Doctor of Nursing Practice (Online)

About the Program

This online program allows registered nurses at the baccalaureate, and master’s level to advance their education by earning the degree and seeking education eligibility, if needed, to apply for national certification with the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) or the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) in the role of Family Nurse Practitioner and to apply for state licensure as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in primary care of families/across the lifespan.

Program Options:

• BSN-DNP 3 Years (6 Semesters): 69 Credit Hours
• BSN/Post Master’s (Non-FNP) DNP: 3 Years (6 Semesters); 69 Credit Hours
• Post Master’s (FNP) DNP: 1.5 Years (3 Semesters); 31 Credit Hours
• Part-time options available

Program Goals

1. Provide doctoral nursing education that builds on prior nursing education.
2. Provide graduates with enhanced knowledge and skills to practice as competent and professional family nurse practitioners.
3. Prepare graduates to be leaders in the profession and to deliver high-quality health care through the dissemination of evidence-based practice initiatives to patients, families, communities, and populations.

Program Learners [Student] Outcomes

1. Develop and evaluate new practice approaches based on science from nursing and other disciplines.
2. Employ leadership skills to design and evaluate strategies that improve care delivery and outcomes for diverse populations.
3. Lead inter-professional teams and partnerships to analyze and improve health outcomes for individuals, families, and communities.
4. Assume a leadership role in the application and dissemination of best evidence for practice to promote efficient, effective, and equitable patient-centered care.
5. Design, influence, and implement health care and ethical policies that affect financing, practice regulation, access to care, and outcomes for individual, families, and communities.
6. Analyze scientific data and synthesize concepts to develop, implement, and evaluate interventions that address health promotion and disease prevention for culturally diverse populations.
7. Utilize and evaluate information and communication technologies to improve health care and to implement change in health care systems.
8. Utilized advanced clinical judgment and specialty focused competencies to improve the care of diverse populations.

Total Clinical Hours:
Non-FNP 1,020 clinical hours
420  clinical hours (DNP project)

Total Clinical Hours:
FNP 420 clinical hours (DNP project)

Admission Requirements

General Requirements for the Robert E. Smith School of Nursing

• Each student will be required to submit a completed health and immunization form provided by the School of Nursing, evidence of personal health insurance and malpractice insurance, and current Basic Life Support (BLS) for healthcare provider certification after being accepted for admission.
• Students must comply with Mississippi legislative statues and regulations regarding criminal background checks by having fingerprints taken and a criminal background check completed. Any cost of this requirement will be the student’s responsibility.
• Students who want to receive credit for prior nursing course(s) taken at another institution must submit a written request with supporting documentation and credit be negotiated before admission to the School of Nursing and not after the student is enrolled.
• Proof of total clinical hours completed while enrolled in an FNP program [Post Master’s FNP students ONLY]

BSN to DNP Admission Requirements

1. Apply to Delta State University Graduate School and meet admission requirements as outlined in the Delta State University Graduate Catalog.

2. Meet admission requirements to the Robert E. Smith School of Nursing Graduate Program as follows by February 15:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA
• A grade of “C” or better on an introductory course in statistics
• Completion of a Robert E. Smith School of Nursing Graduate Program Application.
• A copy of a current unencumbered registered nurse license to practice in the state in which the student will perform clinical.
• At least one year of continuous clinical nursing experience with patient contact as an RN within the past three years.
• Submission of a resume’
• Completion of an interview with the Robert E. Smith School of Nursing faculty.
• A grade of “C” or better on a graduate level pathophysiology course (prerequisite).

Post Master’s (Non-FNP and FNP) to DNP Admission Requirements

1. Apply to Delta State University Graduate School and meet admission requirements as outlined in the Delta State University Graduate Catalog.

