Nursing Practice

Earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) opens doors to advanced roles across clinical, administrative, academic, and policy settings. Whether your passion lies in direct patient care, systems leadership, or behavioral health, the D.N.P. equips you to lead transformative change in healthcare delivery and outcomes.

Nurse Leadership (D.N.P. – Leadership Track)

Graduates of the Nurse Leadership track are prepared to influence healthcare systems at the organizational, regional, and national levels. They blend clinical insight with business acumen to improve quality, safety, and efficiency across care settings.

Career Opportunities Include:

• Chief Nursing Officer or Director of Nursing
• Healthcare System Administrator or Operations Executive
• Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Leader
• Population Health or Care Coordination Director
• Academic or Clinical Faculty in Nursing Education
• Health Policy Advisor or Consultant

Settings: Hospitals, health systems, community health organizations, government agencies, and academic institutions.

Family Nurse Practitioner (D.N.P.–FNP Track)

Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs) provide comprehensive, evidence-based primary care across the lifespan—from pediatrics to geriatrics. D.N.P.-prepared FNPs lead in clinical practice while advancing healthcare accessibility, particularly in rural and underserved communities. Upon completion, graduates are eligible to sit for national certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) or the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

Career Opportunities Include:

• Primary Care Provider in Family Practice or Internal Medicine
• Clinician in Community or Rural Health Centers
• Provider in Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)
• Urgent Care or Retail Health Clinic Practitioner
• Occupational or Employee Health Specialist
• School-Based or College Health Provider
• Telehealth or Mobile Health Clinician
• Clinical Director or Practice Manager
• Preventive Care and Wellness Program Coordinator
• Public Health or Population Health Nurse Practitioner
• Hospice, Palliative, or Home Health Provider
• Academic Faculty or Clinical Instructor in Nursing Education
• Research or Quality Improvement Coordinator
• Policy Advocate or Consultant for Primary Care Access
• Entrepreneur 

Settings: Private practices, federally qualified health centers, urgent care, schools, and community-based health initiatives.

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (D.N.P.–PMHNP Track)

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners address the growing need for mental health services across populations and age groups. D.N.P.-prepared PMHNPs combine advanced clinical expertise with leadership to integrate behavioral health into primary and community care. Upon completion, graduates are eligible to sit for national certification as a Psych Mental Health Nurse Practitioner through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) or the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

Career Opportunities Include:

• Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner in Inpatient, Outpatient, or Telehealth Settings
• Integrated Behavioral Health Provider in Primary Care or Specialty Clinics
• Mental Health Program Director or Clinical Manager
• Consultant for Trauma-Informed and Recovery-Oriented Care Models
• Researcher or Advocate for Mental Health Policy and Access
• Academic or Clinical Educator in Psychiatric Nursing

Settings: Hospitals, mental health centers, private practice, telehealth platforms, schools, correctional health, and academic institutions.

We are honored that you are considering applying to Radford University's Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.)  program.

Not all online programs are available in all states.  
Application Deadline: Rolling Admission, Fall (August 15), Spring (November 15), Summer (March 15)

Applicants must:  

1. Be a graduate from an accredited BSN program. Others will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
2. Hold a current, unencumbered license as a registered nurse.
3. Submit a completed application and pay the appropriate application fee.
4. Provide recommendation forms and letters from professional contacts that address the applicant’s potential for advanced practice nursing. We require one reference letter from a current or previous professional setting. A professional reference includes someone who has worked with the applicant and can vouch for their skills and work ethic.
5. Submit for official transcripts to be sent from all previous academic institutions since high school.  Applicants must have a cumulative BSN minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 in the undergraduate nursing major.
6. Provide a reflection essay describing career goals and how the program will assist in meeting those goals. A reflection essay does not require references, but if references are included in your work, please use APA formatting as applicable.
7. Provide a current resume or CV, including previous education and employment with dates.
8. For NP tracks, documentation is required for at least 2,000 hours or 1 year of full-time clinical practice as an RN before the start of clinical courses.
9. Students who were previously unsuccessful in a graduate program from another institution may be considered for admission on an individual basis.
10. Students must have access to a computer with internet access and Zoom capabilities in order to meet course requirements and communicate with faculty.