NURSING, DNP
School of Nursing
| Degree Offered: | D.N.P. |
| Director (D.N.P.): | Dr. Aimee Holland |
| Phone: | (205) 996-9824 |
| E-mail: | aimeeholland@uab.edu |
Doctor of Nursing Practice
D.N.P. Program Description
The DNP is a practice-focused terminal degree to prepare graduates to practice at the highest level in specialty practice or to assume leadership positions in healthcare. Graduates of the DNP program will focus on providing care to populations and communities with an emphasis on improving quality and access to underserved, diverse populations. The three components of the DNP are an advanced clinical specialty practice, leadership, and practice inquiry. Graduates will employ abilities and skills in these areas to advocate for reasonable, rational, and data-driven health regulations, standards, and evidence-based practices; sustain collaborative and strategic relationships, promote innovative, effective health care programs; and form partnerships with diverse groups to address health disparities. In addition, graduates will be prepared to assume clinical faculty positions to address the critical nursing faculty shortage.
The UAB School of Nursing offers four pathways to the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree- the Post-MSN to DNP Pathway for Advanced Practice Nurses, the Post-MSN to DNP Pathway for Nurse Executives, the Post-BSN to DNP Pathway for Nurse Anesthesia, and the Post-BSN to DNP Pathway for Nurse Practitioners.
For most students, the Post-Master’s DNP curriculum will be a minimum of 34 credits, which includes the development of a practice-focused or a leadership-focused project. This Scholarly Project is designed to synthesize scholarship in an advanced practice specialty or an area of healthcare leadership and serves as a capstone program experience. All courses are offered in a distance accessible format and students may develop the scholarly project under the direction of program faculty and on-site mentors. Applications will be accepted twice a year for the summer or fall term, to either a full or a part-time cohort. Students enrolled in the DNP program will be required to come on campus between the first and second year for a two to three-day intensive experience.
D.N.P. Program Goals
The D.N.P. program of study is designed to prepare nurses who: evaluate policy, care delivery, and organizational systems for current and future health care needs; translate scientific, theoretical, and ethical principles into healthcare for individuals, families, and populations; incorporate knowledge of current and emerging health technologies to improve care delivery and organizational systems; advocate for social justice, equity, and ethical policies in healthcare; Demonstrate intra and inter-professional collaboration to address health disparities and to improve health care quality across diverse populations and cultures; assume complex leadership roles to advance clinical practice and healthcare delivery at the organizational and systems level and to improve health outcomes of individuals and populations, and assume complex leadership roles to advance clinical practice and healthcare delivery at the organizational and systems level and to improve health outcomes of individuals and populations.
D.N.P. Admission Requirements
Admission is competitive, based on an assessment of the ability of the applicant to complete the program of studies and on the appropriateness of the requested program of studies to the applicant's stated goals. Because only a limited number of applicants can be accommodated in a given academic year, some well-qualified applicants may not be offered admission. In cases where there are more qualified applicants than slots available, the School of Nursing accepts the most qualified applicants.
DNP Pathways - School of Nursing | UAB
Post-MSN to DNP Pathway for Advanced Practice Nurses
This post-masters pathway is for nurses who have completed the MSN degree in an advanced practice nursing specialty and who are certified or eligible for certification in an advanced practice specialty role inclusive of Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Anesthetist, Nurse Midwife, Clinical Nurse Specialist or a Health Systems Leader in Nursing Health Systems Administration or Nursing Informatics. The Post-MSN to DNP curriculum builds on the MSN curriculum with a core program of study that includes didactic and clinical immersion experiences that prepare students to lead improvements in practice supportive of population health and health system change. The Pathway is offered in a distance-accessible format that combines online didactic coursework with face-to-face clinical practicum experiences. In addition, students are required to attend an annual on-campus DNP intensive, as well as an on-campus orientation.
Post-MSN to DNP Pathway for Nurse Executives
The Nurse Executive Pathway is a practice-focused terminal degree that prepares experienced nurse managers/leaders for executive health system leadership roles including but not limited to the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) or Chief Nursing Informatics Officer (CNIO) roles. The curriculum builds on a master’s level curriculum in nursing or a master’s degree in business or health administration. The Pathway is offered in a distance-accessible format that combines online didactic coursework with face-to-face clinical practicum experiences. Students are required to attend an on-campus orientation.
Post-BSN to DNP Pathway for Nurse Practitioners
This pathway is for nurses who have not completed an advanced practice specialty at the MSN level. The pathway curriculum integrates the DNP core curriculum with the curriculum for a variety of nurse practitioner specialties including Family NP, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP, Psychiatric/Mental Health NP, Pediatric Primary Care NP, Pediatric Acute Care NP, Neonatal NP, and Women’s Health Care NP. Upon completion of the curriculum, applicants are prepared to apply to sit for certification as a nurse practitioner in a specific specialty area. The Pathway is offered in a distance accessible format that combines online didactic coursework with face-to-face clinical practicum experiences and on-campus clinical specialty track intensives. In addition, students are required to attend an annual on-campus DNP intensive and an orientation.
Post-BSN to DNP Pathway for Nurse Practitioners common courses to all NP concentrations
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| NUR 737 | Interprofessional Leadership and Role Development for Practice Excellence | 3 |
| NUR 745 | Foundations of Scholarly Writing | 3 |
| NUR 735 | Population Health in Advanced Practice Nursing | 3 |
| NUR 731 | Philosophical, Theoretical, and Conceptual Foundations for Advanced Practice Nursing | 3 |
| NUR 729 | Evidence-Based Practice Design and Translation | 3 |
| NUR 740 | Health Policy and Politics: Implications in Health Care | 3 |
| NUR 733 | Informatics for Advanced Practice Nursing | 3 |
| NUR 700 | Clinical Data Management and Analysis | 3 |
| NUR 612 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 |
| NUR 613 | Pharmacology and Therapeutics | 3 |
| NUR 742 | Program Evaluation and Methods | 3 |
| NUR 614 | Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning for Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NUR 743 | Evidence-Based Practice Strategies | 3 |
| NUR 738L | DNP Project Development | 2-3 |
| NUR 739L | DNP Project Implementation and Evaluation (Students will also take NQI 702 for 3 credit hours) May be repeated multiple times for minimum total of 7 hours | 1-5 |
| Total Hours | 42-47 | |
|
Students will also take NQI 702 for 3 credit hours |
Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration additional required courses
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| NFH 618L | Focus on Advanced Nursing Practice Specialization | 3 |
| NFH 721 | Advanced Family Nursing I | 5 |
| NFH 722 | Advanced Family Nursing II | 4 |
| NFH 723 | Advanced Family Nursing III | 5 |
| NFH 785L | Practicum I: Family Nurse Practitioner | 3 |
| NFH 786L | Practicum II: Family Nurse Practitioner | 3 |
| NFH 792L | Practicum III: Family Nurse Practitioner | 4 |
| Total Hours | 27 | |
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Concentration additional required courses
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| NNE 618L | Focus on Advanced Nursing Practice Specialization | 3 |
| NNE 721 | Advanced Neonatal Nursing I | 5 |
| NNE 722 | Advanced Neonatal Nursing II | 4 |
| NNE 723 | Advanced Neonatal Nursing III | 5 |
| NNE 784L | Practicum I: Neonatal Nurse Practitioner | 3 |
| NNE 785L | Practicum II: Neonatal Nurse Practitioner | 3 |
| NNE 792L | Practicum III: Neonatal Nurse Practitioner | 4 |
| Total Hours | 27 | |
Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Concentration additional required courses
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| NCA 618L | Focus on Advanced Nursing Practice Specialization | 3 |
| NCA 721 | Advanced Adult/Gerontology Nursing I -Acute Care | 5 |
| NCA 722 | Advanced Adult/Gerontology Nursing II -Acute Care | 4 |
| NCA 723 | Advanced Adult/Gerontology Nursing III -Acute Care | 5 |
| NCA 785L | Practicum I: Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner-Acute Care | 3 |
| NCA 786L | Practicum II: Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner-Acute Care | 3 |
| NCA 792L | Practicum III: Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner-Acute Care | 4 |
| Total Hours | 27 | |
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Concentration additional required courses
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| NPE 618L | Focus on Advanced Nursing Practice Specialization | 3 |
| NPE 721 | Advanced Pediatric Nursing I - Primary Care | 5 |
| NPE 722 | Advanced Pediatric Nursing II - Primary Care | 4 |
| NPE 723 | Advanced Pediatric Nursing III - Primary Care | 5 |
| NPE 785L | Practicum I: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care | 3 |
| NPE 786L | Practicum II: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner –Primary Care | 3 |
| NPE 792L | Practicum III: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care | 4 |
| Total Hours | 27 | |
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Concentration additional required courses
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| NPN 618L | Focus on Advanced Nursing Practice Specialization | 3 |
| NPN 721 | Advanced Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing I | 5 |
| NPN 722 | Advanced Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing II | 5 |
| NPN 723 | Advanced Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing III | 5 |
| NPN 785L | Practicum I: Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner | 3 |
| NPN 786L | Practicum II: Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner | 3 |
| NPN 792L | Practicum III: Psych Mental Health Nurse Practitioner | 4 |
| Total Hours | 28 | |
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Concentration additional required courses
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| NAH 618L | Focus on Advanced Nursing Practice Specialization | 3 |
| NAH 721 | Advanced Adult Gerontology Nursing I - Primary Care | 5 |
| NAH 722 | Advanced Adult Gerontology Nursing II - Primary Care | 4 |
| NAH 723 | Advanced Adult Gerontology Nursing III - Primary Care | 5 |
| NAH 785L | Practicum I: Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care | 3 |
