In many institutions, advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), including nurse practitioners, clinical nurse spec

ialists, certified nurse midwives and certified nurse anesthetists are prepared in master’s degree programs that often carry a credit load equivalent to doctoral degrees in the other health professions. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), this level of education calls for educating APRNs and nurses seeking top systems and/or organizational roles in doctorate of nurse practice (DNP) programs.