What Can You Do With a Doctorate in Nursing?
A doctorate degree is the pinnacle of nursing education, opening doors to a wealth of career opportunities. Whether you’re aiming to become a top-level practitioner, an influential educator, or a healthcare innovator, this advanced training will prepare you to be a driving force in shaping the future of nursing.
But what can you do with a doctorate in nursing, exactly? In this article, we’ll explore the diverse career paths available to those with this expert-level training, address potential salaries, and cover some frequently asked questions.
What Can You Do With a Doctorate in Nursing? A Snapshot
With a doctorate in nursing, you unlock countless career options. Depending on your passion, here’s a quick overview of what you can go after.
- Advanced clinical roles: You can become an advanced practice registered nurse and work as a nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife, or nurse practitioner (NP) in a range of specialty areas, such as family practice or dermatology.
- Education: You can teach future nurses at universities and colleges, or take on a leadership role as a dean, ensuring academic excellence in nursing schools.
- Research: You can conduct academic or clinical research, working to improve patient outcomes and healthcare practices.
- Leadership and administration: You can become a nurse executive or administrator, leading healthcare organizations or hospital departments.
- Public health and community care: You can work with governmental organizations, implementing programs that address population health concerns.
- Consulting and advisory roles: You can provide strategic insights to healthcare organizations on best practices and quality improvement initiatives.
- Healthcare innovation: You can help develop new healthcare models, services, or technologies.
What Is a Doctorate in Nursing?
A doctorate in nursing is an advanced academic degree that prepares nursing professionals for leadership roles in clinical practice, education, and research. The two main types of doctorate degrees in nursing are:
| Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) | Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing |
|---|---|
| Focus: Emphasizes clinical practice and leadership
Program overview: Involves 30 to 40 credit hours and approximately 1,000 clinical hours Length: Generally takes 2–4 years to complete Typical roles: Nurse practitioners, clinical nurse leaders, nurse administrators, and healthcare executives |
Focus: Prioritizes research and academia
Program overview: Requires 45 to 60 credit hours and a dissertation project Length: Typically takes 3–6 years to complete Typical roles: Academic faculty, researchers, policy analysts, and leaders in research-focused healthcare organizations |
What Can You Do With a Doctorate in Nursing? 7 Career Paths.
Earning a doctorate in nursing can open doors to a range of rewarding career paths, far beyond traditional bedside roles. Let’s dive into the exciting opportunities that come with this advanced degree.
1. Advanced Clinical Roles
With a doctorate in nursing, you can become an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who diagnoses conditions and even prescribes medications. Here are some examples of APRN roles you can explore:
- Certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA): Take the lead in administering anesthesia and monitoring patients during surgical procedures.
- Certified nurse midwife (CNM): Provide prenatal, delivery, and postnatal care, guiding women through their pregnancy and childbirth journeys.
- Clinical nurse specialist (CNS): Focus on improving the quality of care at your facility by providing expert clinical support, educating nursing teams, conducting research, and implementing evidence-based practices.
- Nurse practitioner (NP): Provide primary care, diagnose illnesses, prescribe medications, and manage treatment plans. You’ll also be able to specialize in a variety of areas, like family practice, mental health, women’s health, adult gerontology, and more.
Keep in mind that the level of autonomy in your NP practice will largely be determined by the state in which you work.
2. Education
If you’re passionate about teaching, a doctorate in nursing opens doors to impactful roles in education. You’ll have the opportunity to shape the next generation of nurses while contributing to the advancement of nursing knowledge.
- Nursing instructor: Teach nursing courses at colleges or universities, guiding students through their academic journey.
- Dean or director of nursing: Oversee nursing programs, manage faculty, and ensure academic excellence in nursing schools.
- Clinical educator: Train nursing staff within healthcare facilities, ensuring they have the skills and knowledge necessary to provide excellent patient care.
3. Research
If you’re drawn to research, a doctorate in nursing opens the door to roles that contribute to advancing nursing science. So, what can you do with a doctorate in nursing in the field of research? Here are a few ideas:
- Nurse scientist: Conduct clinical or health system research, working to improve healthcare practices, patient outcomes, or public health initiatives. These roles can be in universities, hospitals, or government health agencies.
- Medical writer: Help healthcare companies translate research and policy into publications, clinical protocols, and other patient- or provider-facing education materials. You may also assist in writing grants to obtain funding for research.
- Research professor: Establish an independent program of research at an academic university. Apply for grants, lead studies and trials, and publish research that influences policymakers and stakeholders with your evidence-based insights.
4. Leadership and Administration
A doctorate in nursing also prepares you for key administrative roles within healthcare settings. These positions allow you to influence healthcare delivery and improve operational efficiency:
- Chief nursing officer (CNO): Oversee nursing practices within a healthcare organization. You’ll set standards for patient care, lead nursing staff, and collaborate with other healthcare leaders to implement strategic initiatives.
- Hospital administrator: Manage healthcare facilities or departments, focusing on budget management, staffing, and compliance with regulations.
