Course Descriptions
Doctor of Nursing Practice
DNP 7000
Bioethics for Advanced Nursing Practice
3 credits
This course will explore bioethical concepts that impact advanced nursing practice. Students will focus on ethical concepts as they apply to DNP-prepared nurses. Conceptual, factual, and normative issues will be explored to provide a framework within which arguments of biomedical ethics are formulated, analyzed, and defended. Analysis of leadership roles for DNP-prepared nurses within the context ethics and utilization of healthcare resources are explored.
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Accelerated MSN-NP to DNP option, Accelerated MSN-LDR to DNP option, Combined Post-Masters FNP or AGPCNP Certificate/DNP option, DNP Program, or permission of the DNP Program Chair.
DNP 7101
Epidemiology for Advanced Nursing Practice
3 credits
This course will examine the role of epidemiology and biostatistics in public health and advanced nursing practice. Students will learn various methods to measure disease burden, apply epidemiological principles to disease causation, organize epidemiological information to measure disease frequencies, and how to apply descriptive and analytic epidemiological methods.
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Accelerated MSN-NP to DNP option, Combined Post-Masters FNP or AGPCNP Certificate/DNP option, DNP Program, or permission of the DNP Program Chair.
DNP 7103
Population Health (28 experiential engagement hours)
3 credits
This course will examine and evaluate prevention strategies, healthcare quality measures, diversity principles, and patient safety considerations related to population health. Students will explore community, environmental, cultural, and socioeconomic dimensions of care as evidenced by completion of a community based collaborative action research project. Grant writing principles will be introduced relative to the provision of improving population health at the community, state, and/or national level. 28 experiential engagement hours aligned with the AACN DNP Essentials will be completed in this course.
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Combined Post-Masters FNP or AGPCNP Certificate/DNP option, DNP Program, or permission of the DNP Program Chair.
DNP 7104
Politics and Policy in the Healthcare System
3 credits
This course examines complex challenges faced within the United States healthcare system and for nurses in advanced nursing practice roles. Students will be engaged in the critical analysis of health policy while building knowledge to shape healthcare system changes. Concepts and issues related to health policymaking and political processes are explored for their impact on specific spheres of advanced nursing practice. Legislative, regulatory, and healthcare delivery and financing issues are examined in relation to the advanced nursing practice leader’s role in health policy development and the impact these issues have on the healthcare system.
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the MSN Nurse Practitioner program, MSN Leadership Program, Combined Post-Masters FNP or AGPCNP Certificate/DNP option, DNP Program, or permission of the DNP Program Chair.
DNP 7105
Healthcare Economics and the Business of Practice
3 credits
This course explores the role of nurses in advanced nursing practice within a rapidly changing healthcare system. Students will explore the implications of current economic and healthcare policies on the healthcare system. Accounting, finance, and marketing principles are presented enabling students to complete a comprehensive business plan. Theories of leadership, quality, risk outcomes, and financial structures for healthcare organizations are discussed providing a framework for change within advanced nursing practice specialties.
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Combined Post-Masters FNP or AGPCNP Certificate/DNP option, DNP Program, or permission of the DNP Program Chair.
DNP 7106
Healthcare Informatics
3 credits
This course will provide a comprehensive examination of healthcare informatics. The role of nurses in advanced nursing practice roles with relation to policy making, application design, technology selection, usability, safety, security, outcome data analysis, and interdisciplinary clinical work flow integration will be explored. This course will also present strategies related to the utilization of information technology for quality improvement initiatives, evidence-based practice guideline implementation, administrative and clinical decision-making, as well as patient and clinician education.
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Combined Post-Masters FNP or AGPCNP Certificate/DNP option, DNP Program, or permission of the DNP Program Chair.
DNP 7107
Applied Evidence-Based Practice
3 credits
This course explores the philosophical underpinnings for nursing knowledge relevant to advanced nursing practice. Biostatistics principles as well as quantitative and qualitative research methods related to the generation of clinical evidence will be analyzed. Students will develop refined search and clinical evidence evaluation strategies for evidence-based practice. PICOT question development provides a solid foundation for the student’s DNP project.
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Combined Post-Masters FNP or AGPCNP Certificate/DNP option, DNP Program, or permission of the DNP Program Chair.
