Nursing Practice (Professional Program: DNP)
Admission Requirements
- Baccalaureate degree with an upper-division major in nursing from a CCNE or NLN accredited program OR a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution in a field other than nursing plus an RN license. Applicants may apply as they are completing their degree but all students enrolling in the DNP program must have a bachelor’s degree before matriculating into the program.
- Grade Point Average At least 3.00/4.00 for all work beyond the baccalaureate level and at least 3.00/4.00 for the final 60 semester of the first baccalaureate degree.
- Test Required None
- Letters of Recommendation Three required; the letters should describe the applicant's academic skills and accomplishments.
- Application Essays Required. Applicants will be prompted to answer essay questions within the application. Questions can be found on the College of Nursing website.
- Resume/CV Required.
- Interview All applicants with completed applications will be contacted by the College of Nursing for an application interview. The interview is a required part of the application process. Applicants who do not sign up for an interview will not be considered for admission.
- Other Requirements All students must have a valid license to practice professional nursing in at least one jurisdiction. Applicants may apply before they have passed the NCLEX and attained nursing licensure.
- Focus-Area-Specific Admission Requirements
- Applicants to the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program must have a minimum of one year of RN experience in an adult acute care setting by the time of admission. ICU experience is preferred.
- Applicants to the Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program must have a minimum of one year, full-time, RN experience in a pediatric acute care setting by the time of admission. Pediatric emergency department or ICU experience is preferred.
- Applicants to the Nurse Anesthesia Program must have a minimum of one year of intensive care unit experience as an RN.
Degree Requirements
- Minimum Semester Hours Varies by focus area; minimum required hours are listed under each focus area section.
- Coursework
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| DNP Core Courses (required for all focus areas) | ||
| Applied Biostatistics and Epidemiology | ||
| Health Equity and Social Determinants | ||
| Health Policy and Advocacy | ||
| Population Health Across the Healthcare Continuum a | ||
| Foundations for Scholarship | ||
| Quality and Safety in Healthcare | ||
| Informatics and Healthcare Technology | ||
| Strategic Business Planning in Healthcare | ||
| Translating Evidence to Practice | ||
| DNP Practicum/Project Courses (required for all focus areas) | ||
| DNP Project Proposal Development | ||
| DNP Project Planning and Implementation | ||
| DNP Project Evaluation and Dissemination | ||
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Students in the Nurse Anesthesia focus area do not take NURS 523, as specialty distinct content in this area is part of required focus area courses.
DNP Focus Areas
In addition to DNP Core Courses, students must complete requirements in their focus area. The courses listed below reflect the requirements for a student with a BSN. Individual programs plans are developed based on previous degrees and coursework. See the College of Nursing website for descriptions of each of the focus areas.
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Students pursuing the focus area of Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner must complete a total of 77 semester hours, including DNP Core Courses, APRN Core Courses, Focus Area Courses, and DNP Practicum/Project courses.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Core Courses | ||
| Advanced Physiological and Pathophysiological Principles Across the Lifespan | ||
| Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics | ||
| Comprehensive Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice | ||
| APRN Role Transition and Professional Development | ||
| Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Focus Area Courses | ||
| Management of Health and Illness I: Adult-Gerontology NP Acute Care and Primary Care | ||
| Management of Health & Illness II: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care | ||
| Nurse Practitioner Practicum I: Management of Health and Illness in Adults | ||
| Nurse Practitioner Practicum II: Management of Health and Illness in Adults | ||
| Nurse Practitioner Practicum III: Management of Health and Illness in Adults | ||
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Students pursuing the focus area of Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner must complete a total of 77 semester hours, including DNP Core Courses, APRN Core Courses, Focus Area Courses, and DNP Practicum/Project courses.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Core Courses | ||
| Advanced Physiological and Pathophysiological Principles Across the Lifespan | ||
| Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics | ||
| Comprehensive Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice | ||
| APRN Role Transition and Professional Development | ||
| Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Focus Area Courses | ||
| Management of Health and Illness I: Adult-Gerontology NP Acute Care and Primary Care | ||
| Management of Health and Illness II: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care | ||
| Nurse Practitioner Practicum I: Management of Health and Illness in Adults | ||
| Nurse Practitioner Practicum II: Management of Health and Illness in Adults | ||
| Nurse Practitioner Practicum III: Management of Health and Illness in Adults | ||
Advanced Population Health Nursing
Students pursuing the focus area of Advanced Population Health Nursing must complete a total of 60 semester hours, including DNP Core Courses, Focus Area Courses, and DNP Practicum/Project courses.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Population Health Nursing Focus Area Courses | ||
| Issues in Advanced Population Health Nursing | ||
| Advanced Population Health Evaluation and Policy | ||
| Advanced Systems Level Nursing Leadership | ||
