site. Most students complete their projects at their place of employment. Others complete a project elsewhere, which will require an affiliation agreement. A needs assessment and project proposal begin in NURS 8123: Leadership, Policy, and Healthcare Systems. The project has three parts: writing of Section I and approval in NURS 8213: Translational Research for Doctor of Nursing Practice I; writing of Section II and methodology and project implementation in NURS 8223: Translational Research for Doctor of Nursing Practice II; and writing of Section III and dissemination in NURS 8263: DNP Project. The course faculty will discuss the process during the first week of the leadership course.
Yes, all of the online DNP programs are accredited by ACEN.
Yes, while this program is accelerated, the program at A-State is designed to be completed alongside your full-time career. The DNP program is offered part time and full time to better fit your lifestyle and work commitments.
A-State offers three (3) concentrations for the online DNP program. Choose from the DNP – General, DNP – Leadership, and DNP – Education, depending on your career aspirations and interests. 
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is the highest level of nursing, and this program prepares nurses for leadership roles in clinical practice, healthcare systems, and policy making. This advanced degree will provide the nurse with skills to translate research into practice with the emphasis of utilizing evidence-based practice to make positive changes, thus improving patient outcomes in various settings, healthcare quality, and workplace efficiency.
The DNP students do not complete traditional clinicals, but they are responsible for completing practice experiences. These experiences are not precepted; the hours come from a combination of course assignments and asynchronous learning experiences approved by the course faculty. The student must achieve 1,000 clinical hours as a combination of MSN hours, three DNP internship courses, and, at times, variable courses when students had less than the required MSN hours at the time of application. A gap analysis will be completed to determine hours. All students will complete 540 total practice experience hours between the three internship courses. A DNP Practice Experience Requirement packet will be provided in the first DNP Internship course.
Yes, the program accepts transfer credits up to nine (9) credit hours. Transfer courses must be evaluated by the nursing department for approval. You must provide the complete syllabus from the institution for each course you would like considered for transfer. Courses taken more than six (6) years ago cannot be transferred, according to the Graduate School policy.

Also available:

A-State offers a variety of post-graduate programs in a convenient online format. Explore our full range of online post-graduate programs.

Total Tuition: $19,800
Program Duration: As few as 12 months
Credit Hours 36

Accreditation

Apply Now

Need More Information?

Call 866-621-8096

Call 866-621-8096

Tuition

A-State’s affordable tuition makes advancement easy

Our online DNP – Leadership program offers the same affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition to all U.S. residents. All administrative fees are included. Tuition may be subject to change on a yearly basis.

Tuition breakdown:

Per Credit Hour: $550
Total Tuition: $19,800

Calendar

Remember these important dates and deadlines

Ideal for working nurses, Arkansas State online programs are delivered in an accelerated format with multiple start dates each year.

View full calendar  + 

TermProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlinePayment DueLast Class Day
Summer 15/12/254/28/254/28/255/1/255/9/256/27/25
Summer 26/30/256/16/256/16/256/19/256/27/258/14/25
Fall 18/20/258/4/258/4/258/7/258/15/2510/3/25
Fall 210/13/259/29/259/29/2510/2/2510/10/2512/4/25

Now enrolling:

Next Apply Date 6/16/25
Start Class 6/30/25

Have questions or need more information about A‑State online programs?

Ready to take the next step toward earning your degree online from A-State?

Apply Now

Admissions

How to be admitted to our online DNP – Leadership program

We know you’re busy, so we’ve streamlined the A-State admission process to help you get started quickly and easily. Students who are interested in the online DNP – Leadership program must have a Master of Science in Nursing degree from a CCNE, COA, ACEN or CNEA accredited program and a current unencumbered license.

Admission Requirements:

  • Online application
  • MSN degree
  • Current unencumbered RN license
View all admission requirements +

DNP Admission Guidelines

  • Complete online application and submit application fee
  • Master of Nursing (MSN) from a CCNE, COA, ACEN or CNEA accredited program of nursing from a regionally accredited college or university that includes at least 40 faculty-supervised clinical hours
  • Graduate cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  • Official transcript(s) submitted by the registrar of any college/university you have attended. Official transcripts are sealed transcripts sent from the granting institution.
  • Current unencumbered RN license

Graduates of an MSN program with a specialty option that did not include the required certification eligibility requirements from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and/or the American Associated of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) (Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology; Advanced Health Assessment, including diagnostics and disease management; Advanced Pharmacology; and/or a minimum of 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours) are also eligible to apply. A request for a curriculum “Gap Analysis” to determine an individual plan of study will be requested from the program coordinator prior to starting the program.

This program requires a high level of English proficiency to meet academic and clinical objectives, along with meeting the criteria for licensure. You may be required to provide proof of English proficiency per A-State School of Nursing English Proficiency Standards. Additionally, if you’ve ever attended a professional program in the past, you may be required to provide a letter of good standing.

Request all official transcripts be sent directly to A-State from all colleges or universities attended. Save time by requesting transcripts be sent electronically.

