The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree is a practice-focused doctorate based on the recommendations of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing's "Position Statement on the Practice Doctorate in Nursing" and on their "Essentials of the Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice." The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) has transitioned its six Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) specialties from the Master of Science (MS) to the DNP, effective fall 2014. Graduates who choose an APRN specialty will be eligible to apply for national certification. UMSON also continues to offer the existing DNP (Post-Master’s) option.

Graduates of the DNP program are prepared to: * Initiate, facilitate, and participate in collaborative efforts that influence health care outcomes with scholars, practitioners, clinicians, and policy makers from other disciplines * Lead at the highest educational, clinical, and executive ranks * Evaluate and apply ethically sound, culturally sensitive, evidence-based practice for the improvement of education, clinical practice, systems management, and nursing leadership * Analyze and apply scientific knowledge and related skills for the highest level of nursing practice * Design, implement, manage, and evaluate patient care and organizational systems.