9 Best BSN to DNP Programs in Tennessee – 2025
Written By: Editorial Staff @ NursingProcess.org
Are you an RN who’s known right from the start that you wanted to join the highest rank of Tennessee’s nursing leaders? BSN to DNP programs in Tennessee were designed to help you achieve your objectives in the quickest way possible. DNP-prepared RNs in the Volunteer State are poised to take nursing leadership roles in medical centers, academia, and government. They are remunerated handsomely, too: On average, a Tennessee RN with a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree makes $106,430 a year. Learn more from these reviews of the 9 best BSN to DNP programs in Tennessee for 2025.
WHAT ARE THE BEST BSN TO DNP PROGRAMS IN TENNESSEE (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2025?
(Based on our
ranking methodology, the following are the 9 Best BSN to DNP Programs in Tennessee (Online & Campus).)
Concentrations: AGACNP and
ENP
Vanderbilt’s doctorally prepared nurses have played a key role in the state’s health delivery system. Recognized for producing scholars and evidence-based nurse leaders, its DNP program has been ranked among the nation’s best by the U.S.News & World Report. By enrolling in its BSN to DNP program you can seamlessly earn two degrees of an MSN and DNP in either the Emergency NP or Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP specialization.
To qualify for this pathway you must have completed your baccalaureate in nursing with a minimum GPA of 3.0 along with an active RN license in the state you plan to complete your clinical practicum in. Graduation requires completing around 77 credits, and 1000 hours of clinical practice. Additionally, the AGACNP track offers two optional focus areas; Hospitalist and Intensivist. This additional training includes completing an elective course and a relevant clinical experience.
Concentrations: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner,
Family Nurse Practitioner,
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner,
Nurse Anesthesia,
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner,
Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner,
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner,
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care/Family Nurse Practitioner, and
Psychiatric Mental Health/Family Nurse Practitioner
If you are looking at enrolling in a Tennessee BSN to DNP program that offers a wide range of specialization options, then you must look no further than the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Here, you can choose from a range of NP specialties, and the Nurse Anesthesia track. Also, you can achieve dual certification by opting for any of the two dual specialization tracks offered by the college. While the Anesthesia track is primarily offered on-campus, with any of the NP tracks you take the coursework mainly through the distance format.
To qualify for this program, you must have completed your BSN and hold an unencumbered RN license. If you enroll in the CRNA track you must complete 100 credits, whereas for the NP tracks, credits range from 67 to 75. Being a rigorous curriculum, it is recommended you avoid full-time employment during this program.
Concentrations: Family Nurse Practitioner,
Nurse Executive Leadership,
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner,
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (Primary and Dual Track Primary/Acute), and
BSN-DNP Nurse Anesthesia
Earning a degree from one of the best BSN to DNP programs in Tennessee will not only make it seemingly easy to find promising placements but the acclaimed faculty that delivers the program provides for a rather enriching learning experience. The University of Tennessee is one such place where you can achieve clinical excellence under the guidance of its expert faculty. As a DNP graduate, you will be trained to influence healthcare by applying evidence-based knowledge and implementing health policy.
The BSN to DNP program is offered in three NP specialties, Nurse Anesthesia, and in the Nurse Executive Leadership track. Regardless of the track, to qualify for this program you must have a BSN with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and an active RN license. The blended format of the coursework allows you to enjoy the convenience of taking some courses online while attending a few face-to-face classes where you can have meaningful interaction with faculty and peers. While the CRNA track requires completing 117 credits, the leadership coursework comprises 60 credits. Whereas if you opt for any of the NP specialties you must complete credits ranging from 67 to 69.
Concentrations: Family Nurse Practitioner
As a BSN-prepared nurse, do you find your calling in advanced primary care? If so, you must consider enrolling in the BSN to DNP program offered by Belmont University that prepares you to provide the highest level of primary care to individuals and families across the lifespan. Offered with both, part-time and full-time enrollments, most students complete the program within three years by attending full-time classes. Here, to ensure student success, the college combines online courses with the personal touch of on-campus classes. Upon completion of this practice-focused BSN to DNP program in Tennessee, you become eligible to take the FNP certification exam.
The 75-credit curriculum educates you in the foundation of advanced practice nursing, population health, advanced pathophysiology, healthcare finance & policy, biostatics, and leadership & management of healthcare organizations. A BSN with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a current RN license in your state of practice is required to be eligible for this program.