International Students

Students from non-English speaking countries or for whom English is not a native language must take one of the following tests:

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of 83 on the preferred internet-based test (iBT), 570 on the paper-based test, or 213 on the computer-based test
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a score of at least 6.5 and a spoken band score of 7
  • Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE) with a score of 56

    • Submit all documents to:

    A-State Online
    P.O. Box 2520
    State University, AR 72467

    Fax: 870-972-3548
    Email: [email protected]

    For Non-US Postal Mail Overnight Delivery Only:

    A-State Online
    c/o Central Receiving
    2713 Pawnee St.
    Jonesboro, AR 72401

    Additional information

    Close Additional Required Documents [ – ]

    As part of your file, the following information is required to be completed prior to starting the first course (or the applicable course):

    • Satisfactory background check completed through Verified Credentials
    • Completion of the Verification of Clinical Practice by the institution where you earned your MSN (applies to non A-State MSN graduates)

    Note: These documents are not required to render an admissions decision.

    Also, the following information is required to be completed by the completion of your first semester:

    • Current CPR Records
    • Current TB Skin Test
    • Hep B Vaccinations
    • MMR 1 and 2
    • Professional Liability Insurance

    DOCTORAL PROGRAM SUPPORT

    From the first course to graduation, students have A-State’s full support. Our experienced faculty will teach, mentor and collaborate with you as you progress throughout the doctoral program.

    Recognized as a Leader in Nursing Education

    A-State is ranked among the "Best Nursing Schools in Arkansas" by U.S. News & World Report, 2024

    Courses

    Combine cutting-edge theories with real-world experiences

    To finish the online DNP – Leadership program, you must complete a total of 36 credit hours. There are nine hours of concentration courses. The practicum/clinical hours must also be done in a state in which Arkansas State has State Operating Authority. Please consult the Program Map for state approvals.

    Visit the Course Registration page to view the course schedule for this degree.

    Expand All

    NURS 881V may or may not be required depending on clinical hours needed.

    Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
    Credit Hours: 3
    Analyze leadership and organizational theories, evaluate health care delivery systems, and examine the role of the DNP in influencing policy in health care delivery, outcomes and professional nursing.
    Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
    Credit Hours: 3
    Provides advanced economic, financial, and business knowledge required for leadership in financial planning and decision making in healthcare delivery systems. Evidence based models of practice, financial frameworks and theory are applied to practice-level, system-wide problems, including inter- and intra-professional teams.
    Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
    Credit Hours: 3
    Examines the complexities involved in managing resources in our healthcare system. Students will learn to use management theory ad informatics applications to increase efficiencies in various functional areas of healthcare services.
    Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
    Credit Hours: 3
    This course provides the student with the foundation for the DNP evidence-based practice project. The emphasis of this course is on problem identification, information retrieval, critical appraisal, and synthesis of a body of evidence
    Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
    Credit Hours: 3
    This course focuses on translating evidence into practice, identifying practice outcomes, sustaining evidence-based practice changes, and creating an environment to support evidence-based practice. Prerequisite, Admission to the Post-Masters DNP Program Option or admission to the DNP in Nurse Anesthesia Program Option. Prerequisites for the Post-Masters DNP program option, NURS 8213;
    Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
    Credit Hours: 3
    A culmination of the two translation research courses where students implement a translation project, including the analysis and dissemination of the results.
    Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
    Credit Hours: 3
    Practice opportunities, including in-depth work with experts from nursing and other disciplines. Emphasis is on the preparation for the DNP project.
    Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
    Credit Hours: 3
    Practice opportunities, including in-depth work with experts from nursing and other disciplines. Emphasis is on the preparation for the DNP project.
    Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
    Credit Hours: 3
    Practice opportunities, including in-depth work with experts from nursing and other disciplines. Emphasis is on the preparation for the DNP project.
    Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
    Credit Hours: 0-3
    Application of the DNP competencies through clinical practice activities. Required for students needing additional clinical hours to meet the AACN 1,000-hour requirement based on the number of MSN clinical hours completed. Each credit hour requires 60 clinical practice hours. *(Only required for students who need additional clinical practice hours based on the number of clinical hours completed in the MSN. The clinical hours are variable.)
    Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
    Credit Hours: 3
    This course examines models of leadership, both historical and contemporary, and how these models can be applied in the health care setting.
    Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
    Credit Hours: 3
    A study of law and quality improvement in healthcare management that will consider an overview of the role and the primary regulation promulgated by public and private regulators of healthcare; and statistical process controls to improve the quality of healthcare services. Nursing administration students must take prior to enrollment in first clinical course.
    Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
    Credit Hours: 3
    This course will provide an understanding of theoretical and practical applications of healthcare economies and incorporate these concepts into nursing practice, nursing leadership and health care delivery. Emphasis is on financial planning, budgeting, and reimbursement. Nursing administration students must take prior to enrollment in first clinical course.

    Program Coursework Rotation Online (.PDF)

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