Study on Your Schedule
At WCU, you have the flexibility to complete your DNP program at the speed that is right for your schedule! We offer two program pace options:
Advance Your Education
Industry-current DNP education with a focus on executive leadership within large healthcare organizations and systems
Specialized training on strategic leadership and project management in complex healthcare settings
DNP research project allowing for on-site application, along with a team to help with your site placement
Curriculum aligning with the latest recommendations of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
If you are a nurse who has a passion for leadership and the pursuit of ethical, effective, and innovative ways to serve patient communities, a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program may be right for you.*
Our DNP program builds on your clinical experience and teaches strategic leadership and project management in complex healthcare environments, helping to prepare you for executive leadership roles in healthcare organizations. With a focus on promoting safety and quality in healthcare, you will learn how to develop innovative strategies for directing and leading change. You will also explore the influence of policy and ethical decision-making in healthcare delivery.
Students in the program will complete a DNP project that teaches students how to analyze problems, structure and facilitate development, and find and implement solutions. The project will require 1,000 post-baccalaureate practice hours, which will be completed under the guidance of a site mentor or healthcare leader.
WCU’s DNP program requires 30 credits, allowing for speed to completion. We offer flexible, online coursework and the choice of two program paces (Accelerated and Working Professional) to accommodate your schedule.
*The WCU DNP program helps prepare graduates for a terminal degree focused on clinical practice leadership and does not prepare advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) for roles as nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, certified nurse midwives, or certified nurse anesthetists.
At WCU, you have the flexibility to complete your DNP program at the speed that is right for your schedule! We offer two program pace options:
Accelerated
(20 Months)
Our Accelerated DNP program pace is a great option for working nurses who want a streamlined path for completing their doctoral degrees. You can earn your degree in 20 months at the Accelerated pace.
Working Professional
(24 Months)
We also offer an alternate program pace for students who need to complete their degree at a slower pace due to work or at-home responsibilities. You can earn your degree in 24 months at the Working Professional pace.
Flexibility of an Online DNP Program
With mobile-accessible coursework, 24-hour access to our online library, and around-the-clock technical support, you can decide where and when (within your weekly deadlines) to complete your WCU coursework. You can work your study time between shifts and around your at-home responsibilities, making it easier to reach your educational goals. Enjoy the flexibility that comes with a virtual classroom!
The DNP program accepts students during the Spring I, Summer I, and Fall I terms, with the calendar year typically consisting of six terms. For more information about our term start and completion dates, view the Academic Calendar.
WCU graduates are given tools to influence healthcare policy at institutional, state, and/or federal levels, and they are trained to lead, whether that means leading interprofessional teams or by helping guide organizational decision-making.
A Doctor of Nursing Practice is a degree designed for highly motivated and dedicated students who want to use evidence-based clinical approaches to positively impact patient outcomes and impact workplace practices.
Below are the program learning outcomes for our online DNP program.
WCU’s Career Services department provides DNP students and graduates with ongoing assistance through professional and career development guidance and workshops.3 Whether you need help building a stronger resume, narrowing down your job search, or preparing for an interview, you have a team that is ready to support you.
We will also provide you with other forms of support while you are a student at WCU, including clinical placement assistance as well as your own assigned Student Success advisor, admissions and financial aid advisors, no-cost tutoring, one-on-one faculty mentorship, and more.
Completing your clinical practicum is an exciting part of your degree, but it can also feel overwhelming for many students. Fortunately, our Clinical Placements team is here to support you every step of the way.
We offer assistance from helping you find an ideal preceptor and clinical site in your local area to providing advice along the way so you can enhance your practice experience. Receiving guidance is easy – all you have to do is jump on a coaching call with your assigned coordinator of clinical relations.
WCU has partnerships and connections with various healthcare providers, so we are well-equipped to help our students with their placement needs.
