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2012-2013 Graduate Catalog ARCHIVED CATALOG: CONTENT MAY NOT BE CURRENT. USE THE DROP DOWN ABOVE TO ACCESS THE CURRENT CATALOG.
Doctor of Nursing Practice
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Return to: School of Nursing
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, UNDNP 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 UNDNP 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.
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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.
DNP Program Objectives. At the conclusion of the University of Nevada DNP program, graduates will:
- Provide advanced nursing care to improve patient and population health care outcomes in various direct and indirect settings.
- Take leadership roles in the analysis, delivery and management of nursing care and health care systems.
- Provide evidence-based practice through the application of analytical methods, information systems technology, and clinical research.
- Collaborate with interprofessional teams to meet the healthcare needs of culturally and ethnically diverse individuals and populations.
- 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.
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Admission Requirements
Nurse Executive Track:
- Hold a baccalaureate in nursing from an accredited NLNAC or CCNE nursing program.
- 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.
- Have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 or higher at the graduate level.
- Have completed graduate-level course work with a grade of B or better in nursing theory, research and healthcare policy.
- Hold an unencumbered license as a registered nurse.
- Hold national certification or eligibility for certification reflective of advanced practice in a leadership role from a nationally recognized certification/credentialing organization.
- 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.
Advanced Practice Track:
- Hold a baccalaureate in nursing from an accredited NLNAC or CCNE nursing program.
- 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.
- 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.
- Have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 or higher at the graduate level.
- Have completed graduate-level course work with a grade of B or better in nursing theory, research and healthcare policy.
- Hold an unencumbered license as a registered nurse and as an advanced practice nurse commensurate with state licensure.
- Hold national certification in an advanced practice role from a nationally recognized certification/credentialing organization.
Degree Requirements
A minimum of 39 graduate credit hours is required for both the advanced practice and nurse excutive options. Students must complete the 39 credits of the degree program with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. All courses must be completed with a grade of B or better. B- is considered failing. Only two courses may be repeated and they must be passed by a grade of B or higher.
Students in the Advanced Practice Option must complete the following coursework:
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Advanced Practice Option: 39 Credits
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3 credits |
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2 credits |
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2 credits |
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3 credits |
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3 credits |
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3 credits |
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4 credits |
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2 credits |
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2 credits |
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3 credits |
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3 credits |
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2 credits |
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2 credits |
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2 credits |
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3 credits |
Students in the Nurse Executive Option must complete the following coursework:
| Nurse Executive Option: 39 Credits |
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3 credits |
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2 credits |
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2 credits |
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3 credits |
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3 credits |
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3 credits |
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3 credit
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3 credits |
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4 credits |
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2 credits |
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2 credits |
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2 credits |
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2 credits |
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2 credits |
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3 credits |
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. Progression and Policies
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.
Progression in the program is based on the UNLV School of Nursing Policy.
To progress in the UNDNP program at UNLV, students must*:
- Maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or above each semester enrolled.
- 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 time.
- 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.
- 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.
- Complete a minimum of six (6) semester hours in each calendar year.
- Continuously register for three (3) semester hours of credit each semester while working on the thesis, capstone, professional paper, or research utilization project. (DNP students complete a capstone project unique to the program.)
*Students in the UNDNP program are required to abide by the policies for UNLV School ofNursing and UNR Orvis School of Nursing. Students in the UNDNP program are also requiredto abide by the policies of the UNLV Graduate College and University as well as the UNR OrvisSchool of Nursing and UNR Graduate College. Capstone Project
The capstone 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 capstone project to progress in the program. Each student will create, present and defend a capstone 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.
Progression in the capstone experience from each course (NURS 786 to NURS 787 to NURS 788) must be completed in order. For students who do not progress in the stated progression, the UNDNP Capstone Progression Policy will be followed. Please refer to the UNLV DNP Online Program page on WebCampus or the UNLV DNP Coordinator for a copy of the policy.
Students will select a chair for their capstone committee in the first semester and be required to file the Committee Appointment Form with the DNP coordinator when this is completed. This advisory committee must be formed before students can start on the capstone proposal. The graduate school representative is a university-at-large member given the role of representing the graduate school, assuring compliance with graduate school regulations and procedures and reporting any deviation from prescribed standards to the graduate college. All members of the committee must have graduate faculty status or approval of the Dean of the Graduate School.More specific information about the capstone project will be discussed in the courses it is embedded in the program.
Courses and Course load requirement
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.
Leave of absence may be requested by students. This is done through the Graduate College by filling out the form Application for Leave of Absence. This leave request must be approved the DNP Coordinator/Department chair, advisor, and dean of the school before being forwarded to the Graduate College for final approval. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure this form has been signed by all individuals and approved before taking the leave of absence. Please look at the Graduate College website for policies and procedures related to this request and some of the issues students should be aware of before taking leave. http://catalog.unlv.edu/content.php?catoid=3&navoid=119#Leave_of_Absence Forms Required for the UNDNP Program at UNLV
Students will have a series of forms required by the graduate college as they progress through the program. The timeline from admission to graduate chart in this handbook outlines each step in the process. Please refer to the graduate college website: http://graduatecollege.unlv.edu/forms/ to download these forms.
The complete list of forms includes:
- Degree Plan Requirements form:
- Two part form: Part A: outlines student’s proposed degree plan. Part B: is optional and is only for students transfering credits in from other programs or universities. Transfer credits should be submitted early in the process to ensure confirmation that the credits are transferable and applicable to the student’s degree program.
- Proposed degree program forms:
- There are two documents: Part I and Part II. Part I is the attached form to be filled out. Part II is the contract or time line sheet (you and your advisor should have this already, which is a listing and sequence of your courses) (please see handbook for further information). These two parts need to be submitted at the same time. Follow the instructions on the form.
- Committee Appointment form:
- This form needs to be filled out when capstone chair and committee members are appointed. This will be submitted at the end of the 1st semester or beginning of the 2nd semester before students start the capstone proposal in the 2nd semester.
- Prospectus Approval form:
- This form needs to be filled out when the student’s capstone prospectus is approved and before students can continue on to work on their capstone project.
- Advancement to Candidacy:
- This form needs to be filled out after the student passed the capstone proposal and the capstone prospectus has been approved. This form and the prospectus approval form are filed at the same time with the graduate college for the UNDNP program students at UNLV.
- Final Defense form:
- This form needs to be filled when oral defense of the capstone is completed.
- Cover sheet for Capstone:
- This form needs to be filled out when the final project is complete and approved.
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