California’s first Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program began enrolling students more than 15 years ago, providing them with the highest level of practice-focused expertise in evidence-based practice. Since then, the demand for DNP-educated nurses in the state has increased right alongside the demand for a higher level of nursing care in California’s complex healthcare environment.
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The increased demand for DNP nurses is no doubt brought on, in part, by a growing shortage of primary care physicians throughout the state. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), California is expected to experience a growing deficit in primary care practitioners at least through 2025. The HRSA estimates that the demand for practitioners will reach 34,020 by that year, while the supply at this time is expected to fall short with just 32,470 – a nearly 5% shortage.
Nurses in California, from advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to nursing administrators and executives, are taking advantage of the opportunity to enhance their practice expertise and scientific knowledge by earning DNPs. At the same time, they are filling the void left by a lack of primary care practitioners. Just as frequently, RNs with their sights set on becoming advanced practitioners are choosing the DNP over the MSN so as to enter the next stage of their careers with the highest level of training and expertise possible.
For this reason, almost every DNP program in California offers entry-points for both bachelor’s-prepared RNs, as well as MSN-educated RNs and APRNs.
Earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in California
California’s nurses can avail themselves of the many accredited online programs that offer BSN and MSN-prepared nurses the opportunity to earn a DNP in a flexible format that accommodates the busy schedules of working RNs and APRNs. Such programs usually offer a great deal of flexibility and make it easier for practicing nurses to obtain a DNP while continuing to work. Online DNP programs frequently offer options for accelerated study, as well as a more relaxed part-time pace.
Post Bachelor’s BSN-to-DNP Programs – Online programs, as well as California’s large number of campus-based programs, both offer the opportunity for RNs with a BSN to earn an MSN and DNP through one accelerated program. Known as a BSN-to-DNP, these programs allow students to sit for national certification exams in an APRN role and patient population focus prior to transitioning to the DNP phase of the program. Tracks are also available for those interested in an aggregate/organizational/systems focus for jobs in public health, administration, healthcare policy, informatics, education and more. BSN-to-DNP programs typically involve taking about 90 credits over the course of 3-4 years.
One of California’s BSN-DNP programs offers two alternatives to an MSN in preparation for the DNP phase of the program:
- MSBH – Master of Science in Behavioral Health
- MPH – Master of Public Health
Post Master’s MSN-to-DNP Programs – Nurses who already possess an MSN can further enhance their skills by entering the post-MSN phase of one of California’s many DNP programs, available in a number of advanced practice tracks, as well as tracks with an aggregate/organizational/systems focus that don’t involve providing direct patient care. Post-MSN programs generally involve earning about 30 credits over the course of a 1.5-2 year period.
DNP Program Components and Practicum Requirements
DNP programs have four main components:
- DNP core – DNP programs include a core comprised of coursework in quality improvement, health information systems, evidence-based practice, health policy, nursing theory and research, statistics and more.
- Specialty courses in the student’s chosen focus – Students will focus on their chosen specialty, whether in an APRN role and patient population focus or in an aggregate/organizational/systems track in health policy, executive leadership, public health, informatics, etc.
- Post-baccalaureate practicum hours – DNP programs require students to participate in at least 1,000 hours of post-baccalaureate practicum. Students entering post-MSN programs can count their previous post-baccalaureate hours (typically 500 hours) towards the 1,000-hour requirement as long as hours are in a common track and have been documented appropriately.
- DNP Project – The culmination of a student’s DNP education is a rigorous research project often referred to as a “Translational Research Project” in California. Students generally produce a manuscript suitable for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Part of this process entails returning to campus to defend their research before a faculty committee.
Post-Bachelor’s and Post-Master’s DNP Programs Available in California
The following DNP programs have been accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Other DNP programs in California not shown here may hold regional accreditation or specialty accreditation through the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs or the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME).
