Nursing Practice, D.N.P.
Objectives
The Doctor of Nursing Practice D.N.P. is a practice degree designed to prepare nurses as clinical practitioners/scholars to assume advanced practice clinical and leadership roles. The D.N.P. program has two entry points, depending upon prior educational experience. The curricular plan is designed for the student who has a B.S.N. or a master’s degree in nursing. The curriculum consists of course work equivalent to that of a master’s degree in nursing plus additional course work (beyond the master’s degree requirements) that extends the leadership skills and provides preparation for a variety of leadership roles in the health care arena.
Doctor of Nursing Practice graduates may be eligible to apply to take national certification examinations in at least one area of advanced practice or leadership areas based on major concentration.
Learning Outcomes
- Identify direct and indirect clinical problems in complex health settings.
- Differentiate theoretical knowledge as it applies to direct or indirect clinical care.
- Translate evidence to address population health problems.
- Execute evidence-based interventions to improve health care outcomes.
- Integrate data bases and information literacy in designing interventions for advanced practice.
Entry Options
The DNP program offers two entry points for students:
B.S.N. entry-a bachelor of science in nursing degree from a program that is nationally accredited;
M.S.N. entry- a bachelor of science in nursing degree and a master’s in nursing degree from nationally accredited programs.
Requirements for Earning the D.N.P. Degree Include
- Doctoral residency of at least 18 graduate credit hours for three consecutive major semesters. Enrollment in a summer term is not required to maintain continuity, but credits earned during summer terms (including May session) will count toward the 18 hours required for Residency. The residency requirement may be met only after admission to the D.N.P. program;
- Completion of an approved program of study;
- Comprehensive assessment through defense of project proposal;
- Completion of a research utilization / evidence-based practice project and oral defense.
Course Requirements
All DNP students will take the following courses and one of the following concentration areas (Total DNP Core 27 credits hours):
All Students Will Take
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 737 | Foundations for DNP Development | 3 |
| NURS 817 | Application of Statistics for Evidence Based Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NURS 779 | Health Policy 1 | 3 |
| NURS 808 | Advanced Nursing in Population Health | 3 |
| NURS 780 | Organizational Theories and Systems in Healthcare | 3 |
| NURS 781 | Applied Technology in Health Care | 3 |
| NURS 819 | Evidence and Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NURS 897 | DNP Project Preparation and Residency 1 | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours | 27 | |
| 1 | Indicates practicum course. |
Required Concentration Courses for Post-Master's Entry; Nurse Executive Leadership Concentration
9 to 12 specialty credit hours (total program 36 to 39 credits hours):
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 806 | Nurse Executive Leadership I 1 | 3 |
| NURS 807 | Nurse Executive Leadership II 1 | 3 |
| NURS 809 | Advanced Healthcare Financing * | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 9 | |
| 1 | Indicates practicum course |
| * | MSN level finance course or NURS 738 is a prerequisite for NURS 809. |
Required Concentration Courses for Post-Master's Entry; No Concentration (Active APRN Required)
6 specialty credit hours (total program 33 credits hours):
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 783 | Clinical Project Immersion & Proposal Development 1 | 3 |
| NURS 805 | Advanced Nursing Leadership | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 6 | |
| 1 | Indicates practicum course. |
Required Concentration Courses for Post-BSN Entry; Nurse Executive Leadership
33 specialty credit hours (total program 60 credit hours):
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 717 | Application of Basic Statistics for Nursing Practice & Service Management | 3 |
| NURS 720 | Clinical Application of Population Analysis | 3 |
| NURS 790 | Research Methods for Nursing | 3 |
| NURS 734 | Conceptual Basis of Health Systems | 3 |
| NURS 738 | Financing of Health Care | 3 |
| NURS 740 | Facilitative Processes in Nursing Administration | 3 |
| NURS 741 | Coordinating Processes in Nursing Administration 1 | 3 |
| NURS 742 | Integrative Processes in Nursing Administration 1 | 3 |
