The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree at the College of Saint Scholastica prepares future nursing leaders with the knowledge and skills necessary to lead health care change and advance population health at the highest levels of nursing practice. The Department of Nursing offers two DNP degree options: Baccalaureate to Doctor of Nursing Practice (BSDNP) and a Post-Graduate DNP.
The BS to DNP program educates professional nurses for advanced roles in healthcare leadership including an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) concentration: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). Doctoral-level courses are integrated throughout the advanced practice nursing curriculum and prepare the future DNP to expand their knowledge and practice options. The BS to DNP is completed in 3-4 years and offered in a hybrid format. DNP core courses are completed online asynchronously with some synchronous virtual sessions. The APRN course work includes theory that is completed online with some synchronous virtual sessions and lab that is on campus for skills training and simulation. On campus days are 1-3 days per semester per practicum course. Students participate in clinical rotations with a preceptor in a community setting with oversight of CSS faculty.
Contact Information
nursing@css.edu
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Doctor of Nursing Practice and/or post-graduate APRN certificate, the graduate will be able to:
- Synthesize knowledge from the arts, sciences, and humanities in promoting at least one of the four spheres of care: wellness, chronic disease management, regenerative/restorative, or palliative.
- Evaluate values and behaviors consistent with professional nursing standards and the Benedictine values.
- Appraise the use of information and technology to promote health and safely within dynamic health care systems.
- Develop evidence-based interventions that promote the health and well-being of nurses, individuals, or communities.
- Generate collaborative partnerships to address social determinants of health and advocate for health equity.
- Evaluate resources needed to design safe, quality, and equitable care to diverse populations.
Requirements
Students must achieve the following program requirements for all courses listed under Program Requirements and Program Required Courses for the Healthcare Leadership, D.N.P.
Program Requirements
Major Credits: 31
Program Required Courses
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
| |
| HIF 6010 | Foundations Health Informatics | 3 |
| NSG 8110 | Introduction to the DNP | 3 |
| NSG 8201 | Clinical Project I | 3 |
| NSG 8206 | Clinical Project II | 3 |
| NSG 8207 | Clinical Project III | 3 |
| NSG 8213 | Evidence Based Practice & Health Outcomes | 3 |
| NSG 8323 | Quality Improvement | 3 |
| NSG 8620 | Health Policy, Ethics & Law | 3 |
| NSG 8660 | Leadership in Health Care: Organizational Innovations | 3 |
| NSG 8673 | Epidemiology and Population Health | 3 |
| NSG 8674 | Biostatistics for the DNP | 1 |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| Total Credits | 31 |
Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Concentration
The Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Concentration includes theory online, on campus days for skills and simulation, and precepted clinical experiences. The BS to DNP degree option includes DNP core course work the first two years of the program with AGACNP clinical coursework occurring the third and fourth years of the program. The post-graduate APRN certificate option can be completed in three consecutive semesters.
Credits: 78
Clinical Hours: 1020
DNP Hours: 500
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
| |
| NSG 8120 | Introduction to Clinical Practice | 2 |
| NSG 8152 | Pathophysiology for Advanced Clinical Practice I | 2 |
| NSG 8154 | Pathophysiology for Advanced Clinical Practice II | 2 |
| NSG 8217 | Lifespan Health Assessment I | 2 |
| NSG 8219 | Lifespan Health Assessment II | 2 |
| NSG 8661 | Health Care Management I: Adult | 3 |
| NSG 8663 | Advanced Practicum I | 4 |
| NSG 8668 | Interdisciplinary Seminar | 2 |
| NSG 8670 | Advanced Pharmacology I | 2 |
| NSG 8672 | Advanced Pharmacology II | 2 |
| NSG 8706 | Introduction to Acute Care Practice, Therapeutics and Diagnostics | 2 |
| NSG 8710 | Acute Care Adult Gerontology Management I | 2 |
| NSG 8712 | Acute Care Adult Gerontology Management II | 3 |
| NSG 8714 | Acute Care Adult Gerontology Management III | 3 |
| NSG 8715 | Acute Care Adult Gerontology Practicum I | 4 |
| NSG 8717 | Acute Care Adult Gerontology Practicum II | 5 |
| NSG 8719 | Acute Care Adult Gerontology Practicum III | 5 |
| Total Credits | 78 |
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Concentration
The Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration includes theory online, on campus days for skills and simulation, and precepted clinical experiences. The BS to DNP degree option includes DNP core course work the first two years of the program with FNP clinical coursework occurring the third and fourth years of the program.
Credits: 78
Clinical Hours: 1020
DNP Hours: 500
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
| |
| NSG 8120 | Introduction to Clinical Practice | 2 |
| NSG 8152 | Pathophysiology for Advanced Clinical Practice I | 2 |
| NSG 8154 | Pathophysiology for Advanced Clinical Practice II | 2 |
| NSG 8217 | Lifespan Health Assessment I | 2 |
| NSG 8219 | Lifespan Health Assessment II | 2 |
| NSG 8220 | Health Care Management IV: Women’s Reproductive Health | 2 |
| NSG 8661 | Health Care Management I: Adult | 3 |
| NSG 8663 | Advanced Practicum I | 4 |
| NSG 8664 | Health Care Management II: Peds and Adolescents | 3 |
| NSG 8665 | Advanced Practicum II | 3 |
| NSG 8666 | Health Care Management III: Older Adult/Chronic | 2 |
| NSG 8667 | Advanced Practicum III | 4 |
| NSG 8668 | Interdisciplinary Seminar | 2 |
| NSG 8669 | Advanced Practicum IV: Rural/Emergent Practicum | 3 |
| NSG 8670 | Advanced Pharmacology I | 2 |
| NSG 8672 | Advanced Pharmacology II | 2 |
| NSG 8679 | PMH for Primary Care | 3 |
| NSG 8777 | Topics (Advanced Practicum V) | 4 |
| Total Credits | 78 |
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Concentration
The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Concentration includes theory online, on campus lab days for skills and simulation, and precepted clinical experiences.
Credits: 75
Clinical Hours: 960
DNP Hours: 500
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
| |
| NSG 8120 | Introduction to Clinical Practice | 2 |
| NSG 8152 | Pathophysiology for Advanced Clinical Practice I | 2 |
| NSG 8154 | Pathophysiology for Advanced Clinical Practice II | 2 |
| NSG 8217 | Lifespan Health Assessment I | 2 |
| NSG 8219 | Lifespan Health Assessment II | 2 |
| NSG 8520 | Assessment and Management of Psychiatric Disorders in Adults | 3 |
| NSG 8521 | Psychiatric Practicum I: Adults | 4 |
| NSG 8550 | Assessment and Management of Psychiatric Disorders in Children/Adolescents/Families | 3 |
| NSG 8551 | Psychiatric Practicum II: Child/Adolescent/Families | 4 |
| NSG 8595 | Psychiatric Practicum III: Practice Transition | 5 |
| NSG 8662 | Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Practice Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing | 6 |
| NSG 8668 | Interdisciplinary Seminar | 2 |
| NSG 8670 | Advanced Pharmacology I | 2 |
| NSG 8672 | Advanced Pharmacology II | 2 |
| NSG 8678 | Psychopharmacology | 3 |
| Total Credits | 75 |
Degree Requirements
To graduate from The College of St. Scholastica, graduate students must meet the following minimum degree requirements.
Minimum GPA: 3.0
