Doctorate of Nursing Practice

MS to DNP Program: Admission Criteria

The purpose of this program leading to the degree of Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) is to prepare the graduate for direct care roles in advanced practice or indirect care roles in clinical or educational leadership. Nursing practice is defined as any nursing intervention that influences health care outcomes for individuals or populations. Upon completion of the program the graduate will be able to:1. Assume advanced practice roles in direct or indirect care settings.
2. Demonstrate analytical methodologies for the evaluation of clinical practice and the application of scientific evidence.
3. Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams necessary to meet health care needs of individuals and populations.Prerequisite Masters Courses with Grade of B or higher

• Advanced Pathophysiology
• Advanced Pharmacology
• Advanced Health Assessment
• Nursing Theory
• Research

Admission Requirements

• Licensed as a Registered Nurse or Advanced Practice Nurse. Advanced Practice Nurses must hold a Florida license.
• Masters of Nursing from a nationally accredited program
• Three references attesting to applicant’s academic ability and potential
• Personal goal statement
• Competitive score on the GRE (verbal, quantitative, and essay/analytical)
• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 at graduate level
• Personal interview with Director of DNP Program or designee
• Preference is given to students with national certification in their practice specialty and, to full-time students
• Applications due by February 1st for Fall 2008

Non-Nursing Masters
Applicants with masters in a related discipline will be considered on an individual basis. Financial Aid
There are financial resources available to students such as teaching assistantships, fee waivers, and federal grants and scholarships.American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)  Position Statement on DNP available at
http://www.aacn.nche.edu/DNP/DNPPositionStatement.htm

Disclaimer

Past experience has proven that new nursing students are more successful if they begin the program with an orientation. Therefore, students accepted to any program at the College of Nursing are required to attend a new student orientation. This is the final step in the application and acceptance process and it cannot be waived or postponed.

Accepted students should not make final plans for travel, studying abroad, or other activities that may interfere with attendance at the mandatory orientation. In addition, students are encouraged to clear attendance at the mandatory orientation with their current professor if they are enrolled in a class at the time of orientation.

Students who are unable to attend the orientation will not be permitted to enter the program that semester and may apply again to be accepted for a later term.