Post-Master's Doctor of Nursing Practice Program
The Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program infuses practice-focused doctoral education with innovation and practical clinical research and scholarship designed to serve academically talented nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, midwives, nurse anesthetists, nurse executives, clinical nurse leaders, and educators. Graduates of this program are prepared to teach, lead, and engage in practical, clinically focused scholarship and research. The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree is a practice doctorate requiring the completion of a DNP project focusing on 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. The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, the master’s degree program in nursing, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Sacred Heart University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791, (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). “
DNP Program Tracks
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is designed for the nurse leader who seeks a career in nursing management, with a strong connection to clinical practice, as well as for the advanced practice nurse who wants to remain in clinical practice and have influence on healthcare outcomes at multiple levels. Students may take an elective in executive leadership (leadership) or introduction to palliative care (clinical).
Course Delivery Method
Two options exist for the student to choose from. The unique hybrid/intensive program offers classes that are held during two Friday, Saturday, and Sunday on-campus intensives per semester and supplemented with online activities. The other option is 100% online with a required 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
- Current advanced practice nursing licensure and certification documents
- Statement of professional goals
- 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)
- Professional portfolio with graded writing sample
- Interview with the program director
- Undergraduate or graduate statistics course within six years of admission recommended
Degree Requirements
DNP students are required to design 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 plan of study varies depending on the track the student pursues.
Prerequisite Courses
Students that have a master’s degree in a field other than nursing may be required to take an additional 6 credits of master’s level nursing courses in order to achieve program competencies.
Requirements List
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 730 | Clinical Scholarship and Analytical Methods for Evidence-Based Practice I | 3 |
| or | |
| NU 735 | Clinical Scholarship and Analytical Methods for Evidence Based Practice I | 3 |
| NU 740 | Epidemiology & Population Health | 3 |
| NU 750 | Clinical Scholarship & Analytical Methods for Evidence-Based Practice II | 3 |
| or | |
| 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 780 | Leadership in Chronic Disease Management & Aging 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 offered the opportunity to complete 3 credits of an elective course in either Executive Leadership or Palliative Care.
| NU 781 | Introduction to Palliative Care | 3.00 Credit(s) |
| NU 782 | Executive Leadership | 3.00 Credit(s) |
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 only if there is a minimum number of interested students.
| 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 Project
The DNP graduate will fulfill the current need in our healthcare system by applying and translating best evidence into practice. The DNP 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 an endeavor 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 Chair for the student’s committee will act as facilitator of the student’s scholarship. Each student will identify a clinical practice mentor who will assist the student with the requirements of the practice dissertation. A minimum of 360 practice hours will be used to collect and evaluate data on a specific population in a practice setting.
All DNP students are required to complete a DNP project that demonstrates practice scholarship prior to graduating from the program.