The University of Saint Joseph’s highly regarded Nursing program offers a rigorous academic curriculum combined with clinical, real-world experience. Our Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program will prepare you for professional advancement and leadership roles in managing the clinical care of patients, improving health care systems and clinical education. The University of Saint Joseph’s Nursing programs are well respected in the local and global health care communities.
The DNP program will prepare graduates for leadership roles in the clinical practice setting and the community. Utilizing an evidence-based practice approach graduates will be able to evaluate how organizational, financial and policy decisions affect the cost, quality and accessibility of health care.
Admissions Requirements
Submit an application, available at www.usj.edu/grad-application; Include:
- $50 non-refundable application fee
- Official sealed Master’s (M.S.N.) transcript from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 3.2
- Three letters of recommendation
- Personal essay: Describe your clinical interests and why you want to pursue your Doctorate in Nursing Practice
- Immunization records
- Nursing supplemental health form
- Copy of valid nursing license
- Certified background check
- Portfolio of previous clinical experience; evidenced through transcripts or a letter signed by the previous school’s Program Director
- Non-native English speakers require a paper TOEFL score of 550 or better (please see Graduate Student Handbook for additional test types and related scoring)
A Comprehensive Curriculum
Utilizing the America Association of Colleges of Nursing AACN Essentials for Doctoral Education the DNP program at the University of Saint Joseph prepares the graduate in:
- Scientific underpinnings of practice
- Organizational and systems leadership for quality improvement and systems thinking
- Clinical scholarship and analytical methods for evidence-based practice
- Information systems and technology for patient care
- Healthcare policy for advocacy in health care
- Interprofessional collaboration for improving patient and population health outcomes
- Clinical prevention and population health to improve our nation’s health and advanced nursing practice
Advanced Practice Nursing (APRN) programs in Family Psychiatric Mental Health (FPMHP) and Family Health (FNP) are offered with clinical internships in community and hospital settings in our Master’s Degree Programs. Students who pursue the Nurse Practitioner coursework along with the DNP and the required clinical hours are eligible to sit for the National Accreditation Exams as either a Family Nurse Practitioner or a Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