Azusa Pacific University
School of Nursing
Azusa
Accreditation: CCNE
MSN-DNP (campus or online)
- Clinical Nursing Practice
Brandman University
Marybelle and S. Paul Musco School of Nursing and Health Professions
Irvine
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN-DNP (hybrid)
- Family/Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
MSN-DNP (hybrid)
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
California Baptist University
College of Nursing
Riverside
Accreditation: CCNE
MSN-DNP (campus)
- Leadership
California State University-Fresno
School of Nursing
Fresno
Accreditation: CCNE and COA
MSN-DNP (online)
- Clinical Nursing Practice
California State University-Fullerton
School of Nursing
Fullerton
Accreditation: CCNE and COA
Post-BSN-DNP (campus)
- Nurse Anesthesia
Post-Master’s-DNP (hybrid)
- Direct Care
California State University-Long Beach
School of Nursing
Long Beach
Accreditation: CCNE and COA
Post-BSN-DNP (campus)
- Nurse Anesthesia
Post-Master’s-DNP (hybrid)
- Direct Care
California State University-Los Angeles
Patricia A. Chin School of Nursing
Los Angeles
Accreditation: CCNE
Post-BSN-DNP (campus)
- Nurse Anesthesia
Post-Master’s-DNP (hybrid)
- Direct Care
Loma Linda University
School of Nursing
Loma Linda
Accreditation: CCNE and COA
BS-DNP (hybrid)
- Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Anesthesia
MS-DNP (hybrid)
- Clinical Nursing Practice
- Leadership
Point Loma Nazarene University
School of Nursing
San Diego
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN-DNP (hybrid)
- Management and Leadership
MSN-DNP (hybrid)
- Management and Leadership
Samuel Merritt University
School of Nursing
Oakland
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN-DNP (hybrid)
- Family Nurse Practitioner
Post-Master’s-DNP (online)
- Leadership
San Jose State University
Valley Foundation School of Nursing
San Jose
Accreditation: CCNE
MSN-DNP (online)
- Clinical Nursing Practice
Touro University-California
School of Nursing
Vallejo
Accreditation: CCNE
Post-Master’s-DNP (online)
- Family Nurse Practitioner
University of San Diego
Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science
San Diego
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN-DNP (campus)
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nursing Practitioner in Emergency Care
- Dual Adult-Gerontology/Family Nurse Practitioner
- Dual Pediatric/Family Nurse Practitioner
Post-MSN-DNP (hybrid)
- Advanced Practice
- Nursing Informatics and Data Science
- Health Systems Leadership
- Emergency Care
University of San Francisco
School of Nursing and Health Professions
San Francisco
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN-DNP (hybrid)
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Post-Master’s-DNP (hybrid)
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Executive Leadership
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Population Health Leadership
Western University of Health Sciences
College of Graduate Nursing
Pomona
Accreditation: CCNE
MSN-DNP (online)
- Clinical Nursing Practice
Opportunities Available to DNP-Prepared Nurses in California
According to the HRSA, the demand for RNs is projected to rise consistently through 2030. The HRSA projects the demand for these professionals to increase by 43,710 in 2020, 52,100 by 2025, and 63,370 by 2030.
But it’s not just RNs that are in demand in California; it’s the highest educated RNs; those who hold the DNP. DNP-prepared RNs are qualified to educate the next generation of nurses, serve as leaders and changemakers in the field, and assume the role of primary practitioner, particularly in medically underserved areas.
Fortunately, the DNP continues to gain steam in California’s university and colleges. As of 2019, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) reports a total of 21 DNP programs in California.
The following job posts highlight some of the opportunities available to DNP-prepared RNs in California:
Advanced Practice Nurse – Diabetes Care, Scripps Health, La Jolla, CA
- Current CA RN license
- Two years of full-time experience as an RN, preferably in the APN role
- Master’s degree; doctorate in nursing recommended
- Clinical leadership experience
Nurse Practitioner – Urgent Care Clinical Providers, Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, Newport Beach, CA
- MSN or DNP graduate NP program
- Evidence of satisfactory performance and completion of proctoring and other requirements required by medical staff office
- Licensed and board certified to provide care to patients of all ages
Tenure-Track, Health Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, CA
- DNP or PhD in nursing or a related field
- Current license or eligible for licensure as an RN and NP or other clinical care provider in California
- Demonstrated potential for teaching at the college level
- Demonstrated potential for research, scholarly, and creative activities
FNP Clinical Coordinator for the DNP Program, The Regents of the University of California, Irvine, CA
- Nationally board certified as a family nurse practitioner
- Minimum of two years of clinical experience as an FNP within the past four years
- Minimum of one year of teaching experience
- DNP degree, or in progress
Nurse Practitioner – Small Bowel Diseases & Nutrition, Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles, CA
- Graduate of an accredited NP program
- MSN or DNP
Academic Tenure Track Faculty – Nursing, California State University, Sacramento, CA
- Terminal degree in nursing (PhD or DNP) or a master’s degree in nursing and a terminal degree in a related discipline
Examples of DNP nursing positions were taken from a survey of job listings in January 2020 and are shown for illustrative purposes only. These examples do not represent job offers or positions that are currently available.