Become a Transformative Leader in Healthcare: Benedictine’s DNP in Executive Leadership
As the healthcare system faces constant change and evolving demands, the need for innovative and visionary nurse leaders has never been greater. If you possess the passion and ambition to shape the future of healthcare, Benedictine University’s online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Executive Leadership program can provide the knowledge, skills, and network you need to succeed.
This program, specifically designed for working professionals, empowers you to take your career to the next level. Through comprehensive coursework, engaging discussions with experienced faculty, and real-world clinical practice experiences, you will develop the expertise necessary to:
Drive positive change: Become a key player in shaping the future of healthcare by leading innovative initiatives and implementing evidence-based practices.
Assume positions of influence: Equip yourself for executive-level roles that impact patient care, population health, and healthcare delivery models.
Master essential leadership skills: Gain in-depth knowledge of organizational management, financial management, and healthcare policy to guide complex healthcare systems effectively.
Collaborate effectively: Cultivate strong relationships and build collaborative partnerships with diverse healthcare professionals, stakeholders, and communities.
Advance your career: Prepare yourself for leadership positions in top healthcare institutions and earn a competitive salary reflective of your expertise.
Benedictine’s DNP program goes beyond the traditional classroom experience. Our flexible online format allows you to learn on your own schedule from anywhere to meet deadlines each week, while our cohort-based learning model fosters a supportive and collaborative environment. You will work closely with renowned nurse leaders who bring their real-world experience to the classroom, providing valuable insights and guidance. The program culminates in a systems-level DNP project to improve patient outcomes, address organizational needs, or achieve strategic initiatives.
Don’t wait any longer to take charge and become the leader in healthcare needs. Enroll in Benedictine University’s online DNP in Executive Leadership program today and embark on your journey to transform healthcare for the better.
Benefits of Benedictine’s DNP Program:
Flexible online format: Learn on your own schedule to meet weekly deadlines and work from anywhere with convenient online coursework.
Experienced faculty: Gain insights and guidance from renowned nurse leaders who bring their real-world expertise to the classroom.
Cohort-based learning: Build valuable connections and collaborate with a supportive network of peers.
Clinical practice experiences: Apply your knowledge and skills in real-world settings under expert supervision.
DNP project: Conduct a system-level DNP project that addresses a critical issue in healthcare and makes a meaningful difference.
Career advancement: Prepare for leadership positions in top healthcare institutions and earn a competitive salary.
Become a leader in the healthcare field with Benedictine University’s DNP program. Start your journey today and make a lasting impact on the lives of individuals and communities.
Why Benedictine University’s DNP Program Sets You Apart:
Benedictine University’s DNP program elevates your nursing practice to the highest level, equipping you with the knowledge, skills, and leadership competencies to become a transformative force in healthcare. Here’s why you should choose Benedictine:
Master evidence-based practice: Integrate advanced nursing knowledge and research to implement best practices, advance scholarship, and optimize patient outcomes.
Champion safety and quality healthcare: Develop expertise in systems thinking and leadership to create policies that promote patient safety and cost-effective quality care.
Leverage data and technology for impact: Make informed decisions, communicate strategic initiatives effectively, and drive positive changes through data analysis and technology utilization.
Become a confident leader: Prepare for advanced leadership roles through mentorship and collaboration, gaining the independence to navigate complex healthcare systems.
Advocate for person-centered care and equity: Collaborate with partners to champion individualized care, enhance well-being, and address population health disparities.
Conduct an impactful project: Complete a DNP project demonstrating the synthesis of your knowledge and contributing to system effectiveness and innovation.
By choosing Benedictine University’s DNP program, you’ll become a leader who shapes the future of healthcare. Invest in your career and join our community of change makers.
Program Details
Immerse yourself in a rigorous and rewarding DNP program
Immerse yourself in a rigorous and rewarding DNP program designed to equip you with the advanced knowledge, skills, and leadership competencies to excel in today’s healthcare landscape.
Program Structure:
40 semester credit hours of graduate coursework:
4 semester credit hours of NRHL 7000 Graduate Clinical Immersion Practicum: 1 semester hour of NRHL 7000 is waived for every 125 clock-hours of clinical completed as part of an MSN program. NRHL 7000 allows students who require additional clinical hours a mechanism to meet the 1000 hours required to earn a DNP degree.
24 semester credit hours of asynchronous online coursework: Advance your professional nursing practice through engaging online modules.
12 semester credit hours of clinical practicum experience: Further refine your clinical skills and gain confidence in your DNP role through supervised clinical practice experiences including execution of the DNP project.
500 hours of practicum experience (this is part of the 12 semester credit hour practicum): DNP students complete a total of 500 hours of clinical practice experiences, distributed across the final four courses. This comprehensive experience ensures you develop the necessary doctoral-level clinical competencies.
