DNP Areas of Study - MU Sinclair School of Nursing

Five (5) DNP areas of study are available for students to select from.

Clinical Nurse Specialist – Adult Gerontology

Students who pursue the Clinical Nurse Specialist area of study will be prepared as expert clinicians in a specialized area of nursing practice (Adult-Gerontology). In addition to providing direct patient care, Clinical Nurse Specialists influence care outcomes by providing expert consultation for nursing staff and by implementing evidence based practice initiatives to support improvements in health care delivery systems.

Curriculum

Certification

Career Opportunities

Clinical nurse specialists are employed in a variety of health care settings including: acute care, critical care, rehabilitation, long-term care and community-based health care settings rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities, residential care facilities, outpatient clinics, and home health agencies. Additional career opportunities include positions as program directors, case managers, consultants, quality improvement coordinators and outcome managers in a variety of health care settings.

Family Nurse Practitioner

Students who pursue the Family Nurse Practitioner area of study will be prepared as primary care nurse clinicians providing comprehensive healthcare from birth through older adulthood. Family Nurse Practitioners diagnose and treat common acute episodic health problems, manage chronic diseases, provide health education to individuals and families with expertise in health promotion and disease prevention.

Curriculum

Certification

Career Opportunities

Family Psychiatric & Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Students who pursue the Family Psychiatric & Mental Health Nurse Practitioner area of study will deliver evidence based advanced primary mental health care to individuals of all ages including children, adolescents and their families in a variety of healthcare settings. FPMHNPs engage in independent and interdependent decision making, manage psychotropic medications, and deliver psychotherapeutic and psychoeducational interventions.

Curriculum

Certification

Career Opportunities

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Students who pursue the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner area of study will be prepared as primary pediatric nurse clinicians providing comprehensive healthcare from birth through young adulthood by assessment, diagnosis, management, and evaluation of care. Special emphasis is placed on the knowledge, skills, and expertise to emphasize health promotion, injury and disease prevention, and management in coping with chronic illness among children.

Curriculum

Certification

Career Opportunities

Nursing Leadership & Innovations in Health Care

Students who pursue the Nursing Leadership and Innovations in Health Care emphasis area will be prepared to take on roles as advanced nursing leaders, impact systems by providing quality outcomes and the ability to lead change within the clinical, political or academic environments.

The Nursing Leadership and Innovations in Health Care emphasis area will prepare the learner to discover innovative technologies and techniques to improve the delivery of care as well as use innovative concepts and pursue entrepreneurial endeavors to enhance health care.

Curriculum

Career Opportunities

FAQs

I am not an advanced practice nurse, can I still apply to this program?

Yes. Individuals with a master’s degree in nursing or related field may apply to the Leadership DNP.

Will I need to complete clinical hours with a preceptor?

Yes. The number of clinical hours to be completed depends upon the hours completed in one’s master’s program. The approximate number of clinical hours to be completed is 510-1020. Hours spent on working toward the DNP scholarly project are included in this total.

Who is eligible to be my preceptor?

Acceptable preceptors for Leadership DNP students must be individuals with advanced degrees who are experts in the student’s leadership interest area.

Preferred preceptors would include working professionals who are educationally prepared as a DNP graduate However, due to the limited number of current DNP graduates other potential clinical leadership preceptors may include: advanced practice nurses or other professionals with doctoral degrees; an advanced practice nurse with considerable leadership expertise; a nurse with a high level administrative position as the director, vice president, president, or CEO within a health care organization; a doctorally prepared nurse educator, or a nurse with an advanced business or policy degree. Preceptors with an advanced degree in areas such as public health or business administration may also be considered as leadership preceptors if this matches student’s leadership interests and academic goals.

How many hours are required to complete the degree?

A total of 38.5 to 47 credit hours are required to complete the degree. Credit hours vary depending upon review of transcripts and previously completed clinical hours.

Will I be able to sit for any certification exams after the completion of this program?

Depending upon the student’s current work environment or work history, students may be qualified for certification in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP) and/or Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML).

For more information, visit the AONE Certifications website.

Dual Emphasis Area Option

Students enrolled in the DNP program may also choose to apply for dual emphasis among the APRN program offerings. Students can incorporate an additional 11.5-21.5 hours of coursework (depending upon the specific emphasis areas), which would allow them to apply for dual certifications post-graduation.

Dual emphasis enrollment is an attractive option students who want to apply for jobs in the acute and primary care setting or who want to broaden their range of eligible positions upon graduation. Please note only two dual emphasis areas may be combined/awarded.

Process for Dual Emphasis Area

Identify your dual emphasis areas when applying to program or current students can complete the change of program form to indicate the addition.
Students must work with their faculty academic advisor to develop a plan of study.
The number of credit hours will depend on what emphasis areas are chosen. Specific credit hours and clinical hours for each emphasis area will be required in order to meet certification and graduation requirements. Credit hours vary depending upon emphasis area and 510-600 clinical hours are required per emphasis area.