Doctor of Nursing Practice: Program Curriculum

Post Master DNP Program Curriculum

Post Master’s DNP Concentration The DNP student is required to have at minimum 500 hours in the previous master’s program and 560 in the DNP program. The DNP option consists of 37 credits; including three advanced practice clinical courses (16 credits) plus 560 hours beyond the master’s, for a DNP minimum of 1,060 hours.

Full Time Post Master’s DNP Program Curriculum

** NURS 889 (DNP Project Advisement – 3 crs.) continuous enrollment
1 semester hour = 1 cr. hr. until DNP Project completion (full-time status).
1 classroom cr. hr. = 14 class hrs. and 1 examination (evaluation) hrs. per semester.
 

Part Time Post Master’sDNP Program Curriculum

** NURS 889 (DNP Project Advisement – 3 crs.) PART-TIME (3 credit minimum both fall and spring semesters and 1 clinical cr. hr. = 4 clinical hrs. per wk., or 56 hrs. per semester. 6 credits for each summer session).

DNP Core Curriculum Curriculum Mapping With AACN, NONPF, and NACNS

The following table presents the DNP curriculum and cites the component from The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice (AACN, 2006) that is addressed by each course.

*** Individualized to achieve 500 hours of supervised clinical practice

TOTAL DNP PROGRAM CREDITS 37 + DNP Project Advisement
TOTAL DNP CLINICAL HOURS = 560 MINIMUM

+ DNP Project Advisement – continuous enrollment in NURS 889 each fall, spring and summer until completed.

* All courses are offered in hybrid format, using web-based technology combined with some face-to-face sessions.
** * A minimum of 500 additional hours were completed at the MSN degree level (Level I).

NURS 690, EPIDEMIOLOGY IS REQUIRED, IF NOT TAKEN IN LEVEL I.

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11/30/09, revised 10/29/10, 3/25/1, 5/19/11, 12/1/15
DNP Course Sequencing
DNP Level II Curr w-Essentials ANP

DNP LEVEL II Post-Master’s Curriculum
Allocation of Classroom and Clinical Credits, Class Hours, Practicum Hours

+ NURS 889 DNP Project Advisement (Continuous enrollment each fall, spring and summer
Semester until the project is completed.
Class and clinical practicum credits and hours ratio per graduate course:
1 classroom credit hours = 14 classroom hours and 1 examination (eval) per 15-week semester.
1 clinical credit hour = 4 clinical hours per week

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SDB 10/15

Post-Baccalaureate RN to DNP

Post-Baccalaureate RN to DNP students are prepared to design, implement, and evaluate evidence-based disease management care and/or to organize care for multiple chronic conditions for individuals and populations. Graduates will be prepared at the highest level for culturally competent, evidence-based, system-based care, inter-professional collaboration, and practice leadership.

Post Baccalaureate RN-DNP Family/Individual Across the Lifespan Option

The Post Baccalaureate RN-DNP Family/Individual Across the Lifespan student required to complete a minimum of 672 direct care clinical hours to individuals and families to fulfill the family individual across the lifespan population and role requirements and an additional 560 clinical hours of direct and/or systems based care for a total of 1232 hours.

The Post- Baccalaureate RN to DNP Family (Individual Across the Lifespan) CRNP Program prepares graduates to perform acts of medical diagnosis and prescription of medical therapeutics and corrective measures in primary care, collaborating with interprofessional teams in the nurse practitioner role with emphasis across the lifespan. The population focused and role course are as follows.

CURRICULUM

Core (10 Credits)

NURS 636 Dynamics of Family Health Care (3 credits)

NURS 638 Issues in Health Care for Underserved Populations (3 credits)

NURS 663 Advanced Nursing Practice: Current Perspectives (1 credit)

NURS 690 Population Health and Epidemiology

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Core Courses (9 Credits)

NURS 601 Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credits)

NURS 608 Advanced Health Assessment (3 credits)

NURS 639 Advanced Pharmacology (3 credits) approved

Specialty Family (Individual Across the Lifespan) Role/Population Focused Area, (18 credits)

NURS 648 Advanced Family Nursing I (4 credits, 224 clinical hours)

NURS 649 Advanced Family Nursing II

NURS 655 Advanced Family Nursing III (6 credits, 224 clinical hours) (state board approved)

NURS 658 Advanced Family Nursing Practicum (2 credits, 112 clinical hours)

In addition 3 credits each semester until Capstone Project Advisement is complete. (74 Credits, 1232 Clinical Hours) *

Post Baccalaureate RN-DNP Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP Option

The Post Baccalaureate RN-DNP Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP (AGACNP) students are required to complete a minimum of 672 direct care clinical hours to individuals and families to fulfill the AGACNP population and role requirements and an additional 560 clinical hours of direct and/or systems based care for a total of 1232 hours.

