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The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a professional degree that prepares graduates to provide the most advanced level of nursing care for individuals and communities. This includes the direct care of individual patients, management of care for individuals and populations, administration of health care and nursing systems, and the development and implementation of health policy. Upon completion of the Doctor of Nursing Practice program, graduates should be able to:1. Hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree or a Master of Science Nursing degree that is not in an advanced practice nursing area (e.g. Clinical Nurse Leader, Nursing Education, etc.) from an accredited institution with at least a 3.0 GPA.
2. Current U.S. registered nurse licensure with no restriction
1. Hold a Master of Science in Nursing degree (MSN) with preparation in an area of advanced practice nursing:
A. Nurse Practitioner
B. Executive Nursing Administration
C. Clinical Nurse Specialist
D. Public Health Nursing Administration
2. Current U.S. registered nurse licensure with no restriction
Admission to the program is limited and selective. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all required forms are received by the deadline.
Only completed applications will be considered for acceptance.All students who are admitted into the DNP program are admitted pending submission of required health, immunization and health insurance information and the results of a drug screen and background check. Students are responsible for costs related to the required admission background check and drug screen. Admission will be withdrawn for students who do not comply with health and insurance requirements, test positive on the drug screen as per the College of Nursing policy, or a background check that would prevent the student from completing residency requirements.
Available tracks within the DNP program:Additional requirements for admission are located in the University of South Alabama Undergraduate/Graduate Bulletin.
Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Adult-Gerontological Primary Care Nurse PractitionerAdvanced Emergency Nursing (Family NP/Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Dual Role)
Clinical Nurse Specialist – Adult Health
Executive Nurse Administrator
Family Nurse PractitionerPediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Post Master’s DNP (Online Program)Subspecialties
Cardiovascular – students can add these 8 credits to Adult-Gerontological Acute Care NP.Oncology – students can add these 10 credits to Adult-Gerontological Primary Care NP, Adult-Gerontological Acute Care NP, Advanced Emergency Nursing Dual Role, Clinical Nurse Specialist-Adult Health, Family NP, Psychiatric (Family) NP and Women’s Health NP.
Palliative Care – students can add these 9 credits to Adult-Gerontological Primary Care NP, Adult-Gerontological Acute Care NP, Clinical Nurse Specialist-Adult Health and Family NP.Nurse Educator –students can add these 11 credits to any available track.
Post Master’s DNP applicants may choose from one of two options:Option 1:
If you are already an Advanced Practice Nurse as defined above in the “Requirements for Admission” and you wish to retain your current specialization, you are eligible for the “Traditional” Post Master’s DNP Track. You also have the option of adding one of the Subspecialties listed below to your curriculum.“Traditional” Post Master’s DNP Track
Subspecialties
Cardiovascular – students who are already an Adult-Gerontological Acute Care NP can add these 8 credits.
Oncology – students who are already an Adult-Gerontological Primary Care NP, Adult-Gerontological Acute Care NP, Advanced Emergency Nursing Dual Role, Clinical Nurse Specialist-Adult Health, Family NP, Psychiatric (Family) NP or Women’s Health NP can add these 10 credits.
Palliative Care – students who are already an Adult-Gerontological Primary Care NP, Adult-Gerontological Acute Care NP, Clinical Nurse Specialist-Adult Health or Family NP can add these 9 credits.Nurse Educator – any student can add these 11 credits to their curriculum.
Option 2:
If you are already an Advanced Practice Nurse and wish to add a new specialization, you can add one of the following specializations to your DNP curriculum. Your plan of study will consist of the 36 semester hours in the “Traditional” track plus the number of semester hours listed with the new area of specialization. If you haven’t yet taken graduate-level Pharmacology, Pathophysiology, and Physical Assessment Across the Lifespan, then you would be required to add those three courses for an additional 9 credits. You also have the option of adding one of the Subspecialties listed below to your curriculum.
Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Adult-Gerontological Primary Care Nurse PractitionerAdvanced Emergency Nursing (Family NP/Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Dual Role)
Clinical Nurse Specialist – Adult Health
Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Psychiatric (Family) Nurse PractitionerWomen's Health Nurse Practitioner
Subspecialties
Cardiovascular – students can add these 8 credits to Adult-Gerontological Acute Care NP.
Oncology – students can add these 10 credits to Adult-Gerontological Primary Care NP, Adult-Gerontological Acute Care NP, Advanced Emergency Nursing Dual Role, Clinical Nurse Specialist-Adult Health, Family NP, Psychiatric (Family) NP and Women’s Health NP.
Palliative Care – students can add these 9 credits to Adult-Gerontological Primary Care NP, Adult-Gerontological Acute Care NP, Clinical Nurse Specialist-Adult Health and Family NP.Nurse Educator – students can add these 11 credits to any available track.
Answers to frequently asked questions:
For Additional Information1. The DNP program is an online program. Coursework is completed online and clinical/residency hours can be completed in your region with an approved Preceptor/Mentor.
2. All DNP students are required to attend an Online Orientation at the beginning of their program. BSN-DNP students and MSN students adding a new specialty concentration are required to come to campus for clinical orientation the semester they start clinicals. All DNP students are required to come to campus at the end of Residency III for project presentation. While the duration of each visit can vary, the average visit to campus is approximately four days.
3. DNP Project and Residency are discussed in great detail during your initial orientation
4. GRE – not required
5. Letters of reference – not required
6. Additional courses prior to application – not required
7. All DNP students pay the same tuition rate. The current tuition rate per semester hour for DNP students is $445. This includes the Graduate Web course Tuition along with the College of Nursing Professional Course Fee. Additionally, there is a $10 Biomedical Library Fee per semester and $25 Professional Liability Insurance per year ($12/Fall, $12/Spring, $1/Summer). And, of course, the cost of books will vary depending upon your curriculum schedule.Web Course Tuition for Graduate Students.
8. Students are responsible for costs related to the required admission background check and drug screen. Students are responsible for all travel costs for any required on-campus visit and for travel costs to clinical sites.
9. Students are responsible for all costs related to monitoring/proctoring tests and identity authentication when required by a course.
10. Financial aid information can be found at USA Office of Financial Aid and http://www.southalabama.edu/nursing/campusrnscholarship.html and we do suggest completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine student loan eligibility. Please visit the USA Office of Financial Aid for important financial aid deadlines and for supplemental information required by the FAFSA.
11. All requirements for the DNP degree must be completed within five calendar years from admission
If you have any further questions about the application process, contact the college of nursing at condnp@usouthal.edu or 251-445-9412.
Office of Graduate Studies
USA College of Nursing - HAHN 3086
5721 USA Drive N.
Mobile AL 36688-0002
(251) 445-9400
Email: condnp@usouthal.edu
Fax 251-445-9416
The DNP program is accredited by the
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 887-6791.
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