Doctor of Nursing Practice

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is offered specifically for nurse practitioners who wish to increase their knowledge base concerning safe and effective primary patient care for diverse populations.

The DNP program offers a full-time plan of study and part-time plan of study. Seventy-eight hours are required for post-baccalaureate entry and a minimum of thirty-eight hours are required for post-masters entry.

 

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DNP Philosophy

The philosophy of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is congruent with the University mission that emphasizes high-quality education, personalized learning environment, and attention to research, scholarship, and creativity to advance knowledge. Consistent with the Baccalaureate program philosophy, the DNP program seeks to further prepare leaders who are dedicated to the improvement of health care outcomes at the local, state, national, and global levels. Like the Master of Science in Nursing program, the philosophy of the DNP program includes advanced nursing practice and evidence based practice foci. An additional area of emphasis is chronic illness.

Mastery of these foci may occur in/through post-Baccalaureate to DNP preparation or through post-Masters to DNP preparation. Through either route, the DNP program philosophy holds that the basis for the highest level of nursing practice is the integration of nursing knowledge from the biophysical, psychosocial, analytical, and organizational sciences. Further, education at the DNP level provides a basis for translating evidence-based research findings into safe, high-quality clinical practice for a wide variety of patient populations. Finally, DNP-educated advanced practice nurses are uniquely prepared to emerge as leaders utilizing a blend of clinical knowledge, organizational skills, economic understanding, political awareness, and technological proficiency to impact patient outcomes in complex health systems.

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DNP Program Goals/Outcomes

1. Produce nurse practitioner leaders who will utilize the theoretical and scientific underpinnings for nurse practitioner practice to provide acute and chronic health care that is ethical, safe, evidence-based, culturally sensitive, interdisciplinary, technically sagacious and appropriate for a diverse range of individuals and aggregates.
   
   
2. Produce graduates who utilize research and nursing knowledge to influence healthcare policy and advocate for improvement in the health of individuals and aggregates, especially the chronically ill.
   
   
3. Produce clinical scholars who are committed to lifelong learning, ongoing leadership, and the improvement of health care delivery in the local community, in Mississippi, in the United States, and across the globe.

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Admission Requirements

MUW Graduate Program Requirements

• A completed Graduate Application form.
• Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work from each institution attended, including MUW transcripts. Transcripts must verify that the applicant received a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited four-year institution and that the applicant has a minimum 3.0 overall GPA on a four-point scale for undergraduate studies.
• Official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Test scores may not be more than five years old at the time of application.
• Three letters of professional recommendation stating the applicant's qualifications for graduate work from persons who have personal knowledge of the applicant's academic/work performance.
• An immunization form showing proof of two doses of MMR vaccine. See the Graduate Bulletin for more details.
• The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of all applicants who are not citizens of the U.S. including permanent resident applicants who hold a "green card" in the U.S. and international applicants currently in the U.S. on any type of visa. The minimum TOEFL is 550.
• A $25 application fee, payable to MUW Graduate Studies.

DNP Program Requirements

• A minimum score of 3.0 in analytical writing on GRE
• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from an academic institution with national and regional accreditation (Bachelor of Science in Nursing if entering Post BSN to DNP Program) and official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work from each institution attended.
• Unencumbered MS RN/APRN license or have unencumbered authority to practice as an APRN/RN license if entering Post BSN to DNP program.
• All candidates must have a criminal background check with no disqualifying events as mandated by the State of Mississippi and must pass a drug screen (9 panel or higher)
• The following courses must be completed (with a grade of B or better) prior to admission to DNP courses: Graduate research and graduate level Advanced Pathophysiology course.
• Three letters of professional recommendation are required. The letters must state the applicant's qualifications for graduate work from persons who have personal knowledge of the applicant's academic or work performance.
• Admission interviews are an important part of the application process. Invitations to interview are sent after a preliminary review of applications in each round. Candidates chosen to interview receive an e-mail with instructions on how to schedule an interview. Interviews take place on the MUW campus.
• Applicants must enclose a one-to two-page current resume describing all chronological work experience and education since becoming an RN. The applicant must include full legal name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address with the resume.
• The required 1000 word essay allows the admissions committee to learn about the applicant, his/her accomplishments and professional aspirations. The required essay requires the applicant to describe their career goals and explain how a DNP from MUW will help them accomplish those goals. Questions include reasons for seeking admission to the DNP program; areas of planned research; goals while in the program; long-range career plans; qualifications and readiness for the program; and mentorship by program faculty. Essay should be double spaced and each page should include your name and page number.

