Doctor of Nursing Practice (BSN to DNP) Area of Focus: Advanced Public Health Nursing

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Terminal Objectives

The DNP degree is designed to prepare graduates to function as highly developed clinicians/leaders in advanced nursing practice or systems of care. Graduates are prepared to practice in a variety of complex clinical, organizational and/or 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

Graduate Nursing Core (Transfer From Graduate Program)

NSG - 522 Applied Epidemiology Biostats Nursing Credit(s): 3
NSG - 523 Research for Evidence Based Practice Credit(s): 3

Subtotal: 6

DNP Core

NSG - 600 Leadership in Evolving Health Care Environments Credit(s): 3
NSG - 602 Health Care Economics, Policy and Finance Credit(s): 3

Subtotal: 6

Population/Role Cognates

NSG - 536 Principles of Case Management for Advanced Nursing Practice Credit(s): 3
NSG - 565 Advanced Nursing Roles in Public Health Systems Credit(s): 3
NSG - 566 Population Assessment and Heath Promotion Frameworks Credit(s): 3
NSG - 567 Population Intervention Planning, Implementation and Evaluation Credit(s): 3
NSG - 568 Environmental Health Credit(s): 3
NSG - 611 Financial and Business Concepts Credit(s): 3
NSG - 612 Applied Organizational Analysis and the Management of Human Resources Credit(s): 3
NSG - 613 Data and Decision Making for Strategic Outcomes Management Credit(s): 3
NSG - 614 The Leader and Policy, Politics, Power And Ethics Credit(s): 3
Cognates Credit Hours: (9)
The following courses are approved to be used to satisfy the Cognates Credit Hours requirement: HSM-688, NSG-534, NSG-572, NSG-578, NSG-675 or NSG-679. All other courses, within or outside RUSH University, must be approved to ensure they satisfy requirements. Written approval from the assistant dean of specialty education is required.

Subtotal: 36

DNP Practica and Project

NSG - 605 DNP Project Credit(s): 2 (168 Clock Hours)
NSG - 606 DNP Specialty Practicum Credit(s): 1-12
Credit Hours: (9) (756 Clock Hours)
NSG - 607 DNP Immersion Residency Credit(s): 1-14
Credit Hours: (3) (252 Clock Hours)

Subtotal: 14

Total: 62

Minimum credits required: Successful completion of the APHN BSN to DNP track requires a minimum of 62 term hours for graduation. Upon review of an individual’s academic portfolio, additional courses or clinical hours may be required.