2. Meet admission requirements to the Robert E. Smith School of Nursing Graduate Program as follows by February 15:

• Master of Science degree in Nursing with a minimum 3.0 GPA
• A grade of “C” or better on an introductory course in statistics
• Completion of a Robert E. Smith School of Nursing Graduate Program Application
• A copy of a current unencumbered registered nurse license to practice in the state in which the student will perform clinical
• A copy of current national family practitioner certification (ANCC & AANP) [FNP only
• At least one year of continuous clinical nursing experience with patient contact as an RN or advanced practice nurse within the past three years.
• Submission of a resume’
• Completion of an interview with the Robert E. Smith School of Nursing faculty.
• A grade of “C” or better on a graduate level pathophysiology course (prerequisite) [Non-FNP].

BSN/Post-Master’s (non-FNP) to DNP Full-time

Full-time Total Credit Hours: BSN = 69/Post Master’s Non-FNP = 57-69

• 1,020 clinical hours; 420 clinical hours – DNP project: Total Clinical Hours = 1,440
• Total Semester/Semester Hours BSN-DNP = 6 Semesters/69 Semester Hours
• Total Semester/Semester Hours Post-Master’s (Non-FNP) = 6 Semesters/57-69 Semester Hours (12 hours available to transfer)
• **Non-FNP students may be able to transfer the following courses upon approval from Chair:
  • NUR 603 Advanced Pathophysiology
  • NUR 602/NUR 625 Advanced Health Assessment
  • NUR 605 Advanced Pharmacology
• A minimum of seven semester hours will be required for completion of the DNP Project Development/DNP Project – students will select # hours per semester based on the progression of their project

Post-Master’s FNP-DNP Full-time and Part-time

Full-time Total Credit Hours: 31

• 420 clinical hours – DNP project – required regardless of number of clinical hours obtained in Master’s program.
• Total Semester/Semester Hours Post-Master’s FNP-DNP = 3 semesters/31 semester hours
• A minimum of seven hours will be required for completion of the DNP Project Development/DNP Project – students will select # hours per semester based on the progression of their project
• Additional clinical hours may be required if total clinical hours in FNP program was less than 580

Part-time Total Credit Hours: 31

• 420 clinical hours – DNP project – required regardless of number of clinical hours obtained in a Master’s program.
• Total Semester/Semester Hours Post-Master’s FNP-DNP = 5 semesters/31 semester hours
• A minimum of seven hours will be required for completion of the DNP Project Development/DNP Project – students will select # hours per semester based on the progression of their project
• Additional clinical hours may be required if total clinical hours in FNP program was less than 580

Degree Requirements

A candidate for the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree is required to meet the following:

1. Take all core and role specific courses, and the scholarly project to total specific semester hours for program of study.
2. Either score 800 or better on an APRN-FNP exam or pass a written comprehensive exam with a score of 83 or better during the last semester of the student’s plan of study. The examination covers all major field courses including transfer and off-campus work. To take the comprehensive exam, the candidate must be enrolled in, or have completed the final course work and have a 3.0 grade point average (required only for post BSN, and post MSN [non-FNP]).
3. A grade point average of at least 3.0 in the major field and overall.
4. Successfully present the project proposal, implement the project, and complete a successful final paper and oral presentation of the project. Professional dissemination of the project requires successful completion of:
   1. An oral defense of both the proposal and final project to the DNP Scholarly Project Advisory Committee members for approval before it is implemented
   2. Submission of an abstract to a professional organization for poster or podium presentation at a state, regional, national, or international level
      OR
   3. Submission of a manuscript for publication in a peer-reviewed journal
5. Submission of an electronic DNP Portfolio

BSN/Post-Master’s (non-FNP)-DNP Course/Lab Fees 2022-2023

Spring/Summer Semester – $0

Fall I Semester – $170.00

Spring I Semester – $0.00

Fall II Semester – $850.00

Spring II Semester – $325.00

Fall III Semester – $305.00

Spring III Semester – $383.00

Total Course/Lab Fees – $2033.00

Post-Master’s FNP-DNP Course/Lab Fees 2022-2023

Fall I Semester – $310.00

Spring I Semester – $0.00

Fall II Semester – $25.00

Total Course/Lab Fees – $335.00

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) curriculum meets state educational requirements for professional certification and licensure as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). To determine the state requirements for professional nursing licensure as an APRN, please visit the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) webpage, https://www.ncsbn.org/14730.htm, then select the state where you want to know the professional licensure requirements.