Program Overview

Advanced Practice Nurse DNP Program

The University of Central Florida's online Advanced Practice Nurse Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is designed to enhance the development of master's prepared Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Registered Nurse Anesthetists, and Nurse Midwives into clinical practice leaders.

Preparing Clinical Practice Leaders

Clinical practice leaders participate at the highest level in their organizations and community, and are equipped to improve quality, outcomes, and systems of healthcare. Doctoral students in the Advanced Practice DNP track are encouraged to lead scholarly inquiry in their current practice environment. Integral components of the program will include translating current evidence into practice, and designing, implementing, and evaluating new models of care.

Program Details

• Program Length: Part-time (7 semesters)
• Program Type: Online with intensives
• Credit Hours: 42
• Clinical Hours: 1,000 (a total of 1,000 clinical hours are required to award the DNP degree, with some clinical hours transferred in from prior MSN coursework and 420 clinical hours fulfilled during the DNP coursework)
• Deadlines: Apply by May 1 for Fall and by September 1 for Spring

Admission Criteria

To apply to this program, applicants must:

• Fulfill the general UCF graduate admissions requirements
• Be a licensed APRN (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse) in the State of Florida (out-of-state applicants must be eligible for licensure in Florida and must achieve APRN licensure to begin clinical courses)
• Have APN certification, or the ability to obtain certification in the first semester of enrollment
• Have an MSN degree in an APN specialty role or a post-MSN certificate (NP, CNS, CRNA, CNM) from a regionally accredited institution

Program Structure

The program is designed to prepare graduates to initiate and lead change in the clinical practice environment, with an emphasis on contributing to the body of evidence being considered in the reshaping of healthcare. Students will take coursework corresponding to the eight DNP essential competencies delineated by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).

Additional Opportunities

With the post-master's Graduate Certificate Programs for APRNs, students can add a specialty to their practice, including:

• Adult/Gero Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate
• Adult/Gero Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate
• Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate

Accreditation

The baccalaureate degree in nursing, master's degree in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, and advanced practice post-master's certificates at the College of Nursing at the University of Central Florida are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).