Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Introduction
The Department of Nursing offers two pathways to a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree: post-baccalaureate DNP and post-master’s DNP. Nurses with a bachelor’s degree and a Registered Nurse license can apply for admission to the post-baccalaureate DNP (PBDNP) option and one of the specialty nurse practitioner tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner (78 credits) or Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (78 credits). PBDNP students are required to complete the MSN core and NP specialty courses prior to progressing to the DNP-level courses. Students earn an MSN degree, which allows them the option of taking the national certification exam for their selected NP specialty role and population focus; once certified and licensed, begin practice in their advanced practice role. After completing the MSN courses, PBDNP students begin the DNP courses and complete a DNP scholarly project.
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 post-master's DNP option (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 on-campus 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
Post-Baccalaureate DNP Option
This online program is available to Registered Nurses who have earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing or have a bachelor’s degree in another field and are licensed as Registered Nurses. Nurses with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree must complete a minimum of four pre-requisite nursing courses prior to starting the MSN courses. The MSN and DNP courses are offered in a distance delivery format in fall, spring, and summer sessions.
The post-baccalaureate DNP (PBDNP) requires the completion of a minimum of 78 credit hours between the MSN and DNP degrees depending on the selected specialty track. The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner tracks require the completion of 78 credits. Students in all tracks must complete a minimum of 1000 practicum hours in order to earn the DNP degree. The majority of the practicum hours (approximately 660 hours) are spent learning the NP specialty role and the remaining 340 hours involve completion of a DNP project focused on improving an identified practice issue. Students are required to participate in a total of seven or eight on-campus immersions (depending on their specialty track).
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-Baccalaureate (Online) | https://www.gonzaga.edu/online-graduate-programs/online-programs/nursing-programs/doctor-of-nursing-practice-post-baccalaureate |
| 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-Baccalaureate DNP Track Options
Family Nurse Practitioner (78 credits)
This track prepares nurse practitioners to provide a holistic approach to primary care for individuals across the life span, from infants to older adults, and to manage a wide variety of acute and chronic health problems. FNPs typically practice in primary care settings, such as private practices, clinics, urgent care centers, and community health centers. Students in this track must complete a total of 78 credits to earn a DNP degree. The didactic courses are offered online. Students complete the required 1000 hours of practicum in their home communities working at a site and with a preceptor approved by faculty.
When students begin their practicum courses, they are required to participate in eight on-campus immersions. Six of the immersions are associated with the FNP practicum courses and emphasize health assessment, diagnostic reasoning, skill development, and the demonstration of competence in the NP role. These immersions are two to three days in length. . Two immersions are associated with orienting to the DNP role and DNP project. The student must participate in an orientation immersion during the first semester of DNP coursework (NURS 705 Introduction to the Doctor of Nurse Practice Role) and a second immersion during the DNP project readiness course (NURS 760 Doctor of Nurse Practice Project Readiness). Each immersion is two to three 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 Committee, Institutional Review Board requirements, the proposal defense, and an introduction to faculty and their specific research interests. The completion of a DNP project that improves practice is also a required component of the DNP program.
Students residing in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and Montana have at least one site visit from a clinical faculty during each FNP practicum course. Students living outside of this four-state region are required to arrange for an additional on-campus day in conjunction with one of the immersions during each practicum course in order to complete the faculty site visit requirement.
At the successful completion of the MSN courses, students earn an MSN degree and are qualified to take the FNP certification exam, which, if passed, makes them eligible for an advanced practice license. Requirements for the MSN FNP degree can be found on the MSN degree page. Requirements for the DNP degree are listed below.
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (78 credits)
This track prepares nurse practitioners to care for individuals across the life span in need of mental health care and treatment. PMHNPs are prepared to provide psychotherapy and prescribed medications and other psychiatric treatment interventions. PMHNPs typically practice in primary care settings, such as private practices, mental health clinics, psychiatric hospitals, and community mental health centers. Students in this track must complete a total of 78 credits to earn a DNP degree. The didactic courses are offered online. Students complete the required 1000 hours of practicum in their home communities working at a site and with a preceptor approved by faculty.
When students begin their practicum courses, they are required to participate in seven on-campus immersions. Five of the immersions are associated with the PMHNP practicum courses and emphasize health assessment, diagnostic reasoning, development of skill in behavioral therapy, and the demonstration of competence in the NP role. These immersions are two days in length. Two immersions are associated with orienting to the DNP role and DNP project. The student must participate in an orientation immersion during the first semester of DNP coursework (NURS 705 Introduction to the Doctor of Nurse Practice Role) and a second immersion during the DNP project readiness course (NURS 760 Doctor of Nurse Practice Project Readiness). 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 Committee, Institutional Review Board requirements, the proposal defense, and an introduction to faculty and their specific research interests. The completion of a DNP project that improves practice is also a required component of the DNP program.
Students have a site visit from a clinical faculty during each of the three PMHNP practicum courses. At the successful completion of the MSN courses, students earn an MSN degree and are qualified to take the PMHNP certification exam, which, if passed, makes them eligible for an advanced practice license. Requirements for the MSN PMHNP degree can be found on the MSN degree page. Requirements for the DNP degree are listed below.
Post-Master’s DNP Option
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 post-master's 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 (NURS 701 DNP Practicum I/NURS 761 Doctor of Nurse Practice Project Seminar I). 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 two on-campus immersions. The student must participate in an orientation immersion during the first semester of DNP coursework (NURS 705 Introduction to the Doctor of Nurse Practice Role) and a second immersion during the DNP project readiness course (NURS 760 Doctor of Nurse Practice Project Readiness). 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.