Doctor in Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) | Catalog 2015-16

253.535.7672

www.plu.edu/msn/

The School of Nursing offers the Doctor of Nursing Practice with a Family Nurse Practitioner specialty.

Accreditation

The School of Nursing is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and is approved by the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission. The D.N.P. program has received initial approval by the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission. The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) curriculum meets requirements for national certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner.

D.N.P. Application Priority Deadlines

D.N.P. candidates may apply for admission at any time during the year. However, application by the priority deadline will enhance the applicant’s potential for admission and for arranging financial assistance.

B.S.N to D.N.P: November 15/Rolling admissions for the following Summer (June)
Post-master’s to D.N.P: February 15/Rolling admissions for the following Summer (June)
Post-master’s to D.N.P.: March 1/Rolling admission for the following Fall (September)
Post-master’s to D.N.P.: December 1/Rolling admissions for the following J-term or Spring

Admission Criteria

B.S.N to D.N.P: Hold a baccalaureate degree in nursing from a nationally accredited school of nursing.
M.S.N to D.N.P post-master’s: Completion of a master’s degree in nursing from a nationally accredited school of nursing.
A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (B) on a 4.00 scale for all college work.
Submission of PLU Graduate Application forms and $55 non-refundable fee.
Official transcripts from each college and university attended.
Official Graduate Record Exam (GRE) results from within five years of application.
- Minimum scores: 500 in both the verbal and quantitative sections (or 150 or higher in verbal and quantitative on the new scale) and 4.00 in analytical writing.
- Official older GRE results will be accepted from students who have completed a master’s degree from an accredited university in the past five years.
Professional résumé.
Statement of professional goals.
Two letters of recommendation.
Submission of School of Nursing Addenda packet, which includes:
- Questions Relative to Licensure;
- Policy/Procedures for students who are transferring from another School of Nursing graduate program;
- Policy/Procedures Regarding English Proficiency; and
- Physical/Psychological Expectations of Nurses preparing for Professional Practice.
Civil, administrative and criminal history clearance in all states as well as any other applicable territory or country.
Fluency in speaking, reading, writing and comprehending graduate-level English (see policy and procedures in the Graduate Application Addendum).

Advance Deposit

There are limitations on the number of students accepted into the D.N.P. program each year. Applicants accepted into the program are required to make a non-refundable $300 advance tuition payment to confirm their acceptance of an offer of admission within three weeks of their acceptance date.

Program Requirements

All admitted D.N.P. students must provide valid documentation of the following by designated dates and before enrollment in any practicum/clinical course:

Unrestricted licensure as a registered nurse in the State of Washington
Immunization and health status;
CPR certification;
Comprehensive personal health insurance; and
Civil, administrative, and criminal history clearance in all states, as well as any other applicable territory or country.

Drug Testing Policy

All nursing students will be required to submit to a drug, marijuana and alcohol screening at least once yearly as part of their continuing School of Nursing health requirements. Students may be required to submit to additional drug screenings as required by the clinical agencies and School of Nursing. The screenings may be scheduled or they may occur at random and unannounced. Students will be expected to adhere to any deadline set by the agencies and/or the School of Nursing.

Advising

The associate dean for graduate nursing programs for the School of Nursing typically completes initial advising and program planning with applicants and admitted students. Post-master’s students will meet with the Associate Dean for Graduate Nursing Programs to conduct a Gap Analysis of previous master’s coursework and develop a plan of study to meet the D.N.P. degree requirements. D.N.P. applicants are strongly encouraged to attend one of the regularly scheduled advisory sessions and review the website. Upon matriculation, all students are assigned a graduate faculty advisor.

Non-Matriculated Students

B.S.N or M.S.N.-prepared registered nurses may, with permission of the Associate Dean for Graduate Nursing Programs, enroll in up to nine semester hours of D.N.P. courses on a non-matriculated basis with School of Nursing approval. Non-matriculated students are, by definition, non-degree seeking individuals, and there is no guarantee that non-matriculated students will eventually be admitted. Non-matriculated students must formally apply to, and be accepted to, the D.N.P program if they want to seek a D.N.P. degree. For more information on non-matriculated status, see the Graduate School policies.

