Post-Master's Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program

Patricia Allen, EdD, RN, CNE, ANEF, FAAN
Professor, Associate Dean/Department Chair, Leadership Studies

Laura Thomas, PhD, RN, CNE
Professor, Program Director, Post-Master's DNP Program 

Purpose

The purpose of the Post-Master's Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program is to provide a rigorous education to prepare clinical scholars who translate science to improve population health through expert leadership that powers innovation in health care for West Texas, the state, and the nation.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon program completion, the graduate will be prepared to:

• Integrate nursing science with knowledge from ethics, biophysical, psychosocial, analytical, and organizational sciences to foster a culture of health and transform clinical practice and health care delivery systems.
• Develop and operationalize effective, culturally relevant, and evidence-based clinical practice approaches that meet current and future needs of patient populations.
• Design and implement evidence-based strategies to analyze and improve outcomes of care at the practice, system, or population levels.
• Apply, use, and evaluate health care information systems, information literacy and patient care technology to advance quality, patient safety, and organizational effectiveness.
• Facilitate interprofessional team building and collaborative leadership skills to create positive change and improve outcomes in complex health care systems.
• Exercise leadership skills to analyze, develop, influence, and implement health policies that advocate social justice, equity, and ethics within all health care arenas.
• Analyze epidemiological, biostatistical, environmental, and other appropriate scientific data to develop culturally relevant and scientifically based health promotion and disease prevention initiatives.
• Employ advanced leadership skills, systems thinking, and accountability to design, deliver and evaluate evidence-based management practices to improve patient, population and health system outcomes (Executive Leadership track).
• Employ advanced practice levels of clinical judgment, systems thinking, and accountability to design, deliver, and evaluate evidence-based care to improve patient and population outcomes (Advanced Practice Nursing Track).

Post-Master's DNP Program Overview

The Post-Master's DNP Program offers the following tracks for completing the DNP degree:

• Post-Master's DNP for Executive Leadership

Post-Master's DNP Overview

Advanced practice registered nurses and nurses in leadership positions with a master’s degree have the opportunity to obtain the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), a terminal degree designed for practice at the highest level of nursing. Student’s must have a master’s degree and at least one year of experience as an APRN or in a leadership position. The primary goal of the Post-Master's DNP program is to prepare graduates for leadership careers including advanced clinical practice, executive leadership, applied clinical research, and faculty leadership roles. The program allows students to participate in online activities as well as on-campus intensives.

Note: International students with F1 and F2 visa status are not eligible to apply to an online program.

Post-Master's DNP Application and Admission Information

Post-Master's DNP Application Dates

Consideration for admission is given to applicants meeting all admission criteria who have submitted ALL admission requirements by the application deadline through the online TTUHSC application portal.

Post-Master's DNP Admission Requirements

Applicant must submit the following application requirements for full admission:

• Current unencumbered licensure as a registered nurse in the United States
• Master of Science in Nursing degree from a regionally accredited college or university with nursing program accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or accreditation from American Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), formerly the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC).
• GPA of 3.0 for master’s degree
• Graduate level nursing research course
• Three letters of reference attesting to the applicant’s academic ability and leadership potential, including one from a current professional colleague
• Personal Statement
• Interview with DNP faculty
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification for Healthcare Providers from the American Heart Association or American Red Cross.
• Current CV or resume
• Oath of Residency
• Official transcripts from all institutions formerly attended.
  
  • NOTE: All transcripts must be from regionally accredited colleges or universities with nursing program accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or accreditation from American Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), formerly the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC).
• Application Signature Page
• Application Fee

All Post-Master's DNP Advanced Practice Nursing applicants must meet the following additional admission requirements:

• Approval by a state nursing board to practice as a nurse practitioner or nurse midwife as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN)
  
• Current certification by a nationally recognized credentialing body as an APRN or nurse midwife
• Minimum of one year’s experience as an APRN
  

ALL Post-Master's DNP Executive Leadership applicants must meet the following additional admission requirements:

• Minimum of one year’s experience in a healthcare leadership position

*Post-Master's DNP applicants with unique credentials will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Such applicants may be required to complete one or more additional graduate nursing courses. A comprehensive review of the candidate’s application will include consideration of the following factors:

• Academic performance and aptitude
• Career achievements
• Ability to perform capably in positions of responsibility for self and others
• Potential for leadership in the DNP advanced role.