DNP DNP 7108
Quality Improvement in Healthcare
3 credits
This course examines core quality and safety competencies for advanced practice nurses and nurse leaders. Contemporary performance/quality improvement methodologies, data reporting, and evaluating evidence-based quality health care practices for patient populations (individuals and aggregates) will be presented. Students will examine theory and organizational science concepts to assess organizational culture, analyze data, and translate findings into systems changes.Prerequisite(s): Admission to the DNP Program, MSN-NP Program, MSN-LDR Program, Accelerated MSN-NP to DNP Program, Accelerated MSN-LDR to DNP, or Permission of DNP Program Chair
DNP 8000
Doctor of Nursing Practice Project I (157 experiential engagement hours)
3 credits
This course begins the DNP project phase of the program. Students will incorporate content from the DNP core courses to successfully plan and develop and evidence-based doctoral project. Utilizing the SQUIRE guidelines, sections 1-6 of the DNP project manuscript will be completed with a description of the problem, available knowledge, rationale, and specific aims of the project. The DNP project team will be formulated with a DNP project chair and team member. Students will be prepared to present their DNP project proposal to the DNP project chair, DNP project team, and their peers by the end of the semester. Approximately 157 experiential engagement hours aligned with the AACN DNP Essentials will be completed in this course.
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Combined Post-Masters FNP or AGPCNP Certificate/DNP option OR current national board certification as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Midwife, Clinical Nurse Specialist, or Nurse Anesthetist) OR completion of DNP 9001, DNP 9002, DNP 9003, and DNP 9004.
DNP 8001
Doctor of Nursing Practice Project II (157 experiential engagement hours)
3 credits
In this course, students will utilize evidence-based practice principles and clinical practice inquiry to synthesize and integrate newly acquired knowledge and skills through the implementation of their DNP project. Students will also master and exemplify independent leadership and advanced nursing practice roles. Utilizing the SQUIRE guidelines, sections 7-12 of the DNP project manuscript will be completed with a description of the context, intervention(s), study of the intervention(s), measures, analysis, and ethical considerations. Approximately 157 experiential engagement hours aligned with the AACN DNP Essentials will be completed in this course.
Prerequisite(s): DNP 8000
DNP 8002
Doctor of Nursing Practice Project III (158 experiential engagement hours)
3 credits
In this course, students will utilize evidence-based practice principles and clinical practice inquiry to synthesize and integrate newly acquired knowledge and skills through the evaluation and dissemination of their DNP project. Students will also master and exemplify independent leadership and advanced nursing practice roles. Utilizing the SQUIRE guidelines, sections 13-18 of the DNP project manuscript will be completed with a description of the results, limitations, conclusions, plan for sustainability, and any applicable funding sources. Students will disseminate their DNP project through a formal scholarly presentation to colleagues and faculty. Approximately 158 experiential engagement hours aligned with the AACN DNP Essentials will be completed in this course. Note: completion of 1,000 post-baccalaureate experiential engagement hours and successful completion of the DNP project and presentation are required for graduation.
Prerequisite(s): DNP 8001
DNP 8004
Doctor of Nursing Practice Project Continuation
3 credits
In this course, students who have not yet completed their DNP project will continue to implement and evaluate their project with continued mentorship from the DNP project chair and team member. This course must be taken on a continual basis to remain in good standing in the program until the DNP project is completed.DNP 9001
Doctor of Nursing Practice Experiential Engagement I (125 experiential engagement hours)
3 credits
This course is an integrated and structured, practicum that compliments the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) core courses. Students will explore various areas of interest related to the AACN DNP Essentials and AONE Nurse Executive Competencies across the healthcare continuum in conjunction with an experiential engagement mentor. The content of the practicum will be defined by the student in consultation with the DNP faculty. 125 experiential engagement hours will be completed in this course.Prerequisite(s): Admission to the DNP Program
DNP 9002
Doctor of Nursing Practice Experiential Engagement II (125 experiential engagement hours)
3 credits
This course is an integrated and structured, practicum that compliments the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) core courses. Students will explore various areas of interest related to the AACN DNP Essentials and AONE Nurse Executive Competencies across the healthcare continuum in conjunction with an experiential engagement mentor. The content of the practicum will be defined by the student in consultation with the DNP faculty. 125 experiential engagement hours will be completed in this course.Prerequisite(s): DNP 9001
DNP 9003
Doctor of Nursing Practice Experiential Engagement III (125 experiential engagement hours)
3 credits
This course is an integrated and structured, practicum that compliments the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) core courses. Students will explore various areas of interest related to the AACN DNP Essentials and AONE Nurse Executive Competencies across the healthcare continuum in conjunction with an experiential engagement mentor. The content of the practicum will be defined by the student in consultation with the DNP faculty. 125 experiential engagement hours will be completed in this course.Prerequisite(s): DNP 9002
DNP 9004
Doctor of Nursing Practice Experiential Engagement IV (125 experiential engagement hours)
3 credits
This course is an integrated and structured, practicum that compliments the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) core courses. Students will explore various areas of interest related to the AACN DNP Essentials and AONE Nurse Executive Competencies across the healthcare continuum in conjunction with an experiential engagement mentor. The content of the practicum will be defined by the student in consultation with the DNP faculty. 125 experiential engagement hours will be completed in this course.Prerequisite(s): DNP 9003