DNP Nurse Practitioner Major

Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN), academically prepared and employed as primary care and/or acute care providers in the U.S. health care system. In the University of Pittsburgh Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program applicants may select to be prepared in one of six NP specialty areas. NPs blend clinical expertise in health management and disease prevention to offer a wholistic perspective to health care. In addition, they use counseling and teaching skills to assist patients to make smarter lifestyle choices. This approach has been shown to lower healthcare costs and reduce hospitalizations.

Nurse practitioners serve as primary care providers in clinics, hospitals, home health care services, and outpatient care centers – many in traditionally underserved communities and regions. NPs are educationally prepared to autonomously diagnose and treat conditions, prescribe medications and order and interpret diagnostic tests, design treatment plans with patients, and teach patients about managing illnesses and understanding how to use their medications. State laws govern certification requirements and scope of practice. The U.S. government estimates that employment of nurse practitioners will grow by 46% by 2033.

In 2018 the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) made the commitment to move all entry-level nurse practitioner education to the DNP degree by 2025. In April 2023, NONPF reaffirmed the transition to the DNP degree for all entry-level NPs. The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing's six NP areas of concentration are listed below: