DNP Online

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Our complex healthcare environment benefits from advanced knowledge and practice expertise, which can positively affect healthcare outcomes for individuals and populations. Colorado Technical University’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program is designed for licensed RNs with a Master’s in Nursing who are looking to continue on to the Doctorate level, which is the terminal degree for nursing. Demand for nurses with a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree continues to grow as employers are quickly recognizing the unique contributions that expert nurses are making in the practice arena, reports the AACN.1

At CTU, students come first. Our flexible online course schedule helps you to build a class schedule around your schedule. And with grants and scholarships available for those who qualify, a degree from CTU can be both achievable and affordable. Learn more below or fill out the form to speak with an admissions advisor.

49
Program Credits
10 Weeks
Course Length
Online Colorado Springs
Location
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Program Overview

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a terminal degree for nurses who are interested in becoming a nursing practice expert. Applicants must hold a current, active and unencumbered license to practice as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the United States, as well as a programmatically accredited Master of Science in Nursing degree from a institutionally accredited institution.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice is designed to build on the skills, talents and educational groundwork of a Master of Science in Nursing program and helps students prepare for advanced nursing roles in systems leadership and administration, maximizing the application of evidence to improve healthcare outcomes. The program provides instruction in healthcare delivery systems, health economics and finance, health policy, research methods, translation of evidence into practice, concepts in population health, and nursing leadership.

This program does not lead to additional licensure or certification. As such, CTU has made no determination regarding prerequisites for licensure or certification in any state or jurisdiction.

College of Nursing Mission Statement:

Through an innovative curriculum and student- centered teaching, the nursing faculty teaches, supports, and inspires students to become competent, caring, and accountable professionals who serve a diverse client population within a dynamic health care environment.

Relevant Institutional/Programmatic Accreditation
CTU is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission www.hlcommission.org
The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program at Colorado Technical University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).

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Courses

Courses-Core Credits
NRSG810 Scientific Underpinnings of Nursing Practice 4
NRSG812 Applying Evidence-Based Practice and Research to Improve Health Outcomes 4
NRSG815 Information Systems and Advanced Nursing Practice 4
NRSG817 Health Policy and Advancing Nursing Practice 4
NRSG825 Population Health and Epidemiology 4
NRSG830 Organization and Systems Leadership 4
NRSG831 DNP Project I: Design and Planning 6
NRSG832 DNP Project II: Implementation of Evidence Based Practice 6
NRSG833 DNP Project III: Evaluation of Change 5
DNP Specialty Topic I 4
DNP Specialty Topics II 4
Total Credit Hours: 49
Students who have not completed the required 500 post-baccalaureate clinical hours must complete the DNP Transitions course/s prior to beginning their DNP Project courses. Credits
NRSG820 DNP Practice Transitions I
NRSG821 DNP Practice Transitions II
NRSG822 DNP Practice Transitions III
Total Credit Hours: 13
Courses- DNP Specialty Topic Options Credits
HCML870 Health Policy and Regulations 4
HCML872 Economics and Financing of Healthcare Organizations 4
HCML874 Continuous Improvement for Systems in Healthcare 4
HCML876 Informatics in Healthcare 4
LDR870 Self-Insight and Personal Development as a Leader 4
MGMT824 Strategic Thinking and Organizational Alignment 4
ODC870 Organizational Strategy & Design 4
ODC872 Current Topics in Organizational Development 4
ODC874 Leading and Managing Large Scale Transformation 4
ODC876 System Thinking and Decision Making 4

Total Credit Hours: 49

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Learning Outcomes

  1. Incorporate scientific principles from nursing and other disciplines to improve practice.
  2. Appraise, synthesize and ethically apply evidence as an advanced practice nurse to complex health issues.
  3. Demonstrate systems leadership promoting professional collaboration to improve healthcare outcomes.
  4. Evaluate health issues of diverse populations to improve healthcare outcomes.
  5. Analyze, advocate and apply policy to improve practice and healthcare outcomes.
  6. Incorporate healthcare delivery models and strategies to improve quality healthcare delivery.
  7. Apply principles of information systems and technology to improve healthcare outcomes.

Faculty

Dr. Rose Nieves

Dr. Rose Nieves

University Dean

Dr. Rose Nieves is the Dean of the College of Nursing for Colorado Technical University. In this role, she leverages her vast experience as a nursing leader, educator and healthcare provider to help assess, mold, develop and direct the College of Nursing.

Dr. Kelly White

Dr. Kelly White

Executive Program Director

Dr. Kelly White is the Executive Program Director of Nursing and Health Studies at Colorado Technical University. With more than 25 years of experience in nursing education and leadership, she has actively participated in the changing needs of nursing students, faculty and in the transforming healthcare arena.

Admission Requirements

Program Requirements

Admission to this program requires a current, active and unencumbered license to practice as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the United States. All students must maintain this licensure throughout the program of study.

Students must have graduated with a programmatically accredited Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree from an institutionally accredited institution. A minimum grade point average (CGPA) of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale is required for acceptance into the program.

Prior to starting the nursing program all applicants must submit an unofficial or official copy of their college transcript from their MSN degree for review. Applicants to the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree program who meet all general admission requirements, but did not successfully complete a graduate level statistics course, may be granted provisional admission, until the completion of a graduate level statistics course with a B- or higher. Provisionally accepted students who do not complete a graduate level statistics course prior to NRSG812 Applying Evidence-Based Practice and Research to Improve Health Outcomes will be administratively withdrawn. CTU offers HCM671 Healthcare Statistics that fulfills this program requirement. Students who do not have prior graduate level statistics should consult with their Student Success Coach about options to satisfy this requirement.

The DNP requires a minimum of 1,000 post-baccalaureate clinical hours. CTU may recognize up to 500 hours of supervised, documented clinical hours from your post-baccalaureate (MSN or Post Graduate Certificate) experience toward this clinical requirement.

Potential DNP students must have completed a minimum of 120 documented clinical hours at the post-baccalaureate level prior to admission to the DNP program. Students with 120 clinical hours or greater, but less than 500 clinical hours, will be scheduled for the DNP transitions course(s). This course can be taken at varying credit hours depending on clinical hours transferred into the DNP program. Verification of post-baccalaureate clinical hours completed in the MSN or Post Graduate Certificate program must be submitted on the Colorado Technical University Attestation of Supervised Clinical/Practice/Practicum form.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students are required to attend a symposium event two times during their enrollment in the program. Additional information about CTU's doctoral symposium can be located in the Doctoral Symposium section of this catalog.

At this time, Colorado Technical University cannot accept inquiries for the DNP program from residents of the states of Alabama, Alaska, Delaware, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Tennessee, Washington, and West Virginia.

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FAQs

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1 American Association of Colleges of Nursing, June 2017 http://www.aacnnursing.org/News-Information/Fact-Sheets/DNP-Fact-Sheet
2 This doctoral degree program can be completed in 21-27 months, depending on the number of clinical hours that need to be completed; however, many factors will impact your time to completion, including course loads, proficiency and/or, transfer credits and breaks.

This program is not a Nurse Practitioner program or a PhD and is designed for students with a current, active, and unencumbered RN license in the US. Applicants must also have a programmatically accredited Master of Science in Nursing degree from a regionally accredited institution