D.N.P. Program for B.S.N. (Prepared Registered Nurses)

The Doctor of Nursing Practice program is designed for nurses seeking a terminal degree at the highest level of nursing practice. The sequence of study recognizes the academic and professional success of the baccalaureate degree as the groundwork for graduate study. A limited number of candidates are admitted each year and admission is competitive.

The PLU Doctor of Nursing Practice degree prepares graduates in the advanced practice specialty area of Family Nurse Practitioner. Graduates are able to develop and evaluate quality within a health system, collaborate with inter-professional teams to improve health outcomes, and be leaders in the nursing profession. The D.N.P curriculum consists of the M.S.N core coursework (theory, advanced practice roles, evaluation and outcomes research, leadership and management, and advanced health promotion), D.N.P core coursework (information systems and patient care technology, epidemiology, analytical methods, translating research into practice, and health policy), a D.N.P. Scholarly Project and the Family Nurse Practitioner specialty coursework. The Family Nurse Practitioner core coursework focuses on client-centered clinical practice, and prepares nurses to respond to the needs of today’s and tomorrow’s health care consumers, to manage direct care based on advanced assessment and diagnostic reasoning, to incorporate health promotion and disease prevention interventions into health care delivery, and to recognize their potential for professional growth, responsibility, and autonomy. Successful completion of the D.N.P. Family Nurse Practitioner program qualifies students to sit for national certification examinations for Family Nurse Practitioner, making them eligible under Washington State law for Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) licensure.

Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree Requirements

79 semester hours

Prerequisite Course: Introductory Statistics (including inferential and descriptive)

M.S.N. Courses

Family Nurse Practitioner Core Courses

The F.N.P. core courses may have required clinical hours and must be taken in a prescribed sequence.

NURS 580: Advanced Pathophysiology (3)
NURS 582: Advanced Health Assessment (3)
NURS 583: Clinical Pharmacotherapeutics (3)
NURS 584: Family Nurse Practitioner I (5)
NURS 585: Family Nurse Practitioner II (5)
NURS 561: Management of Mental Health Conditions in Primary Care (2)
NURS 562: Primary Care Management of Women and Children (4)
NURS 594: Family Nurse Practitioner Clinical Capstone (3)

Doctor of Nursing Practice Core Courses

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Project Courses

The DNP Scholarly Project courses must be taken in the prescribed sequence.

NURS 681: D.N.P. Scholarly Proposal Seminar: Planning (2)
NURS 682: D.N.P. Scholarly Project: Implementation I (3)
NURS 683: D.N.P. Scholarly Project: Implementation II (2)
NURS 684: D.N.P. Scholarly Project: Evaluation and Dissemination (4)
NURS 699: D.N.P. Scholarly Project: Capstone (2)

Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree for Advanced Practice Nurses

The post-master’s D.N.P. degree builds on the master’s degree in advanced practice nursing (Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse Midwife, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist). Students complete the D.N.P. Core and D.N.P. Scholarly Project coursework. A Gap Analysis is conducted to determine what previous coursework meets the D.N.P. competencies and which additional courses will be required for the PLU D.N.P. degree.

Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree for Those Seeking a Family Nurse Practitioner Specialty

The post-master’s D.N.P. for master’s-prepared nurses who wish to complete the Family Nurse Practitioner specialty builds on master’s level coursework, with the student completing the FNP specialty core, the D.N.P Core and the D.N.P. Scholarly Project coursework at PLU. A Gap Analysis is conducted to determine what previous coursework meets the D.N.P. competencies and which additional courses will be required for the PLU D.N.P. degree.

