Program Overview
Doctor of Nursing Practice
The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree at the University of Vermont equips students for national certification as a nurse practitioner, offering Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) or Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) tracks.
Program Overview
The program benefits from personalized attention by expert faculty clinicians and small class sizes, ensuring the support necessary for success. The dedication to diversity and inclusion fosters a welcoming educational atmosphere, complemented by collaboration with a premier Academic Medical Center and NP-led Appletree Bay Primary Care, providing essential hands-on clinical experience.
Accreditation
The Baccalaureate degree program in nursing, Master's of Science degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN certificate program at the University of Vermont are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Concentrations
- Adult-gerontology nurse practitioner (AGNP)
- Family nurse practitioner (FNP)
Curriculum
The program comprises 69.5 to 76 credit hours of coursework, 800 to 870 hours of clinical experience, and an additional 240 practicum hours related to the D.N.P. project.
Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Program
Semester 1 Courses
- Advanced Pathophysiology
- Advanced Pharmacology
- Advanced Health Assessment
- Biostatistics and Epidemiology
Semester 2 Courses
- Optimizing Health and Management of Community Health Issues
- Practicum in Optimizing Health and Management of Community Health Issues
- Advanced Neuropharmacology
- Fundamentals of Critical Inquiry
Semester 3 Courses
- Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Science
- Healthcare Ethics
- Policy and Politics in Healthcare
Semester 4 Courses
- Advanced Nursing Practice for Older Adults
- Practicum in Nursing for Older Adults
- Professional Role Development
- Advanced Topics in Health Informatics
Semester 5 Courses
- Management of Gendered Healthcare in Women
- Practicum in Women's Gender Specialty
- Healthcare Quality
- Genetics for Clinicians
- DNP Project & Seminar I
Semester 6 Courses
- Population-Based Health for Advanced Practice Nursing
- DNP Project Practicum I: Immersion Practicum
Semester 7 Courses
- Management of Acute and Common Health Conditions in Primary Care
- Acute and Common Health Conditions AGNP Practicum
- Organization, Delivery, and Financing of Healthcare
- DNP Project and Seminar II
- DNP Project Practicum II
Semester 8 Courses
- Management of Chronic and Complex Conditions in Primary Care
- Practicum: Chronic and Complex Conditions, Leadership in Healthcare Systems
- DNP Project and Seminar III
Family Nurse Practitioner Program
Semester 1 Courses
- Advanced Pathophysiology
- Advanced Pharmacology
- Advanced Health Assessment
- Biostatistics & Epidemiology
Semester 2 Courses
- Optimizing Health & Management of Community Health Issues
- Practicum: Health & Community Health Issues Management
- Advanced Neuropharmacology
- Pediatric Concepts for APRNs
- Fundamentals of Critical Inquiry
Semester 3 Courses
- Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Science
- Health Care Ethics, Policy, and Politics
Semester 4 Courses
- Primary Care Management of Children and Adolescents
- Practicum: Children and Adolescents Primary Care
- Advanced Nursing Practice for Older Adults
- Professional Role Development
- Advanced Health Informatics Topics
Semester 5 Courses
- Women's Gendered Health Care Management
- Practicum: Women's Gender Specialty
- Quality in Health Care
- Genetics for Clinicians
- DNP Project & Seminar I
Semester 6 Courses
- Population-Based Health in Advanced Nursing Practice
- DNP Project Practicum I
- Immersion Practicum
Semester 7 Courses
- Primary Care Management of Acute & Common Health Conditions
- Practicum: FNP Acute & Common Conditions
- Health Care Organization, Delivery, and Financing
- DNP Project & Seminar II
- DNP Project Practicum II
Semester 8 Courses
- Chronic & Complex Conditions Primary Care Management
- Practicum: Chronic & Complex Conditions
- Health Care Systems Leadership
- DNP Project & Seminar III
Outcomes
NCLEX Pass Rates
In 2024, UVM nursing graduates attained a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN, significantly surpassing the national average of 87%, and also exceeded a 95% pass rate on the FNP and AGNP certification exams.
DNP Project Outcomes
As a DNP student, Natalie Ray worked with her advisor, Dr. Jean Pelski, and Dr. Thomas Delaney, a mental health researcher, on a scholarly project focused on preventing intentional self-harm in adolescents.
Admissions
- Bachelor's degree in nursing
- RN licensure in Vermont prior to initiating coursework
- College grade point average of 3.0 or higher
- Three letters of recommendation
- Prerequisite courses: Basic physical assessment, Statistics
Practice experience preferred. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are not required but may be included to complement the application.
International Students
International students are eligible to receive an I-20 immigration document to participate in this program. However, whether a student has Vermont RN licensure or not to begin the program, UVM is unable to authorize students for nursing employment experiences while in the program as off-campus authorization (CPT) would not be possible because of the curricular structure of our program.
Deadlines
Program applications are due March 30.