Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Objectives

Graduates will be able to:

1. Synthesize knowledge associated with expert advanced nursing practice and the advancement of the profession.
2. Demonstrate expert skill in the delivery, management and leadership of primary health care.
3. Demonstrate values consistent with the ethical delivery of expert advanced nursing practice.
4. Exemplify unique meanings associated with expert advanced nursing practice and the profession.
5. Actively and intellectually engage in advanced nursing and health care delivery designed to enhance expertise in caring for diverse populations.

All graduate programs in nursing are accredited by The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, One Dupont Circle NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036; (202) 887-6791; www.aacn.nche.edu.

The DNP program was created in response to calls from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and other national nursing organizations to move advanced practice nursing education to the doctoral level. The DNP program is designed to prepare clinical nurses with advanced knowledge, skills, values, meanings and experiences necessary to manage health care in a safe, effective and efficient manner and in a variety of settings.

The School of Nursing offers the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) at two levels: BSN to DNP and Post Graduate DNP

Post Graduate DNP

The Post Graduate DNP can be completed by FNP, PMHNP and certain leadership graduates (MSM-MBA for example) in five consecutive semesters, including summer. The Post Graduate DNP-HSL may require five to seven semesters to complete. Cohorts are established and begin in the fall only. Didactic courses use distance technology in a synchronous, asynchronous, or ground (face to face) format. The DNP-HSL is online except for the orientation/immersion sessions in September and January. Twice per year, students may be required to come to campus for an immersion session or a one day retreat. Clinical placement is arranged by faculty and will be scheduled at the convenience of the facility hosting the student.

At the completion of the program, students in the Post Graduate DNP are required to have 1,000 clock hours of supervised clinical experiences. Clinical hours may include hours earned in MSN and/or MSN post graduate certificate study. Additional clinical hours will be earned by enrolling in N699 as needed.