DNP Coursework

The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree offers an enhanced level of preparation for experienced nurses holding a master’s or baccalaureate in nursing degree to prepare for the nursing practice environments of the future. The curriculum emphasizes health care and health care system issues, management skills, informatics, and quality improvement. Expansion of direct and indirect nursing practice skills tailored to the unique professional goals of each student is the heart of the program.

Course of study

The post-master’s DNP Program includes core courses as well as electives complementary to the student’s area of expertise that total a minimum of 37 semester credits. Students may also select among the university’s graduate interdisciplinary specializations. Upon approval by their DNP faculty advisor and the DNP Subcommittee, students may complete their clinical requirements at their place of employment. It is not permissible for students to be at risk for any actual or potential conflict of interest (COI) within academic and  employment roles. A conflict of interest occurs when a student’s academic and employment interests may exert inappropriate influence either or both roles. For examinationple, a direct report supervisor may have employment-based requirements for a supervisee who is also a DNP student, that may be inconsistent with the student’s academic goals or program requirements. Therefore, students should have a preceptor who is not the student’s direct report supervisor within their place of employment.

The post-baccalaureate in nursing program (BSN to DNP) follows the Clinical Expert track, with the addition of the specific specialty coursework at the master’s level in order to certify as an advanced practice nurse.  Credit hour totals vary based on specialty area; however, a minimum of 73 credit hours are to be completed in order to receive a DNP degree. Clinical hours completed towards advanced practice certification will be completed at assigned clinical sites, provided by the college. Clinical requirements completed towards the DNP final project can be completed at the student’s place of employment, upon approval by their DNP faculty advisor and the DNP subcommittee.

Course delivery methods

Core coursework is offered using a variety of distance learning technologies, both synchronous and asynchronous. However, elective coursework may or may not be available in a distance format.

Students completing coursework towards a graduate nursing specialization as a BSN to DNP or post-master’s student will be required to complete all coursework required for the specialization, as outlined in their plan of study. Specialty coursework may be offered in an on campus or online format, depending on the specialization the student is admitted to. Students in an specialty that is only delivered through an on campus format are required to attend on campus versions of their specialty coursework.

Elective coursework requirement

Depending on the student’s DNP track, a student may select elective coursework in consultation with his or her DNP faculty advisor. Students in the Clinical Expert track complete one elective as part of their plan of study. Elective coursework provides a mechanism for individualized study within the student’s designated specialization and career focus. This requirement can be met in a wide variety of ways and ideally should be completed prior to the DNP professional examination.

Students may select among the wide range of graduate level courses offered throughout Ohio State University after obtaining instructor permission. Credit from courses taken elsewhere may be approved for transfer of credit towards the elective requirement through the petition process. Courses taken as a degree-seeking student may not be transferred to Ohio State for credit, regardless of whether the courses were required as part of the degree or were electives. Only coursework taken as a non-degree student prior to admission in a degree-granting program or after the graduation from a program may successfully be petitioned for transfer to Ohio State through the Graduate School. Ohio State courses may be waived through a College of Nursing petition process based on prior coursework, but the credit hour requirement must then be fulfilled using a different course so that the 37 credit hour requirement is met for the doctoral degree.

Appropriate online courses may also be available through Big Ten Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) CourseShare and Traveling Scholar options. Additional information is available online.

Students are also able to complete doctoral specific coursework and electives through the Nursing Education Xchange (NEXus). NEXus is a consortium of nursing schools across the country, offering some of their doctoral level courses to students within the NEXus network. Additional information and available courses are available at winnexus.org.

Required Coursework

A list of required DNP coursework is below:

