Bachelor of Science in Nursing to Doctor of Nursing Practice Entry Option 3

Course Delivery

The Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN) to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is designed for the BSN RN who desires to become an APRN. Students complete the program in 3 years: 2 years of the program as part-time study, taking 1 course per 8-week session and a third year as full-time study, taking 2 courses per 8 week session. When students are in the third year of the program, they may need to reduce work hours to accommodate completion of the DNP project (510 residency hours) and specialty clinical practicum (510 hours).

The Musco School of Nursing and Health Professions programs blend three instructional strategies to produce an engaged learning curriculum. The first strategy is Immersion: our programs include a blend of virtual, hybrid, and/or face-to-face meetings in 1-4 day sessions. Immersion sessions are conducted up to five times during the program. During these immersion sessions, students may receive orientation instruction; work as teams with peers and mentors and participate in demonstrations, simulation exercises, assessments and/or evaluations. The second strategy is practicum experience: our programs include clinical and DNP project rotations conducted where the student lives or works. The third strategy is self-directed study: courses include online lectures, discussions, social networking, demonstrations, tutorials, readings, and/or other homework. Most courses include additional real-time instruction via web conference, phone conference, and/or live chat sessions. Students may need to reduce work hours to accomodate completion of the DNP Project (510 residency hours) and specialty clinical practicum (510 hours).

Attendance: Students may be dismissed from the program at the Dean’s discretion due to absence from required meetings.

Admission to the Program

Admission into the BSN to DNP is once a year in January (Spring I).

2023-2024 Application Deadline: BSN-DNP 

Final application deadline for Spring I, 2024 admission is October 15, 2023.

2024-2025 Application Deadline: BSN-DNP 

Final application deadline for Spring I, 2025 admission is October 15, 2024.

Admission Requirements

  1. Admission to the BSN to DNP program is granted to individuals who apply and meet the standards for admission to a graduate program.
  2. Complete a Musco School of Nursing and Health Professions application available online at https://www.umassglobal.edu/nursing-health-professions.
  3. Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from a regionally accredited program. Applicants who have a Bachelor's in another discipline and have completed either a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Nursing, or the equivalent of the BSN in the first year of a Master of Science in Nursing Entry Program, passed the NCLEX and are licensed, can be considered for admission.
  4. Official transcripts from all regionally accredited institutions where baccalaureate and/or post-baccalaureate coursework was completed or attempted.
  5. *Graduate Record Exam (GRE): Analytical Writing Score (minimum score of **4.0) from the General Test. Request that scores be sent electronically to University of Massachusetts Global. See web site http://www.ets.org/gre If an applicant scores a 3.0 to 3.9 on GRE Analytical Writing, the applicant may retake the test to achieve a 4.0 OR submit two academic writing samples to the Office of Admission for review by the program director and Dean (or Dean's designee) for consideration. See web site http://www.ets.org/gre
  6. Current and detailed resume or curriculum vitae.
  7. Unencumbered RN license from the state where the student plans to do clinical hours, or a date for the NCLEX scheduled before classes start.  The NCLEX must be passed for admission with application for license pending. The NCLEX must be passed by the end of the first session of enrollment to continue in the program.
  8. Personal interview with FNP or PMHNP specialty Program Director(s).

*Not required if you have a Master's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution.

CastleBranch Requirements 

All requirements are due by the end of the first session and are required to stay in compliance (current and updated) throughout the program. Students who do not start their specialty clinical practicum and/or DNP Project residency hours due to incomplete CastleBranch requirements will require a modified education plan, which may result in a program completion delay.

Immunization and Health Screening Requirements:

  • Proof of annual negative Tuberculosis (TB) screening:
    • TB blood test (IGRA) OR
    • Negative chest x-ray AND a provider-signed negative symptom checklist.
  • Proof of completion of Hepatitis A and B immunization series or titer demonstrating immunity.
  • Proof of two doses of Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR) immunization or titer demonstrating immunity.
  • Proof of one Tetanus/diphtheria/acellular pertussis (Tdap) immunization (after 19 years of age) and boosters per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s adult vaccination schedule.
  • Proof of Chicken Pox (Varicella) immunization or titer demonstrating immunity.
  • Proof of annual influenza immunization.
  • Additional laboratory tests, immunizations, and/or documentation may be required for specific practicum sites.

Additional Requirements:

  • Annual Background Check.
  • Annual negative 10-panel Drug Screen.
  • Annual CastleBranch Elearning (HIPAA/OSHA Trainings)
  • Copy of current CPR “Level C” Certification (Basic Life Saving (BLS) Healthcare Provider) that will not be expiring in the next 12 months.
    • Certification MUST be an American Heart Association approved course.
      • Approved courses must have a didactic component AND skills verification component.
      • Online only courses, where skills are not validated by an instructor will not be approved. Skills must be validated by an instructor using a feedback device that measures and provides real-time audio feedback (or both) on compression rate and depth.
  • Proof of unencumbered RN license
  • Proof of STUDENT NP Malpractice Insurance ($1 million per occurrence/$3 million in aggregate)
  • Any additional laboratory tests, immunizations, and/or documentation required by specific RN-BSN clinical practicum or residency sites (e.g., proof of physical examination, proof of health insurance, etc.).

Catalog Year

Students admitted to the Musco School of Nursing and Health Professions are admitted to the catalog year that is in effect on the date when they begin the program (Spring I).

Transfer Credit

A maximum of 12 semester graduate credits may be transferred per the Transfer Credit policy (see Graduate Academic Policies and Procedures). 

