If you are considering a DNP in population health, then it is great to find out what you can before you venture in. 
Before you go into any DNP population health program you need to meet certain requirements. You also need to know what to expect along the line. Hence, in this article, we will be discussing things you need to know about DNP population health. But first, what is DNP.
DNP – What is it?
DNP stands for Doctor of Nursing Practice which is a higher nursing degree. It is 1 of the 2 highest degrees that can be attained in the field of nursing. This degree is made for nurses who are looking for an option to doctoral research-focused programs.
This means that this degree’s a practicing one. While Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees are technically on doctorates level, this doesn’t mean a holder can work in the capacity of a medical doctor or any other type of physician.
When a nurse completes a Doctor of Nursing Practice program, then it means that they have reached the height of their education.
Nurses that get this degree oftentimes end up holding administrative positions in healthcare. However, some can still use it to get practitioner roles.
Holding a Doctor of Nursing Practice gives a nurse a competitive edge over others that have an NP when they are aiming to get the same position.
Why Get a DNP Population Health
There are several areas of nursing that you can get your DNP in. So, why should you choose to get a one in population health?
Well, the DNP in population health program is as we have said a post-master program that focuses on population health. This program can be taken by any nurse from any practice setting. It is tailored to make nurses become leaders who can address healthcare complexities and outcomes arising in our today’s world.
The scientific, ethical, historical, and philosophical angles of the field of nursing are properly incorporated into the program.
A final project you would be charged within the program would focus on how to design, implement, and evaluate delivery methods addressing outcomes that can improve a community’s health.
Attaining this educational level from a prestigious institution will mean the person will be able to properly understand community health and population. 
How to Get a DNP
At this point, you most likely are wondering how you can earn this Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. Most times, nurses use the graduated method. That is this they work their way up, from a BSN then to MSN then finally DNP.
However, you may choose to save time by enrolling in a bridge program. Visit https://www.elearners.com/ to learn more about nursing bridge programs.
The following are some common routes people take to earn their DNPs:
MSN-DNP
This is perhaps the most used program to earn DNPs. Since the nurse already has their MSN, then they more than likely are already holding an advanced role. Hence, full-time may not be possible.
However, it typically covers between 1 to 2 years for full-time and 3 to 4 years for part-time.
BSN-DNP
Here, DNP and MSN curriculums are brought together. Some programs even allow students to leave once they have met the requirements or MSN. It covers 3 to 4 years for full-time and 4 to 6 years for part-time.
RN-DNP
This is not as common as the above two; this can be because you can enroll in the program even when you do not have your bachelor’s degree. It often covers 4 to 6 years for full-time and 6plus years for part-time.
In some programs, you would be required to take some undergraduate coursework as prerequisites before you can take the graduate courses.
Direct-Entry
This is not a bridge program. It is put in place to allow people who have their bachelor’s degree yet the degree isn’t a nursing degree. That is to say, if you studied anything that is not nursing-related in your bachelor’s program, you can still get a Doctor of Nursing Practice via direct entry.
However, you would have to become a registered nurse before you can take graduate coursework. It often covers between 4 to 6 years for full-time. Typically part-time is not available.
Requirements for DNP in Population Health Program
If you are doing an online program, then you most likely have to meet the following before the degree is awarded:
- Go through 8 semesters
- Take 3-7 credits each semester
- Have one thousand clinical immersion hours throughout the program. You would accumulate this as you progress. You can read this to learn more about clinical immersion.
The program you decide on may have these or similar requirements.
Conclusion
Whether you are considering getting a Doctor of Nursing Practice in population health or you simply need to know more about it, this article is a great place to start your research. Here, we have discussed some basic things like what a DNP is, reasons for getting one in population health, and how to go about it.
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