| NAH 786L | Practicum II: Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care | 3 |
| NAH 792L | Practicum III: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner | 4 |
| Total Hours | 27 | |
Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Concentration additional required courses
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| NCC 618L | Focus on Advanced Nursing Practice Specialization | 3 |
| NCC 721 | Advanced Pediatric Nursing I - Acute Care | 5 |
| NCC 722 | Advanced Pediatric Nursing II - Acute Care | 4 |
| NCC 723 | Advanced Pediatric Nursing III - Acute Care | 5 |
| NCC 785L | Practicum I: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Acute Care | 3 |
| NCC 786L | Practicum II: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care | 3 |
| NCC 792L | Practicum III: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care | 4 |
| Total Hours | 27 | |
Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner Concentration additional required courses
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| NWH 618L | Focus on Advanced Nursing Practice Women | 3 |
| NWH 731 | Advanced Women’s Health Nursing I | 5 |
| NWH 732 | Advanced Women’s Health Nursing II | 4 |
| NWH 733 | Advanced Women’s Health Nursing III | 5 |
| NWH 785L | Practicum I: Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner | 3 |
| NWH 786L | Practicum II: Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner | 3 |
| NWH 792L | Practicum III: Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner | 4 |
| Total Hours | 27 | |
Master of Science in Nursing to Doctor of Nursing Practice Pathway
Admissions Requirements
- A master’s degree in an area of advanced nursing practice (nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nursing administration, or nurse anesthetist) from a regionally accredited institution, equivalent to that in the UAB School of Nursing. Students must hold an advanced practice certification or be eligible to sit for advanced certification and pass their specific certification exam prior to completing 12 credit hours of coursework. Until advanced certification is achieved, students will be considered as a conditional admit.
- A graduate grade point average of at least 3.0 overall (based on a 4.0 scale) or in the last 60 hours of earned credit.
- Three favorable completed Evaluation Forms from persons who have knowledge of the applicant’s potential for success for graduate nursing studies and advanced-practice nursing.
- Current professional certification as an advanced practice nurse where applicable.
- Evidence of an unencumbered license as a (1) registered nurse, and (2) advanced nursing practice or eligibility in the state in which they plan to practice plus (3) CPR certification; all documents must be notarized if applicant is not a licensed nurse in Alabama.
- Personal goal statement that is congruent with the program goals (300 words or less)
- Resume or curriculum vitae.
- A personal interview by phone or in person with a School of Nursing faculty member or designee may be requested to verify application data
Degree Requirements
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| NUR 701 | Writing for Publication | 3 |
| NUR 729 | Evidence-Based Practice Design and Translation | 3 |
| NUR 731 | Philosophical, Theoretical, and Conceptual Foundations for Advanced Practice Nursing | 3 |
| NUR 733 | Informatics for Advanced Practice Nursing | 3 |
| NUR 735 | Population Health in Advanced Practice Nursing | 3 |
| NUR 737 | Interprofessional Leadership and Role Development for Practice Excellence | 3 |
| NUR 738L | DNP Project Development | 3 |
| NUR 739L | DNP Project Implementation and Evaluation (Students will take 739L multiple time for a minimum of 7 hours) 1 | 1-7 |
| NUR 740 | Health Policy and Politics: Implications in Health Care | 3 |
| NUR 742 | Program Evaluation and Methods | 3 |
| NUR 743 | Evidence-Based Practice Strategies | 3 |
| NUR 745 | Foundations of Scholarly Writing Students will also take NQI 702 for 3 credit hours | 3 |
| Total Hours | 34-40 | |
| 1 |
May be repeated, minimum 7 to graduate |
MSN to DNP Pathway for Nurse Executives
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| NEX 701 | Culture of Health, Quality & Safety | 3 |
| NEX 703 | Models & Theory for Healthcare Development & Improvement | 3 |
| NEX 744 | Organization Improvement & Program Evaluation Strategies | 5 |
| NEX 704 | Healthcare Technologies, Innovations & Analytics for Executive Leaders | 5 |
| NEX 705 | Healthcare Finance Strategies | 3 |
| NEX 708 | Strategic Leadership for Healthcare System Transformation | 6 |
| NEX 706 | Contemporary Issues: Global & National Perspectives | 3 |
| NEX 709 | Population Health for Healthcare Transformation Students will also take NEX 758 Research & Health Policy for 3 credit hours | 3 |
| Total Hours | 31 | |
Additional Requirements for Completion
Candidates for the DNP degree must complete the following requirements: Completion of all coursework and clinical experiences based on the student's Program of Studies, with an overall GPA of 3.0 or better, and grades of B or better in all required courses in the School of Nursing.