Although academic criteria (cumulative GPA, grades earned in nursing courses, and failed/ repeated courses) are the most important factors in admission considerations, additional nonacademic information is considered for a holistic admission process. These nonacademic factors include but are not limited to:

• Extracurricular activities
• Evidence of leadership in nursing
• Work experience
• Diversity of experience such as study abroad, knowledge of other cultures, proficiency in other languages
• Permanent resident of TTUHSC service area county
• First generation college student
• Fluent in a language in addition to English
• Military service

All applicants will be reviewed in an individual and holistic manner. No single factor will determine a student’s admission. All applicants receiving offers of admission will be required to consent to a criminal background check. A history of criminal conduct or convictions may result in withdrawal of the admission offer. See ‘Criminal Background Checks’ section of the School of Nursing Student Handbook for the school policy. Criminal Background Checks must be received prior to matriculation to the TTUHSC DNP Program. The TTUHSC Criminal Background policy may be found at TTUHSC OP 10.20.

Only complete applications are reviewed for admission consideration, which means ALL admission requirements must be received by the application deadline.

The Post-Master's DNP Program Director, Associate Dean/Department Chair, and faculty carefully evaluate all qualified applicants with regard to the applicant’s potential for successful completion of the program.

Combined Post-Master's DNP with APRN Certificate

Applicants or current graduate students who are interested in completing both the Post-Master's DNP and an APRN Certificate Program have the option to combine these two programs with the following conditions:

• Separate application and admission to the Post-Master's DNP and to the APRN Post-Graduate Certificate Program is required.
•  Following acceptance to both the Post-Master's DNP Program and the APRN Post-Graduate Certificate Program, an individualized degree plan is developed for the student to ensure they meet all course requirements for the DNP and the APRN certificate. 
• Up to nine (9) credit hours from APRN certificate courses are allowed to substitute for DNP required courses. 
• Students are considered enrolled in a single program for the purposes of meeting academic progression requirements and academic dismissal circumstances. 

 Applicants or current graduate students who are interested in this combined program should contact the Associate Dean/Department Chair and applicable APRN Program Director to discuss.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR APPLICANTS WHO ATTENDED A COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY IN SPRING 2020

An explanation of how TTUHSC School of Nursing considers courses in which a student earns grades of Pass (P), Fail(F), Credit (CR) or No Credit (NC) is outlined below:

Official transcripts with courses awarded with P or CR during the SPRING 2020 semester can be used to meet prerequisite course requirements and will not be used in calculating either the cumulative or science GPA for admissions. TTUHSC SON reserves the right to determine how, and if, courses awarded with P or CR during any semester, outside of spring 2020, will be calculated into a GPA and/or considered for transfer credit. Official transcripts with courses awarded with a Fail (F) or No Credit (NC) during any semester cannot be used to meet prerequisite course requirements

Additional Requirements for Prospective Students

Computer Requirements

See Computer Requirements under the Student Information section of this catalog.

Criminal Background Checks

A Criminal Background Check (CBC) must be completed prior to enrollment at TTUHSC School of Nursing in compliance with TTUHSC OP 10.20 and SON OP 60.081. Each student is responsible for the cost of his/her CBC and any additional fees. See Criminal Background Check Requirements under the Eligibility Requirements section of this catalog for additional information.

Immunizations

See Immunization Requirements under the Eligibility Requirements section of this catalog.

Drug Screening

Drug screenings may be necessary if required by the clinical institution site. The cost of all drug screenings are the responsibility of the student. See Drug Screening Requirements under the Eligibility Requirements section of this catalog.

Special Student Enrollment

Non-Degree

Special Student enrollment is not an avenue for seeking a degree. Under certain circumstances, it may be appropriate for an individual to seek admission as a non-degree seeking student. Non-degree Special Student admission is for the purpose of taking a limited number of courses. The applicant must seek approval from the applicable DNP Associate Dean/Department Chair prior to submitting a special student (nondegree) application. The student must also be eligible for admission under the following criteria:

• Currently enrolled in a master’s or doctoral program at a college or university and is in good academic standing;
• Registered nurse not enrolled in an educational institution;
• Waiver to the above requirement from the applicable DNP Associate Dean/Department Chair or Program Director.

In addition to meeting the above criteria, consideration is given on a space available basis.

• A complete Special Student (non-degree) application includes the following:
• Submitted special-student application
• Submitted signature page and application fee
• Submitted official transcripts from all universities or colleges attended
• Submitted Oath of Residency
• Submitted current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification for Healthcare Providers from the American Heart Association or American Red Cross

Special students can take a maximum of six (6) credit hours or nine (9) if approved by the applicable Associate Dean/Department Chair or Program Director. A special student wishing to apply for full admission to the DNP Program must submit the full application according to the stated deadlines and will be considered for admission with the entire pool of applicants for the time period the application is submitted.

Enrollment without Credit/Course Audit

Students wanting to audit a DNP course for no grade must obtain approval from the DNP Associate Dean/Department Chair or Program Director. Students auditing a course will not be listed on the official class roll, and no notation of the audit will be made on the student’s transcript. Students enrolled for 12 or more semester credit hours may audit a course without paying an additional fee. All other students must pay a $10 fee for auditing a course.