  • NRSPRCT 8193  Individual Studies (Variable credit, 1-6)
    • Advanced individual studies in selected areas for the DNP student. Prereq: Admission to  the DNP program, or permission of instructor. Repeatable to a maximum of 6 credit hours or two completions. This course is graded S/U. (CE, NE, BSN)
  • NRSPRCT 8402 Innovation and Leadership Development for the DNP Nurse (2 credits)
    • Examination of leadership development to maximize innovation and positive organizational impact with an exploration of own leadership development. Prereq: Enrollment in DNP program, or permission of instructor. (CE, NE, BSN)
  • NRSPRCT 8403 Science of Practice Innovation (2 credits)
    • Scientific underpinnings for analyzing clinical situations in conjunction with appraising data, theories and concepts that guide nursing practice at the clinical doctoral level. Prereq: NRSPRCT 8402. (CE, NE)
  • NRSPRCT 8404 Nurse Executive Leadership (2 credits) 
    • Analysis of the role of the DNP nurse executive within complex healthcare systems. Prereq: NRSPRCT 8403. (CE, NE, BSN)
  • NRSPRCT 8480 Quality Improvement for the Doctor of Nursing Practice (2 credits)
    • Advanced concepts in collaboration, design, and leadership, as they relate to the implementation and evaluation of quality improvement initiatives. Prereq: Admission to the DNP program, or permission of instructor. Not open to students with credit for NURSPRCT 940.02. (CE, NE, BSN)
  • NRSPRCT 8490 Health Promotion in the Age of Personalized Health and Health Care (2 credits)
    • Critical analysis of population-based factors that impact personal health and care including the social determinants of health contributing to health disparities, their synthesis with health behavior theories, and the evidence-based strategies to change behavior and improve outcomes. Prereq: Admission to the DNP program, or permission of instructor. Not  open to students with credit for NURSPRCT 913. (CE, NE, BSN)
  • NRSPRCT 8500 Nursing Policy for Doctoral Nursing Practice (2 credits)
    • Principles of policy-making at the institutional, local, state, and federal levels to influence policy change affecting health care. Prereq: Admission to the DNP program, or permission of instructor. Not open to students with credit for NURSPRCT 940.03. (CE, NE, BSN)
  • NURSING 8510 Ethics in Healthcare Practice, Research and Policy (2 credits)
    • Study of the central ethical dilemmas facing Nursing in health care practice, research, and  policy. Prereq: Grad standing in Nursing or permission of instructor. Not open to students  with credit for NURSING 755. (CE, NE, BSN)
  • NRSPRCT 8600 Organizational Culture (1 credits)
    • Analysis of complex culture in health care and the impact on organizational structure, relationships, evaluation, and outcomes. Prereq: NRSPRCT 8402. (NE)
  • NRSPRCT 8610 Informatics for Leadership in Health and Healthcare (2 credits)
    • Health informatics, the evaluation of electronic health information resources and patient care technology, and application in DNP practice. Related policy, ethical, privacy, and disparity concerns related to access and use of healthcare data. Prereq: Admission to the DNP program, or permission of instructor. (CE, NE, BSN)
  • NRSPRCT 8781 Methods and Measurement for Clinical Practice Scholarship (2 credits)
    • Concepts and principles of practice scholarship methods and measurement for doctoral level nursing practice. Prereq: Admission to the DNP program, or permission of instructor. Not open to students with credit for NURSPRCT 951 or 952. (CE, NE, BSN)
  • NRSPRCT 8782 Foundations of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) (2 credits)
    • Examination of the development and impact of evidence-based practice on health outcomes and the roles of the DNP in integrating evidence into practice and leading organizational change. Prereq: Admission to the DNP program, or permission of instructor. (CE, NE, BSN)
  • NRSPRCT 8896 Practice Inquiry I (2 -3 credits)
    • Application of evidence-based practice (EBP) principles and the change process to implement, facilitate, evaluate, and sustain EBP changes to improve healthcare. Prereq: Admission to the DNP program, or permission of instructor.
  • NRSPRCT 8897 Practice Inquiry II (1 – 3 credits)
    • Examination of the roles and responsibilities of the DNP in use of EBP methods and dissemination of evidence to influence clinical practice change, building upon knowledge and skills in Practice Inquiry I. Prereq:  Admission to the DNP program, or permission of instructor. NursPrct 8896.
  • NRSPRCT 8898 DNP Clinical Immersion (5 credits)
    • Integration and synthesis of knowledge and practice experiences designed to help students achieve essential and specialty components of the DNP role. Prereq: Successful completion of DNP Professional Examination. Repeatable to a maximum of 21 credits. (CE, NE, BSN)
  • NRSPRCT 8998 DNP Final Document Project (1 credit)
    • Students Complete a scholarly clinical project based on their individualized goals and interests. Prereq: Enrollment in the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program and completion of the DNP Professional Doctoral Examination. Repeatable to a maximum of 3 credits. (CE, NE, BSN)