BSN to DNP Executive Nursing Leadership

Mission

The mission of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree is to equip Christian nursing professionals to impact local, national or global healthcare by preparing future nurse leaders to serve with excellence in a variety of upper-level nursing positions in both education and practice. These nurse scholars will improve patient and organization outcomes by evaluating and integrating healthcare research findings into practice with an integrated Christian world view. 

 

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Doctor of Nursing Practice, students will be able to:

  1. Utilize biblical and theological principles to analyze professional nursing education and practice theories, roles and methodology (ULO 2).
  2. Analyze and implement the standards of leadership and budgetary management within culturally diverse local, national, and international healthcare delivery systems (ULO 1).
  3. Integrate knowledge, theory, research and skills in planning and evaluating complex healthcare systems to improve outcomes for individuals, families and populations (ULO 3).

​Each Program Learning Outcome (PLO) listed above references at least one of the University Learning Outcomes (ULO 1, 2, 3), which may be found in the General Information section of this catalog.

 

Admission Requirements

BSN Entry (BSN to DNP)

Applicants entering with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing will take at least 63 credits of course work to complete the DNP. 

General Requirements

  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited institution.
  • Minimum GPA: A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
  • Unencumbered RN License: You must hold a valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in your state or country of practice.
  • Work Experience: At least 1-2 years of clinical nursing experience (preferred).
  • Personal Statement/Statement of Purpose: A written essay outlining your professional goals, reasons for pursuing a DNP, and how the leadership focus aligns with your career aspirations. Applicants are required to include their Christian testimony and its influence in their practice.
  • Letters of Recommendation: 2 letters from nursing professionals, academic faculty, or supervisors who can attest to your leadership abilities, academic potential, and clinical competencies.
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV)/Resume: A detailed CV or resume highlighting your educational background, clinical experience, leadership roles, and professional accomplishments.
  • Interview: An interview with nursing faculty to assess your leadership potential and fit for the program.

Additional Requirements for BSN to DNP Applicants

  • Statistics Course: Completion of an undergraduate-level, upper-division statistics course within the past 7 years.

MSN Entry (MSN to DNP)

For applicants who already hold a Master of Science in Nursing, the DNP program will be completed with 48 credits of course work with more focus on advanced leadership.

General Requirements

  • Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from an accredited institution.
  • Minimum GPA: A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
  • Unencumbered RN License: You must have a valid, unencumbered RN license.
  • Advanced Practice Certification (if applicable): If you are entering the DNP program with an APRN certification (e.g., Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Midwife), maintain active certification.
  • Clinical Experience: At least 1-2 years of clinical practice in nursing leadership or advanced practice roles or healthcare settings preferred. 
  • Personal Statement/Statement of Purpose: An essay describing your leadership experience, professional goals, and how the DNP program aligns with your career trajectory. Incorporation of how your faith integrates into your practice should also be included as well as your Christian testimony. 
  • Letters of Recommendation: 2 letters from professional or academic references who can speak to your leadership skills, clinical practice, and potential for success in a DNP program.
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV)/Resume: A CV or resume outlining your education, work experience, certifications, leadership roles, and any scholarly activities.
  • Interview: An interview with faculty to evaluate your leadership potential and fit for the program.

Additional Requirements for MSN to DNP Applicants

  • Statistics Course: Completion of an undergraduate-level, upper-division statistics course within the past 7 years.
  • Clinical Hours Documentation: Applicants may be asked to provide documentation of clinical hours completed during their MSN program. This DNP program will require a total of 1,000 clinical hours. MSN applicants can submit for consideration up to 500 hours of post-BSN work. An additional 500 hours will be completed as part of their final project throughout the different courses in the program. Students in the program will be expected to log their hours throughout the time in the program. 

General Requirements (Both BSN and MSN Entry Points)

  • DNP Project Proposal: A draft proposal or idea for the DNP capstone or final project that focuses on leadership, healthcare policy, or organizational change will be reviewed during faculty interview. 

