Program Overview

Introduction to the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at Howard University is designed to prepare African American and minority Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) through a terminal practice-focused degree. The program aligns with the university's mission to eliminate racial inequities in education and healthcare.

Program Overview

The DNP program offers two tracks for APRNs with a master's degree:

• Generic DNP
• Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)-DNP The program is delivered in a blended format, incorporating both synchronous and asynchronous classes. Clinical preceptorships are completed in person in the student's area of residence.

Program Requirements

• Clinical hours: 1,000, with hours earned during the master's program eligible for transfer
• For the PMHNP track, 500 clinical hours specific to psych-mental health are required
• Students may enroll full-time or part-time
• The Generic DNP track requires 38 credits
• The PMHNP-DNP track requires 78 credits

Student Learning Outcomes

The DNP program is designed to help students achieve the following learning outcomes:

• Integrate nursing science with knowledge from ethics, biophysical, psychosocial, analytical, and organizational science as the basis for the highest level of nursing practice
• Employ principles of business, finance, economics, and health policy to develop and implement effective plans for practice-level practice initiatives that will improve the quality of care delivery
• Use analytic methods to critically appraise existing literature and other evidence to determine and implement the best evidence for practice
• Lead interprofessional teams in the analysis of complex practice and organizational issues
• Analyze epidemiological, biostatistical, environmental, and other appropriate scientific data related to individual, aggregate, and population health
• Demonstrate advanced levels of clinical judgment, systems thinking, and accountability in designing, delivering, and evaluating evidence-based care to improve patient outcomes

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for the DNP program, applicants must:

• Have graduated from an accredited nursing program with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or Bachelor of Nursing (BN) Degree with a minimum 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale
• Have graduated from an accredited nursing program with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Master of Nursing (MN) Degree with a minimum 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale
• Have successfully completed a statistics course with a minimum grade of a 'C'
• Hold a Registered Nurse license and Nurse Practitioner certification in the United States, including the state where they will complete the clinical components Applicants must submit the following documents for review:
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Application fee
  • Curriculum Vitae/Resume
  • Official transcript(s) of all college course work
  • Professional goal statement (a 500750-word essay explaining how the DNP degree will impact their future professional and personal goals)
  • Capstone essay (a 500-word essay outlining their general area of study and why)