Concentrations: Executive Leadership, Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Offering one of the sought-after BSN to DNP programs in TN, East Tennessee State University’s doctoral education is committed to improving rural healthcare in the state. The college has produced several nurse leaders and scholars who have played a significant role in health promotion and disease prevention. Depending on your area of interest, you can pursue the doctorate in conjunction with specialization options in Leadership. Family NP, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care, and Psychiatric Mental Health. What's more, the college’s impressive pass rates on the certification exam make it rather assuring of receiving an education that spells success post-graduation.
Eligibility for admission requires you to have completed your baccalaureate education with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and hold an unencumbered RN license in the U.S. Offered in the blended format, you can complete this program within three to four years of study. Graduation requires completing 77 to 82 credits and 100 hours of clinical practice, with the exact number depending on the track you enter.
Concentrations: Nurse Anesthesia,
Nurse Practitioner, and
Executive Leadership
Are you searching for online BSN to DNP programs in Tennessee that prepare you to play leadership roles in healthcare or education? If so, Union University can serve you well as it offers a 100% online Executive Leadership track in conjunction with its doctoral degree. Additionally, you can also choose from the Nurse Anesthesia or Nurse Practitioner tracks, however, these two tracks are not offered in the distance format. Whatever your preference or career goals may be, here in a Christ-centric environment you will receive population-focused education that is driven by excellence.
This BSN to DNP program seamlessly offers you the doctorate, provided you have completed baccalaureate education and carry an unencumbered RN license. While the Leadership track can be pursued completely online, the Anesthesia track requires you to attend classes on the Jackson campus, whereas with the NP program you will take courses through the hybrid model. The NP tracks are offered in two specialties of family health and psychiatric mental health. Regardless of the track you enter, graduation requires completing 68 to 99 credits and around 1000 hours of clinical practice.
Concentrations: Acute Care—Adult/Gerontology Emphasis, Acute Care + Family NP Emphases, Lifestyle Medicine Emphasis, MBA Healthcare Administration Emphasis, Nurse Educator Emphasis, Primary Care—Adult/Gerontology NP Emphasis, Primary Care—Family NP Emphasis, and Primary Care—Psychiatric Mental Health NP Emphasis
There are not many BSN to DNP programs in Tennessee that offer you the choice of a secondary area of emphasis or electives to match individual career goals. Well, with Southern Adventist University’s DNP program, you can combine the primary specialty with a second emphasis or electives. The program not only prepares you for advanced roles in nursing practice but also trains you to influence healthcare administration and education, depending on the choice of the track you make.
To qualify for this BSN to DNP pathway, you must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing with a GPA of 3.0 and a current RN license. As such, you do not require any work experience before applying, however before you start with the practicum courses you must have completed 4000 hours of work experience as a nurse. Upon enrollment, you can choose from the eight specialty tracks and combine it with a 13 to 17 credit worth of coursework in either a secondary emphasis or elective courses of your choice to finish the total graduation requirement of 77. Precisely, you must complete the graduate core, practice core, DNP core, scholarly project core, specialty-specific courses, and second emphasis or elective courses.
Concentrations: Nursing Administration Systems (NAS)
Do you see yourself managing the business administration of a healthcare organization? If the answer is yes, you may want to learn about the doctorate offered by University of Tennessee. Here, through this BSN to DNP program in TN, you will be trained in Nursing Administration Systems. The program specializes in nursing administration and also offers an MBA option with additional coursework. With a full-time schedule, you can complete this program within seven semesters. The curriculum also entails completing a translational project where you apply the evidence-based DNP knowledge to address a healthcare problem.
The 57-credit BSN to DNP curriculum prepares you for leadership roles by imparting knowledge in evidence-based practice, biostatistics, population health, healthcare informatics, healthcare policy, advanced resource management, and the essentials of healthcare administration. Should you plan to further your education with an MBA, you must first complete the DNP coursework and then apply to the business school, towards which 15 credits from this BSN to DNP program can be transferred.
Concentrations: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Baptist Health Sciences University’s BSN to DNP program is offered in a faith-based environment where your career goals are nurtured in small-sized classes. With an emphasis on the advanced care of adults and the elderly, upon completing your doctoral degree you can find promising career opportunities such as that of a hospitalist, intensivist, or in the emergency department of a healthcare facility. Offered in the hybrid format, at Baptist you can complete this program within three years of full-time study.
The BSN to DNP program is designed for BSN graduates with a current RN license. You can complete your degree either in conjunction with the adult-gerontology acute care or primary care track. Graduation requires completing 63 credits and 1170 hours of clinical practice, after which, depending on your chosen track you will be able to provide care for patients with critical conditions or for patients where continuous primary care is required.
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