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

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree in Advanced Practice Nursing prepares advanced practice nurses (APRN) to become clinical scholars (bachelor's prepared nurses can complete the DNP in the Advanced Nursing Practice major). Students will develop leadership skills to effect health outcomes for individuals and populations by translating scientific evidence into clinical interventions; managing healthcare systems; and collaborating with other health care providers. The curriculum incorporates both clinical and didactic content.

Applicants to the Advanced Practice Nursing program must have:

• An active, unrestricted RN license in the state in which practica will be completed
• A current national APRN certification. Proof of the appropriate licensure must be obtained within the first semester of the student's program. or prior to beginning practicum hours, whichever comes first
• A master's degree from a CCNE or NLNAC accredited advanced practice program with a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 point scale
• The successful completion of an undergraduate or graduate level statistics course
• GRE scores
• Professional experience in nursing as evidenced by: a resume or curriculum vitae and a pre-admission interview
• Three letters of reference from a health care professional or academic faculty who can speak to the applicant's professional and academic abilities
• Completion of a 300-word essay describing professional goals and reasons for seeking the professional practice doctorate
• International applicants must show evidence of one of the following:
  • a minimum internet TOEFL score of 83
  • a paper based TOEFL score of 560
  • a MELAB score of 78
  • a PTE minimum score of 55 or a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 for admission

Students selected for admission to the nursing program must meet the College of Nursing's Clinical Compliance Policy

For more information about graduate admission, please visit the Graduate Studies website.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) degree in Advanced Practice Nursing is 71 credit hours, which comprises (a) 37 credits of DNP core courses; (b) 540 clinical practice hours; and (c) transfer from the student’s master’s degree in nursing a minimum of 34 credits of nursing and advanced practice role-specific course work, including 500 clinical hours (may be taken as a part of the DNP degree). 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 committee that minimally 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
The College of Nursing complies with the University standard for Grade Point Average. Please refer to the University Catalog section on Academic Standing - Graduate Studies.

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.

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Develop systems and strategies to promote health and fiscal outcomes across the healthcare continuum.
2. Provide expert, advanced nursing care to select populations within a variety of settings based on evidence, ethics, theory, professional standards and models of care.
3. Provide leadership and interdisciplinary consultation and collaboration to plan,implement and evaluate programs of care delivery to improve health outcomes.
4. Synthesize and translate evidence for implementation and dissemination to improve healthcare outcomes.

A total of 6 credit hours of NURS 76199 Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Project is required

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