Program Overview

Introduction to the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program

The University of California San Francisco (UCSF) School of Nursing offers the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, which is the profession's highest clinical degree. The program is designed to prepare nurses to become experts and leaders in health equity.

Program Pathways

The DNP program offers two pathways:

• The BSN Entry to DNP — Advanced Nursing Focus pathway enables individuals with a bachelor's degree in nursing to become experts and leaders in health equity. Applicants will master the skills in one of several advanced specialties and complete their studies toward the DNP degree.
• The Post-Master's Entry to DNP — Leadership Focus pathway prepares registered nurses who hold a master's degree with the skills to innovate improvements and lead teams in developing approaches to care that address population needs.

Core Component of the Degree Program

A core component of the degree program is the DNP quality improvement project, in which students identify a health care practice issue and formulate a solution that improves outcomes. In direct consultation with faculty mentors, students will conceive, evaluate, and present their scholarly work. They will also develop strategies to disseminate their scholarly work and to implement practices based on their conclusions.

Faculty

The UCSF School of Nursing has a dedicated faculty of more than 150 experts who share a passion for educating the next generation of health care leaders and leading innovative research that advances health equity for all. Faculty members at the school are distinguished leaders in their areas of expertise and have led – and continue to lead – innovations and policy improvements locally, nationally, and around the globe.

Program Administration

The Nursing DNP program is offered by the UCSF Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs, administered by the UCSF School of Nursing, and delivered by faculty members in the UCSF School of Nursing.

Professional Doctorates

The UCSF School of Nursing offers several professional doctorates, including:

• Doctor of Nursing Practice
• Doctor of Physical Therapy

Program Statistics

The UCSF School of Nursing is one of the top recipients of research funding from the National Institutes of Health. The school takes pride in its graduate programs, which represent a century of pioneering leadership that has produced many top influencers in the field in the U.S. and abroad.