Why Get a Doctorate in Nursing?

Three nurses talking to eachother
Nursing roles, such as nurse leaders and educators, that require professionals with advanced degrees are in demand. But is earning a PhD in Nursing or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) the right move for you? Explore some of the top reasons to pursue a nursing doctoral degree.

If you’re thinking about taking your nursing career to the next level, a PhD in Nursing or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) may be the next step for you. Here are some facts to help you figure out if you should enroll in a nursing PhD or DNP program.

The need for nurses educated at the doctoral level is increasing.

According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), as of 2022, only 2.7% of American nurses held a doctoral degree in their field.2 However, the evolving healthcare landscape requires more highly educated professionals.

“The changing demands of this nation’s complex healthcare environment require the highest level of scientific knowledge and practice expertise to assure quality patient outcomes,” reports the AACN.3

What does that mean for you? It means that armed with a nursing PhD or Doctor of Nursing Practice, you can strengthen your skills, build your expertise, and make a bigger impact on healthcare.  

There’s a shortage of doctoral-level nurses who are trained to teach the next generation of nurses.

If teaching is your calling, a nursing PhD or Doctor of Nursing Practice can prepare you to meet the growing demand for nursing instructors. According to the  AACN, American nursing schools turned away more than 80,000 qualified applicants from baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs in 2024, mainly due to faculty shortages.4

In October 2025, the AACN reported a total of 1,588 full-time  faculty vacancies in a survey of 863 nursing schools with baccalaureate and/or graduate programs nationwide. More than 80% of those vacancies were positions requiring or preferring applicants to hold a doctoral degree.4

And with one-third of the nursing faculty workforce expected to have retired by 2025, the demand for nurses with doctoral degrees becomes even more urgent.4

The need to improve the quality of patient care is a top priority.

Whether you’re interested in a nursing PhD or DNP program, both doctoral degrees will enable you to improve patient care. 

Research findings reported by AACN continue to show that a highly educated nursing workforce leads to improved patient outcomes, including but not limited to lower mortality rates, shorter lengths of stay, and lower readmission rates.5 A practice-based Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program can provide you with the knowledge and leadership skills to lead nursing teams to provide optimum patient care.

On the other hand, a PhD in Nursing program will enable you to conduct original research that could help shape the future of healthcare policy. A nursing PhD can also help you develop the skills to collaborate with interdisciplinary healthcare teams to promote positive change in patients’ lives, throughout local communities, and around the globe. 

Take your nursing career to the next level.

Both PhD in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs are good choices if you want to gain the skills to pursue roles that can help transform the field of nursing. Your program choice depends on your goals. 

With a nursing PhD, you’ll be able to seek roles in areas such as nursing research, policy, or education. Graduating from a DNP program opens up a variety of career options in areas including administration, informatics, policy, management, safety, education, and more. 

With a PhD in Nursing or Doctor of Nursing Practice, you’ll be prepared to elevate your impact and help shape the future of the nation’s most trusted profession.6

Interested in exploring a nursing PhD or DNP program? Walden University offers an online PhD in Nursing and a CCNE-accredited Doctor of Nursing Practice program. Make a difference in your career, your life, and the lives of others.

1Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics | Medical and Health Services Manager | Nurse Educator
2Source: www.aacnnursing.org/news-data/fact-sheets/nursing-workforce-fact-sheet
3Source: www.aacnnursing.org/news-data/fact-sheets/dnp-fact-sheet
4Source: www.aacnnursing.org/News-Information/Fact-Sheets/Nursing-Faculty-Shortage
5Source: www.aacnnursing.org/news-data/fact-sheets/impact-of-education-on-nursing-practice 
6Source: www.nursingworld.org/news/news-releases/2025/nurses-ranked-most-trusted-professionals-for-24th-consecutive-year/

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing (BSN), master’s degree program in nursing (MSN), post-graduate APRN certificate program, and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at Walden University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.ccneaccreditation.org).

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