| Clinical Option: Advanced Systems Level Nursing Practice | ||
| Advanced Population Health and Program Planning | ||
Family Nurse Practitioner
Students pursuing the focus area of Family Nurse Practitioner must complete a total of 79 semester hours, including DNP Core Courses, APRN Core Courses, Focus Area Courses, and DNP Practicum/Project courses.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Core Courses | ||
| Advanced Physiological and Pathophysiological Principles Across the Lifespan | ||
| Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics | ||
| Comprehensive Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice | ||
| APRN Role Transition and Professional Development | ||
| Family Nurse Practitioner Focus Area Courses | ||
| Health Management in Primary Care I | ||
| Health Management in Primary Care II | ||
| Health Management in Primary Care III | ||
| Family-Focused Health Management in Primary Care | ||
| Clinical Practice in Primary Care I | ||
| Clinical Practice in Primary Care II | ||
| Clinical Practice in Primary Care III | ||
Health Systems Leadership
Students pursuing the focus area of Health Systems Leadership must complete a total of 62 semester hours, including DNP Core Courses, APRN Core Courses, Focus Area Courses, and DNP Practicum/Project courses.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Health Systems Leadership Focus Area Courses | ||
| Data-driven Health Care Improvement | ||
| Advanced Systems Level Nursing Leadership | ||
| Clinical Option: Advanced Systems Level Nursing Practice | ||
| Financial Management and Budget Planning | ||
| Human Resources and Org Behavior | ||
| Leading the Transformation of Health Care and System | ||
| Healthcare Economics | ||
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
Students pursuing the focus area of Neonatal Nurse Practitioner must complete a total of 82 semester hours, including DNP Core Courses, APRN Core Courses, Focus Area Courses, and DNP Practicum/Project courses.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Core Courses | ||
| Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics | ||
| Advanced pathophysiology across the lifespan | ||
| APRN Role Transition and Professional Development | ||
| Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Focus Area Courses | ||
| Biological Basis for Women's Health and Perinatal Nursing II | ||
| Advanced Neonatal Management I: The High Risk Neonate | ||
| Advanced Neonatal Management II: The Acutely Ill Infant | ||
| Advanced Neonatal Management III: The Gravely Ill Infant | ||
| Essentials of Patient and Family Centered Care | ||
| Comprehensive Health Assessment for Advanced Neonatal Nursing Practice | ||
| Advanced Neonatal Nurse Clinical Practicum | ||
Nurse Anesthesia
Students pursuing the focus area of Nurse Anesthesia must complete a total of 112 semester hours, including DNP Core Courses, Focus Area Courses, and DNP Practicum/Project courses.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Core Courses | ||
| Advanced Physiological and Pathophysiological Principles Across the Lifespan | ||
| Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics | ||
| Comprehensive Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice | ||
| Nurse Anesthesia Concentration Courses | ||
| Chemistry and Physics for Nurse Anesthesia Practice | ||
| Pharmacology of Anesthetics | ||
| Principles of Nurse Anesthesia 1 | ||
| Principles of Nurse Anesthesia 2 | ||
| Principles of Nurse Anesthesia 3 | ||
| Advanced Physiological and Pathophysiological Principles for Nurse Anesthesia Practice | ||
| Professional Issues in Nurse Anesthesia | ||
| Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Residency 1 | ||
| Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Residency 2 | ||
| Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Residency 3 | ||
| Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Residency 4 | ||
| Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Residency 5 | ||
Nurse Midwifery
Students pursuing the focus area of Nurse Midwifery must complete a total of 88 semester hours, including DNP Core Courses, APRN Core Courses, Focus Area Courses, and DNP Practicum/Project courses.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Core Courses | ||
| Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics | ||
| Comprehensive Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice | ||
| Advanced pathophysiology across the lifespan | ||
| APRN Role Transition and Professional Development | ||
| Nurse Midwifery Focus Area Courses | ||
| Biological Basis for Women's Health and Perinatal Nursing I | ||
| Biological Basis for Women's Health and Perinatal Nursing II | ||
| Issues for Research and Practice in Women's Health | ||
| Health Care of Women I | ||
| Health Care of Women II | ||
| Health Care of Women III | ||
| Dimensions of Midwifery and Women's Health Practice | ||
| Assessment and Care of the Newborn | ||
| Practicum: Health Care of Women | ||
| Practicum: Birth and the Newborn | ||
Nurse Midwifery/Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
Students pursuing the focus area of Nurse Midwifery/Women's Health Nurse Practitioner must complete a total of 95 semester hours, including DNP Core Courses, APRN Core Courses, Focus Area Courses, and DNP Practicum/Project courses.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Core Courses | ||
| Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics | ||
| Comprehensive Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice | ||
| Advanced pathophysiology across the lifespan | ||
| APRN Role Transition and Professional Development | ||
| Nurse Midwifery/Women's Health Nurse Practitioner Focus Area Courses | ||
| Biological Basis for Women's Health and Perinatal Nursing I | ||
| Biological Basis for Women's Health and Perinatal Nursing II | ||
| Issues for Research and Practice in Women's Health | ||
| Health Care of Women I | ||
| Health Care of Women II | ||
| Health Care of Women III | ||
| Dimensions of Midwifery and Women's Health Practice | ||
| Assessment and Care of the Newborn | ||
| Practicum: Health Care of Women | ||
| Practicum: Birth and the Newborn | ||
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner—Acute Care
