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.

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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.

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DNP 7103
Population Health (20 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. 20 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.

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DNP 7104
Politics and Policy in the Healthcare System
3 credits

This course is designed to equip nurses in advanced practice nursing roles with the knowledge, skills, and critical thinking abilities necessary to shape healthcare system changes in the complex landscape of healthcare policy and political advocacy. Concepts and issues that shape healthcare delivery, access, and quality and their relationship to health policymaking and political processes are explored for their impact on advanced nursing practice. In addition, evidence-based approaches to policy analysis, advocacy strategies, and leadership development to empower nurses to influence policy change and advance health equity are examined.

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.

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DNP 7105
Healthcare Economics
3 credits

This course examines trends in healthcare economics and their impact on organizational and financial practice. Students will explore the implications of current economic and healthcare policies on the healthcare system. Accounting, finance, and marketing strategies 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.

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DNP 7106
Healthcare Informatics
3 credits

This course will provide a comprehensive examination of healthcare informatics. The role of nurses in advanced nursing practice with relation to policy making, application design, technology selection, usability, safety, security, ethics, outcome data analysis, and interdisciplinary clinical workflow 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.

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DNP 7107
Applied Evidence-Based Practice
3 credits

This course builds on introductory knowledge of evidence-based practice with an examination of the statistical methods for evaluating evidence-based practice initiatives. Students will secure and evaluate evidence for an identified clinical practice change including a plan for implementation.

Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Combined Post-Masters FNP or AGPCNP Certificate/DNP option, DNP Program, or permission of the DNP Program Chair. Prerequisites: DNP 7000, DNP 7101, DNP 7103, DNP 7104, DNP 7105, and DNP 7106.

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DNP 7108
QI and Systems Thinking in Healthcare (35 Experiential Engagement hours)
3 credits

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

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DNP 8000
Doctor of Nursing Practice Project I (145 Experiential Engagement hours)
3 credits

This course begins the DNP project phase of the program. The DNP project is the scholarly product demonstrating the translation of best evidence into practice to improve the quality of healthcare outcomes. Students will incorporate content from the DNP core courses to successfully plan and develop an evidence-based doctoral project. In this first phase of the project, students will develop a well-defined DNP project plan including the PICOT Question, problem description, comprehensive literature review, planned interventions, outcome measures and data analysis methods. The DNP project team will be formed with a DNP project advisor and team member. Students will complete and submit their project plan to the Wilmington University Human Subjects Committee for approval. Approximately 145 practice experience hours aligned with the AACN Essentials will be completed in this course.

Prerequisite(s): DNP 7000, DNP 7101, DNP 7103, DNP 7104, DNP 7105, DNP 7106, DNP 7107, and DNP 7108 with a B or better

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DNP 8001
Doctor of Nursing Practice Project II (150 Experiential Engagement hours)
3 credits

This course continues the DNP project phase of the program, students will utilize evidence-based practice principles and clinical practice inquiry to implement their DNP project to improve healthcare outcomes. In the second phase of the project, students will implement the well-defined DNP project plan. Students will exemplify independent leadership and advanced nursing practice skills through leading the established interprofessional DNP project team in the implementation of the evidence-based practice DNP project. Approximately 150 practice experience hours aligned with the AACN Essentials will be completed in this course.

Prerequisite(s): DNP 8000

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DNP 8002
Doctor of Nursing Practice Project III (150 Experiential Engagement hours)
3 credits

This course continues the DNP project phase of the program. In this final phase of the project, 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 exemplify independent leadership and advanced nursing practice skills through analysis and evaluation of the DNP project outcomes. Students will disseminate their DNP project through a formal scholarly presentation to colleagues and faculty. The final scholarly product will include a description of the results, limitations, conclusions, plan for sustainability, and any applicable funding sources. Approximately 150 practice experience hours aligned with the AACN Essentials will be completed in this course. Note: completion of 1,000 post-baccalaureate practice experience hours and successful completion of the DNP project and presentation are required for graduation.

Prerequisite(s): DNP 8001

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DNP 8004
Doctor of Nursing Practice Project Continuation
0 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 advisor 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. Note: completion of 1,000 post-baccalaureate practice experience hours and successful completion of the DNP project and presentation are required for graduation.

Prerequisite(s): DNP 8002 with a S

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DNP 9001
Doctor of Nursing Practice Experiential Engagement I (125 Experiential Engagement hours)
3 credits

Prerequisite(s): Admission to the DNP Program

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DNP 9002
Doctor of Nursing Practice Experiential Engagement II (125 Experiential Engagement hours)
3 credits

Prerequisite(s): DNP 9001

DNP 9003
Doctor of Nursing Practice Experiential Engagement III (125 Experiential Engagement hours)
3 credits

Prerequisite(s): DNP 9002

DNP 9004
Doctor of Nursing Practice Experiential Engagement IV (125 Experiential Engagement hours)
3 credits

Prerequisite(s): DNP 9003