Doctor of Nursing Practice

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DNP?

The DNP degree is designed for those nurses with a MSN or BSN degree who are interested in a practice focused doctorate. DNP graduates will be prepared as clinical experts with a focus on critical thinking, leadership and political policy skills needed to advocate and create changes in healthcare practice at individual, population and organizational systems levels. The DNP is similar to other practice doctorates such as the MD, DPT, AudD, and PharmD. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing has called for the adoption by 2015 of the DNP as the terminal nursing practice degree.

How long will it take?

UNC will have two DNP pathways:

1. Post Bachelors in Nursing and
2. Post Masters in Nursing.

Depending upon the entry pathway, the DNP can be completed within 2-4 years of full-time study.

What will I learn?

Post Bachelors in Nursing

APN specialty preparation for the Post Bachelors in Nursing pathway will be as a family nurse practitioner.

Post Masters in Nursing

Coursework builds on the MSN base providing additional depth in information technology, health policy, population health, and evidence based practice. The capstone project is a scholarly project that reflects evidence based practice and is derived from practicum immersion experiences.

Admission Pre-requisite: SRM 602 (Statistical Methods I) or equivalent

DNP Courses:

• Professional Practice and Healthcare Finance Seminar (3 credit hrs)  Comprehensive economic investigation of health planning, organization, personnel, payment systems and care cost effectiveness in health care delivery systems.
• Epidemiology in Advanced Nursing Practice (3 credit hrs)  Principles of epidemiology and understanding of biostatistics will be applied to population management of disease and intervention strategies.
• Advanced Nursing Theory
• Information Technology in Health Care (3 credit hrs) Emphasizes the use and application of computerized systems to clinical decision strategies for advanced practice nurses in quality management areas and the associated social, ethical, and legal issues.
• Concepts in Advanced Evidence-Based Practice (3 credit hrs)  Emphasis is on the systematic evaluation and use of current best evidence to make decisions about clinical practice and health care systems.
• Population Centered Health Care (3 credit hrs)  Examines perspectives of population based health care across the life span from a community and global perspective.  Analyze healthcare delivery systems for population education, prevention and risk management.
• Applied Nursing Genomics (3 credit hrs)  A genomics focus on concepts of prevention, screening, diagnostics, prognostics, selection of treatment, and monitoring of treatment effectiveness for individuals and aggregates within cultural and ethical care contexts.
• Advance Nursing Leadership in Health Care (3 credit hrs)  Analyzes the structure and organization of health care delivery systems including population-based, acute and ambulatory health care.  The roles of the DNP in organizational and systems policy are addressed.
• DNP Practicum (3-7 credit hrs)  Practicum in hospital, community, and primary care settings focusing on clinical prevention and population based health care.
• DNP Capstone Project (6 credit hrs)  Capstone project reflecting knowledge and synthesis of evidence based practice in advanced nursing health care.

Total credit hours: 33

How does the program work?

The Post Masters in Nursing DNP program is designed for the practicing APN as a two year part-time hybrid program to offer you flexibility and convenience. There will be some selected on-campus intensive experiences.

When will students be admitted?

Students will be admitted once a year via a competitive admission process. Class size is limited. The first applications will be due Feb 15, 2010 for the Post Masters in Nursing pathway. It is projected that the first applications for the Post Bachelors in Nursing pathway will be due Feb 1, 2012 for Fall 2012 entry.