Nursing & Health Sciences

Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Bridging Your Practice for the Future - 100% Online

2009 APPLICATION DEADLINE MARCH 1, 2009 - Classes begin JUNE 1, 2009

DNP Curriculum | Printable Course Descriptions |Admissions Requirements | DNP Application | Background Check Policy | FAQs | Contact Us

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 Beth-El College at UCCS program is based upon the essential concepts of the DNP curriculum as approved by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing in September 2005, and the accrediting body for DNP programs, the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

The DNP program is initially offered as a post master’s degree option that builds upon and expands the competencies of the master’s prepared Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Nurse Specialist providing an extended transition period during which nurses with master’s degree would be recognized to be fully credentialed for current advanced practice roles (start date May 2007). This transition period is necessary to ensure multiple entry points into practice-focused doctoral programs and allows advanced practice nurses (APNs) currently practicing as NPs or CNSs an opportunity to earn a practice doctorate.

The program will also provide a post Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) entry point (projected start date May 2010).

Post-Masters DNP Curriculum

Printable DNP Curriculum & Specialty Course Descriptions

Prerequisites: 

• NP or CNS Certification
• NURS 611
• NURS 612 and pre or co-requisite Graduate Level Inferential Statistics 3)

* Beth-El College of Nursing & Health Sciences offers NURS 711 Inferential Statistics for Health Care Professionals for students who need a graduate-level inferential statistics course to fulfill the pre/co-requisite.

Clinical Specialty Courses (students must take a minimum of three from one category)

DNP students wishing to teach in an academic setting also have the opportunity to enhance their teaching skills with an education certificate offered in addition to a clinical cognate.

Post-Master of Science in Nursing Level Admission Requirements    

• NO GRE REQUIRED
• Active RN license in State of Practice
• Master of Science Degree in Nursing from an accredited (CCNE/NLN) program
• Undergraduate Cumulative; GPA: 3.0; Graduate Cumulative GPA 3.3
• National Certification* as NP or CNS, or CNS portfolio reflecting expertise
• Two copies of official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended
• Submission of three letters of reference (professionals or nursing educators)
• Curriculum vitae and completion of application essay
• Interview in either person or by phone
• Completion of the UCCS Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences application, Part I and II, and application fees

*As of May 2008, applicants who do not have their National Certification as APNs by the program start date will be admitted as provisional students with the understanding that they must take and pass the National Certification Exam by the next available opportunity.  Students who fail to meet this provision within their first year will not be permitted to continue with the DNP program.

In addition to MSN and National Certification as APN, applicants must have the following courses or equivalents for full admission.  Courses may be taken prior to admission via extended studies offerings if not previously awarded. Provisional admission status is in effect until courses are successfully completed.

• NURS 610 Nursing Theory and Philosophical Foundations
• NURS 611 Health Care Policy and Advanced Practice Nursing
• NURS 612 Advanced Nursing Research
• Graduate Level Statistics (pre or co-requisite)

The DNP admissions standards differ from the UCCS Graduate School admissions in that NP/CNS National Certification and RN license are required as well. Prerequisite graduate courses in nursing theory, research and policy are indicated only if MSN programs were in deficit of this core courses.

For more information about this program, contact Bethany Miller, DNP Program Coordinator, at 719.262.4354, 800.990.8227 (x4354) or bmiller2@uccs.edu

DNP Application Process

The DNP Application packet is available in either Microsoft Word Format or Adobe Reader Format

1. ADOBE READER FORMAT
   1. Download the DNP Application Packet (PDF) to your computer
   2. Open the Application Packet, print it, complete it by hand and mail it to:
      UCCS
      Beth-El College of Nursing & Health Sciences
      PO Box 7150 UH-1
      Colorado Springs, CO 80933-7150
      Attn: Bethany Miller
      
2. MICROSOFT WORD FORMAT
   1. Download the DNP Application Packet (Word) to your computer
   2. Open the Application Packet in MS Word. This is an editable Word Form
      1. Use the "Tab" key to advance to each item in the form. Click on a check box to put an "X" in the box. Type directly into text boxes. The text boxes will expand to accommodate any amount of text that you enter.
   3. SAVE your completed application form
   4. PRINT and sign the signature page of your application form as an original signature is required to complete the application.
      1. E-mail your completed application to Bethany Miller at bmiller2@uccs.edu
      2. FAX the signature page to 719.262.4416 ATTN: Bethany Miller

This program is supported in part by a grant from the Division of Nursing (DN), Bureau of Health Professions (BHPr), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) under HRSA grant # 1 D09HP07976-01-00, Advanced Education Nursing Grant for $539,578.