The Post- Baccalaureate RN to DNP AGACNP Program prepares graduates to perform acts of medical diagnosis and prescription of medical therapeutics and corrective measures in acute care, collaborating with interprofessional teams in the nurse practitioner role. The population focused and role course are as follows.

CURRICULUM

Core (10 Credits)

NURS 636 Dynamics of Family Health Care (3 credits)

NURS 638 Issues in Health Care for Underserved Populations (3 credits)

NURS 663 Advanced Nursing Practice: Current Perspectives (1 credit)

NURS 690 Population Health and Epidemiology (3 credits)

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Core Courses (9 Credits)

NURS 601 Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credits)

NURS 608 Advanced Health Assessment (3 credits)

NURS 639 Advanced Pharmacology (3 credits) approved

Specialty AGACNP Role/Population Focused Area, (18 credits)

NURS 605 Clinical Decision Making and Diagnostic Reasoning AGACNP 1 (224 clinical hours)

NURS 606 Clinical Decision Making and Diagnostic Reasoning AGACNP 2 (224 clinical hours)

NURS 607 Clinical Decision Making and Diagnostic Reasoning AGACNP 3 (224 clinical hours)

In addition 3 credits each semester until Capstone Project Advisement is complete. (74 Credits, 1232 Clinical Hours) 

Post-Baccalaureate RN to DNP Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Option

The Post-Baccalaureate RN to DNP Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist program of study provides a broad foundation in health promotion and disease prevention, concepts of wellness and illness care, and clinical decision-making grounded in evidence-based practices. The focus is on caring for late adolescents, adults, and older adults in wellness through acute care settings, including emergency and critical care environments. Graduates are prepared for leadership in improving patient outcomes and the quality of health care.

CURRICULUM

Core (4 Credits)

NURS 663 Advanced Nursing Practice: Current Perspectives (1 credit)

NURS 690 Population Health and Epidemiology (3 credits)

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Core Courses (9 Credits)

NURS 601 Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credits)

NURS 608 Advanced Health Assessment (3 credits)

NURS 639 Advanced Pharmacology (3 credits) 

Specialty: Advanced Practice CNS Courses (15 Credits)

NURS 602 Adult-Gerontology CNS Practice Role Seminar & Practicum I (5) (168 Clinical Hours)

NURS 603 Adult-Gerontology CNS: Management of the Late Adolescent through Older Adult (5) (168 Clinical Hours)

NURS 604 Adult Gerontology CNS Practicum III (5) (168 Clinical Hours)

In addition 3 credits each semester until DNP Project Advisement is complete.

(65 Credits, 1064 Clinical Hours) *

 Post Baccalaureate RN-DNP Health Systems Leadership Option

 The Post-Baccalaureate RN-DNP Health Systems Leadership Option responds to the clinical, organizational, and economic challenges incurred by health systems across the nation. Health care leaders require more than clinical expertise and well-developed communication skills. There is a need for business savvy, along with a deep knowledge and appreciation for fiscal and human resource management, continuous quality improvement and safety, complex organizational behavior, and strategic leadership competencies. The BSN-DNP in Health Systems Leadership at Widener University builds on your strong nursing foundation and prepares you to advance as a visionary and passionate nurse executive and leader.

