Doctor of Nursing Practice in Population Health

To be admitted you must:

• Apply and be admitted to the William Howard Dean Graduate School

Additional requirements include:

• A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from an NLN or CCNE-accredited School of Nursing.
• A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater (on a 4.0 scale) for undergraduate and any graduate courses for full admission.
• At least one year of nursing practice experience is recommended.
• A current, unencumbered license as a Registered Nurse in the U.S. or U.S. Territories, valid in the state or territory where you reside and will complete your practicum project.
• Submission of a copy of your current nursing license.
• A completed application, the non-refundable application fee ($55.00 or $60.00 for international students) and official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions sent directly to W.H. Dean Graduate School Admissions Department.
• Successful completion of the following graduate-level courses (or approval to take them concurrently):
  • Advanced Pathophysiology
  • Advanced Pharmacology
  • Advanced Health Assessment
  • Epidemiology and Global Health
• A current resume or curriculum vitae outlining your education and work experience.

The DNP program involves 35* credit hours of study over 2 years. The program is completely online with carefully selected clinical opportunities to enhance the advanced practice role of the doctorally prepared nurse.

*Additional credits may be needed for those students who require an extension to complete their DNP Quality Improvement Action Project.

DNP Plan of Study

In addition to the DNP Quality Improvement Project clinical hours, there are four clinical courses provided throughout the program. In accordance with the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accreditation requirements, a minimum of one thousand (1000) post-baccalaureate clinical hours are required for graduation.

The educational outcomes of the DNP program are guided by AACN Essentials (2021). As a DNP graduate, you will be prepared to function at the highest level of advanced nursing practice. You will be able to:

• Synthesize evidence and knowledge from nursing and other disciplines to inform education, practice and research.
• Demonstrate socially responsible leadership and employ ethical decision-making to advocate for health policies and interventions that influence health resources.
• Analyze system-level and public policy to design evidence-based interventions to improve population-focused outcomes.
• Apply and critically evaluate advanced knowledge in quality improvement, research, and evaluation methodologies.
• Integrate outcome metrics in quality improvement to advocate for change and policy recommendations.
• Facilitate and direct interprofessional activities and initiatives.
• Evaluate health policies based on an ethical framework considering cost, health equity, and care outcomes.
• Use standardized data to evaluate decision-making and outcomes across all systems levels.