Doctor of Nursing Practice, DNP

Courses You'll Take

The Belmont University Graduate Program Course Catalogs outline study plans and course descriptions. Click the link below to download a sample plan of study.

See All Program Requirements

Downloadable Programs of Study

Family Nurse Practitioner Track Program of Study

Leadership & Innovation Track Program of Study

Post-Master's DNP

Supportive Faculty and Competency-Based Curriculum

Belmont’s DNP faculty prioritizes individualized attention, fostering strong relationships with students and providing tailored support throughout the program. The competency-based curriculum ensures students graduate with the skills, confidence and leadership abilities necessary to excel in advanced practice nursing roles.

Meet our faculty

Rich University Ecosystem

Belmont University’s DNP draws on a diverse and resource-rich ecosystem that includes the Center for Nursing Innovation, the Massey College of Business, the O’More College of Architecture & Design, the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences and the Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine. This interdisciplinary approach ensures that DNP students are exposed to a broad array of perspectives and opportunities for collaboration, equipping them to address the complex challenges of today’s health care environment.

Innovation & Leadership

A distinctly forward-thinking curriculum, combined with the resources of the Center for Nursing Innovation, positions students to lead the transformation of health care. Whether it's reimagining health care environments or developing new care delivery models, Belmont empowers its DNP students to become trailblazers in health care innovation. Choosing Belmont’s DNP program means joining a collaborative, innovative and forward-thinking community that prepares you for leadership in health care on both local and global stages. 

Belmont's DNP program incorporates in-person immersion experiences each year. These opportunities allow students to advance their education without pausing their careers, maintaining a balance between work and study while benefiting from hands-on, in-person training. Students should plan to visit campus for an immersive experience three times in year one and one or more times in years two and three depending on track requirements and student needs. 

Impact Session Dates for 2025-2026 Academic Year

• September 15-17, 2025
• November 3-7, 2025
• March 9-11, 2026

Belmont's DNP programs offer a wealth of experiences to enrich your academic journey and professional growth: 

• Students will practice cultural humility, leadership, shared decision-making and systems analysis to participate in quality improvement that promotes health by building long-term capacity. 
• DNP students will participate in interprofessional teams to explore multifaceted practice and systems issues through applying best practices in community engagement and evidence-based health promotion. 
• Students create close and lasting relationships with professors through three levels of advising: academic, clinical and project advising. 
• DNP students may choose to participate in local and global service and learning opportunities throughout the program of study. The College of Nursing and Belmont Global Health work in tandem to create service learning and grant-funded research opportunities for nursing students. 
• All DNP students have the opportunity to disseminate their impressive work at venues including the Center for Nursing Innovation’s annual Nursing Innovation Summit and Belmont University’s SPARK Symposium. 
• Students have the opportunity to participate in the Wayfarer Program, an interprofessional fellowship that integrates creativity, contemplative practices and community support into health care training. Leveraging the rich spiritual and creative resources of the Belmont community, Wayfarer helps students ground themselves in their sense of purpose, find joy in their work and collaborate deeply with others. 

Belmont’s DNP program offers unique global health opportunities through the Belmont Global Health Initiative, where students can engage in transformative projects with organizations such as the United Nations, the Aga Khan Foundation in Tanzania and Bangalore Baptist Hospital in India. These experiences give students an international perspective on health care innovation and service.

A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a terminal degree in nursing that focuses on clinical practice, leadership, and health care innovation. It is designed to prepare nurses for the highest level of nursing practice, equipping them with the skills to improve patient outcomes, influence healthcare policies, and lead within healthcare systems. 

Key Features of a DNP: 

Practice-Focused: The DNP emphasizes the application of evidence-based practice in real-world health care settings. 

Emphasis on System-Level Innovation: The DNP prepares nurses to take on leadership roles, drive health care improvements, and implement innovative solutions to drive change from the inside out. 

Advanced Clinical Training: All DNPs are trained to maximize their influence in the RN role, but  some DNP tracks also provide clinical training for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs).  APRNs have an expended scope of practice in their roles as nurse practitioners (NPs), clinical nurse specialists (CNSs), nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), or nurse midwives (CNMs). At Belmont, we offer a Family Nurse Practitioner Track for those wanting to expand their scope of clinical practice. 

Health Systems & Policy Impact: DNPs often work in administrative roles, shaping health care policies, improving patient care delivery, and leading interprofessional teams. 

A PhD in Nursing is a research-focused doctoral degree that prepares nurses to conduct original research. Original research refers to new, firsthand investigations that contribute to the existing body of knowledge in a field. It involves collecting and analyzing data to answer a research question or test a hypothesis that has not been previously explored in the same way. The PhD generates new insights, theories, or findings rather than summarizing or synthesizing existing research. This is the scholarship of discovery. 

