PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program prepares nurses at the highest level of practice for the current health care environment based on a strong scientific foundation for practice; flexibility and emphasis on evidence-based practice, leadership, and organizational analysis; and analysis of the DNP Project. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program prepares nurses at the highest level of practice for the current health care environment based on a strong scientific foundation for practice; flexibility and emphasis on evidence-based practice, leadership, and organizational analysis; and analysis of the DNP Project.
The objectives of the DNP program are to prepare graduates to:
- Critically analyze complex clinical situations and practice systems.
- Assume leadership roles in the development of clinical practice models, health policy and standards of care.
- Demonstrate advanced diagnostic reasoning skills and clinical judgment through scholarship and nursing practice.
- Analyze the social, economic, political, epidemiological and other scientific data to improve individual, aggregate and population health.
- Demonstrate information fluency and advanced communication skills to lead quality improvement initiatives to improve patient care and health care systems.
- Design, implement, and evaluate comprehensive care to clients within an area of advanced practice specialization.
NOTE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: Please contact the College of Nursing at gradnurse@ucf.edu or 407-823-2744 prior to applying to this online program.
International students (F or J visa) are required to enroll in a full-time course load of 9 credit hours during the fall and spring semesters. Only 3 of the 9 credit hours may be taken in a completely online format. For a detailed listing of enrollment requirements for international students, please visit
www.intl.ucf.edu. If you have any questions, please consult the International Services Center at 407-823-2337.
CURRICULUM
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) curriculum requires a minimum of 43-45 credit hours beyond the master’s degree, including 31-33 credit hours of core courses, 3 credit hours of electives, and 9 credit hours of a DNP Project. The total clinical hours (including those hours accrued in MSN degree) will be 1000. The total clinical hours noted in this curriculum are based on an MSN total of 500 hours. Actual hours may vary depending on a review of MSN program hours accrued on entry into the program. The core courses have been carefully constructed to incorporate the AACN competencies for DNP graduates.
Applicants not holding an appropriate MSN degree as described in the application section may enter the post-MSN certificates through one of the three tracks: Adult/Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist, Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner, or Family Nurse Practitioner.
| Total Credit Hours Required: |
| 43-45
Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Master's Degree |
Students will take course work corresponding to the eight essential competencies delineated by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). The competencies address the following:
- Scientific underpinning for practice
- Organizational and systems leadership for quality improvement and systems thinking
- Clinical scholarship and analytical methods for evidence-based practice
- Information systems/technology and patient care technology for the improvement and transformation of health care
- Health care policy for advocacy in health care
- Inter-professional collaboration for improving patient and population health outcomes
- Clinical prevention and population health for improving the nation’s health
- Advanced nursing practice
Required Courses—31-33 Credit Hours
The core DNP courses serve to enhance the skill and science base of the graduate and strengthen the focus on evidence-based practice. Safety and efficiency in health care systems is addressed and organizational and policy implications are emphasized within the context of care delivery. An emphasis is placed on evidence-based practice, state-of-the-art interventions and information fluency.
- NGR 6874 Nursing Environment Management (3 credit hours)
- NGR 7892 Healthcare Systems and Policy (3 credit hours)
- NGR 7673 Epidemiological Principles for APN (3 credit hours)
- NGR 7065 Advanced Clinical Management for APN (3 credit hours)
- NGR 7855C Evidenced-Based Practice Development for DNP (3 credit hours, 60 clinical hours)
- NGR 7748 Advanced Clinical Practice Selective for APN (1-3 credit hours; 60-180 clinical hours)
- NGR 7827 Concepts, Measurement, and Data Management (3 credit hours)
- NGR 7793 Leadership and Economics in APN (3 credit hours)
- NGR 7820 Innovative Technologies in Healthcare (3 credit hours)
- NGR 6722 Financial Management and Resource Development (3 credit hours)
- NGR 7779C Program Development and Management for DNP (3 credit hours; 60 clinical hours)
Elective—3 Credit Hours
- Elective (3 credit hours)
DNP Project—9 Credit Hours
The DNP Project is the product of the culminating or comprehensive experience of an independent project that demonstrates application of advanced clinical and evidence-based practice. The DNP Project is guided and evaluated by an academic committee and is derived from the practice immersion experience (residency). It will serve as a foundation for future scholarly practice.