Dean/Director, DNP, RN to BSN, AGPC-NP & Graduate Specialty Programs
Dr. George Peraza-Smith is a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). He obtained his Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Case Western Reserve University, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Mast of Science in Nursing (MSN) in nursing administration from the University of Texas Medical Branch. He has both a gerontological nurse practitioner post-master’s certificate from the University of South Florida and an adult nurse practitioner post-doctoral certificate from Brandman University.
Dr. Peraza-Smith is board-certified as an adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner (AGPCNP), a gerontological nurse practitioner, an APRN gerontological specialist, and a certified nurse educator. He is the immediate past president of the Florida Nurses Association and the immediate past inaugural president of the Gerontology Nursing Certification Commission (GNCC) for which he remains a trustee on the board. The GNCC offers an APRN gerontological specialist certification to distinguish APRNs who possess expert knowledge, experience, and skill in managing the complex health needs of older adults.
Dr. Peraza-Smith has been teaching in MSN and DNP online and hybrid programs for over 10 years. He has held academic leadership positions such as Professor, Program Director, Department Chair, and Associate Dean. Dr. Peraza-Smith resides in Zephyrhills, Florida with his husband and two children.
No, there is no waitlist to start the online DNP program.
Our DNP program is designed to be flexible for working nurses who want to advance their educations on their own schedules. Even though we set deadlines for assignments, you do have flexibility for when you will complete your work, whether that’s in the middle of the day or the middle of the night, weekdays or weekends. Online coursework gives you the freedom to complete your DNP degree around your schedule!
WCU's Doctor of Nursing Practice online program makes it possible to earn your doctorate degree in nursing in as few as 20 months at the Accelerated pace or 24 months at the Working Professional pace.
WCU's Doctor of Nursing Practice program consists of online coursework and on-site experiential learning. Students are encouraged to work with a DNP-prepared nurse as a preceptor to guide the research process.
A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is the most advanced academic degree that can be earned in the nursing field while a nurse practitioner (NP) is an occupation title. To become a nurse practitioner, you must be licensed as a registered nurse (RN), have a bachelor’s degree, complete an NP-focused master’s program or doctoral nursing program, and pass a national nurse practitioner board certification exam.2
The DNP degree at WCU degree does not prepare you for nurse practitioner certification. Rather, many prospective and existing nurse practitioners pursue DNP degrees in order to advance their education, develop leadership skills, and improve on their service to patients in their communities.
Financial aid, scholarships, and grants are available for those who qualify. A few of the grants and scholarships that are available at WCU include the Alumni Pathway Grant (covering as much as 20% of tuition), the WCU Health Services Grant (covering as much as 10% of tuition), and the WCU Performance Scholarship (covering as much as 15% of tuition). For more information and eligibility criteria, please see the online division scholarships and grants page of our catalog.
WCU can evaluate your previous experience for acceptance. Transfer of clinical hours for prospective students is on a case-by-case basis. Your admissions advisor can help evaluate how many of graduate clinical credits qualify for transfer, if any.
Our DNP program helps you build the skills needed to lead healthcare teams, manage projects, and promote safer and more efficient healthcare delivery at the organizational level. You’ll benefit from a combination of both didactic online learning and on-site experiential learning, which you will complete through a translational DNP research project carried out at a partner practice site.
We have updated our program to reflect the latest recommendations for best practices in DNP education by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). We incorporated AACN’s recommendations into our program curriculum, adding instruction and coursework related to subject matter such as policy and legislation issues, finance and business, social media training, and more.
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN certificate program at West Coast University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education 655 K Street, Suite 750, Washington DC 20001, (202) 877-6791 (www.ccneaccreditation.org).
Pursuing your degree is a big choice. Fill out our form and one of our admissions advisors will contact you to answer any question you may have!
1 WCU provides career guidance and assistance but cannot guarantee employment.
2 American Association of Nurse Practitioners, “The Path to Becoming a Nurse Practitioner (NP)” November 10, 2020
Financial aid and scholarships are available for those who qualify.