D.N.P. Family Nurse Practitioner Sample Curriculum

36 months
79 semester hours

First Year: Summer
- NURS 623: Information Systems and Patient Care Technology (3)
- NURS 625: Applied Epidemiology and Biostatistics for Nursing Practice (3)

First Year: Fall
- NURS 523: Roles of the Advanced Nurse (3)
- NURS 525: Theoretical Foundations (3)
- NURS 526: Nursing Leadership and Management (3)

First Year: J-term
- NURS 524: Advanced Health Promotion (2)
- NURS 540: Illness/Disease Management (2)

First Year: Spring
- NURS 527: Evaluation and Outcomes Research (3)
- NURS 531: Care & Outcomes Manager Practicum I (3)
- NURS 630: Analytical Methods for Evidence Based Practice (3)

Second Year: Summer
- NURS 580: Advanced Pathophysiology (3)
- NURS 582: Advanced Health Assessment (3)
- NURS 583: Clinical Pharmacotherapeutics (3)

Second Year: Fall
- NURS 561: Management of Mental Health Conditions in Primary Care (2)
- NURS 584: Family Nurse Practitioner I (5)

Second Year: J-term
- Optional International/Global Elective

Second Year: Spring
- NURS 530: Resource Management (3)
- NURS 585: Family Nurse Practitioner II (5)
- NURS 631: Translating Research: Improving Practice and Outcomes (3)

Third Year: Summer
- NURS 562: Primary Care Management of Women and Children (4)
- NURS 681: D.N.P. Scholarly Proposal Seminar: Planning (2)

Third Year: Fall
- NURS 594: Family Nurse Practitioner Clinical Capstone (3)
- NURS 627: Policy and Politics: Implications for Health Care (3)
- NURS 682: D.N.P. Scholarly Project: Implementation I (3)

Third Year: J-term
- NURS 683: D.N.P. Scholarly Project: Implementation II (2)

Third Year: Spring
- NURS 684: D.N.P. Scholarly Project: Evaluation and Dissemination (4)
- NURS 695: Transition to D.N.P. Practice (1)
- NURS 699: D.N.P. Scholarly Project: Capstone (2)

D.N.P. Family Nurse Practitioner Sample Curriculum (Part-Time Option)

48 months
79 semester hours

First Year: Summer
- NURS 623: Information Systems and Patient Care Technology (3)
- NURS 625: Applied Epidemiology and Biostatistics for Nursing Practice (3)

First Year: Fall
- NURS 523: Roles of the Advanced Nurse (3)
- NURS 525: Theoretical Foundations (3)

First Year: J-term
- NURS 524: Advanced Health Promotion (2)
- NURS 540: Illness/Disease Management (2)

First Year: Spring
- NURS 527: Evaluation and Outcomes Research (3)
- NURS 531: Care & Outcomes Manager Practicum I (3)

Second Year: Summer
- NURS 580: Advanced Pathophysiology (3)

Second Year: Fall
- NURS 526: Nursing Leadership and Management (3)
- NURS 627: Policy and Politics: Implications for Health Care (3)

Second Year: Spring
- NURS 530: Resource Management (3)
- NURS 630: Analytical Methods for Evidence-Based Practice (3)

Third Year: Summer
- NURS 582: Advanced Health Assessment (3)
- NURS 583: Clinical Pharmacotherapeutics (3)

Third Year: Fall
- NURS 561: Management of Mental Health Conditions in Primary Care (2)
- NURS 584: Family Nurse Practitioner I (5)

Third Year: J-term
- Optional International/Global Elective

Third Year: Spring
- NURS 585: Family Nurse Practitioner II (5)
- NURS 631: Translating Research: Improving Practice and Outcomes (3)

Fourth Year: Summer
- NURS 562: Primary Care Management of Women and Children (4)
- NURS 681: D.N.P. Scholarly Proposal Seminar: Planning (2)

Fourth Year: Fall
- NURS 594: Family Nurse Practitioner Clinical Capstone (3)
- NURS 682: D.N.P. Scholarly Project: Implementation I (3)

Fourth Year: J-term
- NURS 683: D.N.P. Scholarly Project: Implementation II (2)

Fourth Year: Spring
- NURS 684: D.N.P. Scholarly Project: Evaluation and Dissemination (4)
- NURS 695: Transition to D.N.P. Practice (1)
- NURS 699: D.N.P. Scholarly Project: Capstone (2)

D.N.P. Post-Master's Sample Curriculum - Students Who Are Already Advanced Practice Nurses

24 months, part-time
30 semester hours (minimum*)

*A Gap Analysis will be conducted to determine what additional coursework the student will need to meet the AACN D.N.P. Essentials competencies.

