Program Overview

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Doctor of Nursing Practice, DNP

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is designed to prepare clinicians with the knowledge and skills to provide the highest standard of care for individuals, families, and communities and navigate today's complex health care systems. Nurse managers and administrators will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to develop, implement, and monitor programs of care and policies in complex organizations.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates will be able to:

• utilize scientific underpinnings for nursing practice;
• demonstrate organizational and systems leadership;
• evaluate clinical scholarship and analytical methods for evidence-based practice;
• evaluate information systems and patient care technology for the improvement and transformation of health care;
• influence health care policy for advocacy in health care;
• collaborate interprofessionally to improve patient and population health outcomes;
• design clinical prevention and population health interventions; and
• demonstrate expertise in advanced nursing practice.

Program Requirements

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) requires a minimum of 73 s.h. of graduate credit. Students may complete the program in three to five years, depending on their focus area. Students must maintain a UI cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.00.

DNP students complete basic graduate core courses, specialty courses, advanced core courses, and practicums. In didactic coursework, they explore clinical leadership, public policy and advocacy, specialty systems, change theory, finance and business, and entrepreneurial tools.

Those who enter the program with a master’s degree must complete a minimum of 72 s.h., although some coursework from the master’s degree program may count toward the DNP degree. Students who enter with a non-nursing master’s degree who are interested in pursuing a focus in health administration can complete DNP degree requirements in health systems. Individuals who have been granted an MSN/APRN may complete the DNP with a minimum of 29 s.h. of graduate credit earned at the University of Iowa after DNP program admission and with a minimum of 43 s.h. of transfer credit previously earned from the UI or elsewhere.

Students must complete a minimum of 1,000 practice experience hours. Individuals who enter the program having completed an MSN may transfer approved clinical hours from their MSN program to the DNP program. The clinical hours requirement is evaluated for each student who has completed an MSN with a specialty program. Students who completed more than 1,000 practice experience hours in an MSN advanced practice program still must complete the number of DNP practicum and project hours determined in consultation with their advisor and the DNP program director.

Specialties

Students may choose from a number of specialties, including:

• adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner
• adult gerontology primary care nurse practitioner
• anesthesia nursing
• family nurse practitioner
• pediatric nurse practitioner—acute care
• pediatric nurse practitioner—primary care
• psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner
• health systems

For yearly plans that detail coursework in these specialty areas, see the following section, "Plans of Study."

Plans of Study

Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG–ACNP) Subprogram

The following coursework (75 s.h.) is required for a three-year plan.

First Year, Three-Year Plan (AG–ACNP)

• NURS:5002 Leadership and Management Essentials (3)
• NURS:5007 Applied Epidemiology (3)
• NURS:5009 Evaluating Evidence for Practice (3)
• NURS:5010 Clinical Data Management and Evaluation (3)
• NURS:5014 Graduate Physiology for Advanced Practice (3)
• NURS:5015 Health Systems, Finance, and Economics (3)
• NURS:5040 Genetics/Genomics for Advanced Nursing Practice (2)
• NURS:6802 Health Policy, Law, and Advocacy (3)
• NURS:6809 Advanced Practice Role I: Introduction (3)
• Total Hours: 26

Second Year, Three-Year Plan (AG–ACNP)

• NURS:5017 Quality and Safety (3)
• NURS:5023 Pathophysiology for Advanced Clinical Practice (4)
• NURS:5031 Health Promotion and Assessment for Advanced Clinical Practice (4)
• NURS:5033 Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Practice Nursing (3)
• NURS:5035 Graduate Pharmacology Specialty (3)
• NURS:6808 Population Health for Advanced Practice (3)
• NURS:6811 Social Determinants of Health and Health System Inequities (3)
• NURS:6826 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project I (2)
• NURS:6827 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project II (1)
• Total Hours: 26

Third Year, Three-Year Plan (AG–ACNP)

• NURS:5038 Advanced Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures for Acute Care (1)
• NURS:6410 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care I (3)
• NURS:6411 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care II (3)
• NURS:6701 Advanced Practice Clinical Practicum I (4)
• NURS:6702 Advanced Practice Clinical Practicum II (4)
• NURS:6703 Advanced Practice Clinical Practicum III (3)
• NURS:6810 Advanced Practice Role II: Integration (3)
• NURS:6828 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project III (1)
• NURS:6829 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project IV (1)
• Total Hours: 23

Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AG–PCNP) Subprogram

The following coursework (79 s.h.) is required for a three-year plan.

