MSN Nurse Practitioner to DNP Accelerated Option

This option provides eligible MSN Nurse Practitioner students the opportunity to take DNP 7104 Politics and Policy in the Healthcare System in place of MSN 7741 Politics and Policy in the Health Care System to fulfill the requirements for both the MSN Nurse Practitioner and DNP programs. Additionally, students may take two additional DNP courses during the final three semesters of the MSN Nurse Practitioner program: DNP 7000 Bioethics for Advanced Nursing Practice and DNP 7101 Epidemiology for Advanced Nursing Practice. Students will also receive conditional acceptance into the DNP program pending successful completion of the MSN Nurse Practitioner program requirements.

Eligibility Criteria:

1. Completion of all MSN-Nurse Practitioner courses with the exception of Practicum III, Practicum IV, and Practicum V courses.
2. GPA 3.00 or greater.
3. Letter of recommendation from a doctorally prepared professional (i.e. EdD, PhD, DNP, MD, etc.)
4. Goals statement (see page four of intent form for instructions)

The MSN Nurse Practitioner to DNP Accelerated Option Intent Form is located in the College of Health Professions MSN Nurse Practitioner Student Blackboard site. Upon submission of the intent to enroll form, students will be contacted by the DNP Program Chair to assist with appropriate course sequencing, advisement, and preparation for doctoral study.

MSN-NP to DNP Accelerated Option: Process

Eligible MSN-Nurse Practitioner students can take one selected DNP (DNP 7104) course in lieu of one selected MSN-Nurse Practitioner course (MSN 7741) as well as two additional DNP courses. Students will earn their MSN-Nurse Practitioner degree at the completion of the requisite 48 credits.

Phase 1:

1. Eligibility criteria are met.
2. Intent Form is submitted.
3. Intent Form is reviewed by the MSN-NP Program Chair and DNP Program Chair.
4. A decision is made and the student is notified.
5. If student wishes to be accepted into our DNP program, he/she may begin the formal DNP application process at this time (application, recommendations, goal statement, transcript submission, and interview).
6. Student will receive advisement from the Graduate Program Chair (MSN-Nurse Practitioner and DNP) regarding schedule and courses.
7. Student can complete up to three selected DNP courses, one of which will take the place of one MSN-NP course (DNP 7104 and MSN 7741, respectively).

NOTE: Students are not required to earn the DNP degree at Wilmington University. Graduate level courses may be used in transfer, if accepted by other institutions.

Phase 2:

1. Earn at least a "B" in the doctoral level courses for the credits to be applicable to the DNP degree.
2. Maintain cumulative GPA of at least 3.00.
3. Complete the formal application process as described in Phase 1.
4. Official DNP acceptance is offered after completing the requirements for the MSN-Nurse Practitioner degree.
5. If a student does not meet the above criteria, he/she may graduate with a MSN-Nurse Practitioner degree upon successful completion of the required graduate course of study and may then apply to the DNP program through the regular process for admission.