- NGR 7911C Doctoral Project I (3 credit hours; 60 clinical hours)
- NGR 7912C Doctoral Project II (3 credit hours; 120 clinical hours)
- NGR 7913 Doctoral Project III (3 credit hours)
The DNP Project is related to advanced nursing practice and benefits a group, population or community rather than an individual patient. It addresses identified needs and builds on an evidence base. Types of DNP projects include but are not limited to:
- Translate research into practice and evaluate outcomes
- Quality improvement (care processes, continuity of care, patient outcomes)
- Implement and evaluate evidence-based practice guidelines
- Analyze policy: develop, implement, evaluate, or revise policy
- Design and use databases to retrieve information for decision making, planning, evaluation
- Conduct financial analyses to compare care models and potential cost savings, etc.
- Design and evaluate new models of care
- Design and evaluate health promotion and disease prevention programs
- Assess integration of technology in care
The theme that links these forms of scholarly experiences is the use of evidence to improve either practice or patient outcomes. Additional examples of DNP projects can be found on the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty (NONPF) website under Practice Doctorate Resource Center.
Progress to Degree
Students are required to maintain a 3.0 grade point average. Grades below B are not acceptable in the doctoral program in the College of Nursing. Students who receive a grade of below B in any course are subject to dismissal from the DNP program and will be reviewed by the DNP Admissions, Progression and Graduation Committee for continuation in the program. Students who do not maintain a 3.0 GPA will be put on probation or dismissed from the program.
Graduation Requirements
- All course work completed with a minimum grade of “B”
- A satisfactory DNP Project
- Clinical performance evaluated at a satisfactory level
- A satisfactory public presentation of the DNP Project
- A professional portfolio
INDEPENDENT LEARNING
A DNP Project will be completed by all students in the DNP program. A scholarly project, derived from clinical practice, will be developed in depth with faculty supervision.
Application Requirements
Applicants not holding an appropriate MSN degree as described in the application requirements listed below may enter the DNP program through one of the three tracks: Adult/Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist; Adult/ Gerontology Nurse Practitioner; or Family Nurse Practitioner.In addition to the general UCF graduate application requirements, applicants to this program must provide:
- One official transcript (in a sealed envelope) from each college/university attended.
- MSN degree in an APN specialty role (ANP, FNP, PNP, CNS) or a post-MSN certificate (ANP, FNP, PNP, CNS) from an accredited institution.
- Official, competitive GRE score taken within the last five years.
- Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) licensure in the State of Florida required. (Out of state applicants must be eligible for licensure in Florida and must achieve ARNP licensure to begin clinical courses.)
- Certification as an APN or ability to obtain it in the first semester of enrollment are required.
- A personal interview may be required with two members of the College of Nursing Doctoral Committee.
- Address the following 3 items in a written essay. Total word count for all (not each) answers should be 500 words or less, double spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font, and 1 inch margins:
- Describe how your professional experiences have prepared you for future education in the role which is the focus of your desired track.
- Describe your plans to alter your work, professional and/ or personal obligations in order to have the time needed for graduate course and clinical practice work.
- Identify one significant contemporary issue/ problem in the US Health care system and explore how members of the nursing profession can help address that issue or solve that problem.
- Curriculum Vitae which reflects prior education, recent clinical accomplishments, any recent scholarly work (publications and presentations), awards, additional certifications, and activities with professional organizations. For recent graduates this can include accomplishments as a student.
- Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.
- Applicants to this program are strongly encouraged to complete the necessary information requested for the ETS PPI (Personal Potential Index) report that is available during the GRE examination. All official PPI reports must be submitted directly to the UCF College of Graduate Studies (use UCF Institution Code: 5233).
Before submitting your application, it is recommended that applicants call the College of Nursing Graduate Office (407-823-2744) to speak with a DNP adviser to discuss your goals for doctoral study. It is advantageous to discuss the program before writing the required essay because the essay must address your goals for doctoral-level preparation for advanced nursing practice. Students are admitted to the program in the summer for the program of study.
Admission to the program is competitive, based on evaluations of the applicant's abilities, past performance, recommendations and match of UCF programs with the applicant's career goals. The College of Nursing accepts the most qualified students.
Please note: Due to restrictive state regulations, UCF is not permitted to provide online courses or instruction to students in the following states. If you reside in one of these states, you may not be permitted to enroll in or be admitted to a UCF online program. Please contact your state’s higher education regulation authorities or the UCF Graduate Program (see contact information above) for more details.
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Maryland
- Minnesota
Application Deadlines
| Nursing Practice DNP |
Fall Priority
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Fall
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Spring
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Summer
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Domestic Applicants
| - | - | Oct 1 | - |
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International Applicants
| - | - | Jul 1 | - |
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International Transfer Applicants
| - | - | Sep 1 | - |
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FINANCIALS
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see
Funding for Graduate School, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The
Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
Fellowships
Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student’s graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see Fellowships, which includes descriptions of UCF fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.