Nursing Practice (DNP)
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at the University of St. Francis is a post-MSN program that will prepare professional nurses for greater leadership in health care delivery, administration, and education. Doctorally-prepared nurses influence the direction and nature of health care delivery nationwide. USF's DNP program was the fourth such program established in the State of Illinois and prepares graduates to be nurse leaders at the highest level of nursing practice. The program's graduates improve nursing care for individuals and communities based on evidence-based, medical, and nursing research and practice guidelines. This DNP program is a natural outgrowth of the University's highly acclaimed graduate nursing programs that have sustained a high pass rate on certification exams, grounded in AACN DNP Essentials, NONPF Guidelines, and QSEN standards for nursing education.
The DNP students will participate in healthcare leadership activities involving health outcome improvement, promote the public's health, manage specific populations who experience health disparities, direct healthcare services, and influence health care policy.
Students are fully prepared to improve specific populations' health outcomes, including the low-income, elderly, working families, the marginalized, and the uninsured. An additional education concentration is also available to those doctoral students who plan to educate future nurses. The DNP program is delivered online, with practicum experiences and translational research opportunities as critical components. Students will work with the newest and latest clinical guidelines, protocols, translational research activities, and policy initiatives.
Curriculum
Major Program (40 credit hours)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 811 | Issues, Trends, and Roles of DNP | 3 |
| NURS 812 | Information Management for Advanced Nurse Role | 3 |
| NURS 813 | Epidemiology & Health Equities in a Global Society | 3 |
| NURS 814 | Health Care Policy, Politics, and Practice | 3 |
| NURS 815 | Healthcare Finance and Practice Management | 3 |
| NURS 820 | Doctor of Nursing Practice Residency I | 1 |
| NURS 822 | Doctor of Nursing Practice Residency II | 1 |
| NURS 975 | Nursing Theories and Research for Doctor of Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NURS 980 | Translational Research Scholarly Initiative I: Conceptualization and Development (100 practice hours) | 4 |
| NURS 985 | Translational Research Scholarly Initiative II: Implementation | 4 |
| NURS 990 | Translational Research Scholarly Initiative III: Evaluation and Dissemination (100 practice hours) | 4 |
| With Optional Education Concentration | ||
| Teaching in Nursing (4) | ||
| Nursing Education Methods and Measurement (4) | ||
| Nursing Education Practicum (4) | ||
| Total Hours | 32 | |