Finally found an 18-month doctorate without dissertation that fits my crazy schedule!

Gabriella

Gabriella

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Joined
Feb 18, 2026
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Hey everyone! I'm a nurse practitioner with 12 years of clinical experience, and I've been wanting to get my DNP for what feels like forever. But here's the thing—I work full-time, I have two kids, and the thought of spending 4-5 years on a doctorate plus writing a massive dissertation has kept me stuck in "someday" mode for way too long.

Then a colleague mentioned something that changed everything: there are actually legitimate 18-month doctorate without dissertation programs out there! I honestly didn't believe her at first. I thought all doctorates required years of research and a dissertation the size of a novel.

Well, I did my homework (because that's what we do, right? 😉), and I found some amazing options. I'm currently enrolled in Frontier Nursing University's online DNP program—it's 30 credit hours, can be completed in 18 months, and instead of a dissertation, we do a "rapid cycle quality improvement project" at our clinical site . It's practical, it's relevant to my actual job, and I don't have to become a full-time student to make it happen!

Here's what I've learned about these programs that I wish someone had told me years ago:
  1. They're called "professional doctorates" 🎯—degrees like DNP, EdD, DBA, DHA, DPT, and PsyD often offer alternatives to the traditional PhD dissertation . They focus on applying knowledge to real-world problems rather than producing theoretical research.
  2. Capstone projects are the secret sauce 🔍—instead of a 200-page dissertation, you do an applied project that actually matters in your workplace. For me, it's a quality improvement initiative at my clinic. For a DBA student, it might be a strategic business plan . You're still doing doctoral-level work, but it's practical!
  3. Your experience counts 💪—many of these programs accept transfer credits from your master's degree and value your professional experience. That's how they condense everything into 18 months .
  4. Accreditation matters most ✅—whether it's a dissertation or a capstone, what employers care about is that your degree comes from a regionally accredited institution. The diploma doesn't say "no dissertation" !
My question for the community: Has anyone else pursued an accelerated professional doctorate? What was your experience with the capstone project versus a traditional dissertation? I'd love to hear your stories! Also, if you're in healthcare, what DNP programs have you found that respect your time and experience? Let's share recommendations! 🏥💙
 
I'm an RN in a similar boat—two kids, night shifts, and a dream of getting my DNP that always felt impossible. The dissertation has been my biggest mental block. I literally had nightmares about defending a 200-page paper in front of a panel of judges while my toddler runs around the room. 😂

I had NO idea "professional doctorates" were a thing. I thought PhD was the only path. The fact that Frontier Nursing University has a 30-credit, 18-month option is life-changing information. I'm looking at their website right now.

Can I ask you a practical question? When you applied, did they care more about your clinical experience or your undergrad GPA? My grades from my BSN are... let's say "respectable but not stellar" because I was working full-time. 😅 Also, how flexible are the deadlines week-to-week? Some weeks I'm drowning in shifts.
 
Frontier Nursing University (where Gabriella is enrolled) offers their DNP completely online with 30 credit hours and an 18-month timeline . Tuition is around $705 per credit hour. They're accredited by ACEN .

Other accelerated options:
  • Northern Kentucky University: 35 credits, 20 months, CCNE accredited, ~$23k total
  • Midwestern University: 56 quarter credits, 18 months, CCNE accredited, ~$25k total
  • Goshen College/EMU Consortium: 33 credits, 22 months (accelerated option), CCNE accredited
  • University of North Florida: Post-MSN DNP, fully online accelerated format, limited to 25 students per cohort
The key with all these programs is that they're designed for working professionals and recognize your prior experience. Most require you to have an MSN and current clinical practice .

For the capstone: at Rush University, projects must impact at least one of the Institute of Medicine's six aims (safety, effectiveness, patient-centeredness, timeliness, efficiency, equity) . That's a great framework to keep in mind when planning yours!
 
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