Nursing Practice DNP

The FDU College of Nursing and Allied Health Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program provides MS/MSN-prepared nurses with extended knowledge of population health, quality assessment, policy analysis, and evidence-based practice (EBP) to enhance their leadership in practice settings, educational institutions, and healthcare organizations. There is a strong focus on survey methodology and analysis of survey data.  Students are able to identify issues in their own healthcare system or health ecosystem and propose practical solutions to improve patient or population outcomes (i.e., without interventions requiring IRB oversight) all while engaging remotely with university and library resources.  Many students go on to successfully implement their doctoral project following graduation.   

Admission Requirements

• MSN degree from an accredited nursing program (or, for RNs with a MS degree in another field, an individualized bridge program is available).
• 2.8 GPA (inclusive of all college transcripts).
• Registered Nurse (RN) licensure – any state.

Optional/Preferred Requirements

• Relevant experience in advanced practice nursing.
• Letter(s) of recommendation.

**Applicants are encouraged to upload unofficial transcripts to NursingCAS at the time of application submission. We can often facilitate a conditional admission decision using these unofficial transcript copies while we await receipt of official transcripts.

Curriculum & Program Plans

Admission is on a rolling basis. Students can generally complete the program in 6-7 semesters. Students who wish to attend full-time and begin fall semester can complete the program in 4 semesters.

Students who have completed advanced-level (i.e., MSN, DNP) nursing coursework in another program prior to enrollment may be eligible for up to 15 credits of course waivers (e.g., students who have completed the MSN at FDU will usually receive 9 credits of course waiver).

Program Plan for Spring Start (6 semesters)

• NURS 8026 Doctoral Synthesis (1 credit) (Spring 1)
• NURS 8020 Healthcare Delivery Systems & Public Policy or NURS 8018 Health Promotion & Population Health (Spring 1) 
• NURS 8011 Leadership & Organizational Analysis (Spring 1, or defer to Spring 2)
• NURS 8008 Information Systems for Healthcare (Summer 1)
• NURS 8021 Translational Research (Summer 1)
• NURS 8017 Biostatistics & Epidemiology (Fall 1)
• NURS 8019 Finance, Economics & Entrepreneurship or NURS 8022 Scientific Underpinnings (Fall 1)
• NURS 8018 Health Promotion & Population Health or NURS 8020 Healthcare Delivery Systems & Public Policy (Spring 2) 
• NURS 8023 EBP Project 1: Proposal Development (Spring 2)
• NURS 8010 Health Quality Assessment & Outcomes (Summer 2)
• NURS 8024 EBP Project 2: Implementation (Summer 2)
• NURS 8022 Scientific Underpinnings or NURS 8019 Finance, Economics & Entrepreneurship or (Fall 2)
• NURS 8025 EBP Project 3: Evaluation & Dissemination (Fall 2)

Total credits: 37

Total immersion hours: Total of 1000 (inclusive of prior MSN clinical hours)

Program Plan for Summer Start (6 semesters)

• NURS 8021 Translational Research (Summer 1)
• NURS 8008 Information Systems for Healthcare (Summer 1, or defer to Summer 2)
• NURS 8026 Doctoral Synthesis (1 credit) (Fall 1)
• NURS 8019 Finance, Economics & Entrepreneurship or NURS 8022 Scientific Underpinnings (Fall 1)
• NURS 8017 Biostatistics & Epidemiology (Fall 1, or defer to Fall 2)
• NURS 8023 EBP Project 1: Proposal Development (Spring 1)
• NURS 8020 Healthcare Delivery Systems & Public Policy or NURS 8018 Health Promotion & Population Health (Spring 1) 
• NURS 8011 Leadership & Organizational Analysis (Spring 1, or defer to Spring 2)
• NURS 8024 EBP Project 2: Implementation (Summer 2)
• NURS 8010 Health Quality Assessment & Outcomes (Summer 2)
• NURS 8025 EBP Project 3: Evaluation & Dissemination (Fall 2)
• NURS 8022 Scientific Underpinnings or NURS 8019 Finance, Economics & Entrepreneurship or (Fall 2)
• NURS 8018 Health Promotion & Population Health or NURS 8020 Healthcare Delivery Systems & Public Policy (Spring 2) 

Total credits: 37

Total immersion hours: Total of 1000 (inclusive of prior MSN clinical hours)

Program Plan for Fall Start (7 semesters)

• NURS 8017 Biostatistics & Epidemiology (Fall 1, or defer to Fall 2)
• NURS 8019 Finance, Economics & Entrepreneurship or NURS 8022 Scientific Underpinnings (Fall 1)
• NURS 8026 Doctoral Synthesis (1 credit) (Fall 1)
• NURS 8020 Healthcare Delivery Systems & Public Policy or NURS 8018 Health Promotion & Population Health (Spring 1) 
• NURS 8011 Leadership & Organizational Analysis (Spring 1, or defer to Spring 2)
• NURS 8008 Information Systems for Healthcare (Summer 1)
• NURS 8021 Translational Research (Summer 1)
• NURS 8022 Scientific Underpinnings or NURS 8019 Finance, Economics & Entrepreneurship or (Fall 2)
• NURS 8018 Health Promotion & Population Health or NURS 8020 Healthcare Delivery Systems & Public Policy (Spring 2) 
• NURS 8023 EBP Project 1: Proposal Development (Spring 2)
• NURS 8024 EBP Project 2: Implementation (Summer 2)
• NURS 8010 Health Quality Assessment & Outcomes (Summer 2)
• NURS 8025 EBP Project 3: Evaluation & Dissemination (Fall 3)

Total credits: 37

Total immersion hours: Total of 1000 (inclusive of prior MSN clinical hours)

Important Application Information for International and Out-of-State Students:

International and out-of-state prospective students are encouraged to apply to our post-graduate DNP Program. We will review applications on a case-by-case basis to assure that there are no federal, state, or regional restrictions for accepting the applicant into our FDU DNP Program. FDU participates in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) allowing us to offer distance education programs to students in other SARA member states. 

To apply for this program

Apply for this graduate program through the FDU Graduate Admissions webpage.  After navigating to this page, look for “Customized Applications” and choose “Doctor of Nursing Practice DNP.”  This will bring you to the Nursing CAS application webpage which has instructions for establishing an account and filling out your application. Applicants are encouraged to upload unofficial transcripts as we can often facilitate a conditional admission decision using these unofficial transcript copies while we await receipt of official transcripts.