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 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 Evidence Based Quality Improvement for the DNP (2 credits)
- Explore the theoretical foundations and application of quality improvement methods, tools and strategies needed to increase organizational effectiveness. Focuses on measurement and accountability in health care delivery systems through the examination and analysis of data, structures, processes, and outcomes. Prepares students to lead and practice in organizations.
Prereq: Enrollment in DNP program, or permission of instructor.
- Explore the theoretical foundations and application of quality improvement methods, tools and strategies needed to increase organizational effectiveness. Focuses on measurement and accountability in health care delivery systems through the examination and analysis of data, structures, processes, and outcomes. Prepares students to lead and practice in organizations.
- NRSPRCT 8490 Health Promotion, Theory, and Population Health (2 credits)
- Critical analysis of population-based factors that impact population and personal health care including how structural racism and the social determinants of health contribute to health disparities and how health behavior theories, framework, and evidence-based strategies lead to improvements to community health outcomes.
Prereq: Enrollment in the DNP program, or permission of instructor.
- Critical analysis of population-based factors that impact population and personal health care including how structural racism and the social determinants of health contribute to health disparities and how health behavior theories, framework, and evidence-based strategies lead to improvements to community health outcomes.
- 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 Health Informatics and Technology for the DNP (2 credits)
- This course will apply information and communication technologies and informatics processes to nursing practice. It will address skills needed to assess, evaluate, and optimize health information systems/technology to support communication, the delivery of high-quality care, and improvement of population health. These components emphasize the design and implementation of health care technology.
Prereq: Enrollment in DNP program, or permission of instructor.
- This course will apply information and communication technologies and informatics processes to nursing practice. It will address skills needed to assess, evaluate, and optimize health information systems/technology to support communication, the delivery of high-quality care, and improvement of population health. These components emphasize the design and implementation of health care technology.
- NRSPRCT 8781 Methods and Measurement for Evaluation of Evidence-based Nursing Practice (2 credits)
- This course focuses on methods, application and interpretation of data and epidemiological approaches for evidence-based nursing practice.
Prereq: Enrollment in DNP program, or permission of instructor and undergrad statistics course in last 5 years.
- This course focuses on methods, application and interpretation of data and epidemiological approaches for evidence-based nursing practice.
- 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 DNP Systems Application I (2 -5 credits)
- Application, integration and synthesis of knowledge, skills, and abilities to meet AACN Essentials for Advanced-Level Nursing Education sub-competencies with practice experiences designed to help students achieve competencies in the specialty components of the DNP role.
Prereq: Enrollment in DNP program, or permission of instructor. Not open to students with credit for 8783. Repeatable to a maximum of 9 cr hrs or 3 completions.
- Application, integration and synthesis of knowledge, skills, and abilities to meet AACN Essentials for Advanced-Level Nursing Education sub-competencies with practice experiences designed to help students achieve competencies in the specialty components of the DNP role.
- NRSPRCT 8897 DNP Systems Application II (2-5 credits)
- Application, integration and synthesis of knowledge, skills, and abilities to meet AACN Essentials for Advanced-Level Nursing Education sub-competencies with practice experiences designed to help students achieve competencies in the specialty components of the DNP role.
Prereq: 8896. Repeatable to a maximum of 6 cr hrs or 2 completions..
- Application, integration and synthesis of knowledge, skills, and abilities to meet AACN Essentials for Advanced-Level Nursing Education sub-competencies with practice experiences designed to help students achieve competencies in the specialty components of the DNP role.
- NRSPRCT 8898.01 DNP Systems Application III (5 credits)
- Application, integration and synthesis of knowledge, skills, and abilities to meet AACN Essentials for Advanced-Level Nursing Education sub-competencies with practice experiences designed to help students achieve competencies in the specialty components of the DNP role.
Prereq: 8897.
- Application, integration and synthesis of knowledge, skills, and abilities to meet AACN Essentials for Advanced-Level Nursing Education sub-competencies with practice experiences designed to help students achieve competencies in the specialty components of the DNP role.
- NRSPRCT 8898.02 DNP Systems Application IV (1-5 credits)
- Application, integration and synthesis of knowledge, skills, and abilities to meet AACN Essentials for Advanced-Level Nursing Education sub-competencies with practice experiences designed to help students achieve competencies in the 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.
- Application, integration and synthesis of knowledge, skills, and abilities to meet AACN Essentials for Advanced-Level Nursing Education sub-competencies with practice experiences designed to help students achieve competencies in the specialty components of the DNP role.
- NRSPRCT 8998.01 DNP Final Document Project I (1 credit)
- Students complete a scholarly clinical project based on their individualized goals and interests.
Prereq: 8402, 8403, 8404, 8480, 8490, 8500, 8510, 8600, 8610, 8781, 8782, 8896, and 8897. This course is graded S/U.
- Students complete a scholarly clinical project based on their individualized goals and interests.
- NRSPRCT 8998.02 DNP Final Project Document II (1 credit)
- Students complete a scholarly clinical project based on their individualized goals and interests.
Prereq: 8998.01, and completion of the DNP Professional Examination. This course is graded S/U.
- Students complete a scholarly clinical project based on their individualized goals and interests.