Doctor of Nursing Practice (MSN to DNP - APRN) Area of Focus: Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AC PNP)

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Terminal Objectives

The DNP degree is designed to prepare graduates to function as leaders in advanced nursing practice or systems of care. Graduates will be prepared to practice in a variety of complex clinical, organizational, and/or educational systems with diverse populations and will be able to affect changes in health care through system redesign and evidence-based decision making.

Integrate science-based theories and data-based concepts to develop, critically appraise and implement practice approaches that improve health care and health care systems.
Apply organizational theories and systems thinking to improve the quality, cost-effectiveness and safety outcomes of practice decisions and initiatives.
Apply effective strategies for managing the ethical dilemmas inherent in patient care, the health care organization and research.
Apply knowledge of informatics to monitor and improve outcomes, programs and systems of care.
Provide leadership in influencing policies on the financing, regulation and delivery of health care.
Lead interprofessional teams to improve patient and population health outcomes.
Function independently in an advanced nursing role to improve health outcomes in a specialty area of practice.

Graduation Requirements

The DNP degree requires a minimum of 62 trimester hours of post-baccalaureate or 30 trimester hours of post-master’s study. All Doctor of Nursing Practice students must complete degree requirements within five years.

Curriculum

DNP Core

NSG - 600 Leadership in Evolving Healthcare Environments Credit Hours: (3)
NSG - 602 Healthcare Economics, Policy, Finance Credit Hours: (3)
NSG - 603 Effective Project Planning, Implementation and Evaluation Credit Hours: (3)
NSG - 604A DNP Project Planning I Credit Hours: (1)
NSG - 604D DNP Project Planning II and III Credit Hours: (2)

Subtotal: 12 Hours

Specialty Cognates

IDS - 505 Interdisciplinary Studies in Palliative Care Credit Hours: (2)
NSG - 551A Advanced Primary Care of the Child I Credit Hours: (3)
NSG - 557A Pediatric Acute Care I Credit Hours: (3)
NSG - 557B Pediatric Acute Care II Credit Hours: (3)
NSG - 679 Academic Scholarship in Nursing Credit Hours: (Variable) (recommended)

Subtotal 11-15

DNP Practica and Capstone

NSG - 605 DNP Capstone Credit Hours: (3) (168 Clock Hours)
NSG - 606 DNP/ Primary Care Pediatric Specialty Practicum Credit Hours: (1) (84 Clock Hours)
(MS/MSN practicum may be transferred in to meet this requirement)
NSG - 606 DNP/Acute Care Pediatric Specialty Practicum Credit Hours: (3) (252 Clock Hours)
NSG - 607 DNP/Specialty Immersion Residency Credit Hours: (Variable) (252 Clock Hours)

Subtotal: 9

Total: 32-36

Additional coursework may be required. A gap analysis will be performed and an individualized program of study developed based on previous graduate education completed with evidence of the following coursework:

Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan/Diagnostics for the APRN
Advanced Physiology and Advanced Pathophysiology
Advanced Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics
Transition to the APRN Role
Research
Biostatistics/Epidemiology

It is expected that previous clinical hours plus DNP/Specialty Practicum and Immersion hours will be equal to or greater than 1000 clock hours.

*Evidence of current APRN certification and active practice within the past two years required.