Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice M.S. to D.N.P.

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 program will prepare you for professional advancement and leadership roles in managing the clinical care of patients, improving health care systems and clinical education.

Graduates of the program will practice at the highest level using advanced knowledge from Nursing and other disciplines to improve health outcomes. This will be accomplished by educating students to critically analyze the effects of health policy and current evidence-based research as it relates to clinical practice.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program at the University of Saint Joseph is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202.887.6791.

Program Outcomes

1. Demonstrate application of nursing and related sciences to inform clinical judgment in assessing, diagnosing, and managing high-quality healthcare. (Domain 1, 2, 5) 
2. Translate advanced-level nursing knowledge to provide holistic individualized care that advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion. (Domain 1, 2, 3, 6) 
3. Apply advanced-level nursing knowledge to health promotion and disease prevention through understanding cost-effectiveness and healthcare delivery systems. (Domain 1, 3, 4, 7) 
4. Engage in the scholarship of nursing by critically appraising evidence through an understanding of the principles of research, informatics, and technology. (Domain 2, 4, 8) 
5. Apply principles of safety and quality-driven care across healthcare settings and systems. (Domain 4, 5, 6, 7) 
6. Demonstrate understanding of the role of interprofessional partnerships in advanced-level nursing practice. (Domain 2, 5, 6, 9) 
7. Appraise systems-based practice and health policy as it influences healthcare outcomes through strategic planning, cost-effective care, and evidence-based practice. (Domain 2, 3, 5, 7) 
8. Demonstrate adherence to professional standards for advanced-level nursing practice. (Domain 8, 9, 10) 
9. Demonstrate commitment to excellence through personal, professional, and leadership development. (Domain 3, 9, 10) 
10. Apply nursing philosophical and theoretical concepts in identifying, initiating, and managing advanced practice nursing identity, professional roles, and clinical activities. (Domain 1, 9, 10) 
11. Provide individual and population-centered care that is centered on an appreciation of human diversity and advocacy for social justice, equity, and inclusion for all. (Domain 2, 3, 8, 9) 

Admissions requirements*

Submit an application, available at www.usj.edu/grad-application include:

• $50 non-refundable application fee
• Official sealed Master’s (M.S., Nursing) transcript from a regionally and nationally accredited institution with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2
• Two letters of recommendation
• Essay: Discuss a practice problem in your field that, in your experience has a broad impact on patient care and outcomes; state professional goals for the next 5-10 years and explain how this degree will help you reach your goals
• Immunization records
• Nursing supplemental health form
• Certified background check
• Certification form documenting previous master’s-level supervised clinical hours signed by the previous school’s program director
• Copy of valid RN license and APRN license if applicable
• Resume or CV
• On-campus interview

*USJ M.S., Nursing graduates who have credits toward the D.N.P. degree will have a streamlined readmission process when applying to complete the D.N.P. degree program. These students are eligible for the simpler process provided they have completed the M.S., Nursing degree at USJ within the last three year of application. M.S., Nursing graduates returning for the D.N.P. after the three year time limit are eligible to apply to the D.N.P. program using the steps outlined above.

Submit an application, available at www.usj.edu/grad-application include:

• Essay: Discuss a practice problem in your field that, in your experience has a broad impact on patient care and outcomes; state professional goals for the next 5-10 years and explain how this degree will help you reach your goals
• Resume or CV
• Copy of valid RN license and APRN license
• Application fee and letters of recommendation are waived

A comprehensive curriculum

Using the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education for Advanced-Level Nursing, the D.N.P. program at the University of Saint Joseph prepares graduates for the following domains for nursing:

• Knowledge for Nursing Practice
• Person-Centered Care
• Population Health
• Scholarship for the Nursing Discipline
• Quality and Safety
• Interprofessional Partnership
• Systems-Based Practice
• Informatics and Healthcare Technologies
• Professionalism
• Personal, Professional, and Leadership Development

 

M.S. to D.N.P students pursuing nurse practitioner certification will have clinical experiences during their program. Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner students are offered clinical experiences in community and hospital settings, whereas Family Nurse Practitioner students will have experiences solely in outpatient settings. Upon completion of required clinical hours, students are eligible to sit for the national certification examination through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners or the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Continuation Requirements

• Students must earn a B or higher in all DNP program courses (all 500 and 700 level courses on a student’s plan of study)
• Students who earn any grade below a B will be placed on departmental probation and reviewed by the Graduate Nursing Admission and Progression Committee. The student’s transcript will be reviewed and standing in the program will be determined
• Failure to achieve a B or higher in a course requires the course to be repeated
• Only one course may be repeated one time
• Students may withdraw from any course only one time
• Students who do not make satisfactory progress in the clinical competencies required of a clinical course will fail the course with a maximum grade of C+
• All students must maintain a minimum nursing cumulative GPA of 3.0 throughout the program
• Students must be 100% compliant with all clinical requirements (Project Concert or Castlebranch) no later than two weeks before the beginning of any semester that has a clinical course (NURS 544, 530, 502, 504, 521, 508, 509, 591, 511) otherwise the student will be administratively removed from the clinical courses until they are in full compliance and will need to re-enroll once determined by the Nursing Department to be in full compliance
• Students that have an appeal in process may enroll in a clinical course ( NURS 502, 504, 508, 509, 511, 521, 530, 544, 591) but may not attend clinical until a final decision is rendered. If the appeal is granted they are eligible for a course extension to complete their clinical hours