Doctor of Nursing Practice (MSN to DNP) Area of Focus: Transformative Leadership: Systems

This area of focus is a post-master’s practice doctorate that prepares graduates for systems-level leadership and improving outcomes in a variety of settings. Students considered for admission should have potential or demonstrated leadership ability.

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 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 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 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 - 608 Program Evaluation Credit Hours: 3
NSG - 610 DNP Project Planning and Implementation Credit Hours: 3
NSG - 615 DNP Project Proposal Seminar Credit Hours: 2

Subtotal: 14

Population/Role Cognates

NSG - 611 Financial & Business Concepts Credit Hours: (3)
NSG - 612 Applied Organizational Analysis & Management of Human Resources Credit Hours: (3)
NSG - 613 Data and Decision Making for Strategic Outcomes Management Credit Hours: (3)
NSG - 614 The Leader and Policy, Politics, Power, & Ethics Credit Hours: (3)
NSG - 682 Developing Professional Writing Skills Credit Hours: (3)

Subtotal: 15

DNP Practica and Project

NSG - 606 DNP/Specialty Practicum Credit Hours: (Variable)
[Systems] Credit Hours: (1) (84 Clock Hours)
NSG - 607 DNP/Specialty Immersion Residency Credit Hours: (Variable)
Credit Hours: (2) (168 Clock Hours)
NSG - 609A DNP Project Practicum A Credit Hours: 1 (84 Clock Hours)
NSG - 609B DNP Project Practicum B Credit Hours: 1 (84 Clock Hours)
NSG - 609C DNP Project Practicum C Credit Hours: 1 (84 Clock Hours)

Subtotal: 6

Total: 35

Minimum credits required: Successful completion of the Systems MSN to DNP track requires a minimum of 35 semester hours for graduation. Upon review of an individual’s academic portfolio, additional courses or clinical hours may be required.

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