Graduate Programs

Degree Programs

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Purpose

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a Post-Masters 37 credit hour practice-focused professional doctorate.  Graduates of the program are prepared to assume leadership positions in nursing and health care, both at system and direct patient care levels. Graduate will contribute to quality improvement and patient safety through systems thinking, reflective practice, informatics, translation science, and evidence-based clinical practice.

Program Outcomes

Graduates of the program are expected to:

1. Use relationship-centered nursing leadership to improve health care and the health status and outcomes of people.

2. Engage with communities of practice to frame problems, design and implement evidence-based interventions, and evaluate outcomes.

3. Integrate the needs of diverse societies in the design, delivery, and evaluation of health services in complex systems.

4. Transform clinical practice through reflection, action inquiry, strategic resource management, information technology and/or knowledge-based resources.

5. Translate knowledge for application to the delivery of advanced nursing practice.

6. Implement changes based on evaluation of health systems, health policy, and nursing science in response to social, political, economic, and ethical issues.

7. Evaluate the impact of change on complex health systems including individuals and populations.

DNP Curriculum

Thirty-seven credit hours (post- masters MSN) are required to complete the curriculum and include the following courses:

I631 Clinical Information Systems 3 credits
D615 Health Care Outcomes and Decision Making 3 credits
D735 Clinical Epidemiology and Statistics in Nursing 3 credits
D736 Inquiry I: Evidence-based Research & Translation Science 3 credits
D737 Inquiry II: Evidence-based Research & Translation Science 3 credits
D743 Influencing Public Health Policy 3 credits
D744 Strategic Resource Management in Nursing & Health Systems 3 credits
D749 DNP Practicum 7 credits
D751 Knowledge Complexity 3 credits
D751 Relationship-Centered Leadership in Complex Systems 3 credits
Elective 3 credits

Last updated: February, 2012