Nursing Practice (DNP)

Doctor of Nursing Practice
Unit: School of Nursing (GN)
Program Website 
Academic Plan Code(s): See Degree Requirements tab.

Program Information

The Doctor of Nursing Practice is designed to prepare nurses to demonstrate excellence and leadership as a nurse practitioner in a variety of settings for the diagnosis and management across the lifespan and to meet the evolving health needs of the community.   

The DNP focuses on developing advanced practice clinical knowledge and leadership skills to improve health outcomes of individuals and populations through direct patient care, quality care initiatives, administration of organizations, and/or implementation of health policy.

The University of Louisville offers both the BSN-DNP and the MSN-DNP options. The BSN-DNP requires a minimum of three years of full-time study. The last two years of the program include  a minimum 1,000 clinical, professional, and project hours. The MSN-DNP is designed for advanced practice nurses and focuses on leadership in population health. A minimum of two years of part-time study is required. Clinical hours vary depending on previous master's preparation. Students must provide documentation of previous clinical hours and complete a minimum of 330 project or professional hours, for a total of 1,000 post-baccalaureate hours.  (Students with less than 670 documented clinical hours in their MSN degree will need to enroll in a clinical completion course to formally complete additional clinical hours). 

Specialties Available

• Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
• Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• Nurse Anesthesia

Admissions Criteria

For the Nurse Anesthesia (NA) program admission requirements, please see the programs catalog page.  

A holistic review process is used when considering applications for admission to the DNP program.  The holistic review considers multiple criteria for admission, including the applicant's professional career goals, academic capabilities, GPA, work experience, leadership, as well as institution and community engagement.

The University of Louisville School of Nursing participates in Nursing's Centralized Application Service (NursingCAS), which provides you with an online application.  NursingCAS collects and processes your application documents and verifies your transcripts.  The School of Nursing will receive your application information from NursingCAS and use it to make admission decisions. In addition to the Nursing CAS Application students will need to pay a supplemental application fee of $40 to graduate admissions. 

To be considered for admission to the Doctor of Nursing Practice program, the following items must be submitted:

To NursingCAS

1. Transcripts
   • BSN -DNP applicant: Official transcripts representing all college coursework with a recommended undergraduate cumulative grade point average of at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. BSN degree must be from a regionally accredited institution and a CCNE-, ACEN-, or NLN-accredited nursing program.
   • MSN-DNP applicant:  Official transcripts representing all college coursework with a recommended graduate cumulative grade point average of at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.  BSN degree must be from a regionally accredited institution. BSN and MSN degrees must be from CCNE-, ACEN, or NLN-accredited nursing programs.
2. Applicants who have attended a college or university outside the United States are also required to submit a course by course evaluation of their transcript through World Education Services (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE). Please note that transcript evaluations can sometimes take several weeks.
3. Two letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak of academic and/or professional capabilities and potential for a scholarly career. Recommendation should be requested from former faculty, current or immediate past employers, or other nursing/health professionals.  Recommendations must be completed within the last year.  
4. Current resume or curriculum vitae (CV)
5. Verification of an unencumbered RN license from a US state board of nursing. (Prior to starting clinicals students must have a RN license in the state of Kentucky or in a compact state). 
6. Responses to all questions asked on the NursingCAS application.
7. Students for whom English is not their primary language must show English Proficiency.

8. Students offered admission will need to submit a Criminal Background check through the third-party vendor (Castlebranch) which will need to be approved prior to enrollment. 

Additional Admission Requirements for Acute Care Specialties

Neonatal specialty: A minimum of one year of RN clinical experience in a Level III or Level IV NICU is recommended prior to admission.  All NNP applicants must have the equivalent of two years of full-time RN clinical experience within the last five years in a Level III or Level IV NICU inpatient setting before beginning clinical courses.

Adult Gerontology Acute Care specialty: One year of RN clinical experience in an ICU or one year of RN clinical experience in any area and a commitment to complete one year of RN clinical practice in an ICU before beginning clinical courses. Applicants that do not have one year of RN experience at the point of application, but will complete one year before beginning clinical courses, will satisfy the work requirement.   

Pediatric Acute Care: One year of RN clinical experience in an acute care setting or one year of RN clinical experience in any area and a commitment to complete one year of RN clinical practice in an acute care setting before beginning clinical courses. Applicants that do not have one year of RN experience at the point of application, but will complete one year before beginning clinical courses, will satisfy the work requirement. 

