Post-Master’s Healthcare Leadership, Systems, and Policy Doctor of Nursing Practice Program

Yale Healthcare Leadership, Systems, and Policy Doctor of Nursing Program (DNP) is a 3-year program designed for mid-career nurses who wish to become innovative healthcare leaders. Building on previous education and experience students gain practical leadership skills and focus new knowledge in the areas of management, policy and leadership. The hybrid program combines online coursework with regular visits to the Yale campus. 

The part-time schedule is tailored for nurses who have major professional experience and work commitments. Students should expect to spend 12 hours a week on their doctoral studies. 

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible applicants must hold a master’s degree in nursing or a related field (e.g. MPH, MBA, MHA) and a current license to practice as a registered nurse in the United States. (Connecticut licensure is not required.) If the applicant’s BS degree is not in nursing, the master’s degree MUST be in nursing. 

Please note: the Post-Master’s DNP is not available to applicants who reside outside of the United States. 

The application materials include:

• Online NursingCAS application 
• Non-refundable application fee of $80
• Personal Statement
• Resume/CV
• Official transcripts of all your previous academic work
• Three letters of recommendation
• Writing sample​

International Transcripts

International transcripts must be evaluated by credentialing agency World Education Services or SpanTran. This includes a course-by-course evaluation, as well as a certified English translation of all non-English transcripts. International applicants should also review: International Applicants Information.

Scores from either the TOEFL or the IELTS will be required of non-native speakers of English who have not received either a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a U.S. institution of higher learning.

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation submitted electronically through the online application system. They may be from clinical, academic, and/or professional references.

Writing Sample

The writing sample may be an example of academic writing (a thesis or praxis), an opinion piece or editorial, or article or research paper.  Although we are most interested in having a sense of your academic writing, you may also submit professional writing from a newsletter or professional organization.

Papers with Multiple Authors

If you submit a paper with multiple authors, please provide an explanation of your contribution to the writing (i.e., what sections you personally composed).  Likewise, if you submit a writing sample which does not clearly indicate your own authorship (such as an organizational policy statement), provide an explanation of your own contribution to the writing.

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Practice-focused doctoral program

The Healthcare Leadership, Systems, and Policy Doctor of Nursing Program specializes in aggregates/systems and healthcare organizations. Combining Yale on-campus experiences with on-line coursework, it is tailored for nurses who already have  significant professional experience and work commitments. Through collaboration with our faculty, healthcare leaders, and policy advocates, our graduates go on to make an impact in many spheres of healthcare. Fields of study include healthcare system leadership, healthcare policy, population health and  informatics. An intense practice immersion known as a leadership immersion practicum is an essential component of the Yale Healthcare Leadership, Systems, and Policy Doctor of Nursing program and allows work to take place with health care and public policy leaders and experts. Each course builds upon knowledge required for the leadership immersion practicum and a final Yale Healthcare Leadership, Systems, and Policy Doctor of Nursing program project.

What are the differences between the Yale Healthcare Leadership, Systems, and Policy Doctor of Nursing program and PhD?

The Yale Healthcare Leadership, Systems, and Policy Doctor of Nursing program prepares nurse leaders for evidence-based practice in patient care, education, policy, and executive roles. This requires competence in translating research into practice, evaluating evidence, applying research in decision-making, and implementing viable innovations to change practice within and across the spectrum of health and healthcare systems.

PhD programs are designed to prepare nurses for careers as research scientists in areas such as academia and other research-intensive environments. They prepare nurse scholars to conduct research that advances theoretical foundations of nursing and health care. PhD programs provide for the knowledge and skills in theoretical, methodological and analytical approaches for the discovery of knowledge in nursing and healthcare.

Curriculum and Courses

The post-masters DNP program in Healthcare Leadership, Systems and Policy is a 3-year part time hybrid program. All required didactic coursework is completed in the first 2 years. Emphasis is placed on knowledge development consistent with the mission of YSN “better health for all” and contributes to increasing healthy life spans, reducing health disparities, improving the quality of health care, and shaping health policy.  

Healthcare Leadership, Systems, and Policy Program Plan

Students are eligible for financial aid. Students must fill out applications at FAFSA.gov. For further information, please visit the YSN Financial Aid website or contact YSN Financial Aid. 

Please review federal limits to student loans for graduate students. Depending on a student’s current balance in federal student loans, they will find they are eligible for different types of both federal and private loans.  

Our expert faculty shape the world’s view of nursing, integrating evidence-based care into practice to meet our social mandate of better health for all people. They work closely with DNP students, mentoring students to develop innovative projects. DNP faculty are experienced in a range of nurse leadership roles from the clinical practice setting to the c-suite. 

healthcare system affiliate faculty

Michael Loftus, MBA, SVP and CFO, Jupiter Medical Center

Ena Williams, PhD, MBA, RN, CNEP

• As of September 2024, Dr. Dustin Bass ‘23 was promoted as Vice President of Patient Care Services, ECU Health, Greenville, N.C.
• Dr. Marsha Sinanan ’24 was promoted as CNO of Mt. Sinai West in NYC, and Mt. Sinai Morningside.   Dr. Sinanan was recently awarded a Fellowship at the New York Academy of Medicine and will be inducted as a Fellow in the Academy of Nursing in November 2024.
• Dr. Stefanie Generao ’23, former Director of Surgical APP Practice at YNHH, is currently the Chief of Quality Improvement of the Peace Corps health care delivery system.  Dr. Generao leads and directs the overall quality improvement functions of the Volunteer health Care Delivery System in over 60 countries.
• Dr. Ron Yolo ’21 was promoted to Region Chief Nursing Officer, California Dignity Health Hospitals at CommonSpirit Health. Dr. Yolo oversees the delivery and practice of nursing care and operations over 31 Dignity Health hospitals, the largest provider in the state, and he leads a workforce of more than 17,000 nurses.
• Dr. Sylvia Martin ’21 accepted a position as Los Angeles County System Chief Nursing Officer.
• Dr. Aries Limbaga ’17 accepted a position as Chief Deputy Director-Operations Los Angeles County Dept of Health Services, overseeing the core operations of second largest municipal health system in the nation, serving over 750k unique patients, with 23,000 employees and an operating budget of $9 billion.