Shape the Future of Nursing
The field of nursing needs experienced nurse educators to lead the training and preparation of new and aspiring nurses. Not only are nurse educators essential to helping nursing students understand how to provide consistent and effective patient care, but they are key in combatting nursing shortages. With a doctorate of nursing education, you can leverage your expertise to become a decision maker within the field, directing the future of both nurses and how they should be trained.
Skills and Knowledge Gained
Earning a doctorate can help prepare professionals for leadership and instructional roles within the field. While there are multiple degrees at the doctoral level that nurses could pursue, a doctorate of education (Ed.D.) is geared toward those who wish to engage with the practical applications of delivering effective instruction. That makes an Ed.D. in Nursing Education ideal for those who want to teach nurses. Here’s are the skills and knowledge that this degree covers:
- Creation and evaluation of nursing curriculum
- Leveraging technology to enhance instruction
- Evidence-based decision making
- Effective program design
- Advocacy of policies to advance the field
- Leadership skills
Nursing Career Alignment
A doctoral degree in the field of nursing, especially an Ed.D., demonstrates that you are ready for hands-on leadership, implementing research-backed strategies and defining effective nursing instruction. Qualified nurse educators are currently in high demand. In a 2025 report, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) documented over 1,500 full-time faculty vacancies across a survey of 863 nursing schools.1
Doctoral Degree in Nursing Admission
Along with ACE’s general admission requirements, prospective doctoral students must have a minimum of a master’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Our Ed.D. in Nursing Education requires you to also have an active, unencumbered registered nursing license. Find detailed admission requirements for your program of interest on the program’s page.
Doctoral Graduate Success Stories
See how ACE’s affordable online doctoral degrees have helped our students elevate their careers and find success.
*Source: Student Right to Know
Doctoral Degree in Nursing FAQs
What is an Ed.D. in Nursing Education?
An Ed.D. in Nursing Education is a doctoral-level degree in the field of nursing that’s specific to those who wish to lead and teach other nurses. It can help you prepare for hands-on leadership, implementing research-backed strategies and defining effective nursing instruction.
What can you do with a doctorate in nursing education?
A doctorate in nursing education can make you a competitive candidate for nursing faculty positions at colleges or universities. You could pursue professorships, curriculum director, program director or simulation center director positions. You could also work within healthcare systems as a director of clinical education, chief nursing education officer or residency/fellowship program director. There are also opportunities for work in research, policy and consulting.
How long does it take to earn a doctorate in nursing education?
The length of any doctoral degree can vary depending on the higher education institution and how long it takes to finish your dissertation. The dissertation is often what takes the longest and can drag out the length of your program. That’s why we’ve intentionally designed our doctoral programs with a built-in guided dissertation to help many of our doctoral candidates finish in as little as three years.2
Is there a shortage of nurse educators?
Yes. According to AACN, a major driver behind healthcare’s nursing shortage is a shortage of nursing faculty.1 Nursing schools in the United States have had to turn away thousands of interested applicants because of this shortage.
What are the different types of doctoral degrees in nursing education (DNE, DNP, Ph.D., Ed.D.)?
Understanding the specific focuses of each type of doctoral degree in nursing will help you decide the kind that best aligns with where you want your career to go. Here’s a quick breakdown of nursing doctoral degrees:
Doctor of Nursing Education (DNE): This degree focuses on advanced teaching and curriculum design in nursing. It’s the least common type of nursing doctorate and highly specialized to instructional practice.
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP): This degree focuses on advanced nursing practices and systems leadership. While nurses with DNPs can be nurse educators, the degree focuses primarily on the practice of nursing. DNPs often continue to work directly with patients.
Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Education (Ph.D.): This degree focuses on research, scholarship and theory. This doctorate is best suited for those who are driven to pursue original research, lead research initiatives and advance nursing science.
Doctor of Education in Nursing Education (Ed.D.): This degree focuses on educational leadership and instructional systems, preparing you to design nursing programs, manage curriculum and accreditation, and improve educational outcomes. This doctorate is a good fit for those who want to lead academic departments or institutions.
1American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Accessed Feb. 11, 2026.
2This is an estimated time to completion. Actual completion time may vary depending on the number of transfer credits applied, availability of courses, satisfactory pace, multiple course requests, successful course completion, and meeting program milestones as required.