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2016-2017 Graduate & Professional Studies Catalog
University of Pittsburgh
   
2016-2017 Graduate & Professional Studies Catalog 
    
 
  Apr 19, 2024
 
2016-2017 Graduate & Professional Studies Catalog [Archived Catalog]

School of Nursing



http://www.nursing.pitt.edu/

The School of Nursing was established as an independent school of the University by action of the Board of Trustees in April 1939 and was opened in September of the same year. The University conferred the degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing Education for the first time in August 1939. The University conferred the first Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees in February 1942.

The first Master’s degree was awarded in 1944, and the first Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1957. The first Doctorate of Nursing Practice degree was awarded in 2008

Mission

The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, founded in 1939, is one of the oldest programs in baccalaureate and doctoral education in nursing in the United States. As one of the nation’s distinguished schools of nursing, the resources of the School constitute an invaluable asset for the intellectual, scientific, and economic enrichment of health care in Pennsylvania, the nation, and throughout the world.

The School of Nursing’s mission is to:

  • provide high-quality undergraduate education in nursing;
  • maintain and develop superior graduate programs in nursing that respond to the needs of health care in general and nursing in particular within Pennsylvania, the nation, and the world;
  • engage in research and other scholarly activities that advance learning through the extension of the frontiers of knowledge in health care;
  • cooperate with health care, governmental, and related institutions to transfer knowledge in health sciences and health care;
  • offer continuing education programs adapted to the professional upgrading and career advancement interests and needs of nurses in Pennsylvania; and
  • make available to local communities and public agencies the expertise of the School of Nursing in ways that are consistent with the primary teaching and research functions and contribute to the intellectual and economic development in health care within the commonwealth, the nation, and the world.

Contact Information

University of Pittsburgh
School of Nursing
Student Affairs & Alumni Relations Office
239 Victoria Building
Pittsburgh, PA 15261
412-624-4586 or 1-888-747-0794
E-mail: sao50@pitt.edu
www.nursing.pitt.edu

Master’s Program Admission Process and Admission Criteria

http://www.nursing.pitt.edu/degree-programs/master-science-nursing-msn/msn-applicationadmission

Applications are available online at www.nursing.pitt.edu. Admission criteria are described on the school’s Web site (http://www.nursing.pitt.edu/degree-programs/master-science-nursing-msn/msn-applicationadmission). Complete applications will be reviewed and interviews (face to face or by telephone) will be conducted prior to an admission decision. The School offers master’s admission to only the Clinical Nurse Leader, Informatics, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Anesthesia (the last cohort of master’s students will start August, 2016) majors/areas of concentration. The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing admits a FALL COHORT ONLY to all MSN Program areas of concentration. The application deadlines for all areas are February 15th and May 1st. International students are advised to apply by the February 15th deadline. Complete applications received by February 15th will be reviewed and an admission decision will be made by June 1. Complete application received by the May 1st deadline will be reviewed and admission decisions made by June 30th. Applicants must apply online at https://app.applyyourself.com/?id=up-nurs

Applications to the Master Program in nursing are reviewed by the faculty in the applicant’s Major/Area of Concentration. Applicants must meet the criteria listed below. Qualified applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin,
ancestry, sex, age, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, disability, or status as a disabled veteran or a veteran of the Vietnam era.

Applicants must have:

  • A baccalaureate degree in nursing from an ACEN (NLN), ACICS, or CCNE accredited program.
  • A current license to practice nursing in a state or territory of the United States. All students must obtain a Pennsylvania license prior to beginning clinical courses.
  • A GPA of 3.0 or higher in the undergraduate degree.
  • Relevant clinical experience (specified by the Major/Area of Concentration).
  • A pre-admission interview. If the applicant resides at a great distance, a telephone interview may be conducted.
  • Official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The GRE may be waived if the GPA is 3.5 or higher.
  • A prerequisite undergraduate statistics course of at least three credits, with a minimum of a C grade.
  • Three letters of recommendation attesting to the applicant’s capacity and potential for master’s study from each of the following (these can be uploaded into the online application) (/apply-now): The director or a faculty member from the most recent academic program attended (if applicant has been a nursing student in the last 5 years); a recent employer; and a person who can speak to the applicant’s professional work.
  • A typed essay (500-word minimum) stating your philosophy of nursing; reasons for wanting to study in a particular area of concentration; what you expect from the master’s program; and your future career goals.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Admission Process and Admission Criteria