Conditional Admission

If the requirements for full admission are not met, conditional admission may be available. The student is required to comply with “conditions” stated in letter of admission offer prior to the first day of class for the semester of admission.

Readmission

All requests for readmission must be made prior to the application deadline date for the semester in which readmission is requested. The DNP Program Director and applicable DNP Program Council are responsible for overseeing all readmissions to the School of Nursing DNP Program. Readmission of a student dismissed or withdrawn for academic or disciplinary causes is also based upon the decision of the DNP Program Director and applicable DNP Program Council.

A student seeking readmission must comply with the following:

• Submit a letter requesting readmission to the DNP Program
• Meet all recommendations and requirements set forth by the DNP Program Director and applicable DNP Program Council
• Complete online application and meet admission criteria for full admission

Transfer Student

Students requesting admission to the TTUHSC School of Nursing DNP program as a transfer student from another university must meet the following criteria:

• Transfer student must be eligible to return to the institution from which the student is transferring.
• Submit a full application by the application deadline date for the semester in which transfer is requested.
• Student previously enrolled in the graduate program at TTUHSC School of Nursing who attended another institution and is seeking to return must apply for readmission; any courses considered for transfer credit will be required to meet the standards for transfer credit
• Complete the majority, or over 50%, of the required credits to complete the degree at TTUHSC School of Nursing

Recognition of Previous Nursing Learning

Transfer Credit

The decision to award transfer of academic credit is made by the applicable DNP Associate Dean/Department Chair or Post-Master's DNP Program Director after a thorough review of the applicant’s transcript for evidence of satisfactory course work completion and review of the course catalog descriptions and/or course syllabi as necessary to determine course equivalency. The decision to award transfer credit is based on TTUHSC OP 77.17. Generally, credits earned at a regionally accredited college or university are accepted for transfer provided course content is equivalent and a grade of “B” or higher has been earned in the course.

The majority, or over 50%, of the required credits toward a TTUHSC School of Nursing graduate degree must be earned at TTUHSC. Students requesting courses to be considered for transfer credit will:

• Submit official transcripts for courses considered for transfer credit
• Submit course descriptions and course content for each course

A student previously enrolled in the graduate program at TTUHSC School of Nursing who attended another institution and is seeking to return and transfer in course credit must apply for readmission. Courses accepted for transfer will be required to meet the standards for transfer credit.

Offer of Admission

Offers of admission will be made approximately two - four weeks following the application deadline. In order to assure a place in the desired program, applicants must comply with the following:

• Return Acceptance Form on or before date specified in the offer of admissions letter
• Submit $175 non-refundable placement/orientation fee
• Submit evidence of compliance with required immunizations
• Complete Criminal Background Check online
• Completion of required trainings as specified during virtual orientation
• Failure to respond to admissions offer by the date specified in offer letter may result in withdrawal of the offer of admission.

Degree Requirements for Students Admitted to DNP Program

Graduation Under a Particular Catalog

A student is expected to complete the degree requirements set forth in the School of Nursing Catalog in effect at the time the student enters the chosen area of study. Only with the specific approval of the applicable DNP Associate Dean/Department Chair may a different Catalog be selected. Students, in all cases are prohibited from completing the requirements set forth in a catalog more than seven years old. The Catalog is published at least biennially and its provisions are applicable during the stated Academic year (September 1st through August 31st).

DNP Practicum Hour Requirements for Post-Master's DNP Students

All DNP students must complete a total of 1000 practicum hours/practice hours from a combination of practicum hours achieved in the master’s program and in the DNP program. Qualified advance practice registered nurse applicants are expected to have successfully completed a minimum of 500 clinical hours in the student’s nurse practitioner master’s program in order to meet requirements for recognition or licensure and national certification, as appropriate, for the student’s professional role and practice area. The Post-Master's DNP Program provides a minimum of 500 practicum hours resulting in a minimum total of 1000 practicum hours for graduation.

Qualified applicants with a MSN in nursing administration or other MSN specialty area or master’s degree in a related field must provide evidence of the number of clinical hours/practice hours achieved in the student’s master’s program. To ensure students meet the required minimum 1000 practicum hours, additional practicum learning opportunities are offered via one or more of the following methods:

• Submission of a professional portfolio documenting clinical activities/practice hours and scholarship to meet the criteria for practicum hours for the DNP program. The portfolio may include a resume or CV and a description of the individual’s practice experience; academic and specialized programs of study in the student’s specialty area; certifications in administration; or additional activities, and experiences exemplifying competence in the student’s specialty area.
• Students not meeting the clinical hour/ practice hour criteria will be evaluated and required to take an independent study course designed to provide an individualized practicum intensive based on the student’s background, experience, and learning needs to complete the required 1000 practicum hours for the DNP degree.