Degree Requirements

To be awarded the Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree, students must complete 73 credit hours, which requires clinical residency of 1020 precepted clinical practicum hours.  This program is designed following the guidelines and DNP essentials as set forth by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2006) and the National Association of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (2013; 2014).

All students must take the following:

  • Graduate Science Core Courses (15 credits)
  • DNP Core Essentials (24 credits)
  • Advanced Practice Core Courses (19 credits)
  • Specialty Courses (15 credits)

Students will chose one of the following specialties:

  • Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Family/Individual Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner

Students graduating from this program will be eligible to take the national certification examination of their chosen specialty offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and/or the American Association of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) to apply for licensure as an APRN in the state where they plan to practice.

All courses must be passed with a grade of “B-” or higher.  Clinical practicum and residency courses are graded Pass/No Pass.  A Pass is equivalent to a “B-” grade.

Graduate Science Core
NURU 600Theoretical Foundations of Evidence-Based and Advanced Practice Nursing3
NURU 601Transitions in Practice: The DNP-prepared Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) *3
NURU 602Developmental, Cultural and Spiritual Care across the Lifespan3
DNPU 701Biostatistics for Clinical Practice *3
DNPU 704Evidence-Based Thinking for DNP-Prepared APRN Scholarship and Practice *3
Graduate Science Core Subtotal15
DNP Core Essentials
DNPU 700Healthcare Policy, Organization and Delivery3
DNPU 702Innovations in Technology and Information Access3
DNPU 703Leading through Innovation3
DNPU 705Health Communication3
DNPU 706Transforming Health Care through Outcomes Management3
DNPU 711Clinical Residency for DNP Clinical Project for BSN-DNP & Post-Masters adding a Specialty3
DNPU 708Application of DNP Clinical Project **3
DNPU 710Seminar in Evidence-Based Thinking for Scholarship and Practice3
DNP Core Essentials Subtotal24
Advanced Practice Core
NURU 603Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan and Cultures3
NURU 604Clinical Practicum: Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan and Cultures *^4
NURU 605Advanced Pathophysiology across the Lifespan3
NURU 606Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics Across the Lifespan3
NURU 609Genetics Across the Lifespan3
NURU 610Synthesis of Advanced Practice Registered Nursing (APRN) Professional Role3
Advanced Practice Core Subtotal19
Specialty
Complete a Specialty15
Specialty Subtotal15
Total Credits73

*Students in these courses are required to attend a hybrid, and/or face-to-face Immersion.

**If a student does not complete their DNP Project during the core course sessions, they will be enrolled in a DNPU 799 Independent Practicum for DNP Project Completion (0 credits) and required to pay a Continuing Candidacy fee per session until the DNP Project student receives a “P” in DNPU 708 Application of DNP Clinical Project or until the student’s seven-year program completion timeline has expired.

^If a student does not complete the required 255 clinical hours during the initial NURU 604 Clinical Practicum: Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan and Cultures course session/s, they will be enrolled in a NURU 699 Independent Practicum for Clinical Hours completion (0 credits) and required to pay a Continuing Clinical Practicum fee per session, until the student receives a “P” in NURU 604 or until the student’s seven year program completion timeline has expired.

Students may not progress to their specialty clinical practicum courses until all NURU 604 Clinical Practicum: Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan and Cultures required 255 clinical hours are completed, which may result in a program completion delay.

Specialty

Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Specialty

NURU 641Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan3
NURU 642Management in Lifespan Psychiatric and Mental Health Care3
NURU 643Practicum in Psychotherapeutic Treatment Modalities (255 hours) *^^3
NURU 644Complex and Chronic Problems in Psychiatric and Mental Health Care3
NURU 645Practicum for Complex and Chronic Problems in Psychiatric and Mental Health Care (255 hours) ^^3
Total Credits15

 *Students in these courses are required to attend a virtual Immersion.

^^ If a student does not complete the required 255 clinical hours during the initial specialty course clinical session/s (NURU 643 Practicum in Psychotherapeutic Treatment Modalities and NURU 645 Practicum for Complex and Chronic Problems in Psychiatric and Mental Health Care), they will be enrolled in a NURU 699 Independent Practicum for Clinical Hours completion Independent Practicum for Clinical Hours completion (0 credits) and required to pay a Continuing Clinical Practicum fee, per each course and session, until the student receives a “P” in the specialty clinical course or until the student’s seven year program completion timeline has expired.

Family/Individual Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Specialty

NURU 671Foundations of Interprofessional Collaborative Practice3
NURU 672Management of Common and Acute Problems in Family/Individual Across the Lifespan Care3
NURU 673Practicum in Common and Acute Problems in Family/Individual Across the Lifespan Care *^^3
NURU 674Management of Complex and Chronic Problems in Family/Individual Across the Lifespan Care3
NURU 675Practicum in Complex and Chronic Problems in Family/Individual Across the Lifespan Care ^^3
Total Credits15

 *Students in these courses are required to attend a virtual Immersion.

^^If a student does not complete the required 255 clinical hours during the initial specialty course clinical session/s (NURU 673 Practicum in Common and Acute Problems in Family/Individual Across the Lifespan Care and NURU 675 Practicum in Complex and Chronic Problems in Family/Individual Across the Lifespan Care), they will be enrolled in a NURU 699 Independent Practicum for Clinical Hours completion (0 credits) and required to pay a Continuing Clinical Practicum fee, per each course and session, until the student receives a “P” in the specialty clinical course or until the student’s seven year program completion timeline has expired.