http://www.nursing.pitt.edu/degree-programs/doctor-nursing-practice-dnp

The DNP Program has multiple points of entry and allows for three types of prospective students: post-baccalaureate RNs, including: current master’s degree nursing students; RN Options students; and advanced practice nurses and nursing administrators who have completed a master’s degree from an CCNE, ACICS or ACEN [NLN] accredited program of nursing. Nurses with a PhD can also seek a DNP.

The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing admits a FALL COHORT ONLY to all DNP Program areas of concentration except the Nurse Anesthesia BSN to DNP major. The application deadlines for all areas except the BSN to DNP Nurse Anesthesia major are February 15th and May 1st. International students are advised to apply by the February 15th deadline. Complete applications received by February 15th will be reviewed and an admission decision will be made by June 1. Complete application received by the May 1st deadline will be reviewed and admission decisions made by June 30th. The Nurse Anesthesia BSN to DNP major admits a SPRING TERM COHORT only; the application deadline is January 15th.

Applicants must apply online at https://app.applyyourself.com/?id=up-nurs.

Admission to the DNP Program

The DNP Program admits BSN graduates, advanced practice nurses and nursing administrators who have completed a graduate  degree in nursing from a CCNE, ACICS, or ACEN [NLN] accredited program in nursing.*
* BSN graduates with a master’s in other areas may be considered for admission.

BSN to DNP

  • Current RN license in U.S. state/territory or locale where student will complete clinical requirements
  • ≥ 3.0 GPA in BSN (from ACEN [NLN], ACICS, or CCNE accredited program)
  • GRE: Verbal & Quantitative sections ( competitive score), Analytical Writing  ( ≥ 3)
  • Prerequisite statistics course (within 10 years) with grade of B or higher
  • Clinical experience  for select focus areas ** preferred for selected majors and concentrations

MSN to DNP

  • Current RN license in U.S. state/territory or locale where student will complete clinical requirements
  • ≥ 3.0 GPA in MSN (from an accredited program) or master’s in related field (must have BSN from an accredited program)
  • GRE: Verbal & Quantitative sections ( competitive score), Analytical Writing ( ≥ 3)
        (may be waived if MSN or master’s in related field GPA ≥ 3.5)
  • Prerequisite statistics course (within 10 years) with grade of B or higher
  • Clinical experience for select focus areas**
  • Nurse Anesthesia (additional requirements)
          1) current Nurse Anesthetist certification in US state/territory or locale where student will complete the DNP Scholarly Project 
          2) Minimum of 3.0 GPA in MSN  or MS in Nurse Anesthesia from an accredited program

RN-DNP

Applicants to the RN-DNP program must graduate from a CCNE, ACICS or ACEN [NLN] accredited associate degree program or diploma school of nursing. A student may be admitted to the DNP program pending satisfactory completion of the 24 graduate bridge credits and completion of the BSN. RNs may be accepted to the DNP Program after earning a BSN.

**Clinical Experience for Select Focus Areas

  • Neonatal NP: Equivalent of 2 years full time (within last 5 years) nursing care of critically ill newborns, infants, and children in critical care inpatient settings (preferably Level III NICU) Students may enroll in pre-clinical courses while obtaining practice experience
  • Nursing Administration: 2 years management experience
  • Nurse Anesthesia BSN to DNP:
    Minimum 1 year full-time ICU/critical care nursing experience (within last 5 years) by start of program (may apply if employed in ICU/critical care and will have required experience before admission term)
  • Nurse-Midwife: One year nursing experience in a Labor and Delivery unit preferred, but will consider applicants demonstrating other interest/experience in women’s health.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Admission Process and Admission Criteria