| NURS 806 | Nurse Executive Leadership I 1 | 3 |
| NURS 807 | Nurse Executive Leadership II 1 | 3 |
| NURS 809 | Advanced Healthcare Financing | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 33 | |
| 1 | Indicates practicum course. |
Required Concentration Courses for Post-BSN Entry; Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration
47 specialty credit hours (total program 74 credit hours):
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 717 | Application of Basic Statistics for Nursing Practice & Service Management | 3 |
| NURS 720 | Clinical Application of Population Analysis | 3 |
| NURS 790 | Research Methods for Nursing | 3 |
| NURS 707 | Advanced Pathophysiology for Nurses | 3 |
| NURS 702 | Pharmacologic Mgmt in Pediatric, Adult, & Gerontological Patients Across Hlthcare Delivery Continuum | 3 |
| NURS 704 | Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning 1 | 3 |
| NURS 718 | Diagnostic Interpretation and Therapeutic Modalities | 3 |
| NURS 756 | Advanced Primary Care of Children for the FNP | 2 |
| NURS 757 | Advanced Primary Care of Women for the FNP 1 | 2 |
| NURS 758 | Acute Problems in Primary Care for the FNP 2 | 6 |
| NURS 759 | Management of Common Chronic Health Problems for the FNP 1,2 | 6 |
| NURS 760 | Family Nurse Practitioner Legal, Ethical, and Role Transition | 2 |
| NURS 760A | Family Nurse Practitioner Role Practicum 2 | 2 |
| NURS 783 | Clinical Project Immersion & Proposal Development 2 | 3 |
| NURS 805 | Advanced Nursing Leadership | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 47 | |
| 1 | Indicates on campus immersion course. |
| 2 | Indicates practicum course. |
Required Concentration Courses for Post-BSN Entry; Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Concentration
46 specialty credit hours (total program 73 credit hours):
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 717 | Application of Basic Statistics for Nursing Practice & Service Management | 3 |
| NURS 720 | Clinical Application of Population Analysis | 3 |
| NURS 790 | Research Methods for Nursing | 3 |
| NURS 707 | Advanced Pathophysiology for Nurses | 3 |
| NURS 702 | Pharmacologic Mgmt in Pediatric, Adult, & Gerontological Patients Across Hlthcare Delivery Continuum | 3 |
| NURS 704 | Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning 1 | 3 |
| NURS 718 | Diagnostic Interpretation and Therapeutic Modalities | 3 |
| NURS 773 | Principles of Acute Care Adult and Geronotological Health Problems I 2 | 6 |
| NURS 774 | Principals of Acute Care Adult and Gerontological Complex Health Problems II 1,2 | 6 |
| NURS 778 | Advanced Practice Role: Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP (AGACNP) | 2 |
| NURS 778A | Practicum of Advanced Practice Role: Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP (AGACNP) 2 | 2 |
| NURS 783 | Clinical Project Immersion & Proposal Development 2 | 3 |
| NURS 805 | Advanced Nursing Leadership | 3 |
| NURS 772 | Introduction of Acute Care Adult and Geronotological Health Problems | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 46 | |
| 1 | Indicates on campus immersion course. |
| 2 | Indicates practicum course. |
Required Concentration Courses for Post-BSN Entry; Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
47 specialty credit hours (Total 74 Program Credit Hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 717 | Application of Basic Statistics for Nursing Practice & Service Management | 3 |
| NURS 720 | Clinical Application of Population Analysis | 3 |
| NURS 790 | Research Methods for Nursing | 3 |
| NURS 707 | Advanced Pathophysiology for Nurses | 3 |
| NURS 702 | Pharmacologic Mgmt in Pediatric, Adult, & Gerontological Patients Across Hlthcare Delivery Continuum | 3 |
| NURS 704 | Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning 1 | 3 |
| NURS 718 | Diagnostic Interpretation and Therapeutic Modalities | 3 |
| NURS 761 | Neuroscientific Basis for Pharmacological & Nonpharmacological Treatments for Psychiatric Conditions | 4 |
| NURS 763 | Advanced Psychiatric Nurse Practicum I: Management of Psychiatric/Mental Health Conditions 2 | 6 |
| NURS 764 | Advanced Psychiatric Nurse Practicum II: Management of Complex Psychiatric/Mental Health Conditions 2 | 6 |
| NURS 768 | Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner: Legal, Ethical, and Role Transition | 2 |
| NURS 768A | Advanced Psychiatric Nurse Practicum III: Role Development 2 | 2 |
| NURS 783 | Clinical Project Immersion & Proposal Development 2 | 3 |
| NURS 805 | Advanced Nursing Leadership | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 47 | |
| 1 | Indicates on campus immersion course. |
| 2 | Indicates practicum course. |