Post-Master's DNP Not Seeking A New Specialty

Applicants who have already earned a Master’s Degree have two options, depending on their preparation for an advanced practice role. Please note that both options are focused on advanced practice preparation at the doctoral level. A sole focus on preparation as a nurse educator does not constitute an advanced practice specialty area. Students may apply to obtain a Nurse Educator Graduate Certificate while in the DNP program.

Post-Master’s DNP Not Seeking a New Specialty

Applicants who are already prepared for an advanced practice specialty area (community health, nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, nurse anesthetist, or clinical nurse specialist) are eligible to apply for this option if they do not seek preparation in a new specialty. Applicants must be eligible or certified in an advanced practice specialty area. Persons with a generalist or nursing education master’s degree are not eligible for admission into this option. The DNP degree will allow these applicants to serve at a higher level as an advanced practitioner in their existing specialty.

Post-Master’s DNP Seeking a New Specialty

Applicants who are not prepared for an advanced practice specialty area, or who are seeking preparation in a new area of advanced practice specialization, are eligible to apply for this option.

Programs of study for Post-Masters DNP students vary greatly, depending on the student’s pacing in the program. Some students not seeking a new specialty aim to complete the program on a full-time basis in 12 months. Students seeking a new specialty will likely complete their program on a full-time basis in approximately two years Most Post-Master’s DNP students pursue program requirements on a part-time basis.

Program Requirements

Post-master's DNP students must:

• complete all core courses
• complete a minimum of 1,000 practice hours (Post-master’s DNP students not seeking a new specialty may apply the number of hours of clinical experience they completed for their advanced practice preparation in their master’s programs toward the 1,000 practice hours required in the DNP program)
• fulfill credits equivalent to one year of full time study
• enroll for a minimum of one calendar year in the program
• successfully complete the final examination

In order to meet these requirements efficiently, it is recommended that students formulate their DNP Supervisory Committees and complete the Program of Study Proposal form as early after enrollment in the program as possible.

Core Courses

• NURS 525: Managing Clinical Effectiveness Within Care Systems (3 credits)
• NSG 530: Professional Identity and Leadership Processes in Nursing (4 credits)
• NMETH 527: Introduction to Health Informatics and Systems Thinking (3 credits)
• NMETH 533: Appraising Evidence for Clinical Practice (4 credits)
• NMETH 534: Translating Evidence to Clinical Practice: Conceptual, Methodological and Clinical Issues (4 credits)
• NMETH 801: Practice Doctorate Project/Capstone (1-12 credits)
• NCLIN 798: Tripartite Immersion Practicum (5 credits)

Other courses approved by the supervisory committee to meet program requirements above