Program Overview

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Doctor of Nursing Practice

Overview

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a terminal professional practice degree that prepares nurses to assume leadership roles in clinical practice, administration, clinical teaching, and clinical research.

Available Options

• Post-Master’s Advanced Practice Track
• Post-Bachelor's Family Nurse Practitioner Track
• Post-Bachelor's Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Track
• Post-Bachelor’s Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) Track

Accreditation

The DNP program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of the DNP program, graduates will:

• Provide advanced nursing care to improve patient and population health care outcomes in various direct and indirect settings.
• Take leadership roles in the analysis, delivery, and management of nursing care and health care systems.
• Provide evidence-based practice through the application of analytical methods, information systems technology, and clinical research.
• Collaborate with inter-professional teams to meet the health care needs of culturally and ethnically diverse individuals and populations.
• Act as change agents, leaders, and advocates in the design, implementation, and evaluation of health care policy as it affects populations and the nursing profession.

Career Possibilities

DNP graduates are equipped to assume a wide range of leadership roles in both direct and indirect health care settings and nursing education programs.

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree: A four-year baccalaureate from a regionally accredited institution or an approved equivalent.
• Grade Point Average: A minimum overall grade point average of 2.75 (4.00=A) for the bachelor's degree or a minimum 3.00 (4.00=A) for the last two years (60 semester credits).
• Transcripts: Unofficial transcripts from each postsecondary institution attended, showing all degrees and coursework, the dates awarded, and grades received.
• Credentials: Credentials not in English must be accompanied by an English translation certified as true by a university official, an official representative of a United States embassy or consulate, the United States Information Service, the United States Education Foundation, or an approved professional translating service.

Department Admission Requirements

• GPA: A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (out of 4.0) earned in an accredited nursing program at the baccalaureate and/or master's level.
• RN License: An unrestricted and unencumbered license as a registered nurse in the student's state of residence.
• Curriculum Vitae: A current curriculum vitae or detailed professional resumé.
• Written Statement: A written statement of career and professional goals describing areas of interest in advanced practice or leadership roles, reasons for pursuing a DNP degree, past experiences and achievements in nursing practice, leadership, and scholarship; area of interest/possible DNP project ideas if any, and specific interest in the UNLV School of Nursing (500 word maximum).
• Letters of Recommendation: Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can evaluate the applicant's capacity for academic excellence, potential contributions to the nursing profession, and commitment to completion of the DNP.
• Interviews: Participation in 1-2 interviews with members of the DNP Admissions committee and/or other School of Nursing Faculty by either video conference or telephone.

Subplan 1: Post-Master's Advanced Practice

Course Requirements

• NURS 734 - Health Systems Science and Quality Improvement
• NURS 729R - Translational Evidence for Healthcare Systems
• NURS 718 - Organizational Management for the Advanced Practice Nurse
• NURS 758 - Advanced Statistics and Methods for Doctor of Nursing Practice
• NURS 726 - Healthcare Issues And The Law
• NURS 716 - Population Health: Analysis and Evaluation
• NURS 708 - Analysis and Economics of Healthcare Systems and Delivery
• NURS 719R - Health & Public Policy for Advanced Practice of Nursing
• NURS 768 - DNP Forum & Role Transformation
• NURS 769 - Dissemination of DNP Scholarly Work

DNP Project

• NURS 788 - DNP Project (9 credits)

Degree Requirements

• Complete 38 credits with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
• Maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or above each semester enrolled.
• Receive a grade of "B" (3.00) or above in all required cognate and nursing courses.

Subplan 2: Post-Bachelor's Family Nurse Practitioner

Course Requirements

• NURS 704 - Advanced Pathophysiology and Genetics I
• NURS 703 - Advanced Health Assessment
• NURS 734 - Health Systems Science and Quality Improvement
• NURS 730 - Advanced Pharmacology and Genetics II
• NURS 758 - Advanced Statistics and Methods for Doctor of Nursing Practice
• NURS 726 - Healthcare Issues And The Law
• NURS 718 - Organizational Management for the Advanced Practice Nurse
• NURS 716 - Population Health: Analysis and Evaluation
• NURS 708 - Analysis and Economics of Healthcare Systems and Delivery
• NURS 714 - Family Theory and Health Promotion
• NURS 719R - Health & Public Policy for Advanced Practice of Nursing
• NURS 729R - Translational Evidence for Healthcare Systems
• NURS 701 - Diagnostic Reasoning and Clinical Decision Making for the APRN
• NURS 766 - Nursing Informatics for Advanced Practice
• NURS 740R - FNP Adult and Women's Health
• NURS 750R - FNP Children and OB
• NURS 760R - FNP Geriatric and Chronic Illness
• NURS 768 - DNP Forum & Role Transformation
• NURS 769 - Dissemination of DNP Scholarly Work

