Doctor of Nursing Practice

Plan Description

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a terminal professional practice degree. The goal of the collaborative University of Nevada at Reno and Las Vegas, DNP program is to prepare nurses to assume leadership roles in clinical practice, administration, clinical teaching, and clinical research. The DNP differs from the PhD in Nursing or Doctor of Nursing Science degrees, emphasizing advanced clinical practice, implementation of best practices, and evaluation of practice and care delivery models rather than individually initiated research. The DNP program prepares graduates for advanced clinical practice and leadership roles to serve the health care needs of the people of Nevada, the nation, and the professional community. DNP graduates are equipped to assume a wide range of leadership roles in both direct and indirect health care settings. DNP graduates may function as specialists in their advanced practice clinical roles, nursing faculty, or as healthcare executives, program and policy analysts.

DNP Program Objectives:
The goal of the DNP degree is to prepare nurses to assume leadership roles in clinical practice, clinical teaching, and health care analysis. At the conclusion of the University of Nevada DNP program, graduates will:

1. Provide advanced nursing care to improve patient and population health care outcomes in various direct and indirect settings.
2. Take leadership roles in the analysis, delivery and management of nursing care and health care systems.
3. Provide evidence-based practice through the application of analytical methods, information systems technology, and clinical research.
4. Collaborate with interprofessional teams to meet the healthcare needs of culturally and ethnically diverse individuals and populations.
5. Act as change agent, leader, and advocate in the design, implementation, and evaluation of health care policy as it affects populations and the nursing profession. 

Learning Outcomes  

www.unlv.edu/degree/dnp

Plan Admission Requirements

Application deadlines

Applications available on the UNLV Graduate College website.

 All domestic and international applicants must review and follow the  Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements .

 Advanced Practice Track:

1. Hold a baccalaureate in nursing from an accredited NLNAC or CCNE nursing program.
2. Hold a master’s degree in nursing (MSN or MN). Exceptions to this will be made on a case-by-case basis and only for those students who hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a master’s degree in another health-related field (e.g., MPH, MHA, etc.). Coursework from non-nursing master’s degree must have significant content from nursing or a nursing focus. At a minimum, graduate level coursework must demonstrate a substantial study of Nursing Theory, Research, and Health Policy.
3. Have completed graduate-level course work with a grade of B or better in advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, physical assessment, nursing theory, research, and healthcare policy.
4. Have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 or higher at the graduate level.
5. Have completed graduate-level course work with a grade of B or better in nursing theory, research and healthcare policy.
6. Hold an unencumbered license as a registered nurse and as an advanced practice nurse commensurate with state licensure.
7. Hold national certification in an advanced practice role from a nationally recognized certification/credentialing organization.

Nurse Executive Track:

1. Hold a baccalaureate in nursing from an accredited NLNAC or CCNE nursing program.
2. Students must hold a master’s degree in nursing (MSN or MN). Exceptions to this will be made on a case-by-case basis and only for those students who hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a master’s degree in another health-related field (i.e. MBA, MHA, MPH etc.). Coursework from non-nursing master’s degree must have significant content from nursing or a nursing focus. At a minimum, graduate level coursework must demonstrate a substantial study of Nursing Theory, Research, and Health Policy.
3. Have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 or higher at the graduate level.
4. Have completed graduate-level course work with a grade of B or better in nursing theory, research and healthcare policy.
5. Hold an unencumbered license as a registered nurse.
6. Hold national certification or eligibility for certification reflective of advanced practice in a leadership role from a nationally recognized certification/credentialing organization.
7. Provide documentation of at least 500 hours of practice in a leadership role from educational experience, practice experience or equivalent course work in the area of administration, e.g., MBA, MHA, MPH, etc.

Students are accepted into a degree program as described in the Graduate Catalog. The faculty and corresponding sub-disciplines and sub-plans within the described programs are subject to change at any time.

Plan Requirements

See Subplan Requirements below. 

