Doctor of Nursing Practice, D.N.P.

Department of Nursing    General Information

DNP Program Description

The DNP program provides comprehensive academic instruction in an interactive online community. The online community of learners provides opportunities to interact personally, collaboratively with faculty, and in team- learning experiences. The DNP program provides a 36 or 39 credit hour program geared toward nurse practitioners advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) and master’s-prepared nurses with an MSN in other concentrations. The program is designed with 27 credit hours of foundational courses that all DNP students are required to complete, with an additional three 1-credit practicum courses available for students who do not meet the minimum number of post- baccalaureate hours or those students who are not already Advanced-Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs).

The DNP courses build on previous learning of the master’s degree in nursing. Graduates of the DNP program are prepared as leaders in their field with advanced knowledge and skill in indirect care roles. The DNP program of study is led by four program goals that influence the expected student outcomes. Those goals include professional skills, evidence-based practice, theory application, and critical reasoning. In addition, the eight Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice (AACN, 2011) and the American Organization of Nursing Leadership (AONL) competencies provide guidance for course objectives for the DNP program outcomes.

DNP Program Purpose

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is designed to prepare students as experts in their field of practice. This program builds upon master’s degree programs through the application of evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and systems leadership (AACN, 2019). The DNP curriculum incorporates advanced knowledge with skills and knowledge from other disciplines to promote excellence in service and leadership in nursing that will meet the demands of complex healthcare environments at the highest level of nursing practice to guarantee quality patient outcomes” (AACN, 2019). As a Christian liberal arts university, nursing is recognized as a calling.

DNP Program Outcomes

At successful completion of the program, students will demonstrate the following outcomes with associated Essentials of Graduate Nursing Education required by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE):

• Demonstrate critical application of worldview concepts and the Christian faith with advanced nursing practice for diverse populations across the lifespan (DNP I, III)
• Integrate current evidence from other healthcare-related disciplines with nursing research and theories to develop, implement, and evaluate innovative practice approaches (DNP I, III, IV)
• Design and evaluate quality improvement methodologies that promote safe, effective, efficient, equitable, and patient-centered care to diverse patient populations across life span (DNP II, VIII)
• Develop, implement, and evaluate healthcare delivery strategies that employ the principles of business, healthcare economics, and health policy to improve patient outcomes and the quality of healthcare delivery (DNP IV, V, VI)
• Synthesize data from epidemiological, bio-statistical, environmental, and psychosocial sciences to implement and evaluate health promotion and disease prevention initiatives (DNP IV, VII)
• Demonstrate advanced levels of clinical judgment, analytical skills, systems thinking, and accountability in designing, implementing and evaluating evidence-based practice strategies to improve patient outcomes and population health (DNP III, VI)
• Utilize information systems and patient care technologies to generate meaningful evidence for nursing practice and improve healthcare outcomes (DNP II, IV)
• Educate, guide, and mentor healthcare team members, patients and family members to facilitate optimal patient care (DNP VI, VIII)
• Evaluate health care delivery models using determinants related to population health, environmental health, occupational health, cultural and socioeconomic aspects of health (DNP VI, VII)
• Engage in translational and evidence-based research for continued professional development to advance nursing practice (DNP III, VIII)

DNP Specialty Concentration

The DNP program requires 9 credit hours of specialty concentration in addition to the foundation courses required for all DNP students.

Strategic Leadership Concentration

The Strategic Leadership concentration provides students with a focus on building leadership practices that are broad in scope, visionary, and promote change. This track affords students an opportunity to apply self- introspection, effective communication skills, and Christian worldview principles, to collaborate with a variety of healthcare and community leaders to develop advanced knowledge and skills necessary to lead with excellence within complex healthcare systems and communities. Students will achieve an advanced awareness of the nursing profession as they gain global insights into business and leadership principles that will enhance the role of nursing leader.

DNP Admission Requirements

In addition to the general doctorate admission requirements for graduate programs, the DNP specific program admission requirements are as follows.

• Earned Master of Science in Nursing or Doctorate in Nursing degree from a regionally accredited institution and accredited nursing program. A student will be considered for conditional admission if that student has verification of completion of all degree requirements and provides an anticipated date of degree conferral;
• A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale in MSN and all post-graduate coursework;
• Official transcripts from all previously attended colleges and universities in which master’s or doctoral coursework was taken;
• At least two professional/academic recommendations;
• A personal video introduction is required and a personal or video interview may be required prior to admission;
• A satisfactory score on a 2-3- page personal goal statement;
• A CV or Resume;
• An unrestricted, unencumbered RN license from the state or country in which the nurse practices (Note: License must remain current throughout program);
• If applicable, an unrestricted, unencumbered APRN license from the state or country in which the nurse practices (Note: License must remain current throughout program).

DNP Program Policies

The DNP program will follow policies listed in the General Information , Academic Policies  and School of Nursing Policies sections of this catalog.

DNP Project and Clinical Practicum Experience

Prior to the start of any practicum or clinical practice or as required by an institutional setting, there must be proof of compliance with all agency or institutional requirements. It is the responsibility of the registered nurse graduate student to maintain currency of records. Requirements may include but are not limited to the following:

• Current unrestricted, unencumbered RN license in the state or country of practice;
• Proof of professional nursing liability insurance coverage throughout the enrollment period (minimum of $1 million - $3 million);
• Criminal Background Check at the Federal or International level*;
• CPR/BCLS certification as required, proof of TB testing, any required immunizations, vaccinations, HIPPA training, others as required.

*The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) institutes regulations in order for hospitals, home health agencies, clinics, etc. to gain or maintain accreditation status. One of these regulations requires that “all persons who are involved in patient care activities, i.e., employees, volunteers, and students must have criminal background checks as well as other health care related checks.” Criminal background checks and drug tests must be initiated by the student and completed prior to beginning any clinically-related practicums, followed by annual checks until completion of program.

The student is responsible for all financial obligations and transportation related to the associated agency or institutional requirements and must maintain current records in the nursing department. Noncompliance with any agency requirements may result in program delay or academic withdrawal.

Approval for commencing with practicum or clinical experience is based on a comprehensive review of academic performance, successful completion of all prerequisite and foundation course requirements, and program approval by the academic advisor in conjunction with the nursing department.

DNP Project

All DNP students will complete a DNP Project within this program. The DNP Project is uniquely designed for this program and is not considered a Capstone, but rather an integration of new skills into practice to demonstrate nursing scholarship and competencies aligning with the DNP Essentials (AACN). The DNP Project will be completed through four courses that run concurrently with foundational and concentration courses within the program.

Clinical/Practicum Experience

DNP students must meet the institutional and School of Nursing requirements to complete the program. AACN requires 1000 post-baccalaureate hours for a DNP. Students who do not enter the program with a minimum of 500 practicum hours from their previous program will complete three 1-credit practicum courses (NUR 880 ) to earn the required additional hours necessary to meet the 1000-hour requirement.