- Healthcare manager: Assess and enhance healthcare services to ensure high standards of patient care. You’ll analyze data, develop improvement plans, and lead initiatives to enhance patient safety and outcomes.
- Director of nursing: Manage nursing staff and oversee the delivery of care in a healthcare facility, focusing on policy development, staff training, and ensuring that best practices are followed.
- Clinical nurse leader: Oversee care coordination, ensuring that evidence-based practices are implemented and evaluating care processes to enhance efficiency and quality.
5. Public Health and Community Care
What can you do with a doctorate in nursing if your ambition is to work in public health? This degree can help you take on leadership roles in public health agencies, where you’ll develop and implement health programs and advocate for health policy changes.
- Health policy specialist: Analyze and develop healthcare policies, ensuring they address the needs of communities and improve health access and quality.
- Global health educator: Work with international organizations, like the World Health Organization (WHO), to address health disparities, focusing on disease prevention and health education in underserved communities around the world.
- Global health consultant: Help design and implement health programs in developing countries, tailoring strategies to local needs and challenges.
6. Consulting and Advisory Roles
With your advanced nursing knowledge, you can provide expertise and strategic insights to healthcare organizations and stakeholders. Here’s how you can get involved:
- Clinical consultant: Work with healthcare organizations to develop strategies that align with industry best practices, optimize resources, and improve patient outcomes.
- Health information consultant: Advise on the integration of technology in healthcare settings. Your expertise will help organizations leverage electronic health records and other technologies to improve patient care and data management.
- Legal nurse consultant: Advise legal professionals on medical issues in cases involving healthcare malpractice, worker’s compensation, or personal injury claims.
7. Healthcare Innovation
What can you do with a doctorate in nursing besides traditional roles? If you have a passion for entrepreneurship and strive to transform healthcare through innovation, you can focus your work on developing new solutions and technologies. Nurses have been behind many groundbreaking healthcare inventions. Your advanced knowledge can guide you in developing solutions that solve specific problems in the industry.
How to Get a Doctorate in Nursing: 5 Steps
Start by exploring the career paths available to you. After reviewing your options, consider whether your passion is in clinical practice, research, or administration. This will help you decide whether to pursue a DNP or a PhD.
Here are the general steps to follow to get your doctorate in nursing:
- Step 1: Earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from an accredited program.
- Step 2: Obtain your registered nurse (RN) license and gain clinical experience in one of the various nursing specialties. Most DNP programs require applicants to have practical nursing experience, but this is less common for PhD programs.
- Step 3: Choose a doctoral program that fits your goals and meet the admission requirements. Keep in mind that while some programs offer a direct path from a BSN to a DNP or PhD, you may need to complete an MSN before applying.
- Step 4: Complete all the required coursework.Programs typically take 2–4 years for a DNP and 3–6 years for a PhD, with a combination of coursework, clinical hours (DNP), or dissertation research (PhD).
- Step 5: Graduate and obtain licensure or certification. If you plan to work in a clinical specialty, such as cardiac care or pediatrics, you’ll need to apply for professional certification.
How Much Does a Doctorate in Nursing Make?
When considering a career in nursing, it’s essential to look into the potential doctorate in nursing salary ranges. Nurses with a DNP or PhD have plenty of career choices, which is why salaries can vary widely.
Plus, your pay can change based on your experience, education, certifications, and where you live. Here’s a look at average annual salaries for jobs that you might pursue with a doctorate degree, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
- Nurse practitioner salary: $128,490
- Nurse anesthetist salary: $214,200
- Certified nurse midwife salary: $131,570
- Top nursing executive salary: $103,840
- Chief nursing executive salary: $258,900
- Nursing professor salary: $86,530
- Medical scientist salary: $112,380
- Nurse writer salary: $86,620
- Healthcare manager salary: $110,680
FAQs: What Can You Do With a Doctorate in Nursing?
What can a DNP do that an NP cannot do?
While both DNPs and NPs can provide advanced clinical care, the DNP’s additional training equips them for roles that involve healthcare strategy, organizational leadership, and implementing large-scale quality improvements.
Are there BSN to doctorate in nursing programs?
Yes, there are BSN to doctorate in nursing practice programs, allowing students to earn their doctorate without first obtaining a master’s degree. Here are some examples of such programs:
- University of Florida – BSN to DNP program
- University of San Diego – BSN to PhD Program
- Illinois State University – BSN to DNP
Can I work remotely with a doctorate in nursing?
What can you do with a doctorate in nursing when it comes to remote roles? There are plenty of career paths that offer remote or hybrid options, especially those focused on education, research, and policy. Some clinical roles, such as psychiatric nurse practitioner, can also be performed remotely, along with positions like nurse coder and nurse coach.
What are top paying states for nurses with doctoral degrees?
Your salary will mostly depend on the role you choose with your doctorate — like NP, nursing professor, or hospital administrator. To give you an idea, here are the top-paying states for NPs:
Want to Upgrade Your Nursing Career?
What can you do with a doctorate in nursing? The possibilities are endless! IntelyCare is here to connect you with the latest nursing positions in your preferred specialties and locations. Unlock new possibilities today.