First Year, Three-Year Plan (AG–PCNP)

• NURS:5002 Leadership and Management Essentials (3)
• NURS:5007 Applied Epidemiology (3)
• NURS:5009 Evaluating Evidence for Practice (3)
• NURS:5010 Clinical Data Management and Evaluation (3)
• NURS:5014 Graduate Physiology for Advanced Practice (3)
• NURS:5040 Genetics/Genomics for Advanced Nursing Practice (2)
• NURS:6802 Health Policy, Law, and Advocacy (3)
• NURS:6808 Population Health for Advanced Practice (3)
• NURS:6809 Advanced Practice Role I: Introduction (3)
• NURS:6811 Social Determinants of Health and Health System Inequities (3)
• Total Hours: 29

Second Year, Three-Year Plan (AG–PCNP)

• NURS:5015 Health Systems, Finance, and Economics (3)
• NURS:5017 Quality and Safety (3)
• NURS:5023 Pathophysiology for Advanced Clinical Practice (4)
• NURS:5031 Health Promotion and Assessment for Advanced Clinical Practice (4)
• NURS:5032 Mental Disorders in Advanced Practice (3)
• NURS:5033 Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Practice Nursing (3)
• NURS:5035 Graduate Pharmacology Specialty (3)
• NURS:5039 Advanced Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures for Primary Care (1)
• NURS:6826 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project I (2)
• NURS:6827 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project II (1)
• Total Hours: 27

Third Year, Three-Year Plan (AG–PCNP)

• NURS:5401/ASP:5401 The Care of the Frail Elderly (3)
• NURS:6200 Primary Care: Adults and Older Individuals I (3)
• NURS:6201 Primary Care: Adults and Older Individuals II (3)
• NURS:6701 Advanced Practice Clinical Practicum I (3)
• NURS:6702 Advanced Practice Clinical Practicum II (3)
• NURS:6703 Advanced Practice Clinical Practicum III (3)
• NURS:6810 Advanced Practice Role II: Integration (3)
• NURS:6828 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project III (1)
• NURS:6829 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project IV (1)
• Total Hours: 23

Anesthesia Nursing Subprogram

The following coursework (81 s.h.) is required for a three-year plan.

First Year, Three-Year Plan (Anesthesia Nursing)

• NURS:5009 Evaluating Evidence for Practice (3)
• NURS:5010 Clinical Data Management and Evaluation (3)
• NURS:5014 Graduate Physiology for Advanced Practice (5)
• NURS:5017 Quality and Safety (3)
• NURS:5023 Pathophysiology for Advanced Clinical Practice (4)
• NURS:5031 Health Promotion and Assessment for Advanced Clinical Practice (3)
• NURS:5040 Genetics/Genomics for Advanced Nursing Practice (2)
• NURS:6000/ACB:6000 Human Anatomy for Advanced Practice (4)
• NURS:6004/ANES:6004 Scientific Principles for Anesthesia Practice (4)
• NURS:6006/ANES:6006 Pharmacology of Anesthesia Practice (3)
• NURS:6809 Advanced Practice Role I: Introduction (3)
• PCOL:6204 Pharmacology for Health Sciences: Nurse Anesthetist (5)
• Total Hours: 42

Second Year, Three-Year Plan (Anesthesia Nursing)

• NURS:5002 Leadership and Management Essentials (3)
• NURS:6007/ANES:6007 Basic Principles of Anesthesia Practice (5)
• NURS:6010/ANES:6010 Advanced Principles of Anesthesia Practice I (4)
• NURS:6012/ANES:6012 Advanced Principles of Anesthesia Practice II (1)
• NURS:6050/ANES:6050 Introductory Clinical Anesthesia (2)
• NURS:6051/ANES:6051 Clinical Anesthesia I (2)
• NURS:6052/ANES:6052 Clinical Anesthesia II (2)
• NURS:6826 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project I (2)
• NURS:6827 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project II (1)
• Total Hours: 22

Third Year, Three-Year Plan (Anesthesia Nursing)

• NURS:5015 Health Systems, Finance, and Economics (3)
• NURS:6053 Advanced Clinical Anesthesia (2)
• NURS:6054 Obstetrical Anesthesia (2)
• NURS:6055 Rural Anesthesia (2)
• NURS:6802 Health Policy, Law, and Advocacy (3)
• NURS:6810 Advanced Practice Role II: Integration (3)
• NURS:6828 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project III (1)
• NURS:6829 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project IV (1)
• Total Hours: 17

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Subprogram

The following coursework (83 s.h.) is required for a three-year plan.

