Post B.S.N. - D.N.P. in Nursing

The post-BSN entry option builds on a student’s undergraduate degree and experience as a registered nurse and prepares the individual for the advanced practice registered nurse role in a chosen specialty. Direct care specialties include: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Non-direct care specialty: Executive Leadership in Health Care. Required credit hours vary by specialty. Students apply to and are admitted to a particular specialty. Admission decisions are made on a competitive basis by specialty.

Admission Criteria

• Undergraduate grade-point average of 3.3 on a 4.0 grading scale
• Three references (forms provided) attesting to the applicants’ expertise in nursing or health care. Faculty prefer professional references from nursing faculty advisor if available or a nursing faculty member who knows the applicant, one from a doctorally prepared Registered Nurse, and no more than one from peer.
• Personal interview(s)
• Unencumbered licensure as a registered nurse in the state in which clinicals will occur (prerequisite to clinical experience)
• Clinical nursing experience prior to the first D.N.P. clinical course
• Goal Statement: In one to three double-spaced pages, discuss your reasons for seeking doctoral study, including your short-and long-term professional goals. Discuss a system or population you are interested in working with and identify/discuss a system or health problem in that population that you wish to study as a practice inquiry project.
• An example of scholarly written work, completed within two years of application, related to nursing that demonstrates excellent writing skills and the ability to communicate clearly and logically. Samples of scholarly work: formal research paper written in B.S.N. program; published article on a nursing issue; or paper written on nursing issue of interest to applicant.
• Current vita.