Subplan 1: Advanced Practice Track

Subplan 2: Nurse Educator Track

Subplan 1 Requirements: Advanced Practice Track

 Total Credits Required: 39

Course Requirements 

Required Courses – Credits: 33

NURS 719R - Health & Public Policy for Advanced Practice of Nursing 

NURS 725 - Scientific Underpinnings of the DNP in Advanced Practice Nursing 

NURS 728R - Analysis of Health Organizations 

NURS 729R - Translational Evidence for Healthcare Systems 

NURS 732 - Economics of Healthcare Delivery 

NURS 745 - Healthcare Information Systems & Technology 

NURS 765 - DNP Residency 

NURS 767 - Collaboration, Communication & Negotiation for the Nurse Leader 

NURS 768 - DNP Forum & Role Transformation 

NURS 772 - The Nurse as Leader 

NURS 778 - Geographic Information Systems for Health 

NURS 792 - Outcomes Management & Performance Improvement in Nursing 

DNP Project – Credits: 6

NURS 788 - DNP Project 

Degree Requirements 

1. Complete 39 credits with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
2. Maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or above each semester enrolled.
3. Receive a grade of “B” (3.00) or above in all required cognate and nursing courses. If less than a “B”, for example a B- (2.7) is earned, the course must be repeated. The student must be in good standing to repeat a course and any required course may be repeated only one time.
4. A student may register for a course only two times. A student who has registered for the same course twice and has withdrawn or received a grade less than “B” is ineligible for readmission unless approved by the Graduate College.
5. If a student fails two courses or has withdrawn from two courses or received a grade less than “B” in two courses he/she is ineligible for readmission unless approved by the Graduate College.
6. Complete a minimum of six (6) semester hours in each calendar year.
7. Each student, upon admission, will be assigned an advisor. The advisor (and later the Advisory Committee including the chair of the Advisory committee if in place) will plan the student’s entire degree program of study and submit it to the Graduate College by the end of the second semester of enrollment. The degree program requires the approvals of the student, advisor, and the DNP Coordinator, the appropriate academic dean, and the Graduate Dean.
8. The Advisor monitors the student’s progress through the program of study. In addition, the DNP Coordinator will monitor the student’s progress, including adherence to all established policies of the Graduate College. At any given time, the student can request a change of advisor or chair of Advisory Committee. However, it is the student’s responsibility to secure approval of an individual faculty member who agrees to serve as his or her advisor before changing the original advisor, subject to Graduate College approval. Also, it is the student’s responsibility to make sure that his or her chosen advisor or chair has current full graduate faculty status at UNLV, which can be checked at: http://graduatecollege.unlv.edu/facstaff/status.html.
9. Students will select a chair for their DNP Project committee in the first semester and be required to file the Committee Appointment Form with the DNP coordinator when this is completed. More specific information about the DNP Project will be discussed in the courses it is embedded in the program.
10. In consultation with his/her advisor, a student will organize an advisory committee of at least two departmental members. In addition, a third member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student and department’s discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines.
11. Continuously register for three (3) semester hours of credit each semester while working on a DNP Project.
12. Students are enrolled in the UNDNP program as a ‘cohort’. The program is a 5-semester prescribed program and students are expected to matriculate along with the cohort starting from the 1st semester until completion. In instances where students are not with their cohort for extenuating circumstances, they will need to continue to take a minimum of 3 credits per semester for both fall and spring semesters to maintain their place in the program until graduation. A leave of absence may be requested by students.
13. The DNP Project is a culmination project based on guidelines from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) DNP essentials. This is a project completed over semesters 2, 4 and 5 in the program. Students must complete each semester of the DNP Project to progress in the program. Each student will create, present and defend a DNP Project proposal in the 2nd semester. This must be successfully completed in the semester to progress. Students will complete a project, write a final paper and defend the project in the 5th semester with full committee approval obtained for graduation from the UNDNP program according to the individual ‘home’ school Graduate College (UNLV and UNR) requirements.
14. Progression in the DNP Project experience from each course must be completed in order. For students who do not progress in the stated progression, the DNP Project Progression Policy will be followed. Please refer to the UNLV DNP Online Program page, the DNP Project Handbook, or the UNLV DNP Coordinator for a copy of the policy.
15. Students in the DNP program are required to abide by the policies for UNLV School of Nursing and UNR Orvis School of Nursing. Students in the DNP program are also required to abide by the policies of the UNLV Graduate College and University as well as the UNR Orvis School of Nursing and UNR Graduate College.

Graduation Requirements 

See Plan Graduation Requirements below.