First Year, Three-Year Plan (FNP)

• NURS:5002 Leadership and Management Essentials (3)
• NURS:5007 Applied Epidemiology (3)
• NURS:5009 Evaluating Evidence for Practice (3)
• NURS:5014 Graduate Physiology for Advanced Practice (3)
• NURS:5017 Quality and Safety (3)
• NURS:5040 Genetics/Genomics for Advanced Nursing Practice (2)
• NURS:6802 Health Policy, Law, and Advocacy (3)
• NURS:6808 Population Health for Advanced Practice (3)
• NURS:6809 Advanced Practice Role I: Introduction (3)
• NURS:6811 Social Determinants of Health and Health System Inequities (3)
• Total Hours: 29

Second Year, Three-Year Plan (FNP)

• NURS:5010 Clinical Data Management and Evaluation (3)
• NURS:5015 Health Systems, Finance, and Economics (3)
• NURS:5023 Pathophysiology for Advanced Clinical Practice (4)
• NURS:5031 Health Promotion and Assessment for Advanced Clinical Practice (4)
• NURS:5032 Mental Disorders in Advanced Practice (3)
• NURS:5033 Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Practice Nursing (3)
• NURS:5035 Graduate Pharmacology Specialty (3)
• NURS:5039 Advanced Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures for Primary Care (1)
• NURS:6826 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project I (2)
• NURS:6827 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project II (1)
• Total Hours: 27

Third Year, Three-Year Plan (FNP)

• NURS:6100 Primary Care: Infants, Children, and Adolescents I (3)
• NURS:6101/PEDS:6101 Primary Care: Infants, Children, and Adolescents II (3)
• NURS:6200 Primary Care: Adults and Older Individuals I (3)
• NURS:6201 Primary Care: Adults and Older Individuals II (3)
• NURS:6701 Advanced Practice Clinical Practicum I (3)
• NURS:6702 Advanced Practice Clinical Practicum II (3)
• NURS:6703 Advanced Practice Clinical Practicum III (4)
• NURS:6810 Advanced Practice Role II: Integration (3)
• NURS:6828 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project III (1)
• NURS:6829 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project IV (1)
• Total Hours: 27

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner—Acute Care (PNP—AC) Subprogram

The following coursework (78 s.h.) is required for a three-year plan.

First Year, Three-Year Plan (PNP—AC)

• NURS:5002 Leadership and Management Essentials (3)
• NURS:5007 Applied Epidemiology (3)
• NURS:5009 Evaluating Evidence for Practice (3)
• NURS:5010 Clinical Data Management and Evaluation (3)
• NURS:5014 Graduate Physiology for Advanced Practice (3)
• NURS:5015 Health Systems, Finance, and Economics (3)
• NURS:5040 Genetics/Genomics for Advanced Nursing Practice (2)
• NURS:6808 Population Health for Advanced Practice (3)
• NURS:6809 Advanced Practice Role I: Introduction (3)
• Total Hours: 26

Second Year, Three-Year Plan (PNP—AC)

• NURS:5017 Quality and Safety (3)
• NURS:5023 Pathophysiology for Advanced Clinical Practice (4)
• NURS:5031 Health Promotion and Assessment for Advanced Clinical Practice (4)
• NURS:5033 Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Practice Nursing (3)
• NURS:5035 Graduate Pharmacology Specialty (3)
• NURS:6104 Essentials of Pediatric Primary Care: Infants, Children, and Adolescents (3)
• NURS:6802 Health Policy, Law, and Advocacy (3)
• NURS:6811 Social Determinants of Health and Health System Inequities (3)
• NURS:6826 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project I (2)
• NURS:6827 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project II (1)
• Total Hours: 29

Third Year, Three-Year Plan (PNP—AC)

• NURS:5038 Advanced Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures for Acute Care (1)
• NURS:6400 Pediatric Acute Care I (3)
• NURS:6401 Pediatric Acute Care II (3)
• NURS:6701 Advanced Practice Clinical Practicum I (4)
• NURS:6702 Advanced Practice Clinical Practicum II (4)
• NURS:6703 Advanced Practice Clinical Practicum III (3)
• NURS:6810 Advanced Practice Role II: Integration (3)
• NURS:6828 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project III (1)
• NURS:6829 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project IV (1)
• Total Hours: 23

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner—Primary Care (PNP—PC) Subprogram

The following coursework (77 s.h.) is required for a three-year plan.