Culminating DNP project: Apply your acquired knowledge and skills to a system-level DNP project that addresses a critical issue in healthcare. Your project will allow you to synthesize your learning and make a meaningful contribution to the field of nursing and healthcare.
Completion requirements: Successfully complete all eight DNP foundation courses and four practicum courses to earn your DNP degree and NRHL 7000 as needed.
Student Learning Outcomes
The DNP student learning outcomes listed below are aligned to TheEssentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education (AACN, 2021) 10 Domains for Nursing and the American Organization for Nursing Leadership Nurse Executive Competencies (2022) Five Core Domains.
1. Integrate nursing knowledge and science and relevant science-based theories as the basis for the highest level of nursing practice
1: Knowledge for Nursing Practice
Knowledge of the Healthcare Environment
2. Critically appraise existing research to determine and implement the best evidence to advance the scholarship of nursing.
4: Scholarship for the Nursing Discipline
Knowledge of the Healthcare Environment
3. Use systems thinking and current leadership practices to develop healthcare policy intended to promote a culture of safety and deliver quality cost-effective care.
5: Quality and Safety
Business Skills and Principles
Leadership
4. Use relevant data and information technology to effectively communicate strategic
initiatives that support nursing practice.
8: Informatics and Healthcare Technologies
Communication and Relationship Management
5. Lead interprofessional partnerships and teams focused on the improvement of patient and population health outcomes in an ethical, legal, and fiscally responsible manner.
6: Interprofessional Partnerships
Business Skills and Principles
Communication and Relationship Management
Leadership
6. Prepare for a position of nursing leadership along the continuum of professional socialization through mentorship and development of others.
9: Professionalism
Leadership
Professionalism
7. Advocate for person-centered caring relationships in collaboration with clinical partners to enhance health and well-being of persons.
2: Person-Centered Care
Communication and Relationship Management
8. Engage in partnerships to support and improve equitable population health outcomes.
3: Population Health
Communication and Relationship Management
9. Complete a systems-based DNP practice project that demonstrates synthesis of coursework and clinical experiences that contributes to system effectiveness, innovation, and evidence-based nursing practice.
7: Systems-Based Practice
Business Skills and Principles
Communication and Relationship Management
Knowledge of the Healthcare Environment
Leadership
Professionalism
10. Demonstrate the ability to function independently in a nursing leadership role within a complex healthcare system.
10: Personal, Professional, and Leadership Development
Business Skills and Principles
Communication and Relationship Management
Knowledge of the Healthcare Environment
Leadership
Professionalism
Courses
Here is an example of some courses you may take in the DNP program:
Advanced Knowledge for Innovative Nursing Practice
Information Management and Healthcare Technologies
Advanced Financial Management and Economics of Healthcare Systems
Transformative Nursing Leadership and Professionalism
Doctor of Nursing Practice in Executive Leadership Courses (DNP):
Evolving Your Expertise: Career Opportunities with a DNP Degree
A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree opens doors to exciting and impactful career paths in diverse fields and settings. Here are some potential career opportunities you could explore with your DNP degree:
Leadership and Management: Lead nursing teams, shape healthcare delivery, and oversee nursing operations as a Nurse Manager/Administrator, hold leadership positions and manage budgets as a Nurse Executive, or serve as the highest-ranking nurse executive and guide overall nursing practice as a Chief Nursing Officer (CNO).
Academic Roles: Shape the future of nursing by developing and teaching nursing curricula, mentoring students, and preparing future generations of skilled and compassionate nurses.
Healthcare Policy Analyst: Analyze healthcare and advocate for policies that promote quality and accessibility of healthcare and influence healthcare systems and patient care.
Your DNP degree opens doors to a diverse and rewarding career path. Explore your interests, utilize your skills, and set your goals to shape your unique journey within the dynamic healthcare field.
The Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing Program and Master’s Degree in Nursing Program at Benedictine University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington D.C., 20001, (202) 887-6791.
Sigma Lambda Upsilon-at-Large Chapter
The Sigma Lambda Upsilon-at-Large Chapter is a combined chapter from Benedictine University and Aurora University.
Sigma is an international community of nurses, dedicated to the advancement of knowledge, teaching, learning, and service through the cultivation of communities of practice, education, and research.
Qualified students are invited to join the combined chapter each year, with an annual induction ceremony that alternates hosting duties between the two universities.
The Westlake Foundation Scholarship (WFS) provides financial support for prospective students to pursue their Nursing degree at Benedictine University. Benedictine is classified as an institution serving under-resourced populations and as such, we expect to enhance recruitment of a diverse student population and first-generation college students who will benefit from the Scholarship. Ask your counselor about how to apply after you’re admitted to your program. View the Scholarship page.
