Advanced Nursing Practice - D.N.P. Download to print

The Advanced Nursing Practice major within the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree prepares Bachelor of Science in Nursing students as advanced practice nurse; Master's prepared advanced practice nurses can complete the DNP in the Advanced Practice Nursing major. The major consists of eight concentrations, Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner; Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse: Nurse Practitioner Adult Gerontology Primary Care; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse: Nurse Practitioner Family; Primary Care Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist; Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner; Psychiatric Mental Health Family Nurse Practitioner; Women's Health Nurse Practitioner.

For national certification in their specialty concentrations, students must complete the required number of supervised clinical practice hours as listed in their respective program plans.

The Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner concentration prepares nurses as advanced practice nurses in the sub-specialty of adult gerontology acute care health. Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for national certification as adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioners, teach acute care nursing or related courses or practice the specialty in various health care agencies. Students must complete 630 hours of supervised clinical practice as a part of this program for certification and a total of 1170 hours of supervised clinical practice for the completion of the degree.

The Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist concentration prepares nurses as clinical nurse specialists in adult/gerontology specialties. Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for national certification in adult/gerontology clinical nurse specialist (CNS), adult critical care CNS, or adult oncology CNS. Students must complete 525 hours of supervised clinical practice as a part of this program for National Certification and a total of 1065 hours of supervised clinical practice for the completion of the degree.

The Advanced Practice Registered Nurse: Nurse Practitioner Adult Gerontology Primary Care concentration prepares nurses for advanced nursing practice in the sub-specialty of gerontology primary care health. Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for national certification in adult gerontology primary care nurse practitioner, teach primary care nursing or related courses or practice the specialty in various health care agencies. Student must complete 630 hours of supervised clinical practice as a part of this program for certification and a total of 1170 hours of supervised clinical practice for the completion of the degree.

The Advanced Practice Registered Nurse: Nurse Practitioner Family concentration  prepares nurses as advanced practice nurses in the sub-specialty of family health. Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for national certification as Advanced Practice Registered Nurse: Nurse Practitioner Family, teach nursing or related courses and practice the specialty in various health care agencies. Students must complete 630 hours of supervised clinical practice as a part of this program for certification and a total of 1170 hours of supervised clinical practice for the completion of the degree.

The Primary Care Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist concentration prepares nurses as advanced practice nurses in the care of infants, children and adolescents. Graduates are eligible to sit for national certification as pediatric clinical nurse specialist. Students must complete 630 hours of supervised clinical practice as a part of this program for certification and a total of 1170 hours of supervised clinical practice for the completion of the degree.

The Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner concentration prepares nurses as advanced practice nurses in the care of infants, children and adolescents. Graduates of the certificate will be eligible to sit for national certification as pediatric nurse practitioners. Students must complete 630 hours of supervised clinical practice as a part of this program for certification and a total of 1170 hours of supervised clinical practice for the completion of the degree.

The Psychiatric Mental Health Family Nurse Practitioner concentration prepares nurses as advanced practice nurses for the roles in the psychiatric care of adults and adolescents. Graduates are eligible to sit for national certification in psychiatric mental health family nurse practitioner, teach psychiatric mental health nursing or related courses and practice the specialty in various health care agencies.  Students must complete 630 hours of supervised clinical practice as a part of this program for certification and a total of 1170 hours of supervised clinical practice for the completion of the degree.

The Women's Health Nurse Practitioner concentration prepares nurses for advanced practice nurse in the sub-specialty of women's health. Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for national certification as women's health nurse practitioners, teach women's health nursing or related courses and practice the specialty in various health care agencies. Students must complete 630 hours of supervised clinical practice as a part of this program for certification and a total of 1170 hours of supervised clinical practice for the completion of the degree.

Official transcript(s) from an accredited nursing program with a grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; current unrestricted Ohio RN license (or the state where they practice). Applicants must have three letters of reference from individuals who can address the applicant's potential to succeed in the D.N.P. program; a pre-admission interview, by telephone or in person, with the D.N.P. director; and a 300-word essay describing professional goals and reasons for seeking the professional practice doctorate.International students must have achieved a TOEFL score of 550 (PBT); applicants with scores greater than 525 but less than 550 will be considered for conditional admission.

Please refer to the university policy for graduate admission.

The program requirements vary by concentration, however, concentrations typically require between 71-86 total credit hours. In addition to completion of the appropriate program plan with a grade point average of at least 3.000, the student must complete and successfully defend an evidence-based project to a four member committee that includes the academic advisor and a preceptor member of the healthcare community. Preferably, the preceptor will hold a doctoral degree. The project must result in a manuscript suitable for publication.

Grade Point Requirement
Only work of high quality is approved for graduate credit. Graduate students are expected to maintain a 3.000 average GPA in all work attempted at Kent State. A student who fails to maintain a 3.000 average is subject to dismissal. In addition, in order to qualify for graduation, a 3.000 average must be maintained for all graduate coursework. Grades below “C” (2.000) are not counted toward completion of requirements for any advanced degree, but are counted in evaluating a student’s grade point average. Only graduate course credits count toward a graduate degree.

A graduate student who receives a combination of more than 8 credit hours of “ B-“(2.700) or lower grades, or more than 4 credit hours of grades lower than “C” (2.000) is subject to dismissal. Dismissal may be recommended by the chair (or director) of the student’s department to the college dean, or the college dean may request the action of the department chair, or action may be recommended by the college dean’s designee.

Scholarly Paper/Project
A total of 6 credit hours of NURS 76199 Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Project is required culminating in an oral defense and publishable manuscript.

1. Students demonstrate advanced practice skills consistent with their areas of clinical specialization.
2. Students attain the necessary skills in physical assessment course to become certified.
3. Students attain the necessary skills in pharmacology to become certified.
4. Students attain the necessary skills in pathophysiology to become certified and to continue their educations.

The College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education