DNP: About the Program
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Program Description
The DNP is designed to prepare nursing leaders for the highest level of professional nursing practice beyond the initial preparation in the discipline. Doctoral nursing practice encompasses advanced clinical practice that influences health care outcomes for individuals, families, and populations including the direct care of individual patients, management of care for individuals and populations, administration of nursing and health care organizations, and the development and implementation of health policy. Graduates of DNP programs are prepared for direct care roles (e.g. nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse midwives) and indirect care or systems-focused roles (e.g. administrative, public health, and policy roles) or a blend of these roles. The DNP curriculum consists of three domains of competencies for advanced practice in direct clinical care or systems: a) core practice competencies, b) specialty-specific practice competencies, and c) role competencies. Role competencies for the DNP are addressed in the AACN Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice and the NP Competencies for the Practice Doctorate.
Program Mission
Develop advanced practitioners of nursing into evidenced-based, intra-disciplinary providers who meet the needs of a rapidly expanding healthcare field.
Program Objectives
At completion of the program, graduates will be able to:
- Demonstrate the specialty competencies needed for doctoral practice in nursing.
- Translate science to influence health care policy.
- Implement evidence-based practices to optimize health care outcomes and reduce disparities.
- Practice strategic management skills to improve the effectiveness of nursing interventions and health systems outcomes.
- Develop trans-disciplinary ventures to create innovative health care delivery models.
- Demonstrate fiscal leadership in planning and management for nursing practice.
- Integrate technology with nursing practice skills to improve quality and accessibility of care.
For further information on the DNP degree please visit The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).
Timeline
Enrollment: FALL ONLY (classes begin in late August)
Application deadline: February 1st
Interviews: March
Notification of decision: April
ROUTES OF ENTRY INTO THE DNP
Post-Master's
The post-master's curriculum builds on direct care or systems-focused competencies that were previously acquired through formal coursework leading to a Master of Science degree in Nursing. All courses are taught online.
Post-Master's: Executive Nursing Leadership
The Executive Nursing Leadership concentration is for students with a master's degree and significant management experience who seek preparation as executive-level nurse leaders. The curriculum builds on the nursing-focused administrative courses of the master's to develop a broad context of executive practice for the nurse leader in a variety of settings. All courses are taught online.
Post-Master’s and Post-Master's ENL students are off-campus and all courses are taught online, the College of Nursing has designated a online per-credit hour tuition rate. The online rate for Fall 2012– Spring 2013 is $762 /credit hour of enrollment. There will be no separate fees or tuition differential. This tuition rate means that you will not be eligible for university health insurance or to use the university’s health centers.
Post-Master's with new specialty
Post-masters applicants who would like to acquire a new role (such as an administrator enrolling in the Family Nurse Practitioner option) will need to complete additional courses and practicum in the selected area of role specialization. Courses are generally taught in a blended curriculum, requiring online and classroom sessions. Tuition is credit range tuition.
The post-baccalaureate curriculum gives the student with a bachelor’s degree in nursing the option of bypassing the master’s degree and moving directly through the program to obtain the DNP degree and an advanced practice specialty. This option requires all of the current advanced practice core, specialty concentration, and DNP courses.
The BSN to DNP course work is available to students in all 5 regional sites. Courses are generally taught in a blended curriculum, requiring online and classroom sessions.
Specialties
DNP transition is a route of entry for students with an RN License and a bachelor's degree in a field other than nursing. DNP Transition students are required to take an additional 1 to 4 courses. Their ADN courses are evaluated upon admission to determine which transitional courses are required. These transitional courses are completed during the first Fall/Spring semesters of enrollment at the
College of Nursing.
DNP: Next Steps
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