How to Transition From Bedside Nursing to a Leadership Role With a DNP

Many nurses are eager to begin their careers at the bedside because they want to make a direct difference in patients' lives. Over time, however, nurses may simply want to explore new opportunities in nursing leadership roles as they are burned out by bedside care.

If you're interested in transitioning from bedside nurse to leadership roles, a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) could help you build on your clinical experience while preparing for roles that involve overseeing entire teams, shaping policy and implementing evidence-based change.

Why Bedside Nurses Are Well-Positioned for DNP Leadership

Often, nurses with a strong background in bedside care are among the best prepared for nursing leadership roles — and for good reason.

Clinical Experience as a Leadership Foundation

For starters, nurses with years of bedside experience know what it takes to prioritize competing demands, make informed decisions under pressure and work with interdisciplinary teams. These skills can be readily translated to many nursing leadership roles that require clinical innovation and critical thinking, ranging from clinical Director of Nursing to Chief Nursing Officer (CNO).

Understanding Patient-Centered Care From the Ground Up

Likewise, bedside nurses naturally develop a deep understanding of patient-centered care from their daily interactions with patients and their families. This understanding translates well to DNP leadership roles, where leaders need to be able to make important decisions and implement policies without losing sight of how communication and care coordination affect the patient experience.

Recognizing System-Level Problems That Need Solving

Finally, bedside nurses working on the floor are among the most privy to recurring challenges and problems that may need to be addressed at a higher level. From recognizing potential safety concerns to flagging inefficient workflows, nurses with a clinical background are well-equipped to pinpoint and address these issues when transitioning from bedside nurse to leadership roles.

What Does a DNP-Prepared Nurse Leader Do?

DNP nursing leadership can look very different depending on the specific role. In general, however, DNP-educated nursing leaders influence healthcare policy, spearhead quality improvement initiatives, implement evidence-based practice and serve as mentors to future nursing professionals.

Influence Healthcare Systems and Policy

One of the most important responsibilities of DNP nursing leadership is often to drive systems-level change by influencing healthcare systems beyond the bedside. This may include working with physicians, executives and policymakers to advocate for patients and influence the future of public health policy. In fact, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), systems leadership and policy engagement are considered core competencies for DNP graduates looking to lead change across healthcare settings.

Lead Quality Improvement Initiatives

Quality improvement (QI) is another important aspect of modern nursing leadership roles — and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has even listed QI initiatives as essential to improving both patient outcomes and healthcare performance over time.

More specifically, nursing leaders can spearhead QI initiatives by relying on clinical data to pinpoint problems and implementing evidence-based solutions to drive meaningful change and improvement.

Translate Research Into Clinical Practice

Although healthcare research continues to evolve rapidly, new evidence doesn't reach nurses and patients automatically. Instead, DNP-educated nursing leaders are tasked with evaluating the latest research and identifying the relevant best practices that should be implemented to make a positive difference in patients' (and nurses') lives.

Mentor and Educate Future Nurses

Finally, DNP-educated nursing leaders play a critical role in mentoring and educating future generations of nurses as they enter the field. Through thoughtful mentorship, training and education, experienced nursing leaders can help develop nurses' clinical judgment and evidence-based practice while setting them up for success in their future roles.

What Is a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)?

Before you can decide whether a DNP might be right for you, it's important to understand exactly what this type of degree program entails and how it compares to other doctorate degrees.

The Highest Level of Academic Preparation for Nursing Practice

In simplest terms, a Doctor of Nursing Practice is considered the terminal degree for practicing nurses. And while programs can vary in their coursework and curricula, most DNP programs center around preparing nursing for advanced clinical practice and leadership roles across the healthcare field.

DNP vs. PhD: Understanding the Difference

Compared to a PhD, a DNP also tends to focus more on applying research to directly improve clinical practice and healthcare systems. A PhD, on the other hand, focuses more on scientific research and prepares nurses for roles in academia. While both are considered terminal degrees, a DNP is often the more practical choice for those who are interested in nursing leadership roles.

Why Healthcare Organizations Are Prioritizing DNP-Prepared Leaders

As healthcare organizations strive to meet the growing demand for quality, patient-centered care, the need for DNP-educated leaders is only likely to grow.

