Doctor of Nursing Practice in Clinical Leadership
Learn to improve patient outcomes and translate research into practice with our Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Clinical Leadership program. The DNP curriculum is designed around evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and systems leadership. The DNP is a practice-based terminal degree, offering an alternative to a research-focused doctoral degree program. Graduates may pursue roles in which they are responsible for managing nursing staff, teaching undergraduates, or as part of a team implementing best practices in patient care or reviewing health policy initiatives.
Program Information
The Doctor of Nursing Practice in Clinical Leadership is a two-year program to prepare nurses for leadership roles by focusing on evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and systems leadership.
Program Type
Major
Degree
Doctorate
School
Duration
2 years
Required Credit Hours
35
Admissions
Admission Requirements
To qualify for our online Clinical Leadership DNP, you must:
- Hold a current, unencumbered RN license.
- Hold a BSN degree (required) from an accredited college or university with a 3.0 GPA or higher.
- Hold a master’s degree (nursing or non-nursing) from an accredited college or university with a 3.0 GPA or higher. MSN degree preferred.
- Have completed an undergraduate statistics course with a “C” or higher or graduate statistics course with a “B” or higher.
Note: Strong leadership experience is preferred.
Admission Process
- Resume or curriculum vitae
- Goal statement (2-3 pages)
- Official transcript(s)
- An interview may be required
- Three reference letters. Recommendations should be from persons who can comment on the applicant’s professional or academic abilities.
- Examples:
- One Supervisory and two Academic (Nursing Professor/Nursing Preceptor)
- Two Supervisory and one Academic (Nursing Professor/Nursing Preceptor)
- Or three Supervisory if you have been out of school for more than five years
- The supervisor reference letters must come from a direct supervisor who is responsible for your performance evaluation
Curriculum
The DNP, a practice-focused degree, prepares nurses for leadership in a clinical setting. While earning the degree, nurses study a wide variety of topics, including transcultural care and global health perspectives, social justice and vulnerable populations and analytical methods of evidence-based practice.
- GPNS 907 Healthcare Policy and Finance (3 Credits)
- GPNG 917 Transcultural Care and Global Health Perspectives (3 Credits)
- GPNG 928 Social Justice and Vulnerable Populations (3 Credits)
- GPNS 937 Ethical Leadership in Complex Organizations (3 Credits)
- GPNS 954 Analytical Methods for Evidence Based Practice and Practice Improvement (3 Credits)
- GPNS 956 Nursing Informatics and Data Management (3 Credits)
- GPNS 957 Evidence-Based Practice I (3 Credits)
- GPNS 958 Evidence-Based Practice II (3 Credits)
- GPNS 959 Change Management and Project Analysis (3 Credits)
- GPNS 960 Doctor of Nursing Practice Practicum I (4 Credits)
- GPNS 961 Doctor of Nursing Practice Practicum II (4 Credits)