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

Course Delivery

The Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN) to Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is designed for the 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 clinical scholarly project (510 residency hours) and/or 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 face-to-face meetings conducted at the Irvine campus or regional locations 3-4 day sessions. Immersion sessions are conducted 3-4 times during the program: at the beginning, middle and at the end of the program. During these immersion sessions, students may receive orientation instruction; learn advanced practice clinical skills, work as teams with peers and mentors, participate in demonstrations, simulation exercises, assessments or evaluations, complete hands-on skills training in a simulation center using standardized patients, manikins, or three-dimensional gaming, and/ or present their work on scholarship projects to peers, faculty, and community members. The second strategy is practicum experience: our programs include supervised clinical practice residencies conducted where the student lives or works. The third is self-directed study: all courses include online lectures, discussions, social networking, demonstrations, tutorials, readings, and/or other homework. Many courses may include additional real-time instruction via web conference, phone conference, and/or live chat sessions.

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).

2022-2023 Application Deadline: BSN-DNP 

Final application deadline for Spring I, 2023 admission is October 15, 2022.

2023-2024 Application Deadline: BSN-DNP 

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

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 vita.
7. Self-evaluation and goal statement.
8. Three on-line forms (preferred) or letters recommendations.
9. Unencumbered RN license from the state where you plan to do your 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.
10. 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 your program. All proof/documentation must be on file within 6 months prior to the start of clinical practicum and/or hours. Students who do not start their specialty clinical practicum and/or CSP residency hours due to incomplete CastleBranch requirements will require a modified education plan, which may result in a program completion delay for up to two years.

Immunization and Health Screening Requirements:

• Proof of annual negative Tuberculosis (TB) screening:
  • TB blood test (IGRA) OR
  • Negative chest x-ray accompanied by a signed provider 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.
• Proof of completion of COVID-19 immunization.
• Additional laboratory tests, immunizations, and/or documentation may be required for specific practicum sites.

Additional Requirements:

• Annual Background Clearance.
• Annual Proof of negative drug screen.
• Annual CastleBranch Elearning (HIPAA/OSHA Trainings)
• Copy of current CPR “Level C” Certification (Healthcare Provider) that will not be expiring in the next 12 months.
• Proof of unencumbered RN license
• Proof of STUDENT Liability Insurance (1mil/3mil)
• 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 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 Doctorate 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/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 Program (AANPCP) 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.

*

Students in these courses are required to attend a face-to-face Immersion on the Irvine campus.

**

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

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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, s/he will be enrolled in a NURU 699 Independent Practicum for Clinical Hours completion (0 credits) and required to pay a Continuing Clinical, fee per session, until the student receives a “P” in NURU 604 Clinical Practicum: Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan and Cultures 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 for up to one year.

Specialty

Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Specialty

*

Students in these courses are required to attend a face-to-face Immersion on the Irvine campus.

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 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), s/he 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 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/Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Specialty

*

Students in these courses are required to attend a face-to-face Immersion on the Irvine campus.

^^

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), s/he will be enrolled in a NURU 699 Independent Practicum for Clinical Hours completion (0 credits) and required to pay a Continuing Clinical 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.