Post-Master's Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP)
The Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) represents the highest level of preparation in nursing practice based on nursing science and prepares leaders for nursing practice. This program builds upon the base of a Master's Degree in Nursing Preparation in Nurse Practitioner (NP) and Clinical Nurse Specialty (CNS) programs and excellence of practice based on validations by standard sets of competencies in national certification processes and specialty credentials. The Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences program is based upon The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice from the American Association of College of Nursing (AACN, 2006) and the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF, 2017) Nurse Practitioner Core Competencies.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the DNP program, the graduate will be able to:
- Use translation science, theoretical frameworks, and scientific methods to describe, develop, implement and evaluate health care practice to create new models of care to improve health care outcomes
- Provide leadership to strategically transform the healthcare system; creating ethical, cost-effective, safe, culturally competent, evidence based, patient-centered care
- Participate as a practice scholar to analyze, create, implement and evaluate how adjustments to healthcare systems can foster safe, effective, efficient, equitable, patient-centered outcomes
- Demonstrate independent reflective practice skills, in complex evidence-based settings using systems thinking and clinical reasoning to provide care to individuals, families, communities and populations
- Collaborate on inter-professional teams to create safe, effective, health care systems that promote health and improve population outcomes
- Participate in the critical analysis and translation of knowledge into the practice setting and the construction of policies that decrease health disparities, increase access to care, honor cultural differences, and promote social justice and equality for all people
- Critically analyze data, technology and information systems to determine how best to incorporate this knowledge to improve patient outcomes, healthcare programming and healthcare systems
The final requirement of the DNP program is a quality-improvement project consisting of a paper, poster, and presentation.
Admissions Requirements
- Active RN license in State of Practice
- Master of Science Degree in Nursing from an accredited (CCNE/NLN) program
- MSN cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
- National Certification as NP or CNS
NOTE: The DNP admissions standards differ from the UCCS Graduate School admissions in that the NP/CNS National Certification and RN license are required as well. Prerequisite graduate courses in nursing theory, research and policy are indicated only if the MSN programs were in deficit of this core courses.
NOTE: Applicants with course-work from any foreign college to submit a course-by-course foreign transcript evaluation by a NACES or AICE member. (Please note: Official evaluations received directly from SpanTran, WES and ECE credential agencies may enable more efficient review and processing of transfer credit by UCCS.)
Due to individual state regulations, we are accepting students from these states:
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Alaska
We have determined that our curriculum meets the State educational requirements for certification or licensure.
Students should contact the board directly for additional requirements that may be required to sit for exams such as background checks, fingerprinting and any other additional items.
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Arizona
We have determined that our curriculum meets the State educational requirements for certification or licensure.
Students should contact the board directly for additional requirements that may be required to sit for exams such as background checks, fingerprinting and any other additional items.
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Colorado
We have determined that our curriculum meets the State educational requirements for certification or licensure.
Students should contact the board directly for additional requirements that may be required to sit for exams such as background checks, fingerprinting and any other additional items.
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Idaho
We have determined that our curriculum meets the State educational requirements for certification or licensure.
Students should contact the board directly for additional requirements that may be required to sit for exams such as background checks, fingerprinting and any other additional items.
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Montana
We have determined that our curriculum meets the State educational requirements for certification or licensure.
Students should contact the board directly for additional requirements that may be required to sit for exams such as background checks, fingerprinting and any other additional items.
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Nevada
We have determined that our curriculum meets the State educational requirements for certification or licensure.
Students should contact the board directly for additional requirements that may be required to sit for exams such as background checks, fingerprinting and any other additional items.
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New Mexico
We have determined that our curriculum meets the State educational requirements for certification or licensure.
Students should contact the board directly for additional requirements that may be required to sit for exams such as background checks, fingerprinting and any other additional items.
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Utah
We have determined that our curriculum meets the State educational requirements for certification or licensure.
Students should contact the board directly for additional requirements that may be required to sit for exams such as background checks, fingerprinting and any other additional items.
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Wyoming
We have determined that our curriculum meets the State educational requirements for certification or licensure.
Students should contact the board directly for additional requirements that may be required to sit for exams such as background checks, fingerprinting and any other additional items.
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Iowa
We have determined that our curriculum meets the State educational requirements for certification or licensure.
Students should contact the board directly for additional requirements that may be required to sit for exams such as background checks, fingerprinting and any other additional items.
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Kansas
We have determined that our curriculum meets the State educational requirements for certification or licensure.
Students should contact the board directly for additional requirements that may be required to sit for exams such as background checks, fingerprinting and any other additional items.
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Nebraska
We have determined that our curriculum meets the State educational requirements for certification or licensure
Students should contact the board directly for additional requirements that may be required to sit for exams such as background checks, fingerprinting and any other additional items.
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Oklahoma
We have determined that our curriculum meets the State educational requirements for certification or licensure.
Students should contact the board directly for additional requirements that may be required to sit for exams such as background checks, fingerprinting and any other additional items.
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South Dakota
We have determined that our curriculum meets the State educational requirements for certification or licensure.
Students should contact the board directly for additional requirements that may be required to sit for exams such as background checks, fingerprinting and any other additional items.
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Florida
We have determined that our curriculum meets the State educational requirements for certification or licensure.
Students should contact the board directly for additional requirements that may be required to sit for exams such as background checks, fingerprinting and any other additional items.
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Texas
We have determined that our curriculum meets the State educational requirements for certification or licensure.
Students should contact the board directly for additional requirements that may be required to sit for exams such as background checks, fingerprinting and any other additional items.
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Virginia
We have determined that our curriculum meets the State educational requirements for certification or licensure.
Students should contact the board directly for additional requirements that may be required to sit for exams such as background checks, fingerprinting and any other additional items.
Application Process
Deadlines
Application deadline is February 3. The Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences admits students into the DNP program options once per year for Summer session.
Notification
The Admission Committee will review all completed applications 30 business days after the deadline. You will be notified by email as to your admission status.