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What Can You Do with a Doctorate in Nursing?
Discover the possibilities for nurses who earn a doctoral degree in nursing, from nurse practitioner to various roles in leadership and education.
Expand your career possibilities by earning a doctoral degree in nursing
You can reach new heights in the field of nursing by earning a doctorate in nursing. Earning the terminal degree in nursing provides the opportunity to make a new impact in the field and truly transform how nursing is done.
Here鈥檚 a list of potential jobs you can pursue after earning a doctoral degree in nursing.
Keep in mind every employer will have their own unique requirements in terms of education and experience, especially for leadership positions where institutions are choosing a long-term fit to shape their organization.
1. Chief Nursing Officer (CNO)
The Chief Nursing Officer serves as the highest-ranking nursing administrator in a healthcare organization. This role is responsible for shaping the vision of nursing practice, developing strategic initiatives, and ensuring patient care aligns with organizational goals. CNOs oversee nursing staff, budgeting, policy development, and compliance with regulatory standards.
With a doctorate, professionals bring advanced leadership, research, and evidence-based practice expertise to improve outcomes, foster innovation, and enhance the quality of care across all departments.
2. Dean of Nursing
The Dean of Nursing leads a school or college of nursing, guiding academic programs, faculty, and students toward excellence in nursing education. Responsibilities include curriculum development, faculty recruitment, accreditation oversight, and fostering a culture of scholarship.
Doctorally-prepared deans often serve as thought leaders in advancing nursing science, supporting research initiatives, and influencing policy. They ensure programs meet evolving healthcare needs while preparing graduates for leadership, clinical, and academic roles in a dynamic healthcare landscape.
3. Director of Quality Improvement
A Director of Quality Improvement focuses on ensuring safe, effective, and efficient care delivery across healthcare systems. This role uses data-driven strategies, performance improvement models, and evidence-based practice to enhance patient safety and clinical outcomes.
Doctorally-prepared leaders in this role develop system-wide initiatives, coordinate interdisciplinary teams, and maintain compliance with accrediting agencies. Their expertise in research and process analysis helps eliminate inefficiencies, reduce errors, and create sustainable frameworks for continuous quality improvement.
4. Nurse Consultant
Nurse Consultants provide expert guidance to healthcare organizations, government agencies, or private companies. They analyze systems, recommend improvements, and implement evidence-based solutions to complex healthcare challenges.
Doctorally-prepared consultants leverage advanced knowledge in leadership, education, or policy to advise on clinical operations, program evaluation, or organizational change.
Their impact extends beyond direct patient care, as they influence decision-making at the executive level and contribute to shaping innovative strategies that improve healthcare delivery and outcomes.
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5. Academic Chair
An Academic Chair oversees a department within a school of nursing, providing leadership in curriculum design, faculty mentorship, accreditation readiness, and program growth. This role requires balancing administrative responsibilities with scholarship and service.
Doctorally-prepared chairs ensure programs align with accreditation standards and evolving industry needs while fostering faculty development and student success. They play a critical role in advancing academic excellence, guiding strategic initiatives, and representing their department within the larger institutional structure.
6. Healthcare Policy Analyst
Healthcare Policy Analysts with doctoral preparation play a pivotal role in shaping the future of healthcare delivery. They evaluate existing policies, conduct research, and develop recommendations to influence legislative and organizational decisions. Their work often focuses on health equity, access to care, workforce development, and patient safety.
By combining nursing expertise with policy analysis, these leaders advocate for meaningful reforms, ensuring that nursing and patient voices are represented in critical policy conversations.
7. Clinical Nurse Educator
Clinical Nurse Educators design and implement professional development programs for nurses in healthcare settings. With a doctorate, they bring advanced knowledge of adult learning theories, curriculum design, and evidence-based practice to create impactful education strategies. They evaluate learning outcomes, foster critical thinking, and bridge the gap between academic preparation and clinical practice.
Doctorally-prepared nurse educators often contribute to research, publish scholarly work, and drive innovation in nursing education to strengthen workforce preparedness and patient care outcomes.
You can pursue an advanced practice specialty while earning a doctorate
RNs with either a BSN or MSN can work toward a doctorate while simultaneously earning the education needed to pursue a new advanced practice clinical specialty.
Our BSN to DNP and MSN to DNP programs offer specializations in public health nursing, nursing leadership and administration, and several types of nurse practitioners.
For example, a practicing FNP may enroll in our MSN to DNP-PMHNP program to add a PMHNP specialization as well as earn a DNP potentially required for executive and leadership positions in their new field.
This represents a faster pathway to earning the terminal degree in nursing compared to enrolling in an MSN or post master鈥檚 certificate program and returning to complete a doctoral program in the future.
Improve your earning potential with a doctorate
By furthering your education to the doctorate level, you can also raise the ceiling on your salary potential.
According to the , registered nurses whose highest education was a DNP reported a median salary of about $115,000, 8% higher than the $106,000 median for those who had earned as much as a master鈥檚 degree.
Medscape鈥檚 2024 APRN Compensation Report indicates nurse practitioners with a doctorate make about 3% more than those with a master鈥檚 degree.1
Earn a doctoral degree and transform how nursing is done
Our nursing school exists to help you unlock your full potential and accomplish great things in nursing.
Take the next big step in your nursing career and discover what鈥檚 possible.
Learn more about 小黄书鈥檚 doctorate in nursing programs
1. McKenna, J. (2024, November 14). Ramping Up Take-Home Pay: Medscape APRN Compensation Report 2024. Medscape.