DNP Coursework

The DNP Program curriculum emphasizes quality improvement methods and tools, leadership skills, informatics, and evidenced based practice. Expansion of direct and indirect nursing practice knowledge and skills coupled with advanced leadership competencies 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 that total a minimum of 37 semester credits that include both didactic and practical or field experiences called immersions. Upon approval by their DNP faculty advisor and the DNP Subcommittee, students may complete their immersion 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 on either or both roles. For example, 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 that meet requirements for students to take a national certification examination to practice as an advanced practice registered nurse.  Credit hour totals vary based on specialty area; however, a minimum of 73 credit hours are to be completed to receive a DNP degree. Clinical hours completed towards advanced practice certification will be completed at assigned clinical sites, provided by the college. Immersion 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, but there are many other opportunities and sites available to students.

Course delivery methods

Core coursework is offered using a variety of distance learning technologies, both synchronous and asynchronous. The majority of the DNP program uses a synchronous format, meaning you are required to be online at a certain day and time weekly.  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 to which the student is admitted. Students in a specialty that is only delivered through an on campus format are required to attend on campus versions of their specialty coursework.

Required Coursework

A list of required DNP coursework is below:

  • NURSING 5115 MINDSTRONG: An Evidence-based Program to Reduce Stress and Promote Overall Well-being (1 credit)
    • Through a series of educational and skills building activities, this course provides an evidence-based program that reduces stress, improves mental resiliency and builds protective factors that improve overall health, well-being, and academic performance. This course is graded S/U. (Required for BSN-DNP students only).
  • NRSPRCT 8193  Individual Studies (Variable credit, 1-6 credits)
    • 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)
    • Students must complete the enrollment form in Beacon with their advisor in order to enroll in this course.
    • Course not required, but can be taken to earn additional clinical hours or for extra time to work on DNP Final Project as needed.
  • 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: Enrollment in DNP program, or permission of instructor.
  • 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 8405 Nurse Executive Introductory Immersion Experiences (1-6 credits) 
    • Introductory clinical immersion course for Nurse Executive students matriculating with less than 500 verified graduate level clinical hours. Enables completion of 37.5 to 225 graduate clinical hours. Focus on knowledge, skills, and goals for the nurse executive role, prior nursing roles in relation to nurse executive competencies, and transition to doctoral nursing leadership roles. Prereq: Enrollment in the DNP program Nurse Executive specialization track, or permission of instructor. Repeatable to a maximum of 6 cr hrs or 6 completions. This course is graded S/U. (NE)
  • 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 8890 Doctor of Nursing Practice Professional Seminar (1 credit)
    • Development of scholarly writing and peer review skills in scholarly nursing practice. Prereq: Enrollment in DNP program, or permission of instructor.
  • 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 8898.01 DNP Clinical Immersion I (5 credits)
    • Integration and synthesis of knowledge and practice experiences designed to help students achieve essential and specialty components of the DNP role.
      Prereq: 8402, 8403, 8404, 8480, 8490, 8500, 8510, 8600, 8610, 8781, 8782, 8896, and 8897.
  • NRSPRCT 8898.02 DNP Clinical Immersion II (1-5 credits)
    • Integration and synthesis of knowledge and practice experiences designed to help students achieve essential and specialty components of the DNP role. Prereq: 8898.01, and completion of the DNP Professional Examination. Repeatable to a maximum of 5 cr hrs or 4 completions.
  • NRSPRCT 8998.01 DNP Final Document Project I (1 credit)
    • Integration and synthesis of knowledge and practice experiences designed to help students achieve essential and specialty components of the DNP role. Prereq: 8402, 8403, 8404, 8480, 8490, 8500, 8510, 8600, 8610, 8781, 8782, 8896, and 8897. . Repeatable to a maximum of 5 cr hrs or 4 completions.
  • NRSPRCT 8998.02 DNP Final Project Document II (1 credit)