Doctor of Nursing Practice

Professor J. Yoder, Co-Director of DNP Program
Professors B. Miller and J. Yoder
Associate Professor S. Setiawan

Introduction

The Doctor of Nursing Practice program is designed for the master’s prepared registered nurse who is a graduate of a master of science nursing program or any master’s in a business/health related degree (e.g. MPH, MBA, MHA). This is an asynchronous, online program offered in partnership with Eastern Mennonite University (EMU). The program is built on a tradition of excellence in nursing education at the undergraduate and graduate levels at GC and EMU. A distinctive feature of the program is an emphasis on stewardship of limited healthcare resources. Graduates of this program are well-prepared to be change agents in their place of employment.

Admission Information

Admission requirements include the following:

• Earned a Master of Science in Nursing from a CCNE- or NLNAC-accredited program or any master’s in a business/health related degree (e.g. MPH, MBA, MHA) from a regionally accredited school with a cumulative GPA of 3.3 of higher
  • If the applicant’s bachelor’s degree is not in nursing, the master’s degree must be in nursing.
  • If the master’s degree is not in nursing, the Co-Directors will review the applicant’s transcripts and professional experience for evidence of meeting the MSN Essentials.
  • Non-MSN applicants must be working in the field of nursing/healthcare, either directly or indirectly.
  • The program will be longer if the master’s degree is not in nursing.
• Provide documentation of post-baccalaureate supervised practice hours from an accredited MSN program. If there are fewer than 400 supervised practice hours, the DNP program will be tailored to achieve the required minimum of 1,000 hours of post-baccalaureate supervised practice.
• Evidence of an unencumbered RN license in the state of practice. (State of practice must be part of the SARA compact.)
• Completed reference form from three (3) individuals who are able to address the applicant’s ability to succeed in a DNP program. Individuals completing the reference form should be among the following:
  • nurse faculty member who has knowledge of the applicant’s academic ability
  • professional work-related colleague or supervisor
  • if practicing as an APRN, at least one should be from an APRN
  • if practicing as a nurse leader/executive, one should be from a supervisor who can address the applicant’s leadership abilities
• Personal essay of 500 words or less that describes the applicant’s career goals related to pursuing the clinical doctorate. The essay addresses the applicant’s current thoughts on their preferred focus for the evidenced-based scholarly project.
• Current resume or curriculum vitae
  • evidence of currency in nursing practice
• Interview with the co-director via video-conferencing

If applicant’s first language is not English, a TOEFL score of at least 100 on the Internet-based or 600 on written-based test or IELTS score of 6.5 is required.

The nursing department reserves the right to adjust the current admission criteria when outcome assessment data demonstrate the need for such changes.

A maximum of 6 credit hours of comparable graduate-level coursework from an accredited college or university may be transferred, with the consent of the program director. Comparable is defined as courses that fulfill the requirements for the program to which the student will be enrolled. Courses considered for transfer must have a grade of B (not B-) or higher.

Tuition and Fees

Career Opportunities

The DNP acts as a leader and a change agent within their work environment. Within this role, the DNP synthesizes theoretical, scientific, and contemporary clinical knowledge for the improvement of healthcare outcomes.

Clinical Information

DNP students are required to complete 1000 faculty-supervised practicum hours. Students complete 600 practicum hours as part of course work. Up to 400 hours from post-baccalaureate studies may be accepted and counted toward the requisite 1000 hours. See program materials for details.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

33 credit hours

Planning and Advising Notes

Program follows a cohort model with accelerated and traditional plan of study options. The accelerated option requires six semesters of study; the traditional option requires nine semesters.

DNP Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the DNP program, graduates will demonstrate:

1. Implements and evaluates clinical practice based on the integration of nursing theory and nursing science with knowledge from ethics, the biophysical, psychosocial, analytical, and organizational sciences. (DNP Essential I, VIII)
2. Demonstrates advanced leadership skills for quality improvement and meeting system level challenges. (DNP Essential II, VIII)
3. Critically appraises evidence to determine best evidence for practice. (DNP Essential III, VIII)
4. Employs the use of information technology for the improvement and transformation of healthcare. (DNP Essential IV, VIII)
5. Demonstrates knowledge of healthcare policy to provide leadership for advocacy and education that shapes the future of healthcare. (DNP Essential V, VIII)
6. Lead interprofessional teams in the analysis of complex practice and/or organizational issues. (DNP Essential VI)
7. Analyze epidemiological, biostatistical, environmental, and other appropriate scientific data related to individual, aggregate, and population health. (DNP Essential VII)
8. Guide, mentor, and support other nurses to achieve excellence in nursing practice. (DNP Essential VIII)
9. Demonstrate cultural humility in the ethical delivery of care to vulnerable populations.