First Year: Summer
- NURS 623: Information Systems and Patient Care Technology (3)
- NURS 625: Applied Epidemiology and Biostatistics for Nursing Practice (3)

First Year: Fall
- NURS 627: Policy and Politics: Implications for Health Care (3)

First Year: J-term
- Optional International/Global Elective

First Year: Spring
- NURS 630: Analytical Methods for Evidence-Based Practice (3)
- NURS 631: Translating Research: Improving Practice and Outcomes (3)

Second Year: Summer
- NURS 681: D.N.P. Scholarly Proposal Seminar: Planning (2)

Second Year: Fall
- NURS 682: D.N.P. Scholarly Project: Implementation I (3)

Second Year: J-term
- NURS 683: D.N.P. Scholarly Project: Implementation II (2)

Second Year: Spring
- NURS 684: D.N.P. Scholarly Project: Evaluation and Dissemination (4)
- NURS 695: Transition to D.N.P. Practice (1)
- NURS 699: D.N.P. Scholarly Project: Capstone (2)

D.N.P). Post-Master's Family Nurse Practitioner Sample Curriculum

24 months
56 semester hours (minimum*)

*A Gap Analysis will be conducted to determine what additional coursework the student will need to meet the AACN D.N.P. Essentials competencies.

First Year: Summer
- NURS 582: Advanced Health Assessment (3)
- NURS 583: Clinical Pharmacotherapeutics (3)
- NURS 625: Applied Epidemiology and Biostatistics for Nursing Practice (3)

First Year: Fall
- NURS 561: Management of Mental Health Conditions in Primary Care (2)
- NURS 584: Family Nurse Practitioner I (5)
- NURS 627: Policy and Politics: Implications for Health Care (3)

First Year: J-term
- Optional International/Global Elective

First Year: Spring
- NURS 630: Analytical Methods for Evidence-Based Practice (3)
- NURS 631: Translating Research: Improving Practice and Outcomes (3)

Second Year: Summer
- NURS 562: Primary Care Management of Women and Children (4)
- NURS 623: Information Systems and Patient Care Technology (3)
- NURS 681: D.N.P. Scholarly Proposal Seminar: Planning (2)

Second Year: Fall
- NURS 594: Family Nurse Practitioner Clinical Capstone (3)
- NURS 682: D.N.P. Scholarly Project: Implementation I (3)

Second Year: J-term
- NURS 683: D.N.P. Scholarly Project: Implementation II (2)

Second Year: Spring
- NURS 684: D.N.P. Scholarly Project: Evaluation and Dissemination (4)
- NURS 695: Transition to D.N.P. Practice (1)
- NURS 699: D.N.P. Scholarly Project: Capstone (2)

Doctor of Nursing Practice (NURS) Courses

NURS 523 : Roles of the Advanced Nurse

Facilitates the development and transition into the advanced nursing roles through analysis of ethical, professional, social and practice perspectives. (3)

NURS 524 : Advanced Health Promotion

Identification of health risks and protective strategies for diverse populations. (2)

NURS 525 : Theoretical Foundations

Preparation for critique, evaluation, and use of a range of relevant theories that provide guiding perspectives for the provision of client-centered, clinically measurable advanced nursing practice. (3)

NURS 526 : Nursing Leadership and Management

Introduction to policy, organization, and financing of health care. Preparation for provision of quality cost-effective care, participation in the design and implementation of care, and assumption of the leadership role in managing resources. (3)

NURS 527 : Evaluation and Outcomes Research

Preparation for the critique and use of new knowledge to provide, change, and evaluate advanced nursing practice focused on client-centered, clinically demonstrable care. (3)

NURS 530 : Resource Management

Management of resources in the planning, coordination, and/or delivery of health care with an outcome perspective at the system level. Financial and human resources and systems management will be examined from a quality perspective. (3)

NURS 531 : Care and Outcomes Manager Practicum I

Direct and/or indirect care given in a defined specialty setting with focus on evaluation and outcomes. Includes clinical practicum of 60-240 hours. Prerequisite: NURS 523. Variable credit with School of Nursing approval. (1 to 5)