http://www.nursing.pitt.edu/degree-programs/doctor-philosophy-phd

Admission to the PhD program is assessed through interviews, references, standardized testing, and a written statement of goals. Prerequisites include parametric statistics courses that prepare the student in descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. The PhD program follows a FALL TERM ONLY COHORT ADMISSIONS process. Applicants to the PhD program must submit their completed applications by February 1. Complete applications received by February 1 will be reviewed and admission decisions made prior to June 1. Application decisions (except for international applicants) will be communicated electronically (by e-mail). Applicants must apply online at https://app.applyyourself.com/?id=up-nurs. The School offers BSN-PhD and MSN-PhD options. Applicants are expected to be RN’s. The School of Nursing offers a BSN to PhD option, in which a student with a BSN can be admitted directly into the PhD program. In addition to completing all of the requirements for the traditional PhD program, the BSN to PhD student completes 30-33 credits at the master’s level prior to beginning doctoral level course work. Detailed requirements for this program are included in the section describing the Doctor of Philosophy degree. This program is particularly appealing to nurses who wish to pursue a career in nursing research. Interested applicants should contact the Student Affairs & Alumni Relations Office at 412-624-4586 for further information.

Admission to the PhD Program

Admission to the PhD program is assessed through interviews, references, standardized testing, a written statement of goals, and a second writing sample. Documentation of academic success and achievement of competitive scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) taken within the last five years are required.

Prerequisites to the advanced statistical courses in the program plan include two parametric statistical courses, which are to prepare the student in descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. If the student does not possess such a statistics background when entering the program, then the parametric statistics sequences offered in the Department of Biostatistics (BIOST 2041  and BIOST 2042 ) or in the Department of Psychology in Education (PSYED 2018  and PSYED 2019 ) must be taken and completed with a minimum of a B- grade. Students may fulfill these prerequisites at other universities. An evaluation of the content of a course taken elsewhere must be made by the Director of the PhD Program to determine its comparability with the prerequisite knowledge base needed by all students. Prerequisite statistics course work is reinforced by additional required courses during the student’s doctoral program: a 3-credit course in regression analysis (BIOST 2049  or PSYED 2410 ) and an elective course in either advanced statistics or research methods. The doctoral faculty strongly recommends that students develop knowledge of and experience with word processing, database management, and computerized literature searches prior to applying to the PhD program.

Length of Program

The post-master’s full-time student (MSN to PhD) may complete the program in approximately three to four years. Full-time enrollment is strongly encouraged. The PhD Program requires a minimum of 94 credits (this includes a maximum of 30 credits transferred from a master’s degree). The part-time student may complete the program in four to six years. The statute of limitations for completion of the MSN to PhD track is eight consecutive calendar years from the first term of registration for credits that are in the required curriculum plan for the doctoral degree. (See Statute of Limitation/Leaves of Absence in the University bulletin for more information.)

In addition to the requirements for the traditional post MSN to PhD track, the BSN to PhD track (minimum of 94 credits) requires selected coursework from the master’s program. These courses do not lead to a master’s degree. Students admitted to the BSN to PhD track are expected to enroll full-time. The statute of limitations for completion of this track is 10 consecutive calendar years from the first term of registration for credits that are in the required curriculum plan for the doctoral degree. For more information, see School of Nursing Policy 208. Students in the BSN to PhD track are encouraged to pursue a master’s degree in nursing.

Admission of Students from Other Countries (MSN, DNP, and PhD)

Students from other countries applying to the School of Nursing should apply using the same admissions process and admissions criteria described above. The application should be completed in English and be accompanied by official academic credentials with notarized English translations. Applicants must successfully complete the TOEFL or IELTS if English is a second language. Applicants must also have a professional nursing license. The following links specify the licensure requirement for the MSN, DNP, and PhD programs. Applicants who need to apply for a professional nursing license are encouraged to visit the Pennsylvania State Board website which contains information for internationally educated nurses applying to take the NCLEX-RN examination.