CURRICULUM

Nursing Core  (15 Credits)

• NURS 611  Introduction to Nursing Science (3 credits)

• NURS 634  Nursing Leadership for Advanced Practice (3 credits)

• NURS 652  Statistical Analysis and Interpretation (3 credits)

• NURS 664  Health Care Environment: Technology and Health Policy (3 credits)

• NURS 684 Using Research for Evidence-Based Practice (3 credits)

Business Core (9 credits)

MGT 622  Developing Management Skills (3 credits)

BUS 615   Information Systems and Data Analysis (3 credits)

BUS 665   Managing Business Processes  (3 credits) 

Specialty Health Systems Leadership Courses (17 Credits)

• NURS 694 Health Care Finance (3 credits)

• NURS 695 Organizational Leadership in Health Care (3 credits)

• NURS 696 Organizational Leadership in Health Care Practicum (4 Credits) (224 clinical hours)

• NURS 697 Systems Health Leadership (3 credits)

• NURS 698 Systems Health Leadership Practicum (4 Credits) (224 clinical hours)

*(66 credits, 1008 clinical hours)*

In addition 3 credits each semester until DNP Project Advisement is complete.

Approved GPC 3/2020, Full Faculty 5/2020

DNP Practicum, Preceptor/Mentor, and Clinical Agency Information

ADVANCED CLINICAL (AP) PRACTICUM INFORMATION

There are three advanced practice (AP) clinical courses in the Post-Master’s DNP (LEVEL II) curriculum:

1. NURS 885 Doctor of Nursing Practice I (4 credits) 
2. NURS 886 Doctor of Nursing Practice II (6 credits)
3. NURS 887 Doctor of Nursing Practice III – DNP Project (6 credits).

These three courses provide 560 hours above the minimum 500 clinical hours required in the master’s nursing curriculum.

Practicum experiences must be pre-approved by program faculty and may include but are not limited to the following activities:

1. Direct practice experiences
2. Leadership experiences
3. Stacked credential activities
4. Consultation with experts
5. Health policy activites
6.  Evidence-based and specialty Related conference and workshop attendance
7. Quality improvement and system change activities
8. Development of education prctice model and support groups

The practicum hours are related to the student’s individual goals, course objectives, student learning outcomes, DNP competencies, the Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Practice Nursing (AACN, 2006) and the DNP Project. Students are mentored by the Widener University School of Nursing (SON) Faculty and selected practicum preceptors/mentors. Students will select preceptors/mentors in collaboration with the faculty who are content experts in the selected area of clinical practice inquiry. Preceptors/mentors must agree to advise and facilitate the student towards the achievement of goals, objectives, DNP Essentials and population focused competencies. The preceptor/mentor may be an external member of the DNP Project advisement team.

PRECEPTOR/MENTOR CRITERIA

Professional qualifications include:

1. Doctoral degree in expert content area preferred, Master’s degree required.
2. Documentation of a current curriculum vitae, license(s), certification, and malpractice insurance in advanced practice role to the Graduate Nursing Office (where applicable). Documentation needs to be received before the beginning of the semester in which the advanced practice course is offered.
3. Current practice in an area relevant to course objectives and student learning outcomes.

Responsibilities include:

1. Completing a program orientation module

2. Understanding the role of the preceptor/mentor

3. Providing an environment conductive to learning consistent with the mission of Widener University School of Nursing, program outcomes and competencies.

4. Providing opportunities for achievement of goals and competencies for the DNP program

5. Availability to the student for consultation and advisement

6. Offering constructive/useful feedback

7. Providing effective advisement/consultation and support

8. Providing an evaluation of student performance for each clinical experience and at the end of the experience using forms provided by Widener University School of Nursing graduate program in collaboration with the Widener University DNP program faculty

CLINICAL AGENCY CRITERIA

1. Completes a current clinical agency agreement or Letter of Agreement with Widener University School of Nursing.
2. Service to diverse clients and populations and in a medically underserved area preferred.
3. Provision of an environment conducive to learning consistent with the mission and goals of widener University School of Nursing of the DNP program and facilitative of the course objectives and student learning outcomes/competencies. 

SDB:eab 11-8-10 SDB: 12/1/15

DNP PRECEPTOR/MENTOR, PRACTICUM, AND PROJECT FORMS

• DNP Clinical Site Visit Form   
• DNP Consent to Serve on DNP Project Form   
• DNP Faculty Evaluation of Student’s Clinical Performance   
• DNP Preceptor/Mentor And Site Evaluation Form   
• DNP Project Completion Form   
• DNP Project Proposal Approval Form   
• DNP Student Clinical Practicum Activities Journal and Clinical Hours Form