Doctor of Nursing Practice
Department Website: Doctor of Nursing Practice
Introduction
The Department of Nursing's Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree is a post-master’s DNP.
Nurses with a master’s degree in nursing that prepared them as advanced practice nurses (e.g., as a nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist) or in an advanced role (e.g., as a nursing leader or nurse administrator) can apply for admission to the DNP program (28-31 credits). The DNP program is consistent with the mission of Gonzaga University and the overall mission of the Department of Nursing, which is to prepare nurses for leadership in the service of others. Graduates of Gonzaga's DNP program are prepared to engage in systems thinking to solve complex problems, translate evidence to improve health care practices and population health, lead quality improvement and change initiatives, and demonstrate effective intra-professional collaboration.
Gonzaga's DNP program is offered in an online distance delivery format with scheduled virtual immersions. This format enables nurses in geographically isolated areas and those who are unable to attend an on-campus program to pursue advanced nursing education and still continue to provide much-needed nursing services in their home communities while completing graduate studies. Nurse Practitioner graduates are prepared to take the national certification examinations for their areas of specialization. National certification is a requirement for licensure as a nurse practitioner in most states. Students are responsible for checking state mandates for practice while in the student role and in an advanced nursing role.
Program Overview
Admission
- Students applying to Gonzaga University must submit Gonzaga’s Graduate Application, which can be accessed online at https://www.gonzaga.edu/gradapply
- Along with the application for graduate study, each program at Gonzaga has distinct admission requirements. Please refer to the table below to view that detailed information.
| Program Name | How to Apply Link |
|---|---|
| Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – Post-Masters (Online) | https://www.gonzaga.edu/online-graduate-programs/online-programs/nursing-programs/doctor-of-nursing-practice-post-masters/eligibility-criteria-admission-requirements |
Post-Master’s DNP
At the time of application to the DNP program, the applicant also applies for admission to Gonzaga University. This online program is available to Registered Nurses who have earned a master's degree in a nursing specialty area as a clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner, certified nurse anesthetist, certified nurse midwife, or in nursing leadership/administration and want to advance their practice. The DNP courses are offered in a distance delivery format in fall, spring, and summer sessions, with the exception of the project courses which are not offered in the summer session.
The DNP requires the completion of a minimum of 28 credit hours. The total number of credits a student must take in order to complete degree requirements depends on the courses and practicum hours completed in the student's master's degree program. If an applicant was not required to complete an Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) course during his or her master's degree program, or a Biostatistics or Inferential Statistics course in the past five years, these courses can be completed while enrolled in the DNP program. The EBP course must be completed either prior to beginning DNP coursework or during the first semester of the DNP Program. The graduate-level Biostatistics or Inferential Statistics course must be taken prior to starting the DNP project courses (701/761). The number of practicum hours that each student must complete is individualized (based on the number completed in the student's MSN program) so that each student meets the required 1,000 practicum hours by program completion (including practicum hours from the student's master's program). This means that a student may need to complete more than 28 total credits.
The program requires virtual immersions. The student must participate in an orientation immersion during the first semester of DNP coursework (NURS 705) and a second immersion during the DNP project readiness course (NURS 760). Each immersion is 2 to 3 days in length. The first immersion provides an overview of the DNP program and courses, introduction to campus resources and Jesuit education, scholarly writing, foundations of the DNP role and the DNP project. The second immersion covers development of a DNP project plan, expectations for the DNP project practicum courses, composition of the DNP Project Team, Institutional Review Board requirements, the proposal defense, and an introduction to faculty and their specific research interests.
The three practicum and seminar courses prepare the student to complete a scholarly DNP project that is aimed at improving some aspect of clinical or leadership practice, depending on the student’s focus. The student has the option of presenting the defense of his or her DNP project proposal and the final defense of the completed DNP scholarly project to faculty and students either in person or through video-conferencing.