Doctor of Nursing Practice

The pinnacle of life-long healing

We know what you’re thinking: Dr. Nurse has an oddly satisfying ring to it. But all kidding aside, this program is reserved for those who feel called to the highest level of nursing practice. And it means you will undoubtedly be a leader among your peers.

Credits 30

Cost Per Credit ^$793

Careers

Nursing Assistant
Registered Nurse
Clinical Nurse Specialist

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Faith-based

We are committed to engaging your mind and spirit for service to Christ in the church and the world.

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Program Overview

Healthcare is always evolving. And there is a real need for talented people like you to drive that change. The Doctor of Nursing Practice Program prepares students at the highest level of practice to analyze current evidence and integrate systems thinking as a foundation for organizational change management and quality improvement initiatives to improve practice, education, and patient care in various settings.

Program Highlights:

Post-master’s program for certified advanced practice nurses or advanced administrators.
Cohort model is inclusive and supportive.
Accelerated classes in a flexible online format make this a manageable program for working professionals.
GRE is not required for admission.
Courses are built on a Christian foundation.

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.

What to Expect

By the time you complete this program, you’ll have the capacity to model scholarship, professionalism, and excellence in advanced nursing roles, while ensuring the use of advanced clinical judgment, systems thinking, and accountability to provide evidence-based care in the area of specialization or in systems leadership.

What could be next after your DNP? Consider our Doctorate of Education. One of the best, unique aspects of the EdD in Leadership in Innovation and Continuous Improvement (LICI) is its interprofessional approach. This cohort program welcomes students with diverse professional backgrounds in business, health professions, pharmacy, nursing, and education. The curriculum is collaboratively designed across these interprofessional areas and incorporates best practices from all these fields of study. Uncommon nurse leaders should consider earning a doctorate in leadership, innovation, and continuous improvement (LICI) as an alternative to a PhD in nursing. Today’s nurse leaders and educators need to be well versed in evidence-based teaching and practice.

Locations

In addition to our main and online campuses, Concordia has center locations which offer accelerated undergraduate and graduate programs close to where you live and work. The Doctor of Nursing Practice program is available at the following:

Online

Learn what makes our Online experience different.

Entrance Requirements

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

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:

- 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
Evaluation
When an applicant’s file is complete, the file is forwarded to the Admission Committee for review.
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.

Diane Ames DNP

Department Chair - Graduate Nursing Programs, Associate Professor

Goals/Objectives

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