
DNP in APRN
Doctor of Nursing Practice in Advanced Practice Registered Nursing (licensure)
Become the leader in nursing you were born to be.
Regent’s fully online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Advanced Practice Registered Nursing (APRN) is for nurses who are looking to obtain a terminal degree in their practice, sit for national certification, and become eligible for their APRN licensure. You can be prepared in areas of interprofessional collaboration, healthcare policy, evidence-based research, healthcare informatics, and patient-centric advocacy.
Expand Your Career
Become proficient in the necessary nursing and healthcare skills to educate and lead others.
Be the Change in Culture
Receive an education deeply rooted in and balanced with the Christian faith to address modern nursing industry issues.
LEARN FROM THE BEST
Be mentored by faculty in Virginia Beach who hold the highest degrees in their field. Regent has been ranked among the Top National Universities by the U.S. News & World Report (2025).
Fulfill A Need
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics predicted that openings for nurse practitioners in the U.S. will increase 45% between 2020 and 2030, and that between 2014 and 2024, every state in the U.S. will see an increase in jobs for nurse practitioners.
Please complete the Request Information form on this page to learn more about this program.
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing and master’s degree program in nursing at Regent University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
The Doctor of Nursing Practice Program and post-graduate APRN certificate program at Regent are pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 2002-887-6791. Applying for accreditation does not guarantee that accreditation will be granted.
Regent's fully online DNP in APRN with a concentration in Family Nurse Practitioner is designed to prepare nursing leaders who are looking to obtain a terminal degree in their practice, sit for national certification, and become eligible for their APRN licensure.
Learn MoreRegent's fully online DNP in APRN with a concentration in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner is for nurses who are looking to obtain a terminal degree in the mental healthcare field, sit for national certification, and become eligible for their APRN licensure.
Learn MoreOn completing the DNP–APRN degree, you can:
- Lead at the forefront of providing preventive care services to the public.
- Promote policies and initiatives that support patient safety.
- Integrate evidence-based principles and strategies that improve patient outcomes.
- Advise on treatment plans using patient-centric advocacy skills.
Career Opportunities
Depending on your track, pursue a career as a nurse practitioner in:
- Family Health Care
- Mental & Behavioral Health Professional
- Hospital-Based Practice
- Remote Telehealth
- Advanced Organizational and Professional Nursing Leader
- Clinical or Academic Nursing Educator
This post-master’s DNP program is a minimum of 74 credit hours in length*. The core courses are outlined as follows:
APRN 886 | DNP APRN Advanced Practicum | 3 | Clinical practice and leadership experience that will provide the opportunity to gain advanced skills and engage in scholarship. Depending upon the student's track, the clinical practicum site will be the focus area of their DNP Scholarly Project. A total of 1,000 post-baccalaureate practice hours are required for the DNP degree. |
NURS 508 | Theoretical & Ethical Foundations | 3 | Nursing and other relevant theories that apply to advanced nursing practice. Applies biblical worldview to ethical decision-making. |
NURS 520 | Nursing Informatics | 3 | Advanced practice nurse’s role in the use and management of information in the healthcare industry. Major topics related to nursing informatics and technology. |
NURS 540 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 | System-focused content addresses the normal physiologic and pathologic mechanisms of disease that serve as the foundation for advanced clinical assessment, decision-making, and management. Developmental physiology, normal etiology, pathogenesis, and clinical manifestations of commonly found/observed altered health states and responses to illness and treatment modalities. |
NURS 541 | Advanced Pharmacology | 3 | Expands the advanced practice student’s knowledge of the evidenced-based practice of Pharmacotherapeutic management. A practical advanced practice approach in applying pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic principles across the lifespan for both acute and outpatient client-centered care. |
NURS 550 | Advanced Health Assessment | 3 | Comprehensive physical assessment and the obtainment of an in-depth health history across the lifespan; risk reduction, health promotion and prevention, early detection of physical and common emotional illnesses, and clinical decision making. Culturally competent patient education, health promotion and clinical prevention considerations will be integrated. |
NURS 605 | Global Nursing Leadership & Healthcare Delivery Systems | 3 | Nursing and healthcare delivery systems including organization and financing, and the economic, legal and political factors that influence health care. The professional role of an MSN nurse in relation to healthcare delivery systems in the delivery of safe high quality care to patients will be explored. |
NURS 633 | Research Methods & Biostatistics I | 3 | Expands the research knowledge gained at the baccalaureate level. Application of nursing research to nursing practice along with the role of biostatistics in nursing research. A quality improvement/research project will validate the student’s skills in data collection and analysis methods, interpretation, and reporting of statistical results. Students are expected to consider the process(es) of change management related to their project. |
NURS 634 | Research Methods & Biostatistics II | 3 | Continued application of nursing research and biostatistics in nursing practice; research project will validate the student’s skills in data collection and analysis methods, interpretation, and reporting of statistical results. Includes focus on professional role development as students translate biostatistics into practical applications to advocate and improve population health. Prerequisite: NURS 633. |
NURS 801-803 | DNP Scholarly Project I-III | 3 | Develop and conduct a DNP scholarly project under the direction of a faculty committee. The content of the study can be an empirical study or another suitable professional activity/project approved by the faculty committee. Register for three consecutive terms or by petition. Pass/No Pass. |
NURS 805 | Role Development of Nurse Leader | 3 | Provides an overview of various nursing leadership roles in various healthcare settings and examines the knowledge, expertise and character traits necessary to produce an eminent nurse leader. |
NURS 821 | Advanced Healthcare Policy & Population Health | 3 | Examines foundations of healthcare policy making, advanced policy analysis for nurses in leadership roles, as well as population health management. Gain greater understanding in the dynamics related to the roles and influences of healthcare providers and consumers, government and law. |
NURS 830 | Perspectives in Nursing Education | 3 | Overview of perspectives and issues in nursing education. Various activities and competencies inherent in the role of the nurse educator within academia and healthcare. |
NURS 855 | Quality Improvement in Healthcare | 3 | Key elements of quality improvement in the healthcare environment; indicators for quality assessment and appropriate and relevant benchmarks. Six Sigma to ensure standardization of the quality improvement approach. |
NURS 860 | Administrative & Leadership Theory | 3 | Overview of nurse leadership and management; various activities and competencies inherent in the role of the nurse leader within the healthcare setting. |
* The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) requires all DNP students to complete a minimum of 1,000 practicum hours post-BSN. The final credit hours required will depend on the number of clinical hours students obtained previously during post-BSN practicum courses.
