A doctor of nursing practice, or DNP, degree is a coveted doctoral-level degree for nurses. Earning a DNP can open up new career doors for you, help you deepen your knowledge of and commitment to nursing, and help you earn a much larger income. If you are considering pursuing a doctor of nursing practice degree, here are a few of the main benefits to be aware of:

A Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree Is Interesting

If you are a dedicated and passionate nurse, you will likely find the coursework and research in your DNP program fascinating. You will likely get to choose a specialization area you are especially interested in, such as nursing education, nursing administration, or disease control.

Your classes will be a mixture of research, theory, and practical, hands-on nursing work. If you loved your Bachelors of Nursing or Masters of Nursing courses but felt like you wanted them to go into more depth or allow you more freedom to do your own research, a DNP program is definitely for you.

A Doctor of Nursing Degree Is Flexible

Unlike many other types of doctorate degrees, DNP degrees were designed for working nurses and are therefore often designed to be flexible and to work around your current schedule. Depending on your program, you will likely have a mixture of online and in-person classes available to you. In addition, not all DNP programs require you to already have a Masters of Nursing (MSN) degree. Some schools offer BSN to DNP accelerated track programs to help nurses with bachelor degrees earn their doctorate sooner.

A Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree Will Lead to a Higher Income

One of the most concrete benefits of a DNP degree is that it boosts your income significantly. In fact, nurses with doctoral degrees in most parts of the country can expect to earn around $100K annually.

While some DNP programs are expensive, many hospitals help cover the cost of a doctoral degree for their nurses who get into programs as a way to encourage more nurses to move into leadership roles requiring a doctorate. Even nurses who pay for their DNP program out of pocket tend to find that their improved salary makes paying their student loans very manageable.

As you can see, pursuing a DNP degree is a worthwhile endeavor for any nurse who is passionate about the field and would like more education and specialization.