The UCA School of Nursing DNP program is accredited by Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The curriculum is guided by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) publication, Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advance nursing Practice (2006). The curriculum is evaluated every five years.
Post-BSN to DNP, FNP Curriculum
The BSN to DNP, FNP track is guided by the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) publications: 2017 NP Core Competencies and the 2013 Special population: Family Nurse Practitioner competencies.
Plan of Study:
- Fall Academic Year 1
- NURS 6320 Advanced Pathophysiology
- NURS 6306 Research Methods for Advanced Nursing Practice
- Spring Academic Year 1
- NURS 6315 Advanced Health Assessment
- NURS 6325 Advanced Pharmacology
- Summer Academic Year 1
- NURS 7365 Population Health and Epidemiology (45 DNP Essentials hours)
- NURS 6360 Philosophical and Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Nursing Practice
- Fall Academic Year 2
- NURS 6511 Introduction to Primary Care for Nurse Practitioners
(135 direct patient care hours) - NURS 7315 Healthcare Quality and Organizational Systems for Advanced Nursing Practice (45 DNP Essentials hours)
- NURS 6511 Introduction to Primary Care for Nurse Practitioners
- Spring Academic Year 2
- NURS 6332 Health Policy for Advanced Nursing Practice (45 DNP Essentials hours)
- NURS 6512 Care of Adults Across the Lifespan – I (135 direct patient care hours)
- Summer Academic Year 2
- NURS 7340 Leadership Principles for Advanced Nursing Practice (45 DNP Essentials hours)
- NURS 6390 Statistical Methods and Data Analysis
- NURS 7105 Introduction to DNP Project
- Fall Academic Year 3
- NURS 7513 Care of Adults Across the Lifespan – II (180 direct patient care hours)
- NURS 7350 Translational Research Methods for Advanced Nursing Practice
- Spring Academic Year 3
- NURS 7514 Care of Children for Family Nurse Practitioners (180 direct patient care hours)
- NURS 7320 Healthcare Economics and Finance for Advanced Nursing Practice
- NURS 7110 DNP Project planning * course is taken a total of 2 semesters
- Summer Academic Year 3
- NURS 7330 Healthcare Informatics for Advanced Nursing Practice (45 DNP Essentials hours)
- NURS 7325 Ethics for Advanced Nursing Practice (45 DNP Essentials hours)
- NURS 7110 DNP Project planning
- Fall Academic Year 4
- NURS 7230 Advanced Clinical Decision Making – I
- NURS 7V20 Residency for Doctor of Nursing Practice (90 direct patient care hours per 1 credit hour)
- NURS 7120 DNP Project (45 DNP Essentials hours
- Spring Academic Year 4
- NURS 7235 Advanced Clinical Decision Making – II
- NURS 7V20 Residency for Doctor of Nursing Practice (90 direct patient care hours per 1 credit hour)
- NURS 7120 DNP Project (45 DNP Essentials hours)
Total Program Hours 73 credit hours (6,000 level courses = 31 hours; 7, 000 level courses = 42 hours)
Total Program clinical practice hours 1125 (810 direct patient care hours/360 DNP Essentials hours)
Post-MSN to DNP Curriculum
Plan of Study:
- Summer Academic Year 1 (7 cr/hr)
- NURS 6390 Statistical Methods and Data Analysis
- NURS 6360 Philosophical and Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Nursing Practice
- NURS 7105 Introduction to DNP Project
- Fall Academic Year 1 (6 cr/hr)
- NURS 7350 Translational Research Methods for Advanced Nursing Practice
- NURS 7315 Healthcare Quality and Organizational Systems for Advanced Nursing Practice (45 DNP Essentials hours)
- Spring Academic Year 1 (7-8 cr/hr)
- NURS 7365 Population Health and Epidemiology (45 DNP Essentials hours)
- NURS 7320 Healthcare Economics and Finance for Advanced Nursing Practice
- NURS 7110 DNP Project Planning or * for students needing additional fieldwork hours NURS 7V15 DNP Clinical Internship (90 DNP Essentials hours per 1 credit hour)
- Summer Academic Year 2 (6-7 cr/hr)
- NURS 7340 Leadership Principles for Advanced Nursing Practice (45 DNP Essentials hours)
- NURS 7330 Healthcare Informatics for Advanced Nursing Practice (45 DNP hours)
- *OPTIONAL–NURS 7V15 DNP Clinical Internship (90 DNP Essentials hours per 1 credit hour)
- Fall Academic Year 2 (4-6 cr/hr)
- NURS 7325 Ethics for Advanced Nursing Practice (45 DNP Essentials hours)
- NURS 7120 DNP Project (45 DNP Essentials hours)
- *OPTIONAL–NURS 7V15 DNP Clinical Internship (90 DNP Essentials hours per 1 credit hour)
- Spring Academic Year 2 (4-6 cr/hr)
- NURS 6332 Health Policy for Advanced Nursing Practice (45 DNP Essentials hours)
- NURS 7120 DNP Project (45 DNP Essentials hours)
- *OPTIONAL–NURS 7V15 DNP Clinical Internship (90 DNP Essentials hours per 1 credit hour)
33-37 credit hours depending on MSN clinical practice hours
360 hours of Fieldwork (DNP Essential hours)
For a complete list of course descriptions, please refer to the Graduate Bulletin.
