DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE (DNP)
MISSION
The Graduate Nursing Programs are devoted to educating nursing leaders and scholars committed to advancing the global healthcare needs of diverse and underserved populations through teaching, scholarship and service.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a practice-focused doctoral nursing degree designed for the certified Advanced Practice Registered Nurse seeking careers in advanced clinical nursing practice with a focus on leadership. The DNP Program provides a 36-credit hour curriculum that is designed to be delivered in five (5) semesters of continuous study. The DNP program emphasizes research application and utilization in clinical practice settings as well as interdisciplinary team building skills, organizational leadership and management development, utilization of information technology and quality improvement techniques, development and initiation of public policy, and the establishment of evidence-based practice. Graduates from the DNP program will be instrumental in translating research into nursing practice to improve health outcomes and decrease health disparities in their communities and beyond.
A DNP Project and clinical practicum hours are required. The clinical practicum hours will assist in the development and completion of the DNP Project and assure that students have mastered the DNP Essentials for doctoral level advanced nursing practice. The DNP Project indicates mastery of an advanced practice specialty area and is a requirement for the DNP degree. Examples of DNP projects include, but are not limited to, a pilot study; evaluation of an existing practice model; a quality improvement project; an evaluation of a new practice model; or a consulting project.
END OF PROGRAM STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the completion of the program, graduates will be able to:
1. Synthesize theoretical, philosophical, ethical, and empirical knowledge to develop therapeutic interventions in complex health systems.
2. Develop leadership skills within complex health systems to improve safe, cost-effective, and quality health care for diverse populations.
3. Utilize clinical scholarship and analytical methods to design, implement, evaluate, and disseminate evidence-based practice
4. Utilize information systems and patient care technology for the improvement and transformation of health care in diverse populations.
5. Provide leadership in the analysis, development, and implementation of health care policy on local, regional, national, and global levels.
6. Employ professional/inter-professional communication and collaboration to improve healthcare and healthcare outcomes for diverse populations.
7. Evaluate advanced practice care in complex situations and systems to improve healthcare services to patients, families, and populations.