Post-MSN Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Format: Online
Credit Hours: 77
Entry Terms: Summer
Georgia Southern University’s Post-MSN-DNP degree prepares advanced practice nurses to provide the highest level of nursing care to individuals and communities. Students must have their Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) license and certification for this program. Examples of the four (4) APRN roles identified by the Consensus Model are: Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), Nurse Practitioner (NP), and Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS).
Our six-semester online program provides APRNs with the flexible schedules they need to earn a terminal degree.
Both synchronous (live, real-time) and asynchronous (on your own, not live) formats are used. Most of the course work is asynchronous but live sessions are scheduled in selected online courses. Students should consult with individual course syllabi for specific live session requirements.
The curriculum is aimed at translating evidence into practice in the following areas to improve healthcare outcomes:
- Health policy
- Management of care for individuals and populations
- Nursing/healthcare systems
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Courses and Curriculum
The curriculum is a total of 37 credits hours which includes courses in biomedical ethics, biometrics, outcome management, health policy, leadership and management, among others. The curriculum also includes nine elective credits. Electives must be approved by the graduate program director. Possible elective areas are:
- Public health
- Epidemiology
- Business
- Nursing informatics
- Other areas that would support the DNP-prepared APRN
| Courses Subject | Course Number | Course Title | Credit Hours | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NURS | 7130 | Health Policy Concerns in Delivery Systems | 3 | |
| NURS | 9123 | Biomedical Ethics | 2 | |
| NURS | 9125 | Role Transition for DNP Prepared APRN’s | 2 | |
| NURS | 9113 | Biometrics | 3 | |
| NURS | 9124 | Outcomes Management | 2 | |
| NURS | 7110 | Scholarly Writing at the Graduate Level | 1 | |
| NURS | 9143 | Population Focused Collaborative Initiative | 3 | 90 |
| NURS | 9144 | Leadership & Management in Practice Transformation | 3 | |
| NURS | 9931 | Clinical Project 1 | 3 | 180 |
| NURS | 9932 | Clinical Project 2 | 3 | 180 |
| NURS | 9933 | Clinical Project 3 | 3 | 180 |
| Elective 1 | 3 | |||
| Elective 2 | 3 | |||
| Elective 3 | 3 | |||
| Total Credit Hours | 37 | |||
| Total Applied Clinical Hours | 630 | |||
| Completion of a minimum of 500 applied hours required for Post-MSN DNP degree completion. |
| Summer Semester NURS 9111 Biomedical Ethics (2) NURS 9112 Role Transition for DNP-Prepared APRNs (2) NURS 9115 Scholarly Writing at the Doctoral Level (1) |
|||
| Total Credits | (5) | ||
| Fall Semester NURS 9113 Biometrics (3) NURS 9114 Outcomes Management (2) | Spring Semester NURS 7130 Health Policy Concerns in Delivery Systems (3) NURS 9143 Pop Focused Collaborative Initiative (90 applied clinical hours) (3) Elective 1 (3) | Summer Semester NURS 9931 Clinical Project 1 (180 applied clinical hours) (3) Elective 2 (3) |
|
| Total Credits | (5) | (9) | (6) |
| Fall Semester NURS 9144 Leadership and Management in Practice Transformation (3) NURS 9932 Clinical Project 2 (180 applied clinical hours) (3) | Spring Semester NURS 9933 Clinical Project 3 (180 applied clinical hours) (3) Elective 3 (3) | ||
| Total Credits | (6) | (6) |
| Course Prefix | Course Number | Course Title | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EDUF | 7130 | Learning Theories and Applications | Examines the principles and theories of learning that serve as the basis for educational models and practices. |
| EDUF | 8131 | Theories of Adolescence | The rapidly changing world of today's adolescents and the ever-changing nature of the field of adolescence will be examined from three perspectives: theory, research and contemporary social forces. |
| EDUF | 8133 | Interaction and Learning | Examine views of learning which emphasize the importance of interaction, authenticity and the social construction of knowledge. Students will also explore instructional practices and assessment issues consistent with these perspectives. |
| EDUF | 8134 | Models of Motivation | Critically examines how contemporary models of motivation are utilized to improve the delivery of instruction. |
| EDUF | 8135 | Thinking and Problem Solving | Examines current conceptions and models of critical thinking and creative problem solving as they relate to learning and instruction. |
| EDUF | 8136 | Theories of Human Development | Examines theories of human development, with a focus on infancy to adolescence. |
| EDUR | 7130 | Educational Research | A comprehensive overview of topics related to research as it is applied to educational settings. |
| EDUR | 8131 | Educational Statistics I | Topics covered in this course include central tendency, variability, distributions, correlation, significance testing, t-tests, linear regression and chi-square analysis. (pre req - EDUR 7130) |
| EDUR | 8231 | Applied Qualitative Research Methods | This course will provide practical experience applying qualitative research methods in a variety of settings. (pre req - EDUR 7130) |
| EDUR | 8331 | Applied Measurement | This course will provide an introduction to concepts and practices in measurement and survey research. (pre req- EDUR 7130 & 8131) |
| EDLD | 8431 | Higher Education Law | Explores basic legal precepts and their application to institutions of higher education, primarily using the case study method and discussion. |
| EDLD | 8432 | Higher Education Finance | Fiscal management and budgeting practices applicable to higher education institutions are the focus of this course. |
| EDLD | 8436 | Grant Development / Administration | Students will learn the methods and processes of project development, funding source development, and proposal writing. |
| EDLD | 8135 | Educational Planning | This course examines concepts and theories relating to various forms and approaches of planning at the school district and postsecondary educational levels. |
| EDLD | 8435 | Higher Education Policy | Examines policy-formation processes in higher education institutions. |
| PUBH | 6532 | Environmental Health | This course is a survey of specific environmental conditions and factors that contribute to the development of health problems in communities. |
| PUBH | 6533 | Epidemiology | This course provides an introduction to many important topics in epidemiology for public health practice. |
| PUBH | 6534 | Health Policy and Management | The course provides a comprehensive introduction and overview to public health management and administration. |
| PUBH | 6541 | Bioistatistics | This course examines statistics in public health and related health sciences. |
What is the Difference Between a DNP and a Ph.D. in Nursing?
