Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 Graduate Catalogue 
    
2020-2021 Graduate Catalogue Archived Catalogue

Doctor of Nursing Practice, D.N.P. (Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration)


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Graduate Coordinator: Kelly Laham, DNP, RN, ANP-BC, CNE
Graduate Coordinator: Ms. Debra Simpson

 

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a practice-focused terminal degree earned by specialists in advanced practice nursing. The DNP prepares advanced practice nurses (APNs) to analyze systems of care and provide transformational leadership that influences and impacts patient safety and quality of culturally competent care in southeastern, North Carolina.
The Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration is designed to produce a professional with advance practice nursing skills to provide primary health care to patients throughout the lifespan. This concentration prepares the graduate for advanced practice provider roles in health care service settings.

The DNP program consists of a minimum of 70 credit hours including 6 hours concentrated on a DNP project. Each candidate’s program of study will be designed to meet student outcomes for advanced practice as a DNP.

 

 

Program Outcomes


Upon completion of the DNP curriculum, the new graduate will be able to:

  1. Integrate science form nursing and other disciplines to identify, develop and evaluate practice change initiatives that improve individual and population health.
  2. Demonstrate leadership within healthcare systems to adopt strategies to improve quality and safety.
  3. Incorporate knowledge of evidence-based practice into advanced decision-making through evaluation and translation of evidence into practice.
  4. Analyze, apply and integrate appropriate information and technology that will improve and transform care at the individual and population level.
  5. Critically analyze health policy to develop and implement health care reform that advocates for social justice and equity.
  6. Engage in advanced decision-making within an inter-professional environment that results in culturally aware, ethical and comprehensive systems of care.
  7. Demonstrate high levels of skills in health promotion and disease prevention strategies for individuals, populations and systems.

Holistic Based Admission Requirements


  • GRE General Test or MAT official test scores should be sent to the Graduate School no less than four weeks prior to the published program deadline. Test scores more than five years old at the time of application will not be considered. Test scores are not required if overall bachelor’s GPA is 3.0 or higher from a regionally accredited institution. Test scores are required if overall bachelor’s GPA Is between 2.75 and 2.99 from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants with an overall bachelor’s degree GPA os 2.749 or lower will not be considered for admission.
  • Three professional references.
  • Recommender will submit a survey through the online application tool. An additional letter is not required.
  • Bachelor’s degree in nursing from a regionally accredited institution.
  • RN License: current unrestricted registered nurse (RN) license in the state in which practice will occur.
  • GPA: overall cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. A GPA as low as 2.75 will be considered on a case-by-case basis with an acceptable GRE or MAT score.
  • Include on resume: successful completion of academic credits in undergraduate community health, health and physical assessment, nursing research, and statistics.
  • Include on resume: the 600 hours of Registered Nurse experience prior to beginning any clinical courses in the BSN to DNP program.
  • Resume: 1-page clinical work-history resume.
  • Video URL: self-created video interview of yourself focused on a specific set of questions related to self-appraisal, life experiences, nursing experience, leadership style, communication skills, community involvement, research experience, ability to overcome adversity, and/or healthcare affiliations (video will be asynchronous).
  • International applicants: must present evidence of professional standing in their home countries. This requirement excludes U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents.
  • Differential tuition: differential tuition applies to this program.

Degree Requirements (70 total credit hours)


The program of study for the Doctor of Nursing Practice (Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Concentration includes 21 courses. Students must fulfill the requirements for the program as they work closely with advisors to plan their course of study. The focus of the DNP program core is leadership in nursing practice. Skills will be developed for translating research to impact practice and population outcomes at an in-depth level. Emphasis is placed on managing information systems, using appropriate technology for health care delivery, assessing and managing health risks, enhancing inter-professional communication, and designing and developing health care systems. Successful completion of all courses in the curriculum core is required for graduation. The focus of the FNP Concentration is on advanced practice nursing skills.

Exit Requirements


All DNP students must:

  1. Complete and pass a written and oral comprehensive examination of the DNP Project.
  2. A DNP student must have a grade of B or better in each required course. If a student earns a C, he/she must repeat the course must earn a B or better to progress. A student will only be allowed to repeat one course during the program. A student with 2 or more C’s will be dismissed from the program. A student must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0.
  3. Total of 1,000 clinical hours (500 direct patient care clinical hours, and 500 non patient care hours).

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