Practicum experiences/practice hours for Post-Master's DNP students are defined as direct or indirect patient care experiences; observational experiences; interviews; participation in community events or local, state, or national meetings relevant to the learning objectives; or other unique learning opportunities where the student can achieve defined learning objectives. Practicum experiences/practice hours may take place in the student’s place of employment if the experience clearly provides an opportunity to achieve specified student learning objectives. Students may work with professional mentors or preceptors during their practicum experiences. School of Nursing faculty may serve as preceptors or professional mentors.

TTUHSC Interprofessional Practice and Education (IPE) Core Curriculum

All TTUHSC students, regardless of school affiliation, are required to complete the TTUHSC IPE core curriculum prior to graduation. The IPE core curriculum is composed of two components including successful completion of a non-credit online course (>70% accuracy on the knowledge post-test) and successful participation in at least one registered IPE learning activity. Failure to complete the IPE core curriculum will result in delayed graduation. Students should consult their academic/program advisor and/or school catalog for additional information.

All TTUHSC students, regardless of school affiliation, will be required to complete the IPE non-credit, online course in interprofessional education. DNP students are required to complete the online course in the first semester of enrollment.

Maintaining Minimum Academic Requirements

The minimum GPA for continuance in the graduate program is 3.0 overall. Additionally, a minimum grade of “B” is required in each course (nursing required for degree completion. The TTUHSC SON Student Handbook (http://www. ttuhsc.edu/son/handbook.aspx) provides further details regarding academic and graduation expectations.

Progression in the DNP Program

• Grades are reviewed each semester and progression in the DNP Program is determined by the applicable Associate Dean/Department Chair and Graduate Progressions Committee.
• DNP students are required to maintain a 3.0 GPA with grades at “B” or above in all doctoral courses. Students with a cumulative or semester GPA below 3.0 are placed on academic probation.
• Students receiving “C” or lower in a doctoral course are eligible to repeat the course one time only pursuant to recommendation of course faculty.
• Students earning an overall cumulative GPA or a semester GPA less than a 3.0 in the semester of graduation/completion are ineligible for graduation/completion.

Academic Dismissal from the School of Nursing DNP Program will result from the following circumstances:

• Students earning a “C” or lower in two or more DNP courses in one semester
• Students earning a “C” or lower in the same DNP course twice
• Students earning a “C” or lower in a second DNP course even though one DNP course has been retaken and a satisfactory grade of “B” or better has been obtained

Failing to meet expected standards in any program may result in academic dismissal at any time. Academically dismissed students are eligible to be readmitted according to the stipulations noted in the “Readmission” section above.

Residence Credit

The minimum residence for the DNP degree is the majority, or over 50%, of graduate course work carrying residence credit be completed at TTUHSC. Residence credit as used here means credit for work done while enrolled in and attending classes at TTUHSC and should not be confused with “residence” in the State of Texas.

Majority of Credits

The majority or over 50% of credits toward any graduate or post-baccalaureate professional degree awarded by the TTUHSC must be earned:

• At TTUHSC
• In the case of those programs offered through joint, cooperative, or consortia arrangements through instruction offered by the participating institutions.

Semester Credit Hours and Course Loads

The semester credit hour is the unit of measure for credit purposes. For the Post-Master's DNP Program, didactic (lecture) hours are measured on a one-to-one basis; practicum hours are measured on a one-to-six basis. The number of semester credit hours a student may carry (course load) is regulated by the Post-Master's DNP Program Director. In determining this load, the DNP Program Director take into account the quality of prior scholastic work performed and the types of courses involved. A student enrolled in nine (9) or more credit hours in the Fall or Spring semester and six (6) or credit hours in the Summer semester is considered full-time.

Degree Plan

• Upon initial enrollment into DNP Program, each student is provided with a degree plan, individualized according to the student’s program of study and part-time or full-time enrollment status. The student’s individual needs and circumstances (i.e., part-time or full-time enrollment, preference for electives, transfer courses, etc…) are considered when developing the degree plan.
• The applicable Associate Dean/Department Chair or Program Director for the track in which the student is enrolled is responsible for approving the degree plan.
• Post-Master's DNP students are responsible for notifying the DNP Program Director anytime the student deviates from the degree plan (i.e., withdraw from a course; fail to register for a course, etc).
• During orientation to the DNP Program, students are advised about the requirements for the specific track or major and the student’s responsibility to (a) be knowledgeable about the degree requirements; (b) notify the Graduate Program office if the student deviates from the degree plan; and (c) meet degree requirements for graduation.
• The degree plan serves as the student’s guide for course registration each semester.