First Year, Three-Year Plan (PNP—PC)

• NURS:5002 Leadership and Management Essentials (3)
• NURS:5007 Applied Epidemiology (3)
• NURS:5009 Evaluating Evidence for Practice (3)
• NURS:5010 Clinical Data Management and Evaluation (3)
• NURS:5014 Graduate Physiology for Advanced Practice (3)
• NURS:5015 Health Systems, Finance, and Economics (3)
• NURS:5040 Genetics/Genomics for Advanced Nursing Practice (2)
• NURS:6808 Population Health for Advanced Practice (3)
• NURS:6809 Advanced Practice Role I: Introduction (3)
• NURS:6811 Social Determinants of Health and Health System Inequities (3)
• Total Hours: 29

Second Year, Three-Year Plan (PNP—PC)

• NURS:5017 Quality and Safety (3)
• NURS:5023 Pathophysiology for Advanced Clinical Practice (4)
• NURS:5031 Health Promotion and Assessment for Advanced Clinical Practice (4)
• NURS:5032 Mental Disorders in Advanced Practice (3)
• NURS:5033 Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Practice Nursing (3)
• NURS:5035 Graduate Pharmacology Specialty (3)
• NURS:5039 Advanced Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures for Primary Care (1)
• NURS:6826 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project I (2)
• NURS:6827 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project II (1)
• Total Hours: 24

Third Year, Three-Year Plan (PNP—PC)

• NURS:6100 Primary Care: Infants, Children, and Adolescents I (3)
• NURS:6101/PEDS:6101 Primary Care: Infants, Children, and Adolescents II (3)
• NURS:6701 Advanced Practice Clinical Practicum I (3)
• NURS:6702 Advanced Practice Clinical Practicum II (4)
• NURS:6703 Advanced Practice Clinical Practicum III (3)
• NURS:6802 Health Policy, Law, and Advocacy (3)
• NURS:6810 Advanced Practice Role II: Integration (3)
• NURS:6828 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project III (1)
• NURS:6829 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project IV (1)
• Total Hours: 24

Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Subprogram

The following coursework (76 s.h.) is required for a three-year plan.

First Year, Three-Year Plan (PMHNP)

• NURS:5002 Leadership and Management Essentials (3)
• NURS:5007 Applied Epidemiology (3)
• NURS:5009 Evaluating Evidence for Practice (3)
• NURS:5014 Graduate Physiology for Advanced Practice (3)
• NURS:5015 Health Systems, Finance, and Economics (3)
• NURS:5017 Quality and Safety (3)
• NURS:5040 Genetics/Genomics for Advanced Nursing Practice (2)
• NURS:6808 Population Health for Advanced Practice (3)
• NURS:6809 Advanced Practice Role I: Introduction (3)
• NURS:6811 Social Determinants of Health and Health System Inequities (3)
• Total Hours: 29

Second Year, Three-Year Plan (PMHNP)

• NURS:5010 Clinical Data Management and Evaluation (3)
• NURS:5023 Pathophysiology for Advanced Clinical Practice (4)
• NURS:5031 Health Promotion and Assessment for Advanced Clinical Practice (4)
• NURS:5033 Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Practice Nursing (3)
• NURS:5036 Psychopharmacology for Advanced Clinical Practice (3)
• NURS:6826 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project I (2)
• NURS:6827 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project II (1)
• Total Hours: 20

Third Year, Three-Year Plan (PMHNP)

• NURS:5041 Psychotherapeutics for Advanced Practice Nursing Across the Lifespan I (2)
• NURS:5042 Psychotherapeutics for Advanced Practice Nursing Across the Lifespan II (1)
• NURS:6500 Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing for Advanced Practice Didactic I (3)
• NURS:6501 Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing for Advanced Practice Didactic II (3)
• NURS:6701 Advanced Practice Clinical Practicum I (3)
• NURS:6702 Advanced Practice Clinical Practicum II (4)
• NURS:6703 Advanced Practice Clinical Practicum III (3)
• NURS:6802 Health Policy, Law, and Advocacy (3)
• NURS:6810 Advanced Practice Role II: Integration (3)
• NURS:6828 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project III (1)
• NURS:6829 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project IV (1)
• Total Hours: 27

Health Systems (HS) Subprogram

The following coursework (73 s.h.) is required for a four-year plan.