Program Requirements

BSN-DNP Curriculum

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Core Courses Required - See Below for Additional Required Coursework for Each Specialty
NURS 560	Wellness in the Advanced Nursing Role	1
NURS 607	Foundational Concepts of Evidence Based Practice	3
NURS 643	Quality and Safety in Advanced Practice Nursing	2
NURS 657	Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Culturally Diverse and Vulnerable Populations	3
NURS 725	Analysis of Leadership and Health Policy	3
NURS 740	Advanced Pharmacology (Not required for Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Specialty)	3
NURS 741	Advanced Pathophysiology	4
NURS 742	Advanced Physical Assessment (Not required for Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Specialty)	3
NURS 743	Epidemiology	3
NURS 744	Synthesis and Evaluation of Evidence in Practice	3
NURS 746	Program Development & Evaluation	3
NURS 747	Finance Management	2
NURS 748	Application of Leadership and Health Policy	1
NURS 749	The Business of Healthcare	2
NURS 840	Clinical Seminar I	1
NURS 841	Clinical Seminar II	1
NURS 842	Clinical Practicum in the Advanced Practice Role (84 clinical hours) 2	1
NURS 843	Legal and Professional Topics in the APRN Role	3
NURS 791	Applied Statistics for Evidence Based Practice	3
NURS 750	DNP Project I: Project Inception (110 clinical hours) 3	3
NURS 751	DNP Project II: Project Implementation (110 clinical hours) 3	2
NURS 752	DNP Project III: Project Evaluation, Analysis and Dissemination (110 clinical hours) 3	3
NURS 787	Clinical Practicum for the DNP NP I (336 clinical hours) 1	4
NURS 788	Clinical Practicum for the DNP NP II (252 clinical hours) 1	3
NURS 789	Clinical Practicum for the DNP NP III (84 clinical hours) 1	1
Students who do not complete the DNP project within the DNP coursework will be required to enroll in the DOC 600 completion course until degree requirements are met.
A minimum of 1000 clinical hours is required for the DNP degree.
Minimum Total Hours		61

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MSN-DNP Curriculum 

Academic Plan Code(s): NURSDNPMSN

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NURS 725	Analysis of Leadership and Health Policy	3
NURS 743	Epidemiology	3
NURS 744	Synthesis and Evaluation of Evidence in Practice	3
NURS 746	Program Development & Evaluation	3
NURS 747	Finance Management	2
NURS 748	Application of Leadership and Health Policy	1
NURS 845	Introduction to the DNP Project and Data Management	1
NURS 791	Applied Statistics for Evidence Based Practice	3
NURS 750	DNP Project I: Project Inception (110 clinical hours) 3	3
NURS 751	DNP Project II: Project Implementation (110 clinical hours) 3	2
NURS 752	DNP Project III: Project Evaluation, Analysis and Dissemination (110 clinical hours) 3	3
Elective		3
Advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology and physical assessment, clinical reasoning, as well as specialty coursework required for non-nurse practitioner MSN-DNP or for nurse practitioner seeking an additional specialty.
A minimum of 1000 clinical hours is required for the DNP degree.
Students who do not complete the DNP project within the DNP coursework will be required to enroll in DOC 600 completion course until degree requirements are met.
Minimum Total Hours		30

¹

This course contains patient care focused clinical hours. Clinical hours in this course are counted as direct patient care hours. 

²

This course contains clinical hours in the professional role of the NP. Clinical hours in this course should not be counted as direct patient care hours. 

³

This course contains clinical hours specific to the DNP project development.  Clinical hours in this course should not be counted as direct patient care hours.  

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DNP Specialties

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care 

Academic Plan Code(s): NURSDNPAAC

Adult Gerontology Acute Care specialty requires one year of RN clinical experience in an ICU or one year of RN clinical experience in any area and a commitment to complete one year of RN clinical practice in an ICU before beginning clinical courses.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NURS 754	Clinical Reasoning in Advanced Practice Nursing	1
NURS 777	The Adult/Gerontology Acute Care NP Role	1
NURS 779	Diagnosis & Management in Acute Care I	5
NURS 780	Procedures and Diagnostics for the Acute Care NP	2
NURS 781	Diagnosis & Management in Acute Care II	3
NURS 783	Diagnosis & Management in Acute Care III	2
NURS 792	Pharmacology for the Acute Care APRN	1
Minimum Total Hours		15

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Adult-Gerontology Primary Care 

