DNP vs. PhD: What’s the Difference?
If you’re a nurse interested in obtaining the highest level of education possible, you may be considering either a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in nursing. While these are both doctoral degrees, your career can be steered in different directions depending on which one you pursue. So, it’s important to fully understand the differences between a DNP vs. PhD before making any decisions.
To help you select the degree program that’s best suited for your goals, we’ll provide an overview of the education, career paths, and salaries for PhD- vs. DNP-prepared nurses.
What Is a DNP vs. PhD? Nursing Doctorates at a Glance
A DNP and PhD actually furnish quite different skill sets even though they’re both terminal degrees. So, what exactly is each one for? Simply put, a DNP is a clinical degree while a PhD is a research degree.
A DNP program equips nurses with advanced clinical knowledge to manage health conditions through evidence-based practice. This path might be good for you if you’re interested in:
- Assessing, diagnosing, and treating patients.
- Gaining expertise and autonomy in performing medical procedures.
- Coordinating patient care with interdisciplinary healthcare teams.
- Serving as an executive leader or manager for healthcare organizations.
A PhD program prepares nurses to produce and disseminate new nursing knowledge through conducting original research. This path can be a good option if you’re interested in:
- Advancing your theoretical expertise in a nursing or health-related topic.
- Researching and publishing studies to advance evidence-based practice.
- Applying for grants to obtain funding for research projects.
- Teaching and mentoring nursing students in an academic setting.
In summary, PhD-prepared nurses typically focus on uncovering theoretical evidence that DNPs are trained to translate into real-world practice settings.
DNP vs. PhD: Education
The structure of DNP and PhD programs varies by institution. If you’re interested in attending a particular college or university, you should check their admissions page for more specific details. The following table compares a broad overview of what each program can look like.
| DNP | PhD | |
| Minimum Prerequisites |
|
|
| Curriculum Topics | Evidence-based practice, healthcare leadership, public health, health policy, advanced clinical specialties | Theory development, research methods, statistical and data analysis, health policy, grant writing, scientific leadership |
| Core Requirements | 30–40 credit hours and roughly 1,000 clinical hours | 45–60 credit hours and a dissertation research project |
| Program Length | 2–4 years, depending on whether entry path is BSN-DNP or MSN-DNP | 3–6 years, depending on length of dissertation project |
| Teaching Duties | Teaching assistantships typically optional | Teaching assistantships required |
| Tuition | $40,000–$70,000 annually | Tuition waived by institutions for up to 4 years |
| Stipend | No stipend | $20,000–$40,000 stipend provided for 1–4 years |
PhD vs. DNP: Salary and Careers
There are diverse job opportunities for both DNP- and PhD-prepared nurses. The responsibilities and salaries of these jobs range by state and organization, but we can take a look at a general summary of DNP and PhD career options below.
DNP Career Paths
DNP-prepared nurses typically take on more clinically oriented jobs, but they can also work at academic institutions to teach nursing students. Here are some common career paths for DNP-trained nurses, along with their median salaries.
- Nurse Practitioner: Directly manages and coordinates care for patients in hospitals, clinics, or other types of care centers ($128,490 average salary)
- Health Services Manager: Helps lead the broader business direction of healthcare teams or organizations ($134,440 average salary)
- Clinical Faculty: Mentors and teaches nursing students undergoing clinical training at academic institutions ($86,530 average salary)
- Clinical Consultant: Guides healthcare organizations in quality improvement and evidence-based practice initiatives ($118,000 average salary)
PhD Career Paths
Contrary to DNP-prepared nurses, PhD-trained nurses usually pursue more academic or research-focused jobs that are further removed from the bedside. Here are some popular PhD career options and their median salaries.
- Nurse Scientist: Conducts research at government, health policy, or healthcare organizations ($112,380 average salary)
- Research Faculty: Leads research projects and teaches nursing students at academic institutions/universities ($99,000 average salary)
- Technical Consultant: Consults healthcare organizations on their business strategy through conducting policy/market research ($115,530 average salary)
- Medical Writer: Writes trial protocols, grants, policies, or educational materials for healthcare/pharmaceutical companies ($86,620 average salary)
Can You Get a DNP and PhD?
If both career paths sound interesting and you’re torn on which one to choose, you might also consider applying for DNP/PhD programs. These dual degree programs take a “best of both worlds” approach, training students to be advanced clinicians as well as adept researchers. By earning a dual degree, you gain the ability to seamlessly transition or combine careers in both the clinical and research sphere.
Find the Right Career Path for You
Now that you understand the differences between a DNP vs. PhD, you may be looking to explore the next step in your career. Connect with IntelyCare today and find out how we match you with nursing jobs that suit your lifestyle and goals.