NURS 538 : Program Development

Integrate theoretical models, clinical parameters, and program planning principles through the construction of a detailed program for care and outcomes management. Clinical component present. Prerequisite or corequisite: NURS 530 and prerequisite NURS 531. (3)

NURS 540 : Illness and Disease Management

Builds on the foundations of pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health assessment and focuses on the attainment of positive clinical outcomes for a cohort or population. Includes clinical practicum of 30-60 hours. (2)

NURS 550 : Curriculum and Instruction

Examination of the theory and practice of curriculum planning, development, implementation, and evaluation. Theoretical and philosophical principles of the teaching/learning process. Analysis of adult teaching strategies and the process of self and student evaluations. (3)

NURS 562 : Primary Care Management of Women and Children

This course covers common problems unique to women and children including pregnancy, postpartum care, gynecological conditions, perimenopausal, menopausal care, well child & adolescent care, preventive care, and common behavioral and developmental problems in children & adolescents (developmental delay, learning disabilities, autism, school issues, etc.), and cultural variations in parenting. Family and role transitions across the lifespan are explored. Includes clinical practicum of 120 hours. Prerequisite: NURS 584, NURS 585. (4)

NURS 580 : Advanced Pathophysiology

Focuses on normal physiologic and pathologic mechanisms of disease. Primary components of the foundation for clinical assessment, decision making, and management. (3)

NURS 582 : Advanced Health Assessment

Development and performance of the skills needed for advanced health assessment of individuals, families, or communities throughout the lifespan. Includes clinical practicum of 30-120 hours. Prerequisite: basic health assessment skills. (2 to 4)

NURS 583 : Clinical Pharmacotherapeutics

Focuses on the pharmacokinetic basis for and pharmacotherapeutic management of simple and complex disease processes. Includes ethical, legal, and procedural aspects of prescriptive authority. Pre- or co-requisite: NURS 580. (3)

NURS 584 : Family Nurse Practitioner I

Application of theory and research in the management of health problems across the lifespan. Demonstration of diagnostic reasoning related to health care conditions. Includes clinical practicum of 180 - 240 hours. Prerequisites: NURS 582 and pre- or corequisite NURS 583. (5 or 6)

NURS 585 : Family Nurse Practitioner II

Application of theory and research in the management of increasingly complex health problems across the lifespan. Demonstration of diagnostic reasoning for a wide range of acute and chronic conditions. Seminar and clinical. Includes clinical practicum of 180 - 240 hours. Prerequisite: NURS 584. (5)

NURS 591 : Independent Study

Opportunities for advanced study in selected topic related to student's area of interest. Consent of dean required. (1 to 4)

NURS 593 : Advanced Specialty Practice

Application of advanced practice nursing in clinical specialty practice. Includes clinical practicum of 60-480 hours. Prerequisite: Completion of all core requirements. (1 to 6)

NURS 594 : Family Nurse Practitioner Clinical Capstone

This clinical course and seminar are designed as the culminating clinical course in the Family Nurse Practitioner program. Students will demonstrate the ability to provide novice-level primary care to chronic, complex patients with multiple co-morbidities. Professional practice issues including conflict resolution, contract negotiation and obligations for certification and licensure are included. Students will develop an individual learning plan for clinical practicum that includes identifying gaps in Family Nurse Practitioner competencies. This course includes 120 clinical hours. Prerequisite: NURS 582, 584, 585, N561 (MH), N562 WH/Peds. (3)

NURS 623 : Information Systems and Patient Care Technology

This course is designed to provide the student with the knowledge and skills regarding the uses of information technology to support evidence-based nursing practice. The course focuses on the development of knowledge and technical skills to use data management systems and technological resources for decision-making, implementation of quality improvement initiatives, and evaluation of patient care technologies. The course includes use of systems analysis, consumer use of informatics for health care information, and consideration of ethical, regulatory, and legal issues. (3)

NURS 625 : Applied Epidemiology and Biostatistics for Nursing Practice

Application of epidemiology and biostatistics to guide evidence based practice in health care, analysis of epidemiological, biostatistical, environmental, and other appropriate data related to individual, aggregate, and population health. Using public data sources to understand and to address health concerns, students will design population-based health promotion and disease prevention activities to support national and international goals of improving global health. (3)