International Applicants

  • English Proficiency: International students must verify a score of 100 IBT on the TOEFL exam if English is not their first language.

Graduation Requirements

1. Completion of Required Coursework

  • Credit Hours: Completion of 48 credit hours of advanced nursing and leadership courses for MSN-to-DNP students and 63 credit hours for BSN-to-DNP students.

2. Clinical Practice Hours (DNP Practicum)

  • 1,000 Clinical Hours: To graduate, DNP students must complete at least 1,000 post-BSN clinical hours. Students who enter with an MSN may apply up to 500 of their previously completed clinical hours toward this total, but any gap must be filled during the DNP program. The clinical hours should include leadership experiences in various healthcare settings. This might involve working on leadership teams, policy-making groups, or in administrative positions to enhance real-world leadership skills. Hours are built into the curriculum with the majority of hours completed in the development and writing of their final project. Additional hours may be obtained through the NRSG 9000 Clinical Experience in Nursing Leadership class.

3. DNP Capstone Project

The DNP Capstone Project is one of the hallmark requirements of the DNP program. It demonstrates the student’s ability to apply evidence-based research to solve real-world problems in healthcare leadership.

  • Project Proposal: Students must develop and defend a proposal for their DNP project, which is approved by a faculty committee.
  • Implementation: The project should focus on a significant issue in healthcare, such as improving organizational efficiency, developing policies for patient safety, or implementing leadership strategies for quality improvement. The project will involve evaluating and integrating healthcare research findings into practice and studying the outcomes with an integrated Christian world view. 
  • Final Presentation: Students must present and defend their DNP project before a faculty committee and/or stakeholders. This can involve a written report and an oral presentation of the project’s design, implementation, and outcomes.

4. Minimum Grade & Maintenance of a Minimum GPA 

  • Minimum Grade: Students must earn a grade of C or higher in all program courses to be credited towards graduation.
  • Minimum GPA: Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher throughout the program to be eligible for graduation.

5. Compliance with Institutional Requirements

  • Candidates must meet with a department advisor and graduate academic records and degree specialist in the Office of the Registrar one year prior to graduation to declare intent to graduate. (See the Graduate Graduation Application section.)

Optional

  • Electives: Two electives may be taken - NRSG 8505 Advanced Physical Assessment and NRSG 8520 Advanced Pharmacology which are for students desiring to pursue future clinical practice degrees. 
  • Certification Preparation: Completion of the BSN to DNP Executive Nursing Leadership program will prepare students to sit for national leadership certifications, such as the Nurse Executive Advanced Board Certification (NEA-BC) or Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP).

Curriculum Requirements

Program Courses
MBAD 621The Innovative Leader3
MBAD 622Theology of Leadership3
MBAD 625Organizational Change and Leadership3
NRSG 8500Healthcare Leadership and Organizational Dynamics 13
NRSG 8510Advanced Nursing Theory 13
NRSG 8515Theology of Nursing 13
NRSG 8525Advanced Pathophysiology 13
NRSG 8530Scientific Writing for Nursing Practice and DNP Project Preparation 13
NRSG 8600Doctor of Nursing Practice I: Problem Identification and DNP Role Definition3
NRSG 8601Doctor of Nursing Practice II: Literature Review and Methods3
NRSG 8605Informatics and Health Systems3
NRSG 8610Healthcare Law, Ethics, and Finances3
NRSG 8615Theology of Human Flourishing and Finitude3
NRSG 8620Instructional and Assessment Strategies for Nurse Educators 23
NRSG 8700Doctor of Nursing Practice III: Final Project 23
PHLT 505Principles of Epidemiology3
PHLT 515Principles of Biostatistics3
PHLT 535Public Health Policy and Practice3
PHLT 605Research Methods3
TTDS 7510Educational Theory3
TTDS 7540Curriculum Design3
Total Credits63
1

This course and its associated credits are not required for students who hold a Master of Science in Nursing.

2

This course must be taken in the final semester of the program.