DNP Project

• NURS 788 - DNP Project (8 credits)

Degree Requirements

• Complete 70 credits with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
• Maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or above each semester enrolled.
• Receive a grade of "B" (3.00) or above in all required cognate and nursing courses.

Subplan 3: Post-Bachelor's Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Course Requirements

• NURS 704 - Advanced Pathophysiology and Genetics I
• NURS 703 - Advanced Health Assessment
• NURS 734 - Health Systems Science and Quality Improvement
• NURS 730 - Advanced Pharmacology and Genetics II
• NURS 758 - Advanced Statistics and Methods for Doctor of Nursing Practice
• NURS 726 - Healthcare Issues And The Law
• NURS 718 - Organizational Management for the Advanced Practice Nurse
• NURS 716 - Population Health: Analysis and Evaluation
• NURS 708 - Analysis and Economics of Healthcare Systems and Delivery
• NURS 714 - Family Theory and Health Promotion
• NURS 719R - Health & Public Policy for Advanced Practice of Nursing
• NURS 729R - Translational Evidence for Healthcare Systems
• NURS 701 - Diagnostic Reasoning and Clinical Decision Making for the APRN
• NURS 766 - Nursing Informatics for Advanced Practice
• NURS 794 - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner I
• NURS 796 - Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan
• NURS 796L - Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan Lab
• NURS 799 - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner III
• NURS 768 - DNP Forum & Role Transformation
• NURS 769 - Dissemination of DNP Scholarly Work

DNP Project

• NURS 788 - DNP Project (8 credits)

Degree Requirements

• Complete 70 credits with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
• Maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or above each semester enrolled.
• Receive a grade of "B" (3.00) or above in all required cognate and nursing courses.

Subplan 4: Post-Bachelor’s Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA)

Core Courses

• NURS 689 - Informatics and Technology for the CRNA
• NURS 691 - Epidemiology and Biostatistics for Population Health and Anesthesia
• NURS 729R - Translational Evidence for Healthcare Systems
• NURS 801 - Professional Aspects of CRNA Practice
• NURS 802 - A Systems Approach to Quality and Safety

CRNA/DNP Science Core

• NURS 687 - Advanced Anatomy and Physiology for the CRNA
• NURS 688 - Chemistry & Physics for the CRNA
• NURS 703 - Advanced Health Assessment
• NURS 704 - Advanced Pathophysiology and Genetics I
• NURS 730 - Advanced Pharmacology and Genetics II
• NURS 755 - Advanced Pharmacology for CRNAs I

Clinical Core

• NURS 804 - Foundations of Anesthesia
• NURS 805 - Principles and Techniques of Anesthesia
• NURS 806 - Advanced Anesthesia I
• NURS 807 - Advanced Anesthesia II
• NURS 808 - Advanced Anesthesia III
• NURS 809 - Advanced Anesthesia IV
• NURS 810 - Advanced Anesthesia V

DNP Project

• NURS 788 - DNP Project (9 credits)

DNP Project Dissemination

• NURS 830 - CRNA Project Dissemination (1 credit)

Degree Requirements

• Complete 91 credits with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
• Maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or above each semester enrolled.
• Receive a grade of "B" (3.00) or above in all required cognate and nursing courses.

Graduation Requirements

• The student must submit and successfully defend their DNP Project by the posted deadline.
• The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
• The student must electronically submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their project to the Graduate College for format check.
• Once the project format has been approved by the Graduate College, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest.
• Deadlines for project defenses, format check submissions, and the final ProQuest submission can be found on the Graduate College website.
• Students may apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements. All required forms must be submitted to the graduate college via the Grad Rebel Gateway.