Subplan 2 Requirements: Nurse Executive Track

Total Credits Required: 39

Course Requirements 

Required Courses – Credits: 33

NURS 719R - Health & Public Policy for Advanced Practice of Nursing  

NURS 725 - Scientific Underpinnings of the DNP in Advanced Practice Nursing  

NURS 728R - Analysis of Health Organizations  

NURS 729R - Translational Evidence for Healthcare Systems  

NURS 732 - Economics of Healthcare Delivery  

NURS 745 - Healthcare Information Systems & Technology  

NURS 763 - Management Strategies for Nursing & Healthcare Systems  

NURS 765 - DNP Residency  

NURS 767 - Collaboration, Communication & Negotiation for the Nurse Leader  

NURS 768 - DNP Forum & Role Transformation  

NURS 772 - The Nurse as Leader  

NURS 792 - Outcomes Management & Performance Improvement in Nursing  

DNP Project – Credits: 6

NURS 788 - DNP Project  

Degree Requirements 

1. Complete 39 credits with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
2. Maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or above each semester enrolled.
3. Receive a grade of “B” (3.00) or above in all required cognate and nursing courses. If less than a “B”, for example a B- (2.7) is earned, the course must be repeated. The student must be in good standing to repeat a course and any required course may be repeated only one time.
4. A student may register for a course only two times. A student who has registered for the same course twice and has withdrawn or received a grade less than “B” is ineligible for readmission unless approved by the Graduate College.
5. If a student fails two courses or has withdrawn from two courses or received a grade less than “B” in two courses he/she is ineligible for readmission unless approved by the Graduate College.
6. Complete a minimum of six (6) semester hours in each calendar year.
7. Each student, upon admission, will be assigned an advisor. The advisor (and later the Advisory Committee including the chair of the Advisory committee if in place) will plan the student’s entire degree program of study and submit it to the Graduate College by the end of the second semester of enrollment. The degree program requires the approvals of the student, advisor, and the DNP Coordinator, the appropriate academic dean, and the Graduate Dean.
8. The Advisor monitors the student’s progress through the program of study. In addition, the DNP Coordinator will monitor the student’s progress, including adherence to all established policies of the Graduate College. At any given time, the student can request a change of advisor or chair of Advisory Committee. However, it is the student’s responsibility to secure approval of an individual faculty member who agrees to serve as his or her advisor before changing the original advisor, subject to Graduate College approval. Also, it is the student’s responsibility to make sure that his or her chosen advisor or chair has current full graduate faculty status at UNLV, which can be checked at: http://graduatecollege.unlv.edu/facstaff/status.html.
9. Students will select a chair for their DNP Project committee in the first semester and be required to file the Committee Appointment Form with the DNP coordinator when this is completed. More specific information about the DNP Project will be discussed in the courses it is embedded in the program.
10. In consultation with his/her advisor, a student will organize an advisory committee of at least two departmental members. In addition, a third member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student and department’s discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines.
11. Continuously register for three (3) semester hours of credit each semester while working on a DNP Project.
12. Students are enrolled in the UNDNP program as a ‘cohort’. The program is a 5-semester prescribed program and students are expected to matriculate along with the cohort starting from the 1st semester until completion. In instances where students are not with their cohort for extenuating circumstances, they will need to continue to take a minimum of 3 credits per semester for both fall and spring semesters to maintain their place in the program until graduation. A leave of absence may be requested by students.
13. The DNP Project is a culmination project based on guidelines from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) DNP essentials. This is a project completed over semesters 2, 4 and 5 in the program. Students must complete each semester of the DNP Project to progress in the program. Each student will create, present and defend a DNP Project proposal in the 2nd semester. This must be successfully completed in the semester to progress. Students will complete a project, write a final paper and defend the project in the 5th semester with full committee approval obtained for graduation from the UNDNP program according to the individual ‘home’ school Graduate College (UNLV and UNR) requirements.
14. Progression in the DNP Project experience from each course must be completed in order. For students who do not progress in the stated progression, the DNP Project Progression Policy will be followed. Please refer to the UNLV DNP Online Program page, the DNP Project Handbook or the UNLV DNP Coordinator for a copy of the policy.
15. Students in the DNP program are required to abide by the policies for UNLV School of Nursing and UNR Orvis School of Nursing. Students in the DNP program are also required to abide by the policies of the UNLV Graduate College and University as well as the UNR Orvis School of Nursing and UNR Graduate College.

Graduation Requirements

See Plan Graduation Requirements below.

Plan Graduation Requirements

1.  Submit all required forms to the Graduate College and then apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing his/her degree requirements.
2. The student must submit and successfully defend his/her DNP Project by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
3. Student must submit his/her approved, properly formatted hard-copy project to the Graduate College, and submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest by the posted deadline.