A DNP is practice-focused doctoral degree that prepares nurses to conduct translational research. Translational research is the process of turning scientific discoveries into practical applications that improve healthcare outcomes. It bridges the gap between original research and real-world clinical practice, policy, or healthcare interventions. The DNP builds on the new knowledge generated by PhDs by moving innovations from the “bench to bedside” through clinical practice, health care leadership, and systems improvement. This is the scholarship of application.   

You don’t need any nursing experience before starting graduate school—we admit new graduates! While nursing experience can be a strong foundation, we’ve seen that our program effectively prepares DNPs, regardless of their previous experience. Our curriculum and hands-on learning opportunities ensure that all students develop the skills and confidence needed to excel as advanced nurses and leaders in health care. 

Yes, you can work while you're in graduate school, but we encourage you to carefully consider your workload. Our DNP program is rigorous, and balancing work with coursework, clinical rotations, and other academic responsibilities can be challenging. Many of our students successfully work part-time, and some, especially in the Post-Master’s Track, are even able to work full-time. On the other hand, many students find that they need to cut back on work to allow enough time for studying, clinical hours, and DNP project management. Ultimately, it depends on your personal time management skills, support system, and ability to balance competing demands.

Belmont’s Director of Graduate Nursing Practice works closely with students to secure clinical and practice placements across Middle Tennessee and beyond. Our students can count on being matched with the placements they need—allowing them to focus on learning and preparing for advanced practice, rather than stressing about finding a site on their own.

A DNP degree requires students to complete at least 1000 practice hours. However, practice hours may or may not look like what you think of as “clinicals”. The breakdown of these hours looks different depending on what track you are enrolled in.  

All students will spend approximately 300 hours planning, implementing and evaluating their DNP Project. These hours are completed during the DNP Project series of courses. 

Students in the Family Nurse Practitioner Track will complete a minimum of 800 hours in clinical settings that represent a diversity of patient care across the life span. Students are required to gain experiences in the following types of patient encounters: adult, pediatric, women’s health, geriatric, acute illness (sick visits), and chronic disease management. With approval, up to 200 of these hours can be spent exploring specialty areas. These hours are completed during the Primary Health Care series of courses.

Students in the Leadership and Innovation Track will complete 700 hours in the practice and demonstration of leadership competencies outlined by the American Organization of Nursing Leadership. 600 hours are obtained primarily during enrollment in the three DNP Practice Experience courses. An additional 100 hours are required, but they can be obtained any point during the student’s program. 

Students in the Post-Master’s Track will likely enter the program with professional experiences which meet the requirements to count toward the 1000 practice hour minimum. Based on a gap analysis that surveys the applicant’s transcripts and professional experience, Belmont creates a program of study tailored to the student’s unique needs. The number of practice experience hours required for the individual student will be specified in the individualized gap analysis and program of study. 

You might be! Unlike many DNP programs, Belmont accepts Post-Master’s students with a variety of degrees. As long as you have a BSN and RN license, any health-related Master’s degree qualifies you to enroll in our Post-Master’s Track. Examples include, but may not be limited to: Master’s of Public Health, Master’s of Health Administration, Master’s of Business Administration, and Master’s of Health Informatics. 

There is one important exception, and that is a Direct-Entry MSN or MN. Because these degrees prepare students for entry-level RN practice, applicants holding those degrees should apply to the Family Nurse Practitioner Track or Leadership & Innovation Track. However, pertinent coursework may be eligible for transfer credit.  

You might be! Unlike many DNP programs, Belmont welcomes Post-Master’s students with a range of graduate degrees. If you hold a BSN, an active RN license, and a master’s degree in a related field like Public Health, Health Administration, Business Administration, or Health Informatics, you’re eligible to apply to our Post-Master’s DNP Track. 

There is one key exception: if your master’s degree is a Direct-Entry MSN or MN, designed for entry-level RN preparation, you’ll want to apply to either the Family Nurse Practitioner or Leadership & Innovation track. The good news is that relevant coursework from those degrees may still be considered for transfer credit. 

Pursuing a DNP instead of an MSN positions you for the highest level of nursing practice, preparing you to lead change, influence policy, and implement evidence-based innovations across healthcare systems. As the recommended entry-level degree for advanced practice by the AACN, the DNP also future-proofs your career as the field moves toward doctoral preparation. DNP-prepared nurses are often preferred for leadership roles and may have greater earning potential and professional mobility. Unlike the MSN, the DNP equips you to translate research into practice, improve patient outcomes, and drive system-wide quality improvement. If you're looking to make a broader impact beyond direct patient care, the DNP is a powerful step forward.