While earning a Ph.D. in Nursing has been the traditional terminal degree path in the field, the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree was introduced in 2006. The DNP differs from the research based Ph.D. in that the Ph.D. develops new knowledge whereas the DNP translates that knowledge into practice.
Some of the reasons nurses choose DNP as opposed to the Ph.D. in Nursing:
- The DNP degree allows APRNs to translate evidence into practice.
- The DNP degree expands APRN knowledge to address increase patient complexity by incorporating all factors that impact healthcare outcomes.
- The DNP degree elevates APRNs to leaders and educators in academic and clinical settings.
Explore our DNP curriculum to discover more about Georgia Southern’s School of Nursing degree program.
Admission Requirements
- Hold a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree from an accredited institution with an advanced practice nursing focus.
- Minimum of a 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) graduate GPA.
- Prerequisite-Statistics. Program requires a prerequisite in Introductory Statistics with a grade of C or better.
- Submission/completion of all of the following materials:
- Complete College of Graduate Studies online application with payment of required fee.
- Georgia Southern University Health Services Form (must be completed prior to first semester entry and completed each semester afterward)
- All materials are to be submitted online through the College of Graduate Studies Admission’s office with the application.
- Three letters of recommendation. Forms in the online application are acceptable, or you can attach 3 recommendation letters to the application.
- Proof of American Heart Association Level C (2 person-BLS) CPR certification.
- Proof of Georgia RN licensure (write COPY) over any replication of license submitted.
Upon Acceptance
- Proof of current RN malpractice liability insurance (policy cover page) with name, dates of coverage and amount (1 million incident/3 million aggregate)
- Proof of “student” malpractice insurance prior to entering ANY clinical course that requires clinical hours
- Nursing Student Health forms
- Proof of APRN licensure.
Student Learning Outcomes
As recipients of the highest nursing degree, students who complete the School of Nursing DNP degree program will be able to:
SLO 1: Synthesize core knowledge from the liberal arts, sciences, and nursing as the foundation for advanced level professional practice.
SLO 2: Integrate knowledge of organizational systems, leadership principles, and resources to become responsible, safe, and accountable advanced level professional nurses that demonstrate professional standards of moral, ethical, and legal conduct.
SLO 3: Generate advanced level clinical judgment/decision making by integrating healthcare information, technology, scholarship, inquiry, and current evidence to improve individual and population healthcare outcomes.
SLO 4: Develop inter-professional communication strategies that enhance collaborative partnerships and improve patient health outcomes.
Note: The Georgia Southern University DNP Program Outcomes are based on the DNP Essentials.
Tuition and Fees
Tuition and fees charged by Georgia Southern University are approved by the University System of Georgia annually. For a comprehensive costs and affordability analysis, please visit https://em.georgiasouthern.edu/finaid/costs-affordability/.
Contact Us
Please contact the graduate program secretary for program information on the Statesboro Campus or Armstrong Campus.
Chelsea Doyle
Graduate Program Secretary
Office: Armstrong Campus-Ashmore Hall 266
Phone: 912-344-2973
Email: chelseadoyle@georgiasouthern.edu
Accreditation
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing/master’s degree program in nursing/Doctor of Nursing Practice program and/or post-graduate APRN certificate program at Georgia Southern University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (https://www.aacnnursing.org/CCNE).
Professional License Disclosure
The School of Nursing anticipates that graduates of this program will seek the following professional state licenses or certifications: Certification as an APRN (Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner [depending on which program they completed]) and licensure as an APRN.
The School of Nursing has determined that the required classes and educational activities of this online academic program will qualify a graduate of this program to take the exam for certification as an APRN in Georgia and other states as listed on the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. The school has not determined whether this program satisfies the requirements of all states and territories for the APRN certification and licensure. Visit the National Council of State Boards of Nursing to determine the requirements of your state or territory.
For all Online Programs:
Federal Law requires colleges and universities to make certain disclosures to prospective students of these programs. These disclosure include information on the University’s authority to operate outside of Georgia, complaint processes, adverse actions, and refunds.
For required disclosures in general with regard to online programs offered by the University, visit the Office of Legal Affairs website.
Last updated: 1/8/2024