Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Dr. Angie McInnis, DNP Director
Objectives
The DNP prepares nurse leaders as healthcare change agents to:
- Synthesize scientific knowledge from nursing and related disciplines to develop innovative, evidence-based practice approaches that improve health outcomes and advance the field of nursing.
- Critically appraise informatics and healthcare technologies to enhance evidence-based strategies that optimize outcomes across the healthcare continuum.
- Design person-centered initiatives that integrate scientific, theoretical, ethical, and cultural principles to promote compassionate, evidence-based care for individuals, families, and populations.
- Create inter-professional and community-based collaborations to improve population health and transform healthcare.
- Evaluate quality and safety initiatives to optimize outcomes across the healthcare continuum, from individuals to systems, using evidence-based practice principles.
- Design systems-level initiatives that integrate leadership, professionalism, and policy to advance care delivery and address the evolving healthcare needs of diverse populations across the lifespan.
- Develop a professional practice that exemplifies excellence in individual roles, fostering leadership, personal growth, and scholarship within organizations and the nursing community.
Admission Requirements
- Submit a one-page personal statement.
- A master's degree from a college or university approved by a recognized regional accrediting body. Applicants must have degrees from institutions accredited by agencies recognized by the department of education. Accreditation must be verifiable through the Department of Education (DOE) database of recognized DOE accrediting agencies.
- Show proof of current unencumbered licensure as a Registered Nurse in the state(s) where clinical practicum will occur.
- Applicants to doctoral degree programs are strongly recommended to submit a CV or a resume to verify relevant work history program.
Degree Requirements
This degree program is delivered online. Students may be required to be present for other activities throughout their program of study (e.g., clinical, on-campus intensives, DNP Project presentation).
- Minimum Credit Hours (39 hrs.)
- Required Courses - 39 hrs.
- Special degree requirements (for details on university doctoral requirements, see the general graduate section of this catalog).
- A minimum grade of “B” is necessary in all required courses for the DNP degree. Two course failures (i.e., grade < B) will result in dismissal from the program.
- Nursing courses within the DNP curriculum may be repeated only once. A course withdrawal is counted as one course attempt. Exceptions may be made for extenuating circumstances.
- A DNP Project related to implementation of evidence-based practice and contributing to nursing practice IS required.
- The DNP Scholarly Project, embedded throughout the curriculum, is the culmination of all coursework. Students are not deemed complete in degree requirements until all requirements of the DNP Scholarly Project have been satisfactorily completed.
- Students have a maximum of six years to complete the program. Students unable to complete the program within the designated time limits must file for an extension.
- Transfer work: Students may transfer up to nine hours of coursework with the approval of their advisor and the DNP Program Director. Students will be responsible for providing necessary documentation of course equivalency.
Below is a typical outline of program progression for a part-time student.
Year 1
Semester 1
| NURS 7301 | Introduction to DNP Role and Culture | |
| NURS 7302 | Foundations of Evidence-based Practice | |
Semester 2
Semester 3
Year 2
Semester 1
| NURS 7371 | Organizational and Systems Leadership | |
| NURS 7358 | Population Health for DNP Leaders | |
| NURS 7373 | Financial & Business Management for DNP Leaders | |
Semester 2
| NURS 7331 | Health Policy & Advocacy for DNP Leaders | |
| NURS 7375 | Healthcare Quality & Safety for DNP Leaders | |
Semester 3