Nursing Practice, DNP

This program is not accepting new admits as of the Summer 24 semester.

SCHOOL OF NURSING

Julka Hall 238
(216) 687-3598

Tonya Runner, DNP, RN, Graduate Program Director

PROGRAMS OF STUDY

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree
BSN-DNP: Family Nurse Practitioner specialization track
BSN-DNP: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner specialization track
MSN-DNP: Health System Nursing Leadership track

INTRODUCTION

DNP Program Overview

The Doctor of Nursing Practice places emphasis on clinical practice and leadership training. The DNP is instrumental in advancing a clinical nursing career. Cleveland State University’s DNP program uniquely prepares graduates to obtain the doctorate degree through the post baccalaureate degree and post master’s degree entry points. The program provides the necessary coursework to obtain nurse practitioner certifications. Students have the option of choosing from two certification tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). A Health Systems Nursing Leadership track is available for students with a post-master’s in nursing degree.

The DNP is the highest-level terminal nursing practice degree and has been proposed as the entry point for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), that include nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse midwives, and nurse anesthetists (American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN, 2004). Nurse administrators are encouraged to hold the DNP degree. The DNP prepared nurse is vital to meeting the changing demands of the nation’s complex healthcare environment. The DNP program has two entry points: (1) a post-baccalaureate in nursing (BSN) and (2) a post-master’s degree in Nursing (MS or MSN). The post-baccalaureate pathway will have an advance practice nursing focus with students entering either a Family Nurse Practitioner or a Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track. The post-Master’s entry pathway will have an Aggregate/Systems/Organizational focus in Health Systems Nursing Leadership (HSNL). These pathways to a DNP are consistent with the AACN recommendations regarding the terminal practice degree title of DNP. The program uses a blended learning approach for delivery of both on-campus and online classes.

Program Goals

1. Synthesize knowledge derived from nursing science from other scientific disciplines as the basis for advanced nursing practice and innovative approaches to improve the health of individuals, aggregates and populations. (AACN Essential 1: Scientific Underpinnings for Practice; Essential #7: Clinical Prevention and Population Health for Improving the Nation’s Health; Essential #8: Advanced Nursing Practice.) 
2. Employ organizational and systems leadership to improve the quality and safety of individuals, aggregates, and populations. (AACN Essential 2: Organizational and Systems Leadership for Quality Improvement and Systems Thinking.) 
3. Integrate clinical scholarship and utilization of analytical methods to identify best nursing practices. (AACN Essential 3: Clinical Scholarship and Analytical Methods for Evidence-Based Practice.) 
4. Demonstrate leadership in the systems level evaluation, development, and implementation of information systems and related technologies for healthcare delivery that optimize outcomes for individuals, aggregates, and populations. (AACN Essential 4: Information Systems/Technology and Patient Care Technology for the Improvement and Transformation of Health Care.) 
5. Engage in advocacy by influencing policy throughout the various stages of the policy-making process at the institutional, local, state, national and/or global levels. (AACN Essential 5: Health Care Policy for Advocacy in Health Care.) 
6. Facilitate collaboration among inter-professional teams to ensure high-quality patient, system or population health outcomes. (AACN Essential 6: Inter-professional Collaboration for Improving Patient and Population Health Outcomes.)

In addition, the NOPF and AONE standards that apply to the BSN-DNP Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner tracks as well as the MSN-DNP Health Systems Nursing Leadership tracks are integrated throughout the curriculum and course objectives.

MEMBERSHIP & ACCREDITATION

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing/DNP/master’s degree program in nursing at Cleveland State University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.

FACULTY RESEARCH

Program faculty members have research specializations in a wide variety of areas, allowing them to help graduate students explore many potential research topics. The many partnerships in which the School of Nursing is involved also provide opportunities for collaboration with practitioners in community settings.

Current faculty information can be located on the Cleveland State University Faculty Profile page.

ADMISSION TO THE SCHOOL OF NURSING

Applicants to the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program must meet the minimum requirements established by the College of Graduate Studies and the School of Nursing. Requirements for admission include:

Program Requirements: Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

• Minimum GPA of 3.25* in your baccalaureate degree in nursing
• One-year experience working as an RN
• Statistics course completed within the last five years with a grade of B or better
• The programs of study can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis
• All courses are taught by our full-time doctorly prepared faculty
• Courses are offered in a combination of online and a hybrid delivery mode

Application Submission Process:

• Apply to the College of Graduate Studies;  Deadline to apply is April 15. After April 15, applications will be considered on a space-availability basis.
• Official transcripts from all academic institutions
• Three (3) professional letters of recommendation
• CV/Resume
• 500-word essay addressing career goals

All applicants will interview with a School of Nursing faculty member

All application materials must be submitted to:

Cleveland State University
Application Processing Center
Office of University Registrar
1836 Euclid Avenue, UN 443
Cleveland, OH 44115

*An applicant who does not meet the minimum 3.25 CGPA requirement may still be considered for admission as the Admission, Progression, and Standards Committee uses a wholistic application review process that examines the entirety of the potential student’s application.

Priority consideration is given to applications received by April 15 for fall enrollment. After April 15, applications will be considered on a space-available basis.

Students may pursue the program on a full- or part-time basis. The University mandates a 10-year time limit to complete DNP degree requirements.

Program Offerings: Health Systems Nursing Leadership

• Part time to accommodate the demands of your work schedule
• Online learning format
• Completed in 8 consecutive semesters
• Affordable tuition
• All courses are taught by our full-time doctorly prepared faculty

Program Requirements:

• Minimum GPA of 3.25* in your Mater of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Masters in Nursing (MN) degree
• One-year experience working as an RN
• Statistics course completed within the last five years with a grade of B or better

Application Submission Process:

• Apply to the College of Graduate Studies;  Deadline to apply is April 15 for the Fall semester. After April 15, applications will be considered on a space-availability basis.
• Official transcripts from all academic institutions
• Three (3) professional letters of recommendation
• CV/Resume
• 500-word essay addressing career goals

All applicants will interview with a School of Nursing faculty member

All application materials must be submitted to:

Cleveland State University
Application Processing Center
Office of University Registrar
1836 Euclid Avenue, UN 443
Cleveland, OH 44115

*An applicant who does not meet the minimum 3.25 CGPA requirement may still be considered for admission as the Admission, Progression, and Standards Committee uses a wholistic application review process that examines the entirety of the potential student’s application.

CLINICAL PRACTICA

Students admitted to the DNP degree program for FNP or PMHNP specialization complete at least 1000 clinical hours during their program of study.  Students in the HSNL track complete 1000 clinical hours.  Up to 500 documented clinical hours completed during the student’s MSN degree program of study can be transferred into the program at CSU and count toward the 1000 clinical hours required for a DNP degree.

PROGRAM AND HEALTH DATA

All degree-seeking students are required to have current and complete program and kept current health data on file in the School of Nursing. This includes documentation of licensure as a registered nurse, professional liability insurance, CPR certification, current immunizations, and background checks. This information is required by clinical sites, as well as accrediting agencies.

Program and Health data are due within 60 days of admittance into the Graduate Nursing Program. If this requirement is not met, a hold will be placed on the student’s registration for classes until all requirements are met and appropriate documentation has been received by the School of Nursing.

EXIT REQUIREMENTS

Graduation is based on the successful completion of the required courses and clinical experiences, and submission of required artifacts into an electronic portfolio system. Students are expected to plan and implement a DNP Scholarly Project to address the needs of their population of focus. Each student is expected, at minimum, to make an oral presentation of his or her Scholarly Project as a means of disseminating the findings from the study.