Insurance and Health Care Requirements

All students admitted with full or provisional status are required to participate in a University liability insurance policy annually and to have a physical examination upon admission. All admitted students are required to submit Act 33, 34 and 73 clearances completed within 3 months of admission. Individual students must meet additional health requirements of clinical agencies, such as drug testing and annual testing for tuberculosis. CPR certification will be validated in each clinical course. Students are required to carry health insurance for the duration of their study, which will cover payment for treatment and follow-up procedures related to injury or medical problems incurred during graduate study.

Financial Assistance

http://www.nursing.pitt.edu/scholarship-opportunities

The sources of awards and aid may include: professional nurse traineeships, graduate student assistant positions, graduate student researcher positions, teaching assistant positions, teaching fellow positions, school scholarships, pre- and postdoctoral training grant fellowships, federal Stafford Loans, private loans, and emergency aid.

Academic Policies

http://www.nursing.pitt.edu/resources-students/policies

All students in the School of Nursing are governed by School of Nursing and University policies. Therefore, it is essential that students regularly review and familiarize themselves with those policies, both general and graduate. Question about policies should be directed to the academic advisor or to their respective program, major or area of concentration director/coordinator. Policies of particular importance deal with admission criteria, registration processes, transfer of credits, acceptable academic status, warning and probation, readmission, requirements for degree completion, academic integrity, unsafe clinical performance, and impaired clinical performance.

Advising

Each new student who is admitted to the graduate program is assigned a faculty advisor from the specific major area to which the student is admitted. The faculty advisor provides some initial orientation to the school, the University, and the program requirements. Each student meets at least once a term with the advisor for course selection and other academic advising, although students and advisors can meet additionally as needed. The advisor is actively involved if there are academic concerns.

Each student also can use the staff in the Student Affairs & Alumni Relations Office in the School of Nursing to obtain information about sources of financial aid, scholarships, school policies, registration, course availability, University resources, and community resources for help with personal problems. An online general orientation program is mandatory for all new students.

General Degree Requirements

To earn the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) the student must demonstrate satisfactory academic achievement in required coursework prescribed by the curriculum with an overall academic achievement of a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.00. Successful completion of a written comprehensive examination is also required for the MSN, BSN to DNP and PhD in nursing. The DNP requires a DNP project and the PhD requires successful defense of an original dissertation.

Application for Graduation

Each candidate for graduation must file an official Application for Graduation in the Nursing Student Affairs & Alumni Relations Office at least three months before the degree is to be completed, otherwise there is a fee assessment after the deadline. Students are required to be register for at least 1 credit at the University during the term in which they are graduating.

Major and Degree Options

The School of Nursing offers the following graduate degrees:

  • The Master of Science in Nursing with majors and areas of concentration in the following areas:
    • Nurse Anesthesia*
    • Nurse Practitioner
      • Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
    • Nurse Specialty Role
      • Clinical Nurse Leader
      • Nursing Administration*
      • Nursing Informatics

*not currently accepting applications

  • The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
    • MSN to DNP Options
      • Nurse Practitioner
        • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
        • Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
        • Family (Individual Across the Lifespan) Nurse Practitioner
        • Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
        • Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
        • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
      • Clinical Nurse Specialist
        • Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
        • Adult-Gerontology (CNS)
      • Nurse Specialty Role
        • Health Systems Executive Leadership
      • Nurse Anesthesia
    • BSN to DNP Options
      • Nurse Practitioner
        • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
        • Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
        • Family (Individual Across the Lifespan) Nurse Practitioner
        • Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
        • Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
        • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
      • Clinical Nurse Specialist
        • Adult-Gerontology (CNS)
      • Nurse Specialty Role
        • Health Systems Executive Leadership
      • Nurse Anesthesia
      • Nurse-Midwife

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing (including the BSN to PhD and MSN to PhD options.) 

*not currently accepting applications

Special Academic Opportunities/Programs

The School of Nursing offers a variety of special programs within its master’s and doctoral programs:

Minors

Students in the Master’s program, the DNP program and the PhD program have the option of completing a minor in nursing education, nursing informatics, nursing research, nursing administration, gerontology for nurse practitioners, or health care genetics. The minimum credits required to obtain a minor is 9-12 credits.

