Program Outcomes

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

1. Integrate science from 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

• Bachelor’s degree in nursing from a regionally accredited institution.
• 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.
• Transcripts and Prerequisite Courses:Transcript will demonstrate successful completion of academic credits in undergraduate community health, health and physical assessment, nursing research, and statistics. One official transcript is required from each US post-secondary institution attended.
• Licensure: Must have a valid unrestricted North Carolina registered nurse license or a compact state license to complete clinical hours in North Carolina.
• Three professional references. Recommender will submit a survey through the online application tool. An additional letter is not required.
• Resume: 1) include the 600 hours of Registered Nurse work experience prior to beginning any clinical courses in the BSN to DNP program; 2) Clinical work history (1-page only).
• Further criteria specified in application.
• Interview, Video and/or Personal Statement may be required per the Application.
• 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 with NSG 699 taken twice. 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.

• NSG 601 - Pathophysiology for Advanced Practice Nurses Credit Hours: 3
• NSG 602 - Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning Credit Hours: 3
• NSG 603 - Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics Credit Hours: 3
• NSG 611 - Family-Centered Health Care Across the Lifespan Credit Hours: 3
• NSG 612 - Advanced Family Nursing I: Adult Health Credit Hours: 4
• NSG 613 - Advanced Family Nursing II Infant, Child and Adolescent Health Credit Hours: 4
• NSG 614 - Advanced Family Nursing III: Women’s Health Credit Hours: 4
• NSG 615 - Advanced Family Nursing IV: Management of Complex Health Problems Across the Lifespan Credit Hours: 4
• NSG 680 - Population Health Promotion and Clinical Epidemiology Credit Hours: 3
• NSG 682 - Genomics for Advanced Practice Nursing Credit Hours: 3
• NSG 683 - Statistics for Evidence-Based Practice Credit Hours: 3
• NSG 685 - Theoretical Approaches to Evidence-Based Practice Credit Hours: 3
• NSG 686 - Methodologic Approaches to Evidence-Based Practice Credit Hours: 3
• NSG 688 - Health Care Systems Leadership and Quality Improvement Credit Hours: 3
• NSG 689 - Health Care Policy and Financial Management Credit Hours: 3
• NSG 692 - Health Care Information Systems and Technology Credit Hours: 3
• NSG 699 - DNP Project Credit Hours: 3 (taken twice)
• NSGL 620 - Advanced Family Nursing Practicum I Credit Hours: 3
• NSGL 621 - Advanced Family Nursing Practicum II Credit Hours: 3
• NSGL 622 - Advanced Family Nursing Practicum III Credit Hours: 3
• NSGL 681 - Residency in Advanced Nursing Practice Credit Hours: 3

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).