Post-Master's Doctor of Nursing Practice Program
The Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (PM/DNP) program infuses practice-focused doctoral education with scholarship, evidence-based practice, and data analytics designed to develop clinical practice and organizational systems leaders, such as nurse executives, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, midwives, nurse anesthetists, and clinical nurse leaders. Graduates of this program are prepared to lead change in population and systems outcomes. The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree is a practice doctorate requiring the completion of a DNP scholarly project focusing on quality improvement and translation of evidence to clinical nursing practice. This cohort program is 39 credits and is designed to be completed in a 3-year, part-time sequence. Optional 4- year, 5-year, and 6-year part time programs of study are also available.
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is designed for the nurse who seeks a career in nursing leadership with a strong connection to clinical practice, as well as for the advanced practice nurse who wants to remain in clinical practice and influence healthcare outcomes at multiple levels. As part of the curriculum, students have a choice of taking a course in either executive leadership or introduction to palliative care.
Course Delivery Method
The DNP program courses are 100% online. The program requires attendance at an on-campus orientation and one required residency over the duration of the program.
Doctor of Nursing Practice Essentials
The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice is the framework for the DNP program curricula.
- I. Scientific Underpinnings for Practice
- II. Organizational and Systems Leadership for Quality Improvement and Systems Thinking
- III. Clinical Scholarship and Analytical Methods for Evidence-Based Practice
- IV. Information Systems/Technology and Patient Care Technology for the Improvement and Transformation of Healthcare
- V. Healthcare Policy for Advocacy in Healthcare
- VI. Interprofessional Collaboration for Improving Patient and Population Health Outcomes
- VII. Clinical Prevention and Population Health for Improving the Nation’s Health
- VIII. Advanced Nursing Practice
Admission Requirements
Admission to the Post-Master's DNP program is competitive. Students are admitted to the Post-Master's DNP program upon review and recommendation by the admissions committee based on academic, course prerequisite, and professional requirements listed below.
The criteria for admission include:
- Master of Science in Nursing or its equivalent from a college accredited by the appropriate accrediting association, with a minimum GPA of 3.2
- Current U.S. licensure as a Registered Nurse in state of residence
- Current advanced practice nursing licensure and certification documents
- Statement of three professional goals applicant hopes to accomplish upon completion of the degree
- Articulation of a focal area of clinical nursing practice interest that can be supported by the Sacred Heart University doctoral nursing faculty
- Letters of recommendation (one clinical and one academic)
- One page essay of clinical practice interests that applicant may wish to pursue in a scholarly project
- Interview with the program director
- Undergraduate or graduate statistics course within six years of admission strongly recommended
Degree Requirements
DNP students are required to select an approved plan of study in collaboration with a faculty advisor that must be satisfactorily completed, with a minimum GPA of 3.0, to earn the degree. The individual progression plan varies depending on which part-time sequence the student pursues.
Requirements List
Prerequisite Courses
Students that have a master’s degree in a field other than nursing may be required to take additional credits of master’s level nursing courses in order to achieve program competencies.
Required Doctor of Nursing Practice Core Courses
All DNP students are required to take the following:
| NU 700 | Theoretical Components of Nursing Science | 3 |
| NU 710 | Healthcare Policy, Advocacy, & Ethics | 3 |
| NU 720 | Leading Quality Initiatives & Information Systems | 3 |
| NU 721 | DNP Project:Topic Development | 1 |
| NU 722 | DNP Project: Methodology Development | 1 |
| NU 723 | DNP Project: Proposal Review | 1 |
| NU 724 | DNP Project: Responsible Conduct of Research | 1 |
| NU 725 | DNP Project: Implementation & Data Analysis | 1 |
| NU 726 | DNP Project: Presentation, Dissemination, & Evaluation | 1 |
| NU 735 | Clinical Scholarship and Analytical Methods for Evidence Based Practice I | 3 |
| NU 740 | Epidemiology & Population Health | 3 |
| NU 755 | Clinical Scholarship and Analytical Methods for Evidence Based Practice II | 3 |
| NU 760 | Strategic Leadership & Collaboration in Health Care Organizations | 3 |
| NU 770 | Advanced Care of Special Populations | 3 |
| NU 810 | DNP Scholarship & Advanced Practice I | 3 |
| NU 820 | DNP Scholarship & Advanced Practice II | 3 |
Elective Courses
In addition to the core requirements and DNP scholarly project, students in the DNP program are required to complete 3 credits of an elective course in either Executive Leadership or Palliative Care.
| NU 781 | Introduction to Palliative Care | 3 |
| NU 782 | Executive Leadership | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 6 |
Optional Supplemental Courses
There are also 6 credits of optional supplemental courses in nursing education offered which are not part of the degree required course credits. The education courses are offered at the discretion of the College of Nursing.
| NU 741 | Teaching Learning Principles & Curriculum Design in Advanced Nursing Education | 3 |
| NU 742 | Leadership in Advanced Nursing Education | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 39
Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Project
The DNP graduate will fulfill the current need for clinical leadership to improve individual population and system outcomes through the rapid translation of best evidence into practice. The DNP scholarly project is the chosen modality for students to develop and/or refine the skillset needed to fulfill this important role.
The DNP project focuses on a practice problem consistent with the student’s identified clinical interests. This scholarly project must be a significant, evidence-based contribution to existing nursing knowledge and be suitable for publication in a peer-reviewed journal or a book. The DNP faculty Project Leader will act as facilitator of the student’s scholarship. Each student will also be required to identify a clinical practice mentor who will assist the student with the requirements of the project.
All DNP students are required to complete a DNP project that demonstrates practice scholarship prior to graduating from the program.