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 can be completed as a post-master's or BSN to DNP program. The post-master’s DNP is 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 BSN to DNP is designed for students who have completed a BSN program and hold licensure as a registered nurse.
The DNP program is designed to prepare nurses for the highest level of clinical nursing practice with a focus on enhancing leadership skills, improving patient outcomes, and translating research into practice. The program emphasizes evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and systems leadership, equipping nurses with the advanced knowledge and skills needed to lead in various healthcare settings. Courses are delivered primarily online, with some on-campus requirements.
Post-Master's DNP Pathway:
The post-master's DNP pathway is designed for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who already hold a master's degree in nursing. This pathway builds on the competencies acquired at the master's level and provides additional specialized knowledge and skills. The pathway requires 41 credit hours and can be completed in six semesters of full-time study. Students complete a practice-focused scholarly project and 300 practicum hours during the last three semesters of study. Some students may need to complete more credits beyond the 40 required for graduation to meet the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Standards for Accreditation of Baccalaureate and Graduate Nursing Programs (2024) practicum hour requirement of at least 1,000 post-baccalaureate practicum hours. Students may take and repeat NURS 8540 Advanced Practice Practicum until the 1,000 hours are achieved.
BSN to DNP Pathway:
The BSN to DNP pathway is tailored for registered nurses who hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and wish to pursue a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. This pathway requires 71 credit hours, 1,140 practicum hours, and can be completed in nine semesters of full-time study. Once students in this pathway complete the first six semesters, they become eligible to sit for the Nurse Practitioner (NP) certification exam.
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 for post-MSN)
- Good academic standing from last university attended
- A master's degree (post-MSN pathway) or bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN to DNP pathway) 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).
- Current unencumbered license as a registered nurse in the state in which student plans to participate in clinical experience
- National certification and recognition or licensure as a nurse practitioner or nurse anesthetist in the state where practicing
- Three professional references for online recommendation form – References should be qualified to judge abilities to be successful in graduate studies.
- 750-word Professional Goal Statement; statement will address reasons for pursuing the DNP degree, past clinical experiences, career goals, and past achievements.
- Resume or curriculum vitae
- Applicants must complete an interview via telephone, on campus, or videoconference, if requested.
***Students who are in the last semester of a BSN or MSN program at the time of application deadline should contact the Administrator, Graduate Academic Programs for more information.
Applications must be submitted and complete no later than the following deadlines:
Fall Semester Admission: May 1 deadline - ***International applicants should submit all required materials by February 1***
POST-MASTERS DNP PATHWAY
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| Core Intensive I | Core Intensive II | Core Intensive III | |||
| NURS 7100 Found Rural/Underserved Health | 3 | NURS 7340 Adv Theoretical Found of Nurs | 3 | NURS 7350 Quality & Safety in Healthcare | 3 |
| NURS 7280 Professionalism & Leadership | 3 | NURS 7430 Adv EBP | 3 | NURS 8320 Informatics/Tech in Healthcare | 3 |
| Statistics (must be approved; pre-requisite to 8920) | 3 | NURS 8920 DNP Seminar | 1 | ||
| 6 | 9 | 7 | |||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| DNP Intensive I | DNP Intensive II | DNP Intensive III | |||
| NURS 8420 Population Health Outcomes | 3 | NURS 8430 Financial Mngmnt Adv Practice | 3 | NURS 8950 DNP Proj Prac III:Eval/Present | 4 |
| NURS 8930 DNP Proj Pract I: Development (1 theory/2 clinical; 120 clinical hours) | 3 | NURS 8540 DNP Adv Practice Practicum (credit/associated clinical hours determined based on individual clinical hour needs) *Only for students with <700 clinical hours from previous master's | 1-4 | ||
| NURS 8940 DNP Projec Pract II Implement (1 theory/3 clinical; 180 clinical hours) | 4 | ||||
| 6 | 8-11 | 4 | |||
| Total Hours: 40-43 | |||||
- Intensives: Each intensive will include various requirements and may extend up to one week.
- DNP Project courses I, II, and III must be taken in sequence.
- NURS 8540 is only required for students who come into post-masters pathway with less than 700 clinical hours.
- Students are admitted in Fall semester only and may be full-time or part-time. Part-time plans of study will vary and will be individualized.
- Courses are taught only during the semester in which each is listed.
BSN-DNP PATHWAY (Bachelor to Doctorate)
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| Core Intensive I | Core Intensive II | *Core Intensive III | |||
| NURS 7230 Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 | NURS 7240 Advanced Pharmacology | 3 | NURS 7110 Adv Health/Physical Assessment | 3-4 |
| NURS 7100 Found Rural/Underserved Health | 3 | NURS 7340 Adv Theoretical Found of Nurs | 3 | NURS 7350 Quality & Safety in Healthcare | 3 |
| NURS 7280 Professionalism & Leadership | 3 | NURS 7430 Adv EBP | 3 | NURS 8320 Informatics/Tech in Healthcare | 3 |
| 9 | 9 | 9-10 | |||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| NP Intensive I | NP Intensive II | NP Intensive III | |||
| NURS 7330 Primary Care Practicum I | 3-7 | NURS 7440 Primary Care Women & Children | 3-7 | NURS 7920 Primary Care Practicum II | 7-8 |
| Statistics (must be approved; pre-requisite to 8920) | 3 | NURS 8920 DNP Seminar | 1 | ||
| 3-7 | 6-10 | 8-9 | |||
| Third Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| DNP Intensive I | DNP Intensive II | DNP Intensive III | |||
| NURS 8420 Population Health Outcomes | 3 | NURS 8430 Financial Mngmnt Adv Practice | 3 | NURS 8950 DNP Proj Prac III:Eval/Present | 4 |
| NURS 8930 DNP Proj Pract I: Development (1 theory/2 clinical; 120 clinical hours) | 3 | NURS 8940 DNP Projec Pract II Implement (1 theory/3 clinical; 180 clinical hours) | 4 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 4 | |||
| Total Hours: 61-71 | |||||
- Intensives: Each intensive will include various requirements and may extend up to one week.
- **NP Intensives – May include, but not limited to: Patient based simulation labs with standardized patients; lab intensives; community practice opportunities
- Core courses (7230, 7100, 7280, 7240, 7340, 7430, 7110, 7350, 8320) must be successfully completed prior to taking NP clinical courses 7330, 7440, or 7920. Core may not be taken concurrently with NP clinical courses.
- Core courses (7230, 7100, 7280, 7240, 7340, 7430, 7110, 7350) and NP clinical courses (7330, 7440) must be successfully completed prior to taking NURS 7920 Primary Care Practicum II.
- DNP Project courses I, II, and III must be taken in sequence.
- Students are admitted in Fall semester only and may be full-time or part-time. Part-time plans of study will vary and will be individualized.
- Courses are taught only during the semester in which each is listed.
- Upon successful completion of all core courses and NP clinical courses, students have the option to receive the MSN NP degree to allow the opportunity to sit for board certification.