Executive Leadership, DNP
Our online post-master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice in Executive Leadership (DNP-EL) program develops nurses for various senior leadership roles aimed at transforming healthcare delivery and improving outcomes at the systems level.
Executive leadership in an everchanging and complex healthcare industry requires the knowledge and skills to revolutionize care delivery models and improve patient and organizational outcomes. Focused on systems leadership and innovative change, the DNP-EL prepares graduates for a variety of leadership roles including but not limited to Chief Nursing Officers, Clinical and Project Directors, Healthcare Consultants, and Practice Leaders.
Offered online with only one on-campus intensive, the DNP-EL can be completed while working full-time from any location. An unparalleled advantage, this interdisciplinary curriculum incorporates content from Wharton Executive Education, Wharton Online, and the Perelman School of Medicine Health Care Innovation Graduate Program. Situated within a resource-intensive university, students avail of online library services, and take courses taught by faculty with vast healthcare leadership experience. In-person intensives provide students with networking opportunities, individualized faculty mentorship and access to executives from our world-class academic health system.
The DNP-EL includes coursework in strategic planning, innovation and design thinking, organizational change, and policy advocacy. A mutual benefit for students and their employers, the program culminates with the design of a systems-level evidence-based project implemented within their own organization.
For more information: https://www.nursing.upenn.edu/dnpel/index.php
Curriculum
The DNP-EL is a two-year program consisting of 11 course units.
| Code | Title | Course Units |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 5000 | Introduction to Principles and Methods of Epidemiology | 1 |
| NURS 5400 | Current Issues In Health and Social Policy | 1 |
| NURS 6510 | Healthcare Informatics | 1 |
| NURS 7450 | Data Analytics | 1 |
| NURS 7890 | Principles of Patient Safety & Quality Improvement in Healthcare | 1 |
| NURS 8410 | Transformational Leadership | 1 |
| NURS 8430 | Executive Leadership in Complex Healthcare Systems | 1 |
| NURS 8510 | Translating Evidence into Practice (DNP Project #1) | 1 |
| NURS 8521 | DNP Project II: Project Proposal | 1 |
| NURS 8531 | DNP Project III: Project Implementation | 1 |
| NURS 8421 | Thriving in a Value-Driven Healthcare Economic Environment | 1 |
| Total Course Units | 11 | |
The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2025 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.