Program Overview

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is designed to prepare advanced practice nurses to provide high-quality patient care and lead healthcare teams.

DNP Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the program are expected to:

• Synthesize knowledge from nursing and related disciplines to inform clinical judgment and innovation in advanced nursing practice (Domain 1 Knowledge for Nursing Practice)
• Practice to the full scope of education using effective communication and a systematic approach to coordinate person-centered care, empower advanced decision making, and promote self-care management (Domain 2 Person-Centered Care)
• Improve population health outcomes through partnerships, advocacy, and policies that improve health equity within systems and at local, regional, national, and global levels (Domain 3 Population Health)
• Advance the science of nursing through ethical scholarship and innovative and evidence-based approaches that advance the profession, improve health, and transform healthcare (Domain 4 Scholarship for the Nursing Discipline)
• Apply quality improvement principles to establish a culture of patient, provider, and work environment safety to reduce and mitigate risk, safeguard care delivery, and improve nursing practice outcomes (Domain 5 Quality and Safety)
• Facilitate a climate of mutual respect, improved communication, and quality collaboration within interprofessional teams that optimize care delivery (Domain 6 Interprofessional Partnerships)
• Lead and respond to changes in complex systems through policy and coordination of resources for diverse populations in an equitable and fiscally responsible manner (Domain 7 Systems-Based Practice)
• Evaluate and use information and communication technologies and informatics tools integrating best practices, regulatory standards, and ethical, legal, social implications in direct and indirect care roles (Domain 8 Informatics and Healthcare Technologies)
• Embody the core values and professional identity of nursing by advocating for social justice and integrating ethical, legal, regulatory, and professional standards (Domain 9 Professionalism)
• Engage in personal and professional development to promote self-advocacy, resilience, and well-being to expand one's own nursing leadership capacity and contribute to the advancement of the nursing profession (Domain 10 Personal, Professional, and Leadership Development)

DNP Degree Requirements

The BSN to DNP requires 66 credit hours with a combination of core didactic courses, project synthesis courses, and clinical track specialty courses. 1,005 clock hours of clinical are required. The Post-MSN DNP requires a minimum of 38 credit hours and 1,000 clock hours of clinical. Up to 475 clinical hours may be transferred in from the MSN degree.

DNP Curriculum

BSN-DNP Nurse Practitioner Tracks (66)

• Core Courses (34)
  • NURS-D 604 Foundations of DNP Studies (3)
  • NURS-D 615 Performance Improvement & Patient Safety in Health Systems (3)
  • NURS-D 735 Application of Biostatistics & Epidemiology in Advanced Nursing Practice (3)
  • NURS-D 635 Population Health Surveillance & Management (3)
  • NURS-D 710 Analytical Thinking for Evidence-Based Practice (3)
  • NURS-D XXX Clinical Informatics (3)
  • NURS-D 743 Trans-disciplinary Approaches to Influencing Public Health Policy (3)
  • NURS-D 748 Interprofessional Collaborative Practice (3)
  • NURS-Y 623 Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan (3)
  • NURS-Y 625 Advanced Physical Assessment Across the Lifespan (4)
  • NURS-Y 627 Advanced Pharmacology Across the Lifespan (3)
• DNP Project Courses (7)
  • DNP Project Synthesis (4)
  • DNP Project Practicum (3)
• NP Specialty Courses (25)
  • Specialty Didactic Courses (12)
  • Specialty Practicum Courses (10)
  • DNP Synthesis IV: Transition to Practice (3)

Post-MSN DNP Tracks (38)

• Core Courses (18)
  • NURS-D 604 Foundations of DNP Studies (3)
  • NURS-D 615 Performance Improvement & Patient Safety in Health Systems (3)
  • NURS-D 710 Analytical Thinking for Evidence-Based Practice (3)
  • NURS-D XXX Clinical Informatics (3)
  • NURS-D 743 Trans-disciplinary Approaches to Influencing Public Health Policy (3)
  • NURS-D 748 Interprofessional Collaborative Practice (3)
• DNP Project Courses (7)
  • DNP Project Synthesis (4)
  • DNP Project Practicum (3)
• Executive Leadership Track Courses (13)
  • NURS-D 650 Data Analysis for Admin & Clinical Decision Making (3)
  • NURS-D 744 Strategic Resource Leadership (3)
  • NURS-D 721 Advanced Leadership in Complex Systems (3)
  • DNP Specialty Practicum Courses (4)
• Advanced Clinical Track Courses (13)
  • NURS-D 735 Application of Biostatistics & Epidemiology in Advanced Nursing Practice (3)
  • NURS-D 635 Population Health Surveillance & Management (3)
  • NURS-D 721 Advanced Leadership in Complex Systems (3)
  • DNP Specialty Practicum Courses (4)