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The application deadline for the DNP for Fall 2010 is March 2010.
Overview
The DNP is a new practice-oriented doctoral degree designed to prepare advanced practice nurses at the highest level. This professional nursing preparation will include advance coursework in leadership, research translation, population health, informatics and health policy. Our goal is to prepare the next generation with a greater breadth of expertise so they can collaborate more effectively as partners with other health care professionals and provide leadership to enhance quality and safety. This change was driven by evolving nursing roles in an increasing complex health care system, new scientific knowledge and ongoing concerns about the quality and outcomes of patient care.
Keeping pace with the demands of today’s changing health care environment requires clinical experts who have the knowledge and skills to be effective and practical change agents. Graduates of DNP programs across the country are assuming clinical and leadership positions as advanced practice nurses in a variety or roles, including faculty, nurse executives and community leaders
If you are a registered nurse, you may enter the DNP program after completing a master’ degree in nursing or a related field.
Capstone Project
The DNP program culminates in the successful completion of a scholarly “Capstone” project that demonstrates mastery of expert practice knowledge and is completed over 2 semesters (9 semester hours). The scholarly project must be a significant, evidence-based contribution to existing nursing knowledge and be suitable for publication in a peer reviewed journal or a book. This Capstone Project could be a program needs assessment with program development and evaluation, evaluation of an existing program, development of an assessment instrument/protocol, a cost/benefit analysis of program models, or other scholarly project as approved by the student’s advisor.
Students will apply knowledge and skills obtained in the didactic and integrative courses in order to address the ethical, legal, financial and organizational aspects of the scholarly project. The DNP student will discuss his/her topic of interest, the development of the project and how it addressed the needs of a selected population; and evaluate the implementation and outcomes of the project.
Each student will have a primary mentor and their advisor working with them on the project. Clinical practice residency hours will be used to carry out the project in a practice setting (work settings may be included, but specific objectives will be developed that may be different from the student’s job)
In addition, you will have the opportunity to study with faculty from other Northeastern departments and research centers and with others in Boston's nursing community whose work addresses clinical and organizational problems. Our close ties with the University's Institute on Urban Health Research and School of Social Science, Urban Affairs and Public Policy, as well as with the Center for Community Health Education, Research and Service and other organizations provide opportunities to work across disciplines and access populations and sites for the Capstone project.
Curriculum and Degree Requirements
Post-master’s students will build on their prior coursework and clinical foundations by completing 30 semester hours, including a Capstone course. On a full-time basis, students entering with a master's degree can expect to commit a minimum of 4 semesters to complete the program. Part-time options are available to all students.
Read the curriculum.
Faculty
Nursing faculty teaching graduate courses are expert, advanced-practice nurses in their respective specializations. Students will also have the opportunity to work with distinguished faculty in other disciplines within Bouve College of Health Sciences and Northeastern University's many research centers and programs. Click here to see the faculty list.
