Graduate Catalog 2023-2024

Nursing Practice, Doctor of Nursing Practice (0011)

Department website: http://www.wku.edu/nursing


Program Coordinator

Tonya M. Bragg-Underwood, tonya.bragg-underwood@wku.edu, (270) 745-4377

The WKU Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is a practice focused degree preparing advanced practice nurses to assume leadership roles in healthcare. The curriculum, based on a scientific foundation for advanced practice, is designed to emphasize evidence-based practice, leadership, health policy development, and organizational analysis and change. The Post-MSN and the BSN to DNP options are available. The BSN to DNP option offers two concentrations: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Nurse Executive.  Both options complete a practice immersion experience and culminating DNP Project.  BSN to DNP FNP concentration students are eligible to sit for national certification as a FNP.

Concentration(s)

  • BSN to DNP, Family Nurse Practitioner (DNPF)
  • BSN to DNP, Nurse Executive (DNPE)
  • MSN to DNP (DNPN)

Program Admission

  1. BSN or MSN from a CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education) or Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN, formerly NLNAC/National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission) accredited nursing program
  2. GPA - 3.25 cumulative in BSN or MSN
  3. Undergraduate degree from an international university outside the U.S. or English is second language submit appropriate TOFEL scores (policy established by the Graduate School)
  4. Three professional references
  5. Written goal statement
  6. Resume highlighting past education, relevant clinical experience, scholarly endeavors and professional service (BSN to DNP students must document one year of full time experience as a registered nurse prior to enrolling in a clinical course)
  7. Professional license
    1. MSN - current and unencumbered RN and APN license (if applicable) in the state residence in which clinical experiences will be completed.
    2. BSN - current and unencumbered RN license in Kentucky or compact state

The following requirements only apply to the MSN to DNP option:

  1. Completed verification of post-baccalaureate practice hours form. (Applicants who cannot demonstrate a minimum of 500 clinical clock hours in graduate program will be expected to complete clinical course work beyond the proposed curriculum.)
  2. Graduate level statistics course within past 5 years

Following review of the admission materials by the Graduate Committee, applicants may be invited to interview with graduate faculty. Admissions are competitive. Documentation that an applicant meets the minimum admission requirements does not ensure admission to the program. It is expected that applicants have moderate technology skills and access to a personal computer and high speed DSL or broadband internet service.

The WKU DNP program is a practice focused degree preparing advanced practice nurses to assume leadership roles in healthcare. The curriculum is based upon a strong scientific foundation for practice and is designed to emphasize evidence-based practice, leadership, health policy development, organizational analysis, and change.

Two options are available in the DNP program: MSN to DNP and BSN to DNP.  The BSN to DNP has two concentrations: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Nurse Executive (NE).  BSN to DNP FNP concentration students are eligible to sit for national certification as a FNP.

All students complete a practice immersion experience and culminating DNP Project with a patient population or in a healthcare system that demonstrates application of advanced clinical and evidence-based practice. It will serve as a foundation for future scholarly practice.

Graduate School Admission

Please refer to the admission section of this catalog for Graduate School admission requirements.

Program Requirements (36-76 hours)

BSN to DNP, Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration (76 hours)

The BSN to DNP is a 76 hour credit program with both full and part time options.

Required Courses
Graduate Statistics Course3
NURS 504Theoretical Foundations of Professional Nursing3
NURS 510Graduate Nursing Research3
NURS 601Orientation to Doctor of Nursing Practice2
NURS 605Leadership in Nursing Practice3
NURS 620Biostatistics for Healthcare Professionals3
NURS 630Advanced Epidemiology3
NURS 700Healthcare Leadership and Organizational Theory3
or LEAD 500 Effective Leadership Studies
NURS 701Leadership in Health Policy3
NURS 712Evidenced-Based Practice3
NURS 714Economic and Financial Influences in Healthcare Systems3
NURS 740Technology in Healthcare3
NURS 750Program Development and Evaluation in Healthcare3
NURS 755Quality Improvement in Healthcare3
NURS 765Institutional Review Board Process in Nursing1
NURS 780Clinical Practicum6
NURS 500Advanced Physiological and Pathophysiological Concepts4
NURS 503Advanced Health Assessment2
NURS 505Advanced Health Assessment Clinical1
NURS 508Advanced Issues in Professional Nursing1
NURS 509Practice Management for Advanced Practice Nurses1
NURS 515Advanced Pharmacology4
NURS 546Primary Care of the Infant, Child, and Adolescent3
NURS 547Primary Care of the Infant, Child and Adolescent Clinical2
NURS 548Primary Care of the Adult3
NURS 549Primary Care of the Adult Clinical2
NURS 554Primary Care Internship5
Total Hours76

BSN to DNP, Nurse Executive Concentration (63 hours)

Required Courses
Graduate Statistics Course3
NURS 504Theoretical Foundations of Professional Nursing3
NURS 510Graduate Nursing Research3
NURS 601Orientation to Doctor of Nursing Practice2
NURS 605Leadership in Nursing Practice3
NURS 620Biostatistics for Healthcare Professionals3
NURS 630Advanced Epidemiology3
NURS 700Healthcare Leadership and Organizational Theory3
or LEAD 500 Effective Leadership Studies
NURS 701Leadership in Health Policy3
NURS 712Evidenced-Based Practice3
NURS 714Economic and Financial Influences in Healthcare Systems3
NURS 740Technology in Healthcare3
NURS 750Program Development and Evaluation in Healthcare3
NURS 755Quality Improvement in Healthcare3
NURS 765Institutional Review Board Process in Nursing1
NURS 780Clinical Practicum6
NURS 528Leadership and Management in Nursing Administration3
LEAD 525Leadership Ethics3
LEAD 540Leading Teams3
BA 510Advanced Organizational Behavior3
COMM 581Applied Organizational Communication3
Total Hours63

MSN to DNP Concentration (36 hours)

The Post-Master's DNP program is a 36 credit hour program with both full and part-time options.

Required Courses
NURS 601Orientation to Doctor of Nursing Practice2
NURS 620Biostatistics for Healthcare Professionals3
NURS 630Advanced Epidemiology3
NURS 700Healthcare Leadership and Organizational Theory3
or LEAD 500 Effective Leadership Studies
NURS 701Leadership in Health Policy3
NURS 712Evidenced-Based Practice3
NURS 714Economic and Financial Influences in Healthcare Systems3
NURS 740Technology in Healthcare3
NURS 750Program Development and Evaluation in Healthcare3
NURS 755Quality Improvement in Healthcare3
NURS 765Institutional Review Board Process in Nursing1
NURS 780Clinical Practicum6
Total Hours36