Doctor of Nursing Practice (MSN to DNP - APRN) Population/Role: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)

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Program Student Learning Outcomes

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

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 term hours of post-baccalaureate or 30 term 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 Health Care Environments Credit(s): 3
NSG - 602 Health Care Economics, Policy and Finance Credit(s): 3
NSG - 608 Program Evaluation Credit(s): 3
NSG - 610 DNP Project Planning and Implementation Credit(s): 3
NSG - 615 DNP Project Proposal Seminar Credit(s): 2

Subtotal: 14

Population/Role Cognates

NSG - 570A Pharmacotherapeutics Acute Care Credit(s): 3
NSG - 571A Management: Adult/Gerontology I Credit(s): 3
NSG - 571C Management: Adult/Gerontology Acute and Critical Illness I Credit(s): 4
NSG - 571D Management: Adult/Gerontology Acute and Critical Illness II Credit(s): 2
NSG - 572 Quality and Safety for the Aging Adult Credit(s): 3

Subtotal: 15

DNP Practica and Project

NSG - 606 DNP Specialty Practicum Credit(s): 1-12
Credit Hours: (1) (84 Clock Hours)
NSG - 607 DNP Immersion Residency Credit(s): 1-14
Credit Hours: (5) (420 Clock Hours)
NSG - 609A DNP Project Practicum A Credit(s): 1 (84 Clock Hours)
NSG - 609B DNP Project Practicum B Credit(s): 1 (84 Clock Hours)
NSG - 609C DNP Project Practicum C Credit(s): 1 (84 Clock Hours)

Subtotal: 9

Total: 38

Minimum credits required: Successful completion of the AGACNP MSN to DNP track for APRNs requires a minimum of 38 term hours for graduation. Upon review of an individual’s academic portfolio, additional courses or clinical hours may be required.

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

Advanced Health Assessment Across the Life Span
Advanced Pathophysiology
Advanced Pharmacology
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 1,000 clock hours.

DNP Curricular Sequencing Guidelines

Graduate core courses should be taken early in the plan of study. Notes: NSG 522 Applied Epidemiology Biostats Nursing should be taken before/concurrently with NSG 523 Research for Evidence Based Practice. Research for Evidence Based Practice is currently listed as a prerequisite for NSG 521 Antiracism in Organizational Leadership.
APRN tracks:
- NSG 532 Advanced Physiology and 533 Advanced Pathophysiology are key foundational scientific courses that should be completed early in coursework before clinical practicum. Note: Both courses are currently listed as prerequisites for NSG 625/625L Advanced Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice and NSG 535 Diagnostics for the APRN.
- Key clinical practicum preparation courses should be completed prior to students beginning clinical practicum. This includes NSG 625/625L Advanced Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice, NSG 535 Diagnostics for the APRN, NSG 531 Advanced/Applied Pharmacotherapy course (track specific) and other track specific courses as specified by program director (e.g. major psychopathological disorders, etc.).
- Direct care clinical practicum should be taken concurrently with clinical management courses. Some program tracks offset didactic from clinical practicum by one semester so foundational management content is received before clinical practicum begins.
Ideally, Transition to the APRN role (NSG 537) should be taken later in the plan of study as a transition to practice course. However, it does not have a prerequisite and can technically be taken at any time during the plan of study.
Leadership in Evolving Health Care Environments (NSG 600) and Health Care Economics, Policy and Finance (NSG 602) should be completed before/concurrently with (NSG 609C).
Theory courses to guide DNP project work include NSG 608/610/565/566/567. NSG 610 should precede 609A, and 608 should precede/concurrent with 615 such that students have the necessary theory content to complete their project proposal. For Poplead/APHN DNP Tracks, NSG 606 should be taken concurrently with 565/566/567 and should be completed prior to taking 607.

Special situations:

On a case-by-case basis where the clinical practicum is delayed, students may continue in their didactic management courses at the discretion of the student’s adviser and program director. If the delay is greater than one semester, the situation should be discussed with DNP program leadership, and additional coursework may be required. Documentation should be noted in an academic success form.
1. Good academic standing
2. No behavioral or professional performance concerns
3. No clinical performance concerns