First Year, Four-Year Plan (HS)

• NURS:5002 Leadership and Management Essentials (3)
• NURS:5009 Evaluating Evidence for Practice (3)
• NURS:5015 Health Systems, Finance, and Economics (3)
• NURS:5016 Health Care Infrastructure and Informatics (3)
• NURS:5017 Quality and Safety (3)
• NURS:6808 Population Health for Advanced Practice (3)
• NURS:6809 Advanced Practice Role I: Introduction (3)
• NURS:6811 Social Determinants of Health and Health System Inequities (3)
• Total Hours: 24

Second Year, Four-Year Plan (HS)

• NURS:5007 Applied Epidemiology (3)
• NURS:5010 Clinical Data Management and Evaluation (3)
• NURS:6550 Advanced Leadership and Management (4)
• NURS:6551 Financial Management (4)
• NURS:6552 Executive Management in the Organization (4)
• NURS:6554 Seminar on Healthy Work Environments (3)
• NURS:6802 Health Policy, Law, and Advocacy (3)
• Total Hours: 24

Third Year, Four-Year Plan (HS)

• NURS:5019 Role Development: Educator in a Practice Discipline (offered in summer even years) (3)
• NURS:6553 Seminar on Innovations (4)
• NURS:6704 Practicum in Executive Leadership and Management (4)
• NURS:6826 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project I (2)
• NURS:6827 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project II (1)
• Total Hours: 14

Fourth Year, Four-Year Plan (HS)

• NURS:6556 Marketing and Communications for Health Care Leaders (3)
• NURS:6810 Advanced Practice Role II: Integration (3)
• NURS:6828 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project III (1)
• NURS:6829 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project IV (1)
  • One of these elective courses:
    • NURS:3595 Nonprofit Organizational Effectiveness I (same as ENTR:3595, MGMT:3500, MUSM:3500, RELS:3700, SSW:3500) (3)
    • NURS:3600 Nonprofit Organizational Effectiveness II (same as MGMT:3600, RELS:3701, SSW:3600) (3)
    • NURS:5018 Clinical Education in the Care Environment (offered in summer odd years) (3)
    • NURS:5020 Application of Educator Role Competencies (3)
    • NURS:5032 Mental Disorders in Advanced Practice (3)
    • NURS:5040 Genetics/Genomics for Advanced Nursing Practice (plus an additional 1 s.h. elective course; consult advisor) (3)
    • NURS:6555 Care Coordination Across Professional and Organizational Boundaries (3)
    • NURS:6557 Clinical Practice Management and Leadership for Advanced Practice Providers (3)
    • NURS:6808 Population Health for Advanced Practice (3)
• Total Hours: 11

Admission to the DNP Program

Application requirements specific to the DNP program are:

• a bachelor's or advanced degree with a major in nursing from a Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) accredited nursing program;
• satisfaction of the legal requirements for the practice of nursing;
• current written recommendations from three persons knowledgeable about the applicant's competence in the practice of nursing and potential for leadership and scholarship (forms required);
• a current résumé, goal statement (statement of purpose), statement of disclosure, and supplemental/information form;
• transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate coursework;
• DNP applicants to the direct care programs with master's degrees in nursing from other schools must provide verification of completed clinical hours from their institution's graduate director or must submit appropriate course syllabi;
• additional application requirements for post-APRN MSN to DNP applicants include providing verification of an MSN in a recognized ARNP specialty and proof of certification;
• an upper-level statistics course (undergraduate course at junior/senior level) completed within five years of application deadline except for post-APRN MSN to DNP applicants; acceptable University of Iowa courses are STAT:3510 Biostatistics, PSQF:4143 Introduction to Statistical Methods, STAT:4143 Introduction to Statistical Methods, or BIOS:4120 Introduction to Biostatistics (equivalent courses from other colleges also are accepted), and the upper-level statistics course must have a letter grade of C-minus or higher; and
• specific clinical experience requirements working as a registered nurse are required if applying to subprograms of adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner, pediatric nurse practitioner–acute care, and anesthesia nursing.

Application Deadlines

The application deadline for the DNP is Feb.1 for all subprograms except anesthesia nursing. The anesthesia nursing subprogram application deadline is June 1.