Doctor of Nursing Practice

Program Description

The BSN to DNP curriculum is a 78 semester-hour (minimum of 1182 clinical hours) program of learning that prepares nurses for entry into advanced practice with a clinical focus in the Family Nurse Practitioner area of specialization as well as DNP competencies. The curriculum is designed for students who have earned a bachelor’s (or higher) degree in nursing and want to pursue a DNP. This curriculum requires 3 years from the completion of the BSN program (6 semesters and 2 summers). Upon completion of the BSN to DNP curriculum, students are eligible to take the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Family Nurse Practitioner certification exam or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) certification exam.

The MSN to DNP curriculum is a 33 semester-hour (minimum of 510 clinical hours) program of learning designed to equip advanced nursing practice with DNP competencies in their area of specialization. This curriculum requires 2 years beyond the MSN program completion (5 semesters: fall, spring, summer, fall, and spring).

The DNP Degree

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) graduate will be prepared to function at the highest level of advanced nursing practice. Graduates of the DNP Program will be able to meet the following outcome-learning objectives: 

1. Integrate nursing science with knowledge and skills from ethics, biophysical, psychosocial, analytical, organizational and emerging scientific knowledge as the basis for the highest level of advanced practice nursing, with a special focus on care of underserved, disadvantaged populations.

2. Assume leadership role in the design, implementation and evaluation of quality, safe, cost effective and innovative health care models and guidelines based on the knowledge of organizational, political, finance and economic sciences with a special focus on underserved/ disadvantaged populations

3. Translate research to transform nursing practice and support evidence-based nursing practice for diverse populations and organizations.

4. Provide leadership in integration of technology and information systems for improvement and transformation of health care

5. Initiate changes in health care systems through the design and implementation of health policies, improvement of health outcomes and advocacy in health care to reduce disparities in the care of populations

6. Collaborate with members of nursing and other disciplines in the design, implementation, and evaluation of programs for the improvement of health care with a focus on care of underserved/disadvantaged populations in rural and urban settings within a global market

7. Develop and apply strategies for clinical prevention and population health for improving the health of populations in rural and urban settings within a global market

8. Demonstrate role competencies in a specialized area of advanced practice nursing as a Doctor of Nursing Practice, with a focus on care of underserved, disadvantaged populations.

Admission Requirements

BSN-DNP Applicants:

All materials must be received by the application deadline.

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing :A BSN degree from a program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. (ACNE); OR
• Meet BSN Graduation Requirements: Applicants who apply to the DNP program while in the last year of their BSN program must demonstrate they meet graduation requirements.
• Nursing Clinical Experience: A minimum of one year of employment as a registered nurse in a clinical setting is preferred.
• Transcripts: Official transcripts from all schools attended must be sent directly to the WSSU Admissions Office in a sealed institutional envelope. WSSU students and graduates will need to submit official WSSU transcripts.
• GPA: Applicants holding or completing the BSN degree must present a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0-point scale on BSN courses completed. Students must also demonstrate a minimum GPA of 3.2/4.00 for the last 60 hours of course work leading to the BSN degree and a minimum of 3.2/4.00 on all courses completed beyond the baccalaureate level.
• GRE or MAT Scores: Competitive scores on the Graduate Record Examination (general test only) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) within the past 5 years. If you are sending your GRE test scores, the WSSU school code is 5909. If you are sending your MAT test scores, the WSSU school code is 2661. 
• Nursing License: An active North Carolina RN license at the time of admission/ enrollment.
• Curriculum Vita: Submit a curriculum vita or resume reflecting education and professional work experiences, awards, honors and other achievements.
• BSN-DNP Essay: Submit 350-500 words maximum. Comment on your current area of practice, a population of special interest to you and/or a particular concern of interest that you might pursue with your DNP experience. This should include a population and clinical diagnosis of interest, for example, persons over 75 years of age with diabetes.
• Prerequisite: A 3-credit hour statistics and research course.
• 3 Letters of Recommendation: A letter is required from a doctoral-prepared academician, a supervisor in an employment setting, and a practicing RN or APN familiar with the applicant’s intellectual ability, academic achievement, and professional commitment. 
• Interview: Following preliminary review of all required admission materials, an interview may be required by the DNP Admission Committee.
• Criminal Background Check and 12 Panel Drug Screen is required upon admission to the program: A state/federal criminal background check and 12 panel drug screen are required for all students admitted to the program. Costs for these requirements are the responsibility of the student applicant.

• Optional- Scholarship Application: DNP students are encouraged to apply for scholarships/traineeships. Students applying for scholarships are required to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Form with the WSSU Office of Financial Aid.  https://www.wssu.edu/admissions/scholarships-and-financial-aid/graduate/index.html

MSN-DNP Applicants:

All materials must be received by the application deadline.

• Master of Science in Nursing: A Master’s degree in nursing in advanced nursing practice: nurse practitioner, nurse midwifery, clinical nurse specialist, nursing informatics, nursing administration or nursing leadership major accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. (ACNE)

• Meet MSN Graduation Requirements: Applicants who apply while in the last year of their graduate program must demonstrate they meet graduation requirements.

• Transcripts: Official transcripts from all schools attended, both undergraduate and graduate, must be sent directly to the WSSU Admissions Office in a sealed institutional envelope. WSSU students and graduates will need to submit official WSSU transcripts.

• GPA: Applicants must demonstrate a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or greater (4.0-point scale) on MSN courses completed.

• Nursing License: An active North Carolina RN license and APRN license (or ability to obtain licensure).

• Curriculum Vita: Submit a curriculum vita or resume reflecting education, professional work experiences, awards, honors and other achievements.

• DNP Essay: Submit an essay of approximately 350 - 500 maximum words.  Comment on your current area of practice, a population of special interest to you and/or a particular concern of interest that you might pursue with your DNP experience. This should include a population and clinical diagnosis of interest, for example, persons over 75 years of age with diabetes.

• Prerequisite: A 3-credit hour graduate level research college/university before matriculation into the DNP program.  Statistics course is highly encouraged.

• 3 Letters of Recommendation: A letter is required from a doctoral-prepared academician, a supervisor in an employment setting, and a practicing RN or APN familiar with the applicant’s intellectual ability, academic achievement, and professional commitment. 

• Interview: Following preliminary review of all required admission materials, an interview is required by the DNP Admission Committee.

• Criminal Background Check and 12 Panel Drug Screen is required once admitted to the program. A state/federal criminal background check and 12 panel drug screen are required for all students admitted to the program. Costs for these requirements are the responsibility of the student applicant.

• Optional- Scholarship Application: DNP students are encouraged to apply for scholarships/traineeships. Students applying for scholarships are required to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Form with the WSSU Office of Financial Aid. https://www.wssu.edu/admissions/scholarships-and-financial-aid/graduate/index.html

Admission Criteria for International Applicants:

In addition to the requirements listed above, international applicants must:

• Fulfill Admission Requirements: File an International Student application for Admission obtained from the university International Admissions Office.

      https://www.wssu.edu/admissions/apply/graduate-applicants.html

• Demonstrate English Language Proficiency: For international students for whom English is not the primary language or who did not complete their Master’s degree in an English-speaking country, Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores > 560 for paper-based test and > 230 for computer-based test, or > 88 for I-based test is required.
• Official Transcripts: Applicants who have completed college-level courses outside the U.S. must have their international coursework evaluated. This can be accomplished by sending transcripts to a foreign credentials evaluation service. The following is a list of foreign credential evaluation services:
• Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.  http://www.ece.org   414-289-3400
• World Education Services, Inc. http://www.wes.org    212-966-631
• Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS)  http://www.cgfns.org

For licenses in a political jurisdiction other than one of the United States, applicants must also request the Validation of Registration/License Report from CGFNS. Contact CGFNS:

3600 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-2651, 215-222-8454, www.cgfns.org, or e-mail at info@cgfns.org.

For additional information visit the WSSU Office of International Students.