NURS 627 : Policy and Politics: Implications for Health Care

Principles of policy and the influence of the political process as a systematic approach to health care in the United States and internationally. The interdependence of policy and practice will be evaluated, with a focus on the challenges of engaging and influencing health policy locally, nationally and globally. Students will analyze the ethical, legal, economic, and sociocultural factors influencing policy development. Health policy frameworks are analyzed from governmental, organizational, and clinical practice perspectives. (3)

NURS 630 : Analytical Methods for Evidence-Based Practice

Use of analytical methods required to evaluate research to guide evidence based practice. Students locate, critically evaluate and synthesize evidence from qualitative and quantitative studies that support improvement of outcomes in diverse populations. Students will identify appropriate practice questions and determine the appropriate method(s) to design and evaluate outcomes. Prerequisite: statistics course. (3)

NURS 631 : Translating Research: Improving Practice and Outcomes

Students will develop strategies for translating research findings into sustainable improvements in patient and clinical outcomes for a diverse population. The use of information technology and inter-professional collaboration will be emphasized. Models used to guide the process of implementing and evaluating evidence-based practice change will be examined. (3)

NURS 681 : D.N.P. Scholarly Proposal Seminar: Planning

Development, planning and refinement of student’s D.N.P. scholarly proposal. A D.N.P. scholarly project must evaluate outcomes of practice, practice patterns, policies and/or systems of care within a practice setting, health care organization, or community. Students will complete 30 clinical hours related to project planning. Prerequisites: NURS 630, 631. (2) [1.5 didactic and 0.5 clinical]

NURS 682 : D.N.P. Scholarly Project: Implementation I

Collaboration with key stakeholders to implement student’s evidence-based D.N.P. project. Students will incorporate change theory and other relevant theories to guide implementation and overcome anticipated and emerging barriers. Students will complete 120 clinical hours related to project implementation. Prerequisite: NURS 683. (3) [1 credit didactic and 2 credits clinical]

NURS 683 : D.N.P. Scholarly Project: Implementation II

D.N.P. students will complete the implementation phase of their scholarly project. Seminar is dedicated to review and critique of the implementation process and proposed evaluation strategy. Students will complete 30 clinical hours related to project completion. (2) [1.5 seminar and 0.5 clinical]

NURS 684 : D.N.P. Scholarly Project: Evaluation and Dissemination

D.N.P. students will systematically organize and interpret data employing quantitative and/or qualitative methodologies to evaluate the project’s impact on health outcomes. Students will disseminate their findings through an oral presentation to the key stakeholders and by submitting an abstract to a relevant professional organization. Students will complete 120 + clinical hours related to project evaluation and dissemination. Prerequisite: NURS 683. (4) [2 credits didactic and 2 credits clinical]

NURS 690 : Doctor of Nursing Practice Clinical Practicum

The D.N.P. student will develop further practice or D.N.P. competencies through clinical practicum experience. May be repeated up to 3 times. Pass/Fail grading. Prerequisite: consent of the dean and associate dean of graduate nursing programs. (1 to 4) [1 cr equals 60 clinical practicum hours]

NURS 695 : Transition to D.N.P. Practice

Transition and socialization into the Doctorate of Nursing Practice role, to include the D.N.P.’s professional responsibility and accountability for social justice locally and globally. The D.N.P. scholarship portfolio will be completed and evaluated. The portfolio will include reflection on evidence that demonstrates the student is a clinical scholar and documents competency in all domains of D.N.P. practice as outlined in the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice and the D.N.P. Core Competencies by the National Association of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF). Pre- or co-requisites: Taken concurrently with NURS 684 and NURS 699, all other DNP course work must be completed. Prerequisites: NURS 623, 625, 627, 630, 631, 681, 683. Co-requisites: NURS 684, 699. (1)

NURS 699 : D.N.P. Scholarly Project: Capstone

Development and submission of a manuscript related to the D.N.P. Scholarly Project for publication in a peer-reviewed, professional journal or other approved scholarly venue. The course includes an intensive, systematic approach to the publication process. Capstone course. Prerequisites: NURS 681, 682, and 683. Co-requisite: NURS 684. (2)