Nursing Practice, DNP

The School of Nursing doctor of nursing practice (DNP) program prepares nurses for leadership roles as advanced practice nurses (clinical nurse specialists or nurse practitioners) who provide direct care and lead practice development and evaluation. Students in the DNP program choose from three population foci: adultgerontology (acute care or primary care), pediatrics, or psychiatric mental health. Those interested in dual preparation as an advanced practice nurse and nurse educator may add a nursing education focus.The program is available for nurses with a baccalaureate degree in nursing (post-B.S. option). The post-B.S. option can be completed in three years of full-time study or five years on a part-time basis and requires a minimum of 71 credits.Learning outcomesIntegrate nursing science with knowledge from the biophysical, psychosocial, analytical, and organizational sciences as the basis for advanced level nursing practice.Use information systems technology to evaluate outcomes of care, care systems, and quality improvement.Develop and evaluate new practice approaches based on nursing theories and theories from other disciplines.Employ consultative and leadership skills with intra professional and inter professional teams to create change in complex health care delivery systems.Demonstrate leadership in the development of institutional, local, state, federal, andor international health policy.Function as a practice specialist in collaborative knowledge-generating research.Develop, implement, and evaluate interventions to improve health status and access patterns, and to address gaps in care of individuals, aggregates, or populations.Design, implement and disseminate results of a scholarly endeavor that uses evidence to improve practice or patient outcomes.Employ consultative and leadership skills with intra professional and inter professional teams to create change in complex health care delivery systems.Demonstrate advanced levels of clinical judgment, systems thinking, and accountability in designing, delivering, and evaluating evidence-based care to improve patient outcomes.Lead the evaluation of evidence to determine and implement best practice.Demonstrate leadership in the development of institutional, local, state, federal, andor international health policy.Demonstrate advanced levels of clinical judgment, systems thinking, and accountability in designing, delivering, and evaluating evidence-based care to improve patient outcomes.Critically evaluate how social determinants of health, cultural background and physical environment impact health outcomes.Communicates complex research findings and implications in a clear and understandable manner to lay and professional audiences.Guide, mentor, and support other nurses to achieve excellence in clinical nursing practice.Function as a practice specialist in collaborative knowledge-generating research.Demonstrates knowledge of professional obligations, codes of ethics and institutional policies and procedures that guide nursing scholarship and practice.

A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or a comparable degree from an international institution is required. International applicants must have a degree comparable to a regionally accredited U.S. bachelor’s degree. You must have completed your undergraduate degree, or similar, before starting graduate school. A minimum undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 on the equivalent of the last 60 credit hours (approximately two years of work) or a master’s degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 is required. The Graduate School will take into consideration different grade scales from institutions that do not have 4.00 scales (e.g., institutions outside the United States of America).