Nursing Practice (Professional Program: DNP)
Mailing Address:
College of Nursing (MC 802)
845 South Damen Avenue
Chicago, IL 60612-3727
Contact Information:
Campus Location: 507 NURS
(312) 996-7800
con@uic.edu
www.nursing.uic.edu
Administration:
Dean of the College: Eileen Collins
Director of Graduate Studies: Elizabeth Aquino
The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree is designed for professional nurses seeking a terminal degree in nursing with a focus on clinical or administrative practice. The DNP program is consistent with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s call to produce advanced nursing clinicians who are able to address complex care needs. In addition, it is supported by the National Academy of Science which has advocated for the development of professional practice doctorates as a route to advanced clinical work in nursing. The DNP is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
The DNP degree curriculum at UIC consists of three domains of competencies for advanced practice in direct clinical care or systems: a) core practice competencies, b) specialty-specific practice competencies, and c) role competencies. Our mission is to develop advanced practitioners of nursing into evidence-based, intra-disciplinary providers who meet the needs of a rapidly expanding healthcare field.
The DNP requires completion of 60–97 semester hours (dependent on specialty focus), and can be completed on a part-time or full-time basis. Most students will complete the DNP degree within 3–5 years. The Doctor of Nursing Practice has multiple routes of entry. The program can be completed at one of our six regional campuses (Chicago, Peoria, Quad Cities, Rockford, Springfield, Urbana).
The following specialty concentrations are available:
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Advanced Population Health Nursing
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Health Systems Leadership
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Midwifery
- Nurse Midwifery/Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner—Acute Care
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner—Primary Care
- Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
The DNP also has one affiliated supplemental concentration. A Concentration in Primary Care Mental Health (PCMH) is offered as a part of the DNP for students in the six primary care specialties: family nurse practitioner, adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner, pediatric nurse practitioner—primary care, nurse midwifery, nurse midwifery/women’s health nurse practitioner, and women’s health nurse practitioner. The concentration includes elective course work to provide additional academic preparation for the care of patients who present with common mental health problems that are within the existing scope of primary care practice, such as depression, anxiety, ADD/ADHD and substance use disorders. The primary care mental health concentration does not qualify students to obtain certification as a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner.
The Doctor of Nursing Practice at UIC is considered a professional program and is not administered by the Graduate College. Applications for this program are processed through the College of Nursing. More information on the DNP program, admission requirements, and the application process is available online.
Interdepartmental Concentrations
Students earning this degree may complement their courses by enrolling in select concentrations after consulting with their graduate advisor. Interdepartmental concentrations available for this degree include: