Admission Requirements MSN to DNP

(advanced practice nurse with a master's in nursing):

• Earned master's degree in nursing with a major in advanced practice nursing and a GPA of at least 3.3
• Unencumbered licensure as a registered nurse
• Current certification and board of nursing approval (if required) for advanced practice nursing
• Complete application to graduate school. Application and directions are at http://www.ndsu.edu/gradschool/
• The following sent to the nursing department:
  • Printed copy of registered nurse license(s) from appropriate Board of Nursing website and advanced practice license verification from each state where licensed
  • Copy of most recent certification/re-certification for advanced practice specialty
  • Evidence of practice hours in degree program
  • Cumulative hours (approximate) of advanced practice
  • Narrative description of current and past clinical practice.
  • A paper of 10-15 pages in length identifying a practice improvement issue,
    clinical management problem or research area the applicant plans to address
    while in the program. The paper will cite appropriate professional or
    scientific resources and follow APA format
• Portfolio submitted for review
• Portfolio fee of $200 submitted to NDSU Nursing Department

Progression:
After admission the following are required:

• Satisfactory result of criminal background checks
• Documentation of health status
• Documentation of ACLS certification
• Degree plan completed in collaboration with faculty

A grade of at least B is required in all courses in the degree plan. The time needed to complete the program depends primarily on the amount of time the student can commit to academic engagement. Nevertheless, the time period from admission to graduation may not exceed four years (48 months). The disquisition, which is the main product of the Comprehensive Study, is completed in a timely manner according to deadlines and protocols of the graduate office. Degrees are conferred at the University commencement ceremony.

Guidelines for curriculum vita include:

http://www.ndsu.edu/career/pdf/curriculumvita.pdf

http://careers.ucr.edu/NR/rdonlyres/F1AC72CC-17E9-48F1-AADF-A8E81C325001/0/CVdoc.pdf

http://www.dartmouth.edu/~gradstdy/careers/services/vita.html

Guidelines for writing formal papers:

http://www.ndsu.edu/cfwriters/index.shtml

DNP CURRICULUM FOR THE ADVANCED NURSE PRACTITIONER
WITH A MASTER'S DEGREE IN NURSING

For the advanced practice nurse with a master's degree, requirements for the DNP degree include portfolio review, didactic and practicum nursing courses, demonstration of scholarship and didactic support courses.

ELEMENT	COMPONENT	CREDITS
Portfolio	Transcripts of graduate work	45-55
	Evidence of clinical hours in degree program
	RN/APN certification/licensure documentation
	Cumulative advanced practice hours
	Narrative describing clinical practice
	Proposal for practice improvement
Coursework	STAT 725 Applied Statistics (3 cr)	31-42
	Communication Elective (3 cr)
	PHARM 685 Economic Outcomes(2 cr)
	NURS 730 Clinical Applications (3 cr)
	NURS 735P Role Integration (8 cr)
	NURS 797S Comprehensive Study (6 cr)
	Support Courses (6-17 cr)
Oral Examination	Based on course work and comprehensive study

TOTAL CREDITS = 86 (Minimum)

At least 15 credits must be at the 700 level

If student has taken a graduate statistics course another course may be substituted.

Support courses are courses that complement and supplement nursing content and contribute to advanced practice. Appropriate courses are available in several disciplines, e.g., nursing, psychology, human development and education, and pharmaceutical sciences.

The oral examination completes the program of study. The student's course work and comprehensive study provide the framework for the oral examination.