Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Nurse Practitioners

• Acute Care NP
• Adult NP
• Adult Psyc & Mental Health NP
• Diabetes Management-Adv
• Family NP
• Family Psyc & Mental Health NP
• Gerontological NP
• Pediatric NP
• School NP

Clinical Nurse Specialist

• Adult Health CNS
• Adult Psyc & Mental Health NP
• Child Adol Psyc & Mental Health CNS
• CNS Core Exam
• Diabetes Management – Advanced
• Gerontological CNS
• Home Health CNS
• Pediatric CNS
• Public/Community Health CNS

Other Advanced Level

• Diabetes Management Advanced
• Forensic Nursing Advanced
• Nurse Executive Advanced
• Public Health Nursing Advanced

Other Specialities

• Ambulatory Care Nursing
• Cardiac Rehabilitation Nursing
• Cardiac Vascular Nursing
• Case Management Nursing
• College Health Nursing
• General Nursing Practice
• Gerontological Nursing
• High Risk Perinatal Nursing
• Home Health Nursing
• Informatics Nursing
• Medical-Surgical Nursing
• Nurse Executive
• Nursing Professional Development
• Pain Management
• Perinatal Nursing
• Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing

Work Activities/Work Locations

• The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a Clinical Doctorate Degree. Prepares nurses for leadership roles as Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) such as Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) or Nurse Practitioners (NP) in their selected population focus (adult/gerontology, pediatrics, or psychiatric mental health). DNPs have greater autonomy than RNs; in Wisconsin they are able to practice independently, prescribe medications, and order and interpret lab tests and x-rays.
• By the year 2015, all new Advanced Practice Nurses in the US will be educated at the Doctoral level.
• Many students enter the program as skilled Advanced Practice Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists and other Specialties.
• The BS to DNP program is designed for Baccalaureate-prepared RNs. The UW-Madison Program is geared particularly for those who live in rural or medically underserved areas and, whenever possible, they try and arrange the required clinical experiences close to the student’s home. Licensure as a professional nurse AND one year of professional nursing experience is a prerequisite for admission to this Program.
• Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) work settings are dictated by their Specialty. Can be offices, hospitals, nursing homes, long-term care centers, factories, fitness centers, or can be community and public health agencies and schools.

Advantages and Disadvantages

• Get a great deal of personal satisfaction out of working with and helping people.
• Sometimes they dislike the pressure of the work, especially in emergency situations.
• Duties can be physically and emotionally challenging. They need to be physically active and able to provide patients with assurance and the time for listening to their needs.
• May also feel that they have more work responsibilities than their schedules allow them to complete.