Post-MSN/DNP Certificates

Post-MSN/DNP certificates are available in nursing education, health care genetics, nursing informatics, nursing research, gerontology for nurse practitioners, adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner, neonatal nurse practitioner, and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. The certificate options require a minimum of 15 credits; additional credits may be required depending on the certificate program and previous graduate course work. All students admitted to a nurse practitioner certificate programs must meet all curriculum requirements of the full graduate degree program, either through previous course work or credits earned during the certificate program. Individual review of transcripts will determine the exact number of credits needed to meet curriculum requirements.

The School of Nursing also offers coursework that allows students to obtain level-one school nurse certification through the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Admission criteria for master’s level certificate programs include:

Evidence of successful completion of MSN, DNP or other relevant first professional degree
Relevant work experience
Three letters of recommendation
Satisfactory interview with program faculty
Current RN license if the certificate program includes clinical experiences.

RN Option (Early Admission to MSN/DNP)

http://www.nursing.pitt.edu/degree-programs/rn-options-early-admission-msn-or-dnp

RN to MSN/DNP options provide a quality affordable way for registered nurses to earn their advanced degrees. Detailed requirements for these programs are included in the RN Option section of the undergraduate bulletin.

Master’s Degree Program

The master’s program leads to the Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, and consists of three majors: Nurse Specialty Role(Clinical Nurse Leader and Nursing Informatics), Nurse Anesthesia (currently not accepting applications), and Nurse Practitioner (currently only accepting applications to the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner area of concentration). The majors can be completed in full or part-time study. The curriculum design includes core courses, advanced practice specialty courses, and role development courses. Students in any of the majors may also elect to earn a minor in nursing administration, nursing education, nursing informatics, nursing research, or health care genetics.

Doctoral Degree Programs

School of Nursing-Doctoral Degree Programs

With one of the oldest nursing doctoral programs in the country, the School offers two programs to develop nursing leaders who can fulfill the expectations and demands of today’s evolving health care system. Doctor of Philosophy

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Doctor of Philosophy

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program prepares nurse scholars who will discover and extend scientific knowledge that advances the science and practice of nursing and contributes to other disciplines. Graduates can assume leadership roles within research teams, health care systems, and schools of nursing in academic institutions.

The PhD program provides a coherent series of courses, seminars, and discussions designed to develop in the student a mature understanding of content, methods, and values of the discipline of nursing and its relation to other fields. The curriculum includes courses in history and philosophy of science, theoretical foundations for research and the structure of knowledge. Additional courses include advanced statistics; quantitative and qualitative research methods; and advanced quantitative methods; research emphasis seminars; instrumentation; and several research practica with experienced research mentors. Students work with faculty nurse researchers and researchers in other disciplines. The dissertation is the culminating requirement in the course of study.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

http://www.nursing.pitt.edu/degree-programs/doctor-nursing-practice-dnp

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program prepares nurses within a clinical focus (nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or nurse anesthesia) or a systems focus (nursing administration). Graduates are prepared for advanced practice at a new level of state-of-the-art science expertise with grounding in evidence based practice.

This practice-focused doctoral program will prepare nursing leaders for the highest level of clinical nursing practice. Throughout the program students will develop the clinical, organizational, economic, and leadership skills to design and implement programs of care delivery which significantly impact health care outcomes and have the potential to transform health care delivery. Graduates with this terminal clinical degree will be prepared for roles in direct care or indirect, systems-focused care.

In today’s health care environment advanced practice nurses require complex clinical skills and sophisticated knowledge of the evidence-base for practice. Graduates of the DNP will be able to affect the health care delivery system by being superb clinicians, by evaluating the evidence base for nursing practice, by becoming leaders in the clinical arenas, by establishing standards and policies, and by meeting the needs of today’s diverse health care systems.

