Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP)
With a solid grounding in the three North Park core values of Christian perspective, urban commitment, and intercultural recognition, the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is designed to fully prepare students for advanced nursing practice. Building upon a master’s degree in nursing, students will develop organization and systems leadership knowledge and skills, generate new knowledge through practice innovation, and improve health outcomes through application and translation of evidence into practice.
Admissions:
Applications for the DNP degree program are processed annually for fall admissions. The application deadline is June 1. A mandatory onsite orientation is scheduled before the fall semester commences.
Admission Requirements:
- Completed application form
- MSN/MS with a major in nursing from a US accredited program
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
- Cumulative GPA of 3.2 for all MSN/MS program courses
- Documentation of practice hours completed in MSN/MS program courses
- Essay
- Resume or CV
- Three professional letters of recommendations, with at least one from current supervisor
- Current unencumbered RN license in the state where practicing (practicum)
- Personal interview(s) with faculty
Transfer Students
Students may not transfer courses from other graduate programs. They will complete all outlined core and project/practicum courses at North Park University.
International Students
Students who completed a MSN/MS with a major in nursing degree abroad are not candidates for admission into the program.
Students Rights, Responsibilities, and Regulations
These are comparable to those outlined for the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs in the current academic catalogue with the following modifications:
- No more than one C+ or lower grade may be earned in a DNP course. If a second C+ or lower grade is earned, the student will be dismissed from the program.
- Leave of Absence: Students are expected to move through the DNP program as a cohort. If a student drops a course or leaves the program for personal reasons, the student may be granted a leave of absence. The student may return the following year, joining the subsequent cohort. Each student in good standing has a maximum of five years from the time of matriculation to complete the program.
DNP Program Requirements
Graduation from the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program includes completion of seven core courses, five DNP project development seminars, and a two-course sequence, culminating in DNP project implementation/evaluation and evidence translation.
Students may need to complete additional practice hours to fulfill the 1000 semester hour DNP requirement, mandated by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), through enrollment in an independent study option. Students are expected to move through the program as a cohort. A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above is required for graduation.
Course requirements
Core Courses
Project Development Seminars
Project Implementation
| NURS 6200 | DNP Project Implementation/Evaluation And Evidence Translation | 2 |
| NURS 6200 | DNP Project Implementation/Evaluation And Evidence Translation | 2 |
NURS 6010 Biostatistics (3 sh)
This course provides an overview of basic concepts in biostatistics with application to healthcare. Various research methodologies and data collection procedures are analyzed. The meaning of specific biostatistical tests, how to detect patterns in data, and how to judge the validity and reliability of data are explored. Specific clinical applications of biostatistics related to advanced nursing practice is examined.
NURS 6015 Epidemiology (3 sh)
This course examines the distribution and the determinants of health and illness in human populations. Epidemiological approaches for estimating the burden of disease, and evaluating primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention strategies are analyzed. Statistical concepts related to epidemiological research are applied.
NURS 6030 Health Care Leadership in Organizations and Systems (3 sh)
This course explores leadership theory, organization theory, philosophy, culture, structure, and processes for their relevance to health care enterprises. The implementation, development, and improvement of both inter-professional practice models and healthcare outcomes are examined. Quality improvement models are discussed in the context of national initiatives and organizational processes. The role of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) nurse is examined within the health care system.
NURS 6035 Health Policy Development and Implementation (3 sh)
The primary focus of this course is to explore the leadership role of DNP nurses in health policy development and implementation. Overview of issues in health policy, including the socio- political and economic context of health and health-seeking behaviors, are explored. Health care policy development and implementation at the local, state, national, and global levels are examined. Ethical dimensions of public policy formulations and implementation are highlighted.
NURS 6040 Health Care Information Systems (3 sh)
An overview of the foundational concepts of Health Management Information Systems (HMIS) is provided.
The stages of implementing a new HMIS, from planning to evaluation, are examined. The standards, governance, policy, globalization, and future of HMIS are discussed. Data analysis and presentation techniques are explored and used to trend organizational findings.
NURS 6045 Health Care Ethics (2 sh)
This course examines the complex interactions between ethical issues and the changing healthcare environment. The role of values and faith are considered when responding to ethical challenges in professional practice. The intersection between health care and organizational ethics are explored and contemporary moral discussions are examined in light of ethical frameworks. The ANA Code of Ethics and the North Park University School of Nursing philosophy are analyzed as they inform ethical decision making.
NURS 6050 Writing for Publication (2 sh)
This course prepares students to develop a publishable manuscript based on their DNP project. It addresses the key elements of scholarly writing including development a query letter, preparation of a scholarly paper, determination of authorship, and identification of ethical/legal considerations. Considerations for engaging in peer review and effective strategies for oral and poster presentations are addressed.
NURS 6110 DNP Project Development Seminar I (2 sh)
This is the first in a series of seminars to facilitate the development of the DNP project and the DNP role. Students gain expertise in planning for the development, implementation, and evaluation of a DNP project and engage in mentored practicum experiences. In this first seminar, emphasis is placed on characterization of a clinical problem and identification of key stakeholders with potential to offer input into the nature of the problem. The role of the DNP in providing leadership for clinical scholarship is explored.
NURS 6120 DNP Project Development Seminar II (2 sh)
This is the second in a series of seminars to facilitate the development of the DNP project and the DNP role. Students gain expertise in planning for the development, implementation, and evaluation of a DNP project and engage in mentored practicum experiences. In this second seminar, emphasis is placed on gaining a complete understanding of the full scope of the clinical problem, and on the gathering, appraising, and synthesizing evidence to identify best practices to address the problem. The role of the evidence-based framework for the project is addressed.
NURS 6130 DNP Project Development Seminar III (2 sh)
This is the third in a series of seminars to facilitate the development of the DNP project and the DNP role. Students gain expertise in planning for the development, implementation, and evaluation of a DNP project and engage in mentored practicum experiences. In this third seminar, emphasis is placed on developing a comprehensive program description incorporating a logic model to support the project planning process. Stakeholder input is elicited.
NURS 6140 DNP Project Development Seminar IV (2 sh)
This is the fourth in a series of seminars to facilitate the development of the DNP project and the DNP role. Students gain expertise in planning for the development, implementation, and evaluation of a DNP project and engage in mentored practicum experiences. In this fourth seminar, emphasis is placed on designing an evaluation plan addressing logic model elements, indicators, data sources, methods, timing and data analysis. Stakeholder input is elicited.
NURS 6150 DNP Project Development Seminar V (2 sh)
This is the last in a series of five seminars to facilitate the development of the DNP project and the DNP role. Students gain expertise in planning for the development, implementation, and evaluation of a DNP project and engage in mentored practicum experiences. In this last seminar, emphasis is placed on identifying ethical issues associated with project implementation and evaluation and in pulling together a quality proposal for IRB review and faculty approval.
NURS 6200 DNP Project Implementation/Evaluation and Evident Translation (2 sh)
The focus of this course is to facilitate DNP project implementation and evaluation. It builds on the knowledge and skills gained in the DNP project development seminars. Emphasis also is placed on the dissemination of project findings for translating evidence into practice. The course is repeated over two semesters.
NURS 6910 Independent Study: Advance Nursing Practicum (1-4 sh)
DNP students enroll in mentored practicum hours to gain expertise in building and assimilating knowledge in advanced nurse practice.