Program Overview

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Introduction to the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is an advanced professional degree designed to prepare registered nurses for leadership roles in clinical practice, healthcare administration, policy advocacy, and more. The curriculum integrates advanced practicum training with coursework in healthcare policy, leadership, evidence-based practice, and healthcare systems.

DNP Program Outcomes

The DNP program is designed to empower nurses with the highest level of clinical expertise and leadership capabilities, preparing them to address complex healthcare issues and drive positive change in their communities and beyond. The program outcomes include:

• Develop and evaluate new approaches for quality improvement based on scientific theories and principles.
• Employ principles of business, finance, economics, and health policy to develop and implement system-wide initiatives to improve outcomes.
• Design, direct, and evaluate quality improvement methodologies to promote safe, timely, effective, efficient, and equitable outcomes.
• Provide leadership in the evaluation and resolution of ethical and legal issues within a complex organization.
• Demonstrate leadership in the development and implementation of institutional, local, state, federal, and/or international health policy.
• Employ consultative and leadership skills in intraprofessional and interprofessional teams to facilitate quality initiatives to improve healthcare and/or organizational outcomes.
• Evaluate delivery models and/or strategies using socioeconomic, cultural, organizational, and community concepts.
• Demonstrate advanced levels of systems thinking, decision-making, and accountability in designing, delivering, and evaluating an evidence-based project to improve outcomes in a complex organization.

DNP Curriculum

The DNP program requires 36 overall credits. The DNP curriculum includes 24 credits of core courses and an additional 12 credits of project courses focused on the design, implementation, and evaluation of the practice/change initiative for quality improvement.

DNP Courses

The following courses are part of the DNP curriculum:

• NSG 702 (3): Evidence-based Scholarly Practice and Inquiry
• NSG 703 (3): Planning, Managing & Evaluating Programs/Projects
• NSG 706 (3): Organizational/Systems Outcomes and Quality Management
• NSG 708 (3): Health Policy in DNP Practice
• NSG 710 (3): Finance and Economics in DNP Practice
• NSG 712 (3): DNP Role Seminar I
• NSG 714 (3): DNP Role Seminar II
• NSG 716 (3): DNP Role Seminar III
• NSG 722 (4): DNP Project I
• NSG 724 (4): DNP Project II
• NSG 726 (4): DNP Project III

DNP Academic Advisor

Students will be assigned an academic advisor upon admission to the program. The academic advisor will assist students with acclimation to the DNP program and any programmatic or curricular advising needs through graduation.

DNP Committee Chair

In their first semester, students will identify and request a DNP faculty member to be their DNP Committee Chair, who will serve as their DNP Chair through the rest of the DNP program. The Committee Chair will oversee planning, implementation, and evaluation of the DNP Scholarly Project.

DNP Required Hours

Students completing a DNP degree are required to complete 1,000 hours of direct and indirect graduate clinical hours. This includes both hours from their MSN degree and hours from their DNP degree.

DNP Practicum

Students will complete a total of 370 practicum hours as part of the DNP Project Courses. Practicums will occur at an approved site with an approved site Mentor. Students will select their practicum site and mentor.

DNP Project

All students enrolled in the DNP Program will complete a DNP Project as a requirement for graduation. The DNP Project contributes to student attainment in the AACN advanced-level competencies. The DNP Project is implemented across three courses: NSG 722, NSG 724, and NSG 726.

DNP Project Timeline

The DNP Project timeline includes:

• Semester 1: Identify DNP Committee Chair, DNP Practicum Site, and DNP Mentor
• Semester 2-3: Develop DNP Project with guidance of DNP Mentor and DNP Committee Chair
• Semester 4: Implement DNP Project and complete IRB approval
• Semester 5: Evaluate DNP Project and complete DNP Final Project Defense

DNP Proposal Defense

The DNP Proposal Defense is the qualifying exam used to evaluate the student for DNP Candidacy. A DNP Candidate is considered to have demonstrated competency in their DNP program, competency to implement their DNP Project, and competency to communicate complex ideas effectively and professionally.

DNP Final Defense

The DNP Final Defense is a final evaluation for the DNP degree. It evaluates the student's completed paper and presentation of their DNP project. The DNP Defense includes two portions, written and oral.

DNP Project Courses and Requirements

The DNP Project courses include:

• DNP 722: DNP Project I (4 credit hours)
• DNP 724: DNP Project II (4 credit hours)
• DNP 726: DNP Project III (4 credit hours)

Each course has specific outcomes and requirements, including the development of the DNP Quality Improvement project proposal, implementation of the project, and evaluation of the results.