Across the country, the demand for advanced nursing professionals continues to grow at an incredible pace. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of medical and health services managers is projected to grow 23% between 2024 and 2034 — with the job outlook for advanced practice nurses even higher at a projected 35% growth during the same time period.

Leadership Roles You Can Pursue With a DNP

While a DNP alone doesn't guarantee a specific job in the field (and some roles may require additional licensure or certification), here are some examples of the kinds of leadership roles you may be able to pursue with a DNP:

• Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) - These professionals continue to provide direct patient care with a greater sense of autonomy, with FNPs in many states able to diagnose/treat illnesses and even prescribe medications.
• Clinical Director or Service Line Leader - These professionals oversee patient care, staffing, QI and operational performance within hospitals and healthcare facilities.
• Health Policy Advocate - These healthcare workers play a critical role in working with healthcare organizations and government agencies to advocate for policies that may improve public health and patient outcomes.
• Nursing Faculty and Curriculum Developer - Many DNP graduates go on to become educators themselves, teaching future nurses and developing curricula that directly influence the profession.
• Healthcare Administrator or Medical Services Manager - These professionals may be responsible for managing hospitals, clinics or entire healthcare systems — focusing on big-picture decision-making, strategic planning and regulatory compliance issues.

Two DNP Pathways at Nebraska Methodist College

Not sure how to become a DNP nurse? At Nebraska Methodist College (NMC), you have two excellent pathways to choose from.

Option 1: BSN to DNP — Family Nurse Practitioner

If you're interested in a career as an FNP and already have your BSN, this pathway could be the most practical option for you.

Who This Program Is For

This program is designed for students who already have a BSN from an accredited nursing program, as well as an unencumbered RN license at the time of application completion.

Some other things to know about this program:

• Format – Primarily online (synchronous and asynchronous coursework) with three required on-campus visits.
• Credit hours – 75 (57 of which can be completed online). Full-time students typically finish within 36 months, with part-time students finishing within four to five years.
• Clinical hours – 18 credit hours (1,080 contact hours) devoted to clinical practice in preceptor experience required.
• Graduates are eligible to sit for certification as an FNP through the AANPCB or ANCC.

In addition to this BSN-to-DNP program, NMC also offers an MSN/MHP to DNP - Public Health Policy track and the following BSN-to-DNP tracks:

• BSN to DNP - Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner track
• BSN to DNP - Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist track

Option 2: APRN to DNP

Another option to consider for those who meet the eligibility requirements is NMC's APRN to DNP program.

Who This Program Is For

This program is designed for current Advanced Practice Registered Nurses who have already completed a graduate-level degree in the field, such as an accredited MSN program. Many students enrolled in this program are current NPs, clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists and nurse midwives.

Some highlights of this program to consider:

• Credit hours – 34, with many students earning their DNPs in as little as 24 months.
• A transfer-friendly design, with only 28 credit hours required to be completed at NMC directly.
• A career-focused curriculum that builds on existing APRN graduate education.
• A culminating Capstone project that emphasizes bringing research into practice in a meaningful way.

Why Choose Nebraska Methodist College for Your DNP?

Of course, you have a choice when it comes to where you complete your DNP. At NMC, however, we take a lot of pride in the many ways in which we set ourselves apart from other DNP programs out there. Specifically, we offer:

• A DNP program that is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) to meet rigorous national standards.
• A flexible online format (with a blend of synchronous and asynchronous coursework) that's designed with the busy schedules of working nurses in mind.
• A dedicated writing coach and on-staff statistician to assist DNP students in planning and evaluating their scholarly projects.
• Small class sizes consisting of just 6–20 students.
• Available counseling support and resources that promote health and work-life-school balance.

Advance Your Nursing Career With Nebraska Methodist College

At NMC, we specialize in healthcare programs in nursing, allied health and healthcare management. Check out our program pages to learn more about our DNP pathways, or explore our wide range of certificate, undergraduate and graduate-level nursing programs. You can also reach out to our friendly admissions team with any questions you may have or get started with your application for admission!