Application Procedure

Pitt Nursing accepts applications for admission to all graduate programs via Apply Yourself. Each applicant must complete and submit the following:

  1. A non-refundable application fee of $50.00
  2. Complete official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate education (sent by the institution at which courses were taken)
  3. Competitive GRE Scores
  4. Three letters of professional recommendation indicating the reviewer’s support of the student’s ability to successfully complete a demanding graduate level academic and clinical program. At least one recommendation should come from a current or recent direct supervisor. Before you submit your application, ask your references in which form they wish to submit their recommendation — by paper or electronically. For both paper and electronic submission of recommendation letters, please follow the instructions outlined on Apply Yourself.
  5. Personal essay stating one’s philosophy of nursing, reasons for wanting to study in a particular major or concentration, expectation of the DNP program, and future career goals. This should include a proposed area of interest for the DNP project.
  6. Current CV or resume

Admission of International Students

http://www.nursing.pitt.edu/admissions/international-applicants

Application is made through Student Affairs & Alumni Relations, School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, 239 Victoria Building, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. Applications from international students are reviewed according to the DNP programs admission criteria stated above and are admitted as stated above. The application must be completed in English and accompanied by official academic credentials with notarized English translations. Applicants to the Post-Master’s DNP Program must have a degree comparable to the U.S. master’s degree in nursing.

Applicants to the BSN to DNP Program must have a degree comparable to the U.S. baccalaureate degree in nursing or entry level master’s degree in nursing. The official transcripts must show all high school and post-high school work, including grades in each course, examination grades and standing in examinations and classes, and whatever other credentials are available to give a clear description of the student’s academic accomplishments. “Applicants to the DNP Programs from other countries should review Policy 201 INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ADMISSION, GRADUATE PROGRAM for additional admission criteria for international students.”

Important Information for DNP Applicants from Other Countries

International students may not register until non-academic clearance has been issued by the University Office of International Services. It is especially important that the student have proof of adequate financial support and a current Visa.

After admission, the School of Nursing reserves the right, even after arrival and enrollment, to require, at the student’s expense. Individual curriculum adjustments whenever particular deficiencies or needs are found. This could include enrollment in courses prerequisite to the regular course of study or additional course work in English as a second language.

To facilitate the educational experience and to help the student adjust to the United States, the University offers the support of the Office of International Services, 706 William Pitt Union, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh PA 15260.

For international applicants whose native language is not English, successful achievement on the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is required.

After admission to the DNP program has been granted, actual enrollment in courses is contingent upon successful completion of the NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses) and licensure as a registered nurse in the state of Pennsylvania or the state or U.S. territory where the clinical practice requirements will be completed. To be eligible to take the NCLEX in Pennsylvania, a candidate must have passing scores on the CGFNS (Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools) examination.

Length of Program

A BSN is required for those applicants with MSN or PhD in nursing degree. The duration of the full-time program will depend on the student’s preparation prior to entry: (1) Following a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing approximately 3 years full time; (2) Following a Master’s Degree in nursing approximately 1-2 years full time. The applicant’s master’s transcript will be compared with the DNP curriculum and their previous coursework will be reviewed for permissible transfer credits in keeping with University policy and program requirements. (3) Following a PhD Degree in Nursing the length of the program is approximately 1-2 years full time. The applicant’s PhD transcripts will be compared with the DNP curriculum. Academic credit for comparable coursework will be granted in keeping with University policy.

Curriculum

Coursework and clinical practice are required in the DNP curriculum. The core theory content and set of core competencies for all DNP graduates are aligned with The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice, defined by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing [AACN].

The DNP focuses on evaluating evidence and using evidence in clinical decision-making, developing leadership skills, implementing viable clinical innovations, and applying research and theoretical understanding to plan and make changes in practice. There is also emphasis on a population perspective, assessment of populations, use of data to make programmatic decisions, and program evaluation.

Core courses of this curriculum focus on advanced evidence-based practice, organizational and systems leadership, clinical research and analytical methods for evidence-based practice, informatics and patient care technology for the transformation of health care, health care policy and finance, ethics, clinical prevention and population health, and inter-professional collaboration for improving patient and population health outcomes. The DNP educational experience culminates in a DNP Project that reflects the practice interest of the student and the synthesis and application of knowledge gained through the curriculum.

 

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