Applicants to the Department of Graduate Nursing must meet General Admission Requirements and Graduate Admission Procedures noted in the Graduate Studies Bulletin including all official transcripts of undergraduate and graduate work from all institutions attended, $25.00 application fee, and immunization requirements sent to the Department of Graduate Nursing.

Application deadline is June 1; however, seats may already be filled. It is best to apply early.

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Plans of Study

 

Full Time Plan of Study

Semester 1	Course	Credits
	NU 700 – Philosophy and Theory of Nursing Practice	2
	NU 701 – Quality and Safety in Complex Health Systems	3
	NU 704 - Informatics and Transformation of Health Care	3
	NU 708 - Standards of Care and Evidenced Based Practice	3
Semester 2	Course	Credits
	NU 713 - Chronic Disease in the Human	3
	NU 714 - Population Health	3
	NU 750 - Inter-professional Collaboration	2
	HED 517 - *Biostatistics	3
Semester 3	Course	Credits
	NU 770 – Health Care Policy & Economics	3
	NU 721 - Science of Advanced Diagnostic Reasoning	3
	NU 799 – DNP Residency I	3-4
	NU 800 – DNP Project I	2
Semester 4	Course	Credits
	NU 712 - Leadership in Complex Health Care Systems	3
	NU 799 - DNP Residency II	3-4
	NU 800 - DNP Project II	2
*May be taken as a prerequisite prior to entering DNP or as part of the program.

 

Part Time Plan of Study

Semester 1	Course	Credits
	NU 701- Quality and Safety in Complex Health Systems	3
	NU 704 - Informatics and Transformation of Health Care	3
	NU 708 - Standards of Care and Evidenced Based Practice	3
Semester 2	Course	Credits
	HED 517 - * Biostatistics	3
	NU 713 – Chronic Disease in the Human	3
Semester 3	Course	Credits
	NU 799 – DNP Residency I	3-4
Semester 4	Course	Credits
	NU 700 – Philosophy and Theory of Nursing Practice	2
	NU 799 – DNP Residency II	3-4
Semester 5	Course	Credits
	NU 750 – Inter-professional Collaboration	2
	NU 800 -  DNP Project I	2
Semester 6	Course	Credits
	NU 799 - DNP Project II	3-4
Semester 7	Course	Credits
	NU 770-  Health Care Policy and Economics	3
	NU 721- Clinical Diagnostics and Analysis	3
	NU 800- DNP Project II	2
Semester 8	Course	Credits
	NU 712- Leadership in Complex Health Systems	3
	NU 799- DNP Residency II	3-4

 

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Tuition & Costs

Graduate Tuition & Costs

 

Additional Expenses for Nursing Students

Malpractice Insurance -----------------------$20.00 - up
Books and Software--------------------------$2000.00 (estimated)
Typing/Editing Service-----------------------$500.00 - up

 

Financial Aid

Students seeking a Doctor of Nursing Practice may apply for financial assistance in the form of loans, scholarships, or stipends (601) 898-0850 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For more information, please call the Office of Financial Aid (662) 329-7114.

For Mississippi Residents Only: Please visit IHL site below after January to apply for scholarships.
http://www.mississippi.edu/nursing/

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Application Documents

Graduate Nursing Application