2024-25 Semester Check-In Deadlines
All students are expected to check-in for the semester two weeks before the session start date. Students should apply, be accepted, enroll in their first courses, and confirm a plan to pay for their courses prior to this date.
Session | Semester Check-In | Session Start Date |
---|---|---|
Session A | Friday, August 9 | Monday, August 19 |
Session C | Wednesday, January 8 | Monday, January 13 |
Session E | Friday, May 2 | Monday, May 12 |
Prerequisites
DNP in APRN applicants must:
- Have a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from an accredited institution and a 3.0 GPA in previously completed nursing courses.
- Report no more than two previous documented failures in DNP courses.
Admissions Requirements
Step 1: Apply to Regent University
Submit your application using the Regent University Online Application.
Note: If you are unable to complete our application due to a disability, please contact our Admissions Office at 757.352.4990 or admissions@regent.edu and an admissions representative will provide reasonable accommodations to assist you in completing the application.
Step 2: Submit Your Unofficial Transcripts
Submit your unofficial transcripts to regent.edu/items.
Upon submitting your application, you will receive an email requesting authorization for Regent University to obtain your official transcripts from your U.S. degree-granting institution. International transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES, AACRAO or NAFSA approved agency.
Step 3: Complete an Admissions Questionnaire
Please complete a brief admissions questionnaire based on your professional goals and interests. This should only take a few minutes to complete but please answer the questions completely and thoughtfully. This gives us a better opportunity to get to know you and align your objectives with our programs. Once completed, it will be sent directly to an admissions counselor who will be in touch with you right away to help complete the rest of your application.
Step 4: Submit Your Resume
All graduate nurse candidates are required to submit a resume demonstrating one year of full time clinical RN experience prior to entering the degree program. Please submit to regent.edu/items.
Step 5: Submit Your Nursing License
To be admitted to the DNP program, you must submit an active unencumbered/unrestricted Registered Nurse license from your state of practice. Please submit a scanned copy or photograph of it to regent.edu/items.
Step 6: Submit Your Government-Issued ID
To ensure academic integrity, Regent University requires a copy of a government-issued ID. Please submit a scanned copy or photograph of it to regent.edu/items.
Step 7: Faculty Interview
Interviews for the DNP program are by invitation only after review of the completed application by School of Nursing faculty. Interviews are held virtually with faculty and will take place via Zoom to best assist with an interactive interview experience for our applicants. It is expected that the candidate will be willing to discuss personal history within the interview process. Additional details will be provided to those invited for an interview.
Applicants invited to the virtual interview should keep in mind that an interview does not assure admission. The School of Nursing reserves the right to determine in its sole discretion whether a candidate is suitable for admission to the DNP program.
Please feel free to contact the Office of Admissions at 757.352.4990 or admissions@regent.edu should you have any further questions about the application process.
Note: All items submitted as part of the application process become the property of Regent University and cannot be returned.
PART-TIME STUDENTS
Degree | Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour | Average Credit Hours Per Semester | Average Tuition Per Semester |
---|---|---|---|
DNP | $580 | 3 | $1,740 |
MSN | $580 | 6 | $3,480 |
Full-Time Students
Degree | Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour | Average Credit Hours Per Semester | Average Tuition Per Semester |
---|---|---|---|
DNP | $580 | 6 | $3,480 |
MSN | $580 | 9 | $5,220 |
Student Fees Per Semester
University Services Fee (On-Campus Students) | $850 (Fall & Spring) $700 (Summer) |
---|---|
University Services Fee (Online Students) | $700 |
Part-Time Students
Degree | Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour | Average Credit Hours Per Semester | Average Tuition Per Semester |
---|---|---|---|
DNP | $580 | 3 | $1,740 |
MSN | $580 | 6 | $3,480 |
Full-Time Students
Degree | Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour | Average Credit Hours Per Semester | Average Tuition Per Semester |
---|---|---|---|
DNP | $580 | 6 | $3,480 |
MSN | $580 | 9 | $5,220 |
Student Fees Per Semester
University Services Fee (On-Campus Students) | $850 (Fall & Spring) $700 (Summer) |
---|---|
University Services Fee (Online Students) | $700 |
*Rates are subject to change at any time.