Overview

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree is designed to prepare nurses for the highest level of clinical practice in the profession of nursing. Two specialty tracks will be available: Family Nurse Practitioner and Health Systems Leadership. The proposed program will include a total of 90 credit hours of post baccalaureate study and is designed in accordance with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advance Practice Nursing (2006).

Program Objectives: Upon completion of the program the graduate will be able to:

  1. Develop, implement, and evaluate complex practice approaches based on theoretical, ethical and scientific knowledge.
  2. Ensure accountability for quality care and patient safety for diverse populations.
  3. Demonstrate analytical methodologies for the evaluation of clinical practice, health outcomes, and the application of scientific evidence.
  4. Utilize technological information systems to evaluate outcomes of care, health care delivery, and quality improvement.
  5. Develop, evaluate and provide leadership for health care policy which shapes health care financing, regulation, and delivery.
  6. Work collaboratively with trans-disciplinary teams to meet complex health care needs of diverse individuals and populations.
  7. Analyze epidemiological, biostatistical, environment, and organizational data for the development, implementation and evaluation of program of clinical prevention and population health.
  8. Demonstrate advanced levels of clinical judgment, systems thinking, and accountability in designing, delivering, and evaluating evidence-based care to improve patient outcomes.

In addition to the FSU requirements for admission and graduation from graduate and doctoral level education programs (http://gradstudies.fsu.edu/), the College of Nursing requirements for admission and graduation from the DNP program include the following:

Admission Criteria

  1. BSN degree from a nationally accredited program with an upper division grade point average of 3.0 or higher. (Note: The academic transcript and resume of applicants with MSN degrees will be evaluated individually to determine the number of MSN degree credit and clinical hours that can be applied toward the DNP degree.)
  2. Graduate Record Exam (GRE) score of 1,000 or greater on combined verbal and quantitative sections.
  3. Unencumbered State of Florida RN license.
  4. FDLE/FBI Level II background check.
  5. Professional Liability Insurance.
  6. CPR Certification.
  7. Personal Health Insurance.

Graduation Requirements

  1. Successful completion of 90 semester hours of post-baccalaureate, graduate course work. This coursework includes successful completion of all core courses, and all required and elective courses in one of the specialty tracks, and a DNP project.
  2. Cumulative GPA in the program of 3.0 or higher.
  3. Completion of all specialty courses with a grade of B or higher.
  4. On-campus residency (24 hours of on-campus credits completed within a 12 consecutive month timeframe).
  5. The DNP degree must be completed within seven (7) calendar years from the time of formal matriculation into the program.

Note: The offering of the DNP program is contingent upon approval of the Florida Board of Governors.