Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program Requirements

The Doctor of Nursing Practice is a dynamic and energetic program that prepares nurses for leadership positions in multiple domains of health care. Students gain knowledge of various disciplines including nursing, medicine, economics, informatics, education and health policy with a goal of impacting health outcomes and transforming health care delivery. The DNP is the terminal degree that prepares nurses in the application of research to clinical nursing practice at the highest individual, population and systems levels.

Program outcomes for the Doctor of Nursing Program are:

Lead interdisciplinary health care initiatives at the organizational and systems level to improve health outcomes for individuals and populations.
Integrate principles of ethics and cultural diversity into clinical decision making for individuals and populations experiencing complex health issues.
Influence public policy designed to ensure the safety and quality of healthcare for individuals and populations.
Demonstrate proficiency in the use of technology and information systems designed to improve the quality of care for individuals and populations.
Critically evaluate the philosophical and scientific underpinnings of advanced practice nursing.
Translate relevant research findings from nursing and related disciplines to advanced clinical nursing practice to improve health outcomes for individuals and populations.
Demonstrate the highest level of advanced practice clinical nursing to promote health and manage direct care of individuals experiencing acute and chronic health issues
Disseminate advanced practice nursing knowledge derived from clinical scholarship.

The JU BSN to DNP program has two cognates. The BSN to DNP Family Nurse Practitioner cognate is for BSN nurses who wish to pursue graduate education as an Advanced Practice Nurse and complete the DNP degree concurrently. The BSN to DNP Leadership cognate is for RNs who wish to pursue careers in leadership positions within the health care system.

The JU post-MSN DNP program has two cognates. The Advanced Practice cognate is designed for nurses in advanced practice specialities and has a clinical focus on individuals and populations. The Leadership cognate has an emphasis on nursing within systems and organizations.