Students pursuing the focus area of Pediatric Nurse Practitioner—Acute Care must complete a total of 81 semester hours, including DNP Core Courses, APRN Core Courses, Focus Area Courses, and DNP Practicum/Project courses.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Core Courses | ||
| Advanced Physiological and Pathophysiological Principles Across the Lifespan | ||
| Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics | ||
| Comprehensive Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice | ||
| APRN Role Transition and Professional Development | ||
| Pediatric Nurse Practitioner—Acute Care Focus Area Courses | ||
| Primary Care of the Infant, Child, and Adolescent | ||
| Management of Acute and Chronic Conditions in Infants, Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults | ||
| Management of infants, children, adolescents, young adults with complex, acute, & critical illness | ||
| Practicum: Health maintenance & management of common acute illness in the infant, child, adolescent | ||
| Practicum: Management of Infant, Child, Adolescent/Young Adult with Chronic Illness | ||
| Practicum in the Care of the Critically Ill Child | ||
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner—Primary Care
Students pursuing the focus area of Pediatric Nurse Practitioner—Primary Care must complete a total of 75 semester hours, including DNP Core Courses, APRN Core Courses, Concentration Courses, and DNP Practicum/Project courses.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Core Courses | ||
| Advanced Physiological and Pathophysiological Principles Across the Lifespan | ||
| Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics | ||
| Comprehensive Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice | ||
| APRN Role Transition and Professional Development | ||
| Pediatric Nurse Practitioner—Primary Care Focus Area Courses | ||
| Primary Care of the Infant, Child, and Adolescent | ||
| Management of Acute and Chronic Conditions in Infants, Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults | ||
| Practicum: Health maintenance & management of common acute illness in the infant, child, adolescent | ||
| Practicum: Management of Infant, Child, Adolescent/Young Adult with Chronic Illness | ||
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Students pursuing the focus area of Psychiatric—Mental Health Nurse Practitioner must complete a total of 85 semester hours, including DNP Core Courses, APRN Core Courses, Focus Area Courses, and DNP Practicum/Project courses.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Core Courses | ||
| Advanced Physiological and Pathophysiological Principles Across the Lifespan | ||
| Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics | ||
| Comprehensive Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice | ||
| APRN Role Transition and Professional Development | ||
| Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner—Primary Care Focus Area Courses | ||
| Group Dynamics, Behavior and Intervention | ||
| Child and Adolescent Mental Health Assessment and Intervention | ||
| Mental Health Assessment of Acute and Chronic Illness | ||
| Mental Health Promotion and Disease Prevention | ||
| Family Behavioral Health | ||
| Mental Health Assessment of Acute and Chronic Illness Practicum I | ||
| Mental Health Promotion and Disease Prevention | ||
| Professional Role and Policy Development | ||
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
Students pursuing the focus area of Women's Health Nurse Practitioner must complete a total of 87 semester hours, including DNP Core Courses, APRN Core Courses, Focus Area Courses, and DNP Practicum/Project courses.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Core Courses | ||
| Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics | ||
| Comprehensive Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice | ||
| Advanced pathophysiology across the lifespan | ||
| APRN Role Transition and Professional Development | ||
| Women's Health Nurse Practitioner Focus Area Courses | ||
| Biological Basis for Women's Health and Perinatal Nursing I | ||
| Biological Basis for Women's Health and Perinatal Nursing II | ||
| Issues for Research and Practice in Women's Health | ||
| Health Care of Women I | ||
| Health Care of Women II | ||
| Health Care of Women III | ||
| Dimensions of Midwifery and Women's Health Practice | ||
| Practicum: Health Care of Women | ||
Additional Concentrations
Primary Care Mental Health
Admission Requirements
In order to be part of the PCMH concentration, students must first apply for and meet the requirements for admission to the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. In addition, they must apply separately to the PCMH concentration. Candidates for the PCMH concentration would need to meet the following requirements:
- Admission to one of the following eligible DNP programs: Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner—Primary Care, Nurse Midwifery, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, and Nurse-Midwifery/Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner; or current certification as a primary care APRN and admission to the DNP program as a post-master's no new specialty student.
- Interview and favorable recommendations from the PCMH concentration faculty.
- Intention to complete all five courses in the PCMH concentration.
Concentration Coursework
The five required courses in the PCMH concentration are regularly offered at all College of Nursing campuses. All courses are delivered via distance learning technology. The majority of the courses in the program require weekly synchronous online course meetings. The PCMH concentration allows for flexibility in degree planning. However, most students will complete the PCMH concentration course work across a five-semester sequence in the latter two years of their respective programs.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| Group Dynamics, Behavior and Intervention | ||
| Child and Adolescent Mental Health Assessment and Intervention | ||
| Mental Health Assessment of Acute and Chronic Illness | ||
| Mental Health Promotion and Disease Prevention | ||
| Applied Pharmacotherapeutics in Advanced Practice in Nursing | ||