Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNPU)

DNPU 699 Independent Doctorate Special Topic

Prerequisite: Admission to graduate studies.

This course allows students to take an additional independent special doctoral-level topic credit as determined by gap analysis or degree audit. This course is graded on a Pass/No Pass basis. Permission of Program Director or DNP Project faculty chair is required. 1 credit.

DNPU 700 Healthcare Policy, Organization and Delivery

This course comprehensively reviews the U.S. healthcare delivery system in the following areas: history, policy, population characteristics, trends in health services access and utilization, structure, financing, organization and delivery of services, civility in healthcare services, advancing medical technology, and the changing policy environment. Students will explore current medical issues such as increased competition, major organizational restructuring and consolidation, a rapidly changing science base, and increased government regulation. 3 credits.

DNPU 701 Biostatistics for Clinical Practice

This course will provide students with the skills to evaluate the statistics reported in research and evidence-based practice that are being used to determine a course of treatment for a select population. Students will examine the principles of statistical inference and their application to the analysis and interpretation of epidemiological, psychosocial, medical, nursing, and other healthcare data. 3 credits.

DNPU 702 Innovations in Technology and Information Access

This course will examine the principles of effective information and communication systems with a focus on evaluating and using emerging technologies in innovative clinical practice and health care management. The ethics behind the changing role of technology, the barriers to implementation and utilization of technology in Interprofessional teams will be explored. 3 credits.

DNPU 703 Leading through Innovation

This advanced leadership course focuses on the theories and practices needed to effectively lead innovative change to transform health care in the context of evidence-based thinking. Students are given the opportunity to develop an innovation philosophy for leading organizations using evidence-based practices now and in the future. Characteristics of the intuitive leader will be discussed. The course emphasizes the role of the DNP in the creation of an organizational context for innovation. Students will explore strategies for diffusion of innovation in complex, adaptive healthcare organizations. 3 credits.

DNPU 704 Evidence-Based Thinking for DNP-Prepared APRN Scholarship and Practice

This course will provide foundational knowledge in evidence-based practice and skills in appraising evidence. The focus will be on the critical and analytical evaluation of existing literature, research reports, and clinical documents in order to use evidence in clinical practice, quality improvement, program evaluation, risk management, and other research translation activities. Students will develop the idea for the DNP clinical project, and select tools for data collection. This course requires students to attend a virtual Immersion (for some cohorts this will also include an orientation to the program) and there is an associated nursing fee. 3 credits.

DNPU 705 Health Communication

Students explore the history and development of health communication. The course will review theory and practice, formative research, data collection, and data analysis relating to emerging trends in the field of health communication. The course cuts across multiple levels of communication, different communication channels, and the use of diverse communication media and technologies to address far ranging issues within the field. 3 credits.

DNPU 706 Transforming Health Care through Outcomes Management

This course focuses on the proactive management of clinical and service outcomes at all organizational levels to provide students with the ability to integrate outcomes into the routine flow of service delivery. Emphasis will be placed on understanding how measurement and data can be used to balance quality services and financial viability. Students will learn a framework that synthesizes theory and practice from the areas of continuous quality improvement, organizational learning and institutional organizing. This framework will focus on the organizational operating environment, to include input, throughput, output, and outcomes. Students’ learning will include building a framework for manipulation and analysis of service, cost, systems and outcome data. The course culminates with the creation of an outcomes measurement and management plans for the problem-focused DNP Project in which students address actual outcomes management problems encountered in the field. 3 credits.

DNPU 707 Clinical Residency I for PM-DNP Clinical Project

Prerequisites: DNPU 700 through 706.

This course is a synthesis of previous didactic courses in the PM-DNP curriculum, and allows application of knowledge in clinical and other professional settings. This is the first of two clinical residency courses in the Post-Masters to DNP program. Students will accumulate 255 clinical hours that may be attained in a variety of settings appropriate to their advanced practice nursing specialty area and DNP Project to demonstrate practice and mastery of the first four (4) AACN (2006) Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice (I-V). This course is graded Pass/No Pass. 3 credits.

DNPU 708 Application of DNP Clinical Project

Prerequisites: DNPU 700 through 707 and for PM-DNP Base only DNPU 709 and 710 and for PM-DNP adding specialty and BSN-DNP, DNPU 700 through 706, DNPU 710, DNPU 711.

This final DNP course synthesizes the experience of implementing an evidence-based practice investigation, including data analysis, evaluation, and application to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2006) Doctor of Nursing Practice Essentials. Students will complete a comprehensive manuscript of the DNP clinical project or White Paper position, as well as deliver a live oral defense presentation to faculty and peers. Dissemination plans and development of a poster and/or abstract to a peer review journal is also required. This course is graded Pass/No Pass. 3 credits.

DNPU 709 Clinical Residency II for PM-DNP Clinical Project

Prerequisites: DNPU 700 through 707.

This course is a synthesis of all previous didactic courses in the PM-DNP curriculum, and allows application of knowledge in clinical and other professional settings. This is the second of two clinical residency courses in the Post-Masters to DNP program. Students will accumulate 255 clinical hours that may be attained in a variety of settings appropriate to their advanced practice nursing specialty area and DNP project. Students will demonstrate practice and mastery of the last four (4) AACN (2006) Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice (V-VIII). This course is graded Pass/No Pass. 3 credits.

DNPU 710 Seminar in Evidence-Based Thinking for Scholarship and Practice

Prerequisites: DNPU 701, 704 and 706.

This course will provide students with the opportunity to develop a tailored plan of study relevant to the student’s DNP Project or White Paper. There is an emphasis on University IRB submission and approval, implemented DNP project methodology or White Paper activities and development of an Individualized Learning Plan (ILP) timeline for DNP project or White Paper completion and degree conferral. This course is graded Pass/No Pass. 3 credits.

DNPU 711 Clinical Residency for DNP Clinical Project for BSN-DNP & Post-Masters adding a Specialty

Prerequisites: DNPU 700 through 706.

This course is a synthesis of previous DNP didactic courses in the BSN-DNP and PM-DNP adding a specialty curriculum and allows application of knowledge in clinical and other professional settings. Students will accumulate 255 clinical residency hours that are attained in a variety of settings appropriate to their DNP Project to demonstrate practice and mastery of all eight (8) AACN (2006) Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice (I-VIII). This course is graded Pass/No Pass. 3 credits.

DNPU 799 Independent Practicum for DNP Project Completion

Prerequisite: Admission to graduate studies.

This course allows students to complete the required DNP Project hours and/or manuscript. Students are expected to maintain communication with their DNP Project faculty chair and update them on the progress of the DNP Project. Permission of the DNP Project faculty chair is required and there is a continuing DNP candidacy fee. This course is graded Pass/No Pass. 0 credits.