Differences Between DNP vs PhD

Differences Between DNP vs. PhD for Your Nursing Career

Abby McCoy, RN, BSN

Updated

Reviewed by NursingEducation Staff

For ambitious nurses who want to take on more responsibility and propel their career forward, a doctoral degree may seem like the perfect solution. But is it better to get a DNP or PhD in nursing? At first glance, they can look very similar, and you may be tempted to choose by closing your eyes and pointing. But, in fact, several important details set these two degrees apart. In this article, we’ll lay out what each degree involves, then get into the differences so you can make the most informed decision for your future.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

A Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, or a DNP, is a terminal doctoral degree. This means once you earn a DNP, you have reached the top of the educational ladder: no higher nursing degree exists. A DNP focuses on clinical practice and qualifies nurses for leadership roles in hospitals and other medical facilities and employers.

Many nurse practitioners follow this path to further their autonomy and ability to provide excellent patient care. Nurses who choose a DNP can continue to work in patient-facing positions or they may focus on administration, honing policies and patient care systems.

Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD)

The Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing, or PhD, shares the top rung of the educational ladder and is also a terminal doctoral degree. A PhD in nursing focuses on education and research, and less on direct patient care. If you graduate with a PhD, you will be more likely to work for an educational institution or a research team than in a hospital.

PhD nurses study nursing theory, which makes them invaluable teachers to our future nurses. Nurse educators lecture to classes, develop lesson plans and exams, and counsel their students. Nurse researchers may spend their days in an office or research lab, organizing studies, and managing publications.

DNP vs. PhD Education

Although both are doctoral degrees, a DNP and a PhD hold different responsibilities and expectations. A DNP degree program can take anywhere from two to four years to complete. Since they focus on the bedside, many nurses work as they study, and so take longer to complete the program part-time. DNP degrees often require clinical hours and a scholarly project in which DNP candidates can prove their ingenuity in quality improvement in healthcare.

Nursing PhD degrees take longer to complete: closer to four to six years. Focused away from patient care, this degree rarely requires clinical hours. Instead, as a PhD candidate, you will learn how to coordinate nursing research projects, improve current nursing theory, develop university-level lesson plans, and present material in front of an audience. Students must also defend a dissertation to graduate.

DNP vs. PhD Careers

Once you graduate with a doctoral degree, your career path will vary depending on which degree you chose. DNPs stay close to patient care and often work in:

However, some DNPs take a role further from the bedside with pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, or medical suppliers. As a DNP, your day will look different depending on your employer, but duties can include prescribing medications, examining patients, analyzing test results, developing new facility policies, and brainstorming methods to provide health education to your community.

PhDs most often find their careers in universities, whether they teach or conduct research for that institution. However, some also find work in:

The day-to-day for a PhD also depends heavily on your place of work. Professors may spend their time lecturing and grading exams and papers. Many professors also conduct research part-time. In full-time research, PhD nurses use their considerable skills and knowledge to design research studies, apply for grant funding, and sift through collected data.

DNP vs. PhD Specialization

Doctorate-level nurses often like to specialize in one particular aspect of nursing. These specializations can differ between schools and also between type of degree. DNP programs may offer specialties that can be used in a medical facility setting, like:

A PhD may also specialize in nursing education, but differ from a DNP in these specialty opportunities:

DNP vs. PhD Salary

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not offer salary data for DNPs or PhD nurses. Many put them closest to the “Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners” category, which reports a median annual salary of $125,900 ($60.53 an hour). According to the BLS, the employment growth outlook for this field rests at 38%–much higher than average.

Market estimates for each degree’s salary vary:

Low average National average High average
DNP annual salary $23,000 $97,118 $199,000
PhD annual salary $38,000 $91,797 $131,000

Source: Ziprecruiter.com

Salary also varies by location and job title. According to the BLS, nurses of all degree levels and specialties earn the most on the coasts and the least in the Midwest and southeastern states. Nursing professors earn below the averages above at $78,221 a year, while a nursing executive can earn as much as $185,500 annually.

How to Choose Between a DNP and a PhD

If you aren’t sure which path you should take, you can weigh all the above information to help make your choice. Consider how you’d like to spend your days, how much you want to earn, and how high your ambition wants to take you.

Many hospitals and medical facilities are happy to provide shadowing opportunities for their nurses, and walking in a DNP or PhD’s shoes for the day may help solidify your choice. Whichever way you go, you’ll have plenty of opportunities for years to come.

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