Academic Plan Code(s): NURSDNPAPC

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NURS 753	Adolescent Well Child Theory	1
NURS 754	Clinical Reasoning in Advanced Practice Nursing	1
NURS 755	Diagnosis and Management of Adult Health in Primary Care	4
NURS 756	Procedures & Diagnostics for Adult Health	1
NURS 757	Diagnosis and Management of Women's Health in Primary Care	2
NURS 758	Diagnosis and Management of Mental Health in Primary Care	2
NURS 759	Diagnosis and Management of the Older Adult in Primary Care	3
Minimum Total Hours		14

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Family Nurse Practitioner 

Academic Plan Code(s): NURSDNPFNP

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NURS 754	Clinical Reasoning in Advanced Practice Nursing	1
NURS 755	Diagnosis and Management of Adult Health in Primary Care	4
NURS 756	Procedures & Diagnostics for Adult Health	1
NURS 757	Diagnosis and Management of Women's Health in Primary Care	2
NURS 758	Diagnosis and Management of Mental Health in Primary Care	2
NURS 761	Pediatric & Adolescent Well Child Theory	2
NURS 759	Diagnosis and Management of the Older Adult in Primary Care	3
NURS 762	Diagnosis & Management of Pediatrics in Primary Care	2
Minimum Total Hours		17

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Neonatal Nurse Practitioner

Academic Plan Code(s): NURSDNPNNP

It is recommend students have a minimum of one year of RN experience in a Level III or Level IV NICU prior to admission.  All neonatal applicants must have the equivalent of two years of full-time RN experience within the last five years in a Level III or Level IV NICU inpatient setting before beginning clinical courses.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NURS 763	Advanced Neonatal Physiology & Pathophysiology I	3
NURS 764	Neonatal Diagnostic Reasoning I	1
NURS 765	Advance Neonatal Physiology & Pathophysiology II	3
NURS 766	Neonatal Diagnostic Reasoning II	1
NURS 767	Neonatal Residency I (252 clinical hours) 1	3
NURS 768	Neonatal Residency II (252 clinical hours) 1	3
NURS 769	Neonatal Residency III (252 clinical hours) 1	3
NURS 844	Advanced Practice Care: Birth to 2 years of age	2
NURS 784	Advanced Neonatal Pharmacology	3
NURS 785	Advanced Neonatal Assessment	3
NURS 786	Human Embryology and Genetics	3
Minimum Total Hours		28

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Pediatric Acute Care

Academic Plan Code(s): NURSDNPPAC

Pediatric Acute Care specialty requires one year of RN experience in an acute care setting or one year of RN experience in any area and a commitment to complete one year in an acute care setting before beginning clinical courses.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NURS 761	Pediatric & Adolescent Well Child Theory	2
NURS 762	Diagnosis & Management of Pediatrics in Primary Care	2
NURS 800	Pathophysiology for Pediatric Acute Care	1
NURS 801	Pharmacology for Pediatric Acute Care	1
NURS 802	Procedures for Pediatric Acute Care	1
NURS 803	Diagnosis and Management for Pediatric Acute Care I: Special Needs in Chronic Illness	3
NURS 804	Diagnosis and Management for Pediatric Acute Care II: Acute Illness	2
NURS 805	Diagnosis and Management for Pediatric Acute Care III: Critical Illness	3
NURS 806	The Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Role	1
Minimum Total Hours		16

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Psychiatric Mental Health

Academic Plan Code(s): NURSDNPPMH

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NURS 770	Adv. Psychiatric Assessment of Psychopathology and Clinical Interviewing Across the Lifespan	2
NURS 771	Foundations of Individual and Group Psychotherapy for the Adv. Practice Psychiatric Mental Health NP	2
NURS 772	Psychopharmacology	2
NURS 773	Diagnosis and Management of Children and Adolescents in Adv. Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing	3
NURS 774	Diagnosis and Management of Adults in Advanced Practice Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing	3
NURS 775	Diagnosis and Management of Special Populations in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing	2
NURS 794	The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Role	2
Minimum Total Hours		16

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DNP graduates from the UofL School of Nursing are prepared to apply for APRN certification in their population track upon graduation; however, educational preparation does not guarantee professional licensure. If you have questions regarding Kentucky APRN licensure, please contact the Kentucky Board of Nursing (https://kbn.ky.gov/advanced-practice-registered-nurse/Pages/default.aspx). For APRN  licensure questions in other states, please contact the respective state board of nursing (https://ncsbn.org/contact-bon.htm).