Doctor of Nursing Practice

• MSN degree from an accredited school of nursing.
• Current RN licensure in the state of residence.
• Current certification as an advanced practice nurse (nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse midwife, or registered nurse anesthetist) or as an advanced nurse administrator.
• A cumulative 3.5 GPA from previous MSN coursework (those applicants with a 3.25-3.49 cumulative GPA from MSN coursework will be considered on a probationary status).
• Graduate-level statistics course that includes descriptive and inferential statistics taken within the last five years (must have achieved a grade of B or higher).

How to Apply

These programs have a minimum undergraduate GPA requirement of 3.00.

Admissions Process for Graduate School

1. Application (Please Submit the Following):

• Application form available at: www.cuw.edu/apply
• Non-refundable application fee
• Résumé of your nursing experience and education and the applicant’s progression in advanced practice or leadership positions.
• Two signed letters of recommendation using the Recommendation Form. These should be professional colleagues familiar with advanced practice nursing or leadership competence. References should address the applicant’s potential for success in the DNP Program.(recommendation letters on letterhead may also be submitted)
• All official transcripts leading to undergraduate and graduate degrees.
• Documentation of the number of faculty-supervised clinical hours completed in the MSN program.
• Admission essay addressing the following: The Institute of Medicine (2010) had called to double the number of nurses with doctoral degrees by 2020. Describe ways that increasing the number of nurses with doctorates will affect the profession of nursing. Your response should be 5-7 pages in length, not including the title page and reference page, in APA format.
• Admission Interview.
• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The priority deadline is April 15 for the cohort beginning late-August. There is a mandatory orientation on campus on Friday, August 9, 2019.

Please note:

1. • Graduate entrance exams such as the GRE are not required
   • If you have completed graduate level classes in the last seven years and wish to have them evaluated for possible transfer, please contact your admissions counselor for more information on transferring graduate credits
   • International students should contact the Office of International Student Services at international.admissions@cuw.edu for additional application requirements
2. Evaluation
   When an applicant’s file is complete, the file is forwarded to the Admission Committee for review.
   
   
3. Admission
   If the student is admitted, an acceptance letter will be mailed to the student and the student’s Falcon One Student ID number. Password information to access my.cuw.edu will be sent separately from the Information Technology office. Your advisor will be able to give you information regarding completion of the required student orientation before you begin your first class.

Contact Us

For additional information, please contact the Graduate Admission Office at graduate.admission@cuw.edu or 262.243.4300.

1. Synthesize liberal arts and scientific background into advanced nursing roles.
2. Develop leadership skills for quality improvement initiatives related to advanced nursing roles across health care delivery systems.
3. Demonstrate advanced levels of scholarship and analysis in implementing and evaluating evidence-based approaches to advanced nursing roles at the systems level.
4. Evaluate information systems and patient care information technologies to improve health care.
5. Influence health care policy development as related to health care delivery systems and the nursing profession.
6. Lead intraprofessional and interprofessional teams to influence health outcomes of individuals and populations.
7. Use cultural, epidemiological, biostatistical, and environmental data to influence clinical prevention and population health outcomes at the systems level.
8. Model scholarship, professionalism, and excellence in advanced nursing roles.
9. Use advanced clinical judgment, systems thinking, and accountability to provide evidence-based care in the area of specialization or in systems leadership.

To accommodate the schedules of working professionals, our DNP program is centered on an inclusive and supportive cohort class strategy. The Program can be completed in two years. Courses integrate elements to meet the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice. Students complete residency hours in areas of their choice to develop and hone leadership and practice skills.

Year 1, Semester 1

Year 1, Semester 2

Year 2, Semester 3

Year 2, Semester 4

A minimum of 500 residency hours must be completed during the program to reach the 1,000 required DNP hours. Of the 500 required DNP hours, no more than 120 hours can be in indirect patient care experiences outside of the student’s current practice. The balance of the hours will be obtained through the DNP project and leadership activities. Faculty may contact the mentor at any time for verification of hours and progress of goals/objectives.