You can choose from six (6) DNP areas of study.
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.
Clinical Nurse Specialist – Pediatric
Students who pursue the Clinical Nurse Specialist area of study will be prepared as expert clinicians in a specialized area of nursing practice (Pediatric). 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
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) offers certification as a Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist (ACCNS-P). Students who have completed a master’s degree in Nursing in the Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist emphasis area are eligible to sit for the exam.
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 Nurse Practitioners are employed in a variety of health care settings ranging from family primary care practices, internal medicine, and women’s health clinics to rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities, outpatient clinics, and home health agencies.
Psychiatric & Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Students who pursue the 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. PMHNPs engage in independent and interdependent decision making, manage psychotropic medications, and deliver psychotherapeutic and psychoeducational interventions.
Curriculum
Certification
Career Opportunities
Career opportunities are available in acute care, home care, primary care, private practice, public health, or rural health setting as well as opportunities to serve as consultants for hospitals, rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities, home health agencies, and schools.
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner- Primary Care
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
Pediatric Nurse Practitioners are employed in a variety of health care settings with a specific focus on the care of children including: primary pediatric care, family practice, school health, public health, teen clinics, as well as child specialty clinics and pediatric rehabilitation centers, outpatient clinics, and home health agencies.
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
Certification
The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) offers certification as an Advanced Nurse Executive to recognize excellence in nurse leaders and administrators. Students who have completed a master’s degree in the nurse leader area of study and have two years or more of full-time employment within the past five years in an administrative position at the nurse executive level OR a faculty position teaching graduate students executive level nursing administration are eligible to sit for the exam.
American Organization for Nursing Leadership also offers a certification as Certified Nurse Manager and Leader and The Executive Nursing Practice Certification.
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), and/or Nurse Executive Board Certified (NE-BC).
For more information, visit the AONE Certifications website or ANCC
Career Opportunities
Career opportunities include system or organizational leadership, leadership positions within clinical settings, academic positions and research opportunities, health policy design, development and reform, as well as entrepreneur/executive positions.
Nursing Leadership & Innovations 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.
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.
