When you first stepped into a nursing leadership role, a doctoral degree may not have been part of your long-term plan. But if you’ve started thinking about how you can influence strategy or policy decisions at a broader level, a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) may be the right next step for your career.
In this article, we’ll explain the importance of leadership in nursing and why a DNP in nursing leadership may be worth it for you.
What’s the Importance of Leadership in Nursing?
In nursing, leadership matters because it can directly affect the delivery of care. Strong nursing leadership can help improve patient outcomes and give nurses the support they need to do their jobs.
If you’re already working as a nurse leader, you’ve probably seen that good leadership can also have a larger impact. It can influence how care gets delivered across an organization. Leadership in nursing matters at a team level, but it also needs to be present in the executive meetings and boardrooms where policy development and strategic priorities get decided.
4 Reasons to Get a DNP in Nursing Leadership
A Doctor of Nursing Practice is a terminal nursing degree that focuses on evidence-based practices, quality improvement, and systems leadership, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
If you’re considering a move into executive leadership, here are a few reasons to consider getting a DNP:
Influence Policy Decisions
Some nurse leaders pursue a DNP in leadership because they want to have more influence over policy decisions at a system-wide level. Executive DNP programs often include coursework related to healthcare policy development and implementation. Earning a doctoral degree can be helpful if you want to have a voice in big-picture decisions affecting multiple departments or entire systems.
Lead Change in Healthcare Systems
A DNP in executive leadership may appeal to you if you want to contribute to healthcare systems beyond clinical day-to-day operations. For example, you may want to implement quality initiatives, create new processes, or contribute to strategic decisions about the delivery of care.
Getting a doctorate-level education can help you learn how complex healthcare systems operate, so you can effectively advocate for changes that affect patient care on a wider scale.
Build on Your Leadership Skills
As a nurse leader, you’re already using your leadership skills, such as strategic planning and quality improvement, to make a difference. A DNP in executive leadership can help you build on those skills, so you can focus on making policy-related or organizational change.
In a DNP program, you’ll take advanced coursework designed to help you expand on your leadership skills. West Coast University’s DNP program curriculum includes these classes, among others:
- Organizational and systems leadership
- Policy development and implementation
- Informatics and healthcare technologies
- Advanced executive leadership
Part of the program also includes a DNP research project, which you implement at a clinical site in your area. This practical learning experience can help you better understand how to apply your skills across the healthcare system.
Grow Your Career
If you want to grow into leadership roles outside the nursing department, a DNP may be the best fit for your goals. It can help prepare you for the demands of executive leadership roles in healthcare settings, such as these:
- Director of nursing
- Vice president of nursing
- Chief nursing officer
- Clinical director
- Healthcare administrator
- Nurse executive
These roles may feel like a natural next step after working in nurse leadership for a while. After advancing in his career to become a clinical manager, WCU alumnus Justin C. planned to earn his Doctor of Nursing Practice, with the goal of becoming a director in healthcare.
“I want to become a chief nursing officer or chief nursing executive,” Justin said. “A CNO is the highest position in an acute care setting for nursing.”
Is a DNP in Executive Leadership the Right Fit for Your Goals?
If you’ve already invested years in your nursing education and training, you may be asking yourself if a DNP is worth it. While it’s not the right fit for everyone, it may be a good option if you want your leadership strengths to extend to organizational strategy, systems improvement, or policy development.
Ask yourself these questions as you consider a DNP program:
- Do you want to grow your career beyond department-level leadership?
- Do you want to have a larger role in strategic planning and decision-making?
- Are you looking to build on the leadership skills you already use as a nurse leader?
- Do you want to have a broader impact on policy or quality improvement?
- Is now the right time to go back to school while balancing work and other priorities?
Keep in mind that some DNP programs, like the one at West Coast University, include online coursework and flexible learning formats. Depending on the program, you may be able to continue working while you earn your DNP at the same time.
Advance Your Nursing Education at WCU
Executive nursing leadership has the power to improve patient care, support nursing staff, and guide broader healthcare policy. For these reasons and more, many nurse leaders choose to pursue a DNP in executive nursing leadership to keep growing in their careers.
The Doctor of Nursing Practice program at West Coast University can help prepare you for this next step. In the DNP – Executive Leadership track, you’ll receive training on how to use strategic leadership effectively in healthcare systems. With a flexible online format, you can earn your DNP in approximately 20 months at an Accelerated pace.
Are you ready to explore the next step toward a role in executive nurse leadership? Reach out today to schedule an information session!
WCU provides career guidance and assistance but cannot guarantee employment. The views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or position of the school or of any instructor or student.
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