DNP Curriculum
Program Format
The DNP Post Master's program curriculum includes a minimum of 36 semester units of graduate nursing coursework. The program uses a hybrid format, offering courses onsite and online. Students are required to be available for classes all day on Fridays, for the entirety of the program. Students are required to be on-campus for coursework four Fridays a semester, supplemented with synchronous Friday courses and other asynchronous online requirements.
Clinical practice is required and will vary based on the number of clinical hours documented as eligible through the master’s degree. Clinical hours are specific to a student's DNP role and can be completed in their place of employment. The DNP requires a total of 1,000 clinical hours upon graduation.
Curriculum
| Term | Courses | Total Units |
|---|---|---|
| Fall (Y1) | NURS 602 - Data Management, Quality Improvement and Evaluation for Advanced Nursing Practice (3) NURS 605 - Advanced Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing (3) NURS 640 - DNP Clinical Practicum: Professional Role Development (3)* *May be repeated to accrue 1000 clinical hours between MSN and DNP |
9 |
| Spring (Y1) | NURS 615 - Epidemiology and Clinical Prevention (3) NURS 630 - Healthcare Policy, Ethics and Advocacy for Nurses (3) NURS 695 - Seminar in Integrative Clinical Scholarship (2) NURS 697A - Integrative Clinical Scholarship I: Evidence-based Practice (1) |
9-12* |
| Summer (Y1) | NURS 610 - Leadership, Management and Economics in Advanced Nursing Practice (3) NURS 620 - Informatics in Healthcare (3) Qualifying Doctoral Assessment (Late Summer or Early Fall) |
6-9* |
| Fall (Y2) | NURS 650 - Nursing Curriculum Development (3) NURS 697B - Integrative Clinical Scholarship II: Evidence-based Practice (3) |
6-9* |
| Spring (Y2) | NURS 652 - Instructional Design in Nursing Education for DNP Students (3) NURS 697C - Integrative Clinical Scholarship III: Evidence-based Practice (3) Doctoral Project Defense |
6-9* |
| TOTAL UNITS | 36-48* | |
*Additional units may be required to complete a minimum of 1,000 total clinical hours
Course Descriptions
Evaluation and Measurement Core
NURS 602 Data Management, Quality Improvement and Evaluation for Advanced Nursing Practice
Provides necessary skills and knowledge to use evidence and health data for quality improvement in a health setting. Uses quality system to evaluate change and common methods used in quality improvement processes. (3 units)
NURS 605 Advanced Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing
Reading, interpreting and evaluating studies using quantitative and qualitative methods in nursing and other health care disciplines; develop initial literature review for integrative scholarship proposal. (3 units)
NURS 615 Epidemiology and Clinical Prevention
Applying epidemiological principles and approaches related to health and illness in at-risk populations. Use epidemiological models and inquiry to determine population needs and promote interventions to enhance health-related quality of life and prevent illness. (3 units)
NURS 620 Informatics in Healthcare
Use information systems/technology resources to implement quality improvement initiatives and support practice and administrative decision-making. Standards and principles for selecting and evaluating information systems and patient care technology and related ethical, regulatory and legal issues. (3 units)
Faculty Development Core
NURS 650 Nursing Curriculum Development
A systematic study of principles of curricula for nursing academic programs, patient education, and staff development. Education philosophies, objectives, selection and organization of learning experiences and evaluation methods. (3 units)
NURS 652 Instructional Design in Nursing Education for DNP Students
Course design; using instructional strategies, simulation and technology in classroom and online teaching environments; assessing and evaluating student learning. Ethical, legal and cultural competencies for nurse educators. (3 units)
Management and Leadership Core
NURS 610 Leadership, Management and Economics in Advanced Practice Nursing
Analyzing leadership theories and organizational models within healthcare delivery systems. Principles of change theory, financial management, strategic planning, program development and implementation. Fiscally sound leadership management in providing healthcare for individuals and populations. (3 units)
NURS 630 Healthcare Policy, Ethics and Advocacy for Nurses
How national and international health policies, advocacy efforts, ethics and economics impact health care delivery and its outcomes and influence advanced practice nursing. Development of health care policy, delivery models, reimbursement mechanisms and economic perspectives. (3 units)
Practice Core
NURS 640 DNP Clinical Practicum: Professional Role Development
Supervised clinical opportunities in selected clinical settings to enhance professional role development in advanced nursing practice. Synthesize prior graduate learning experience; focus on evidence-based best practices to enhance safety, quality and efficiency in the student’s nursing specialty area. May be repeated for a maximum of 18 units, as needed to complete required practice hours at the DNP level. (3 units)
Integrative Clinical Scholarship Core
NURS 695 Seminar in Integrative Clinical Scholarship
Proposal development as applied to clinical scholarly work for DNP project. Course requires 95 hours in a clinical setting with faculty consultation. Outcome is a proposal for a scholarly clinical doctoral project. (2 units)
NURS 697A Integrative Clinical Scholarship I: Evidence-based Practice
Under supervision of a faculty project chair. Clinical project on a topic in student’s areas of interest and specialization. Role of DNP in clinical inquiry and evaluation, and related leadership. Principles of proposal writing as applied to clinical problems. (1 unit)
NURS 697B Integrative Clinical Scholarship II: Evidence-based Practice
Implementing DNP project within a clinical setting, using theory integration and evidence-based change from nursing science and other disciplines. Incorporating principles of practice inquiry, evidence-based practice, and/or practice inquiry. Integrating core DNP concepts and competencies. (3 units)
NURS 697C Integrative Clinical Scholarship III: Evidence-based Practice
Implementing DNP project within a clinical setting, using theory integration and evidence-based change from nursing science and other disciplines. Incorporating principles of practice inquiry, evidence-based practice, and/or practice inquiry. Integrating core DNP concepts and competencies. (3 units)