Nursing: Doctor of Nursing Practice — DNP
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is the terminal practice degree for advanced nursing practice. The DNP degree program at Auburn University College of Nursing is a post-master's program designed for students who are advanced practice registered nurses and hold national certification in the advanced practice role prior to starting the DNP program.
The DNP program of study builds on the competencies acquired through studies at the master’s level, and provides additional specialized knowledge and skills to prepare nurses for the highest level of clinical nursing practice. Students gain enhanced leadership skills and transformation abilities to provide leadership in implementing evidence-based practice, translating research into practice and policy decision-making, and improving healthcare delivery and outcomes. Graduates of the DNP program are able to recognize trends in health care and population health, and implement strategies that will promote improved patient outcomes and safety while maintaining quality and value.
The DNP program is 40 credit hours and can be completed in 5 semesters of full-time study, including summers, or approximately 18 months. Courses are delivered primarily online, including synchronous and asynchronous web conferencing; students also are required to attend an on-campus orientation to the program, one to two days of on-campus course meetings each semester, and complete practicum requirements. Students complete a practice-focused scholarly project under the direction of a project team and 300 practicum hours during the last three semesters of study. Practicum hours provide opportunities to apply new knowledge and skills into practice and demonstrate competencies of the DNP-prepared advanced practice nurse. Consistent with Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Standards for Accreditation of Baccalaureate and Graduate Nursing Programs (2024), at least 1,000 post-baccalaureate practicum hours must be completed in practice environments. All DNP students are required to provide official verification of academically-supervised clinical experiences completed in their Master's/post-Master's in Nursing program and complete any remaining hours needed to satisfy the 1,000 hour requirement. Some students will need to complete more credits beyond the 40 credits required for graduation in order to meet the practicum hour requirement, and may repeat NURS 8540 Advanced Practice Practicum until the 1,000 hours are achieved.
Admission to the DNP Program is competitive and all qualified applicants may not be admitted. All applications must meet the admission criteria for applications to be considered complete and to be considered for admission.
Admission Criteria
- Submission of all official transcripts to the Graduate School
- Nursing GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in Master's program
- Good academic standing from last university attended
- Current unencumbered license as a registered nurse in the state in which student plans to participate in any clinical experience
- A minimum of a master's degree from an accredited nursing program: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), or NLN Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA).
- Three professional references for online recommendation form – References should be qualified to judge abilities to be successful in graduate studies.
- 500-word Professional Goal Statement; statement will address reasons for pursuing the DNP degree, past clinical experiences, career goals, and past achievements.
- National certification and recognition or licensure as a nurse practitioner or nurse anesthetist in the state where practicing
- Resume or curriculum vitae
- Personal interview with a faculty member may be required
College of Nursing Specific Admission and Progression Information
- If applicant is currently a student in last semester of a MSN NP Program (at time of application), the applicant must submit a request for waiver of the MSN and NP Certification admission requirements to the Graduate Program Director. If waiver request is approved and applicant is admitted, the student must complete the MSN in good standing prior to enrollment and must obtain the NP Certification during the first semester of study. These applicants will be admitted under provisional status until the NP Certification is obtained. An official transcript indicating completion of the MSN must be submitted directly to the Graduate School and documentation of NP Certification must be submitted to AU College of Nursing before the student will be a fully approved admission. If a waiver is obtained, these applicants will be considered based on the nursing GPA on their current MSN transcript.
- Applicants may possibly be admitted under provisional status, if otherwise qualified, if the MSN nursing GPA is less than 3.0 on 4.0 scale.
- Once the student has completed 9 hours of graduate credit with a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale, the provisional status will be removed. Failure to meet the requirement as stated will prevent progression in the College of Nursing Graduate Program.
- Students must complete the Letter of Intent form sent by the AU College of Nursing, accept enrollment within their application, and meet all compliance requirements by the deadline indicated on the admission offer.
- Students are required to provide compliance documentation and must complete a background check and drug screen. All compliance documentation, background check, drug screen, and any requirements by Auburn University and/or College of Nursing must be completed by the deadline indicated, prior to registering for courses. Students who fail to satisfy all requirements for admission within the specified time period will be dismissed from the nursing graduate program.
- To progress through the program, all AU College of Nursing graduate students must receive a grade of at least a B in all courses. Students earning any two course grades of less than a B will be dismissed from the graduate program.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Semester I | ||
| NURS 8320 | Informatics and Management of Health Outcomes | 3 |
| NURS 8510 | Foundation for Evidence-Based Practice * | 3 |
| NURS 8710 | Transitional Skills for DNP Practice * | 2 |
| Semester II | ||
| NURS 8350 | Nursing Philosophy, Science, and Theory * | 3 |
| NURS 8420 | Population Health Outcomes | 3 |
| NURS 8720 | Health Innovations and Clinical Outcomes Improvements * | 3 |
| Semester III | ||
| NURS 8430 | Financial Management for Advanced Practice | 3 |
| STAT 7000 | Experimental Statistics I ** | 4 |
| NURS 8930 | DNP Project Practicum I: Development (1 theory, 2 clinical) | 3 |
| Semester IV | ||
| NURS 8440 | Leadership for Advanced Health Policy | 3 |
| NURS 8540 | Advanced Practice Practicum | 2 |
| NURS 8940 | DNP Project Practicum II : Implementation (1 theory, 3 clinical) | 4 |
| Semester V | ||
| NURS 8950 | DNP Project Practicum III : Evaluation and Presentations | 4 |
| Total Hours | 40 | |
- *
NURS 8710 and NURS 8510 marked * are pre-requisites to both NURS 8720 Health Innovations and Clinical Outcomes Improvements and NURS 8930 DNP Project Practicum I: Development.
- *
NURS 8720 and NURS 8350 marked * are pre-requisites to NURS 8930 DNP Project Practicum I: Development.
DNP Project courses I, II and III must be taken in sequence.
- **
STAT 7000 marked ** may be pre-requisite or co-requisite to NURS 8930 DNP Project Practicum I: Development.
- DNP Project courses I, II, and III must be taken in sequence.
- NURS 8540 Advanced Practice Practicum is only required for students with <700 clinical hours from Master's Program.
- Courses listed under each semester are only taught during that semester.