Washburn’s Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program offers a strong focus on clinical preparation and practice readiness with an in-depth understanding of systems thinking and quality improvement.

The DNP program at Washburn University offers graduate experiences for nurses based upon educational level and practice interest:

• MSN to DNP (APRN status with national certification as a nurse practitioner¹).
• MSN to DNP (without APRN status or national certification as a nurse practitioner).
• BSN to DNP.

¹

as a family nurse practitioner, adult nurse practitioner, geriatric nurse practitioner, adult geriatric nurse practitioner, pediatric nurse practitioner, or psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner

The Doctor of Nursing Practice program prepares graduates for leadership and entrepreneurial roles in advanced practice nursing. All programs prepare graduates to sit for national certification as a family nurse practitioner or psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. A generic track is available for nationally certified nurse practitioners seeking a DNP, and who are not seeking an additional certification. The DNP program requires completion of 35 to 76 credits depending on the track chosen. The program also requires a minimum of 1000 direct patient care clinical hours in practicum/residency experiences. Post-MSN students who are nationally certified as a nurse practitioner may be awarded up to 500 clock hours toward the minimum 1000 clock hour requirement. The DNP Program is offered online for MSN to DNP students and is offered predominantly online for BSN to DNP students. BSN to DNP and MSN to DNP students without NP are required to travel to campus at the conclusion of the advanced health assessment course, and if pursing family nurse practitioner certification, at the conclusion of the primary care courses, to participate in hands-on skills training. BSN to DNP students attend three required virtual on-campus experiences per academic year (see SON website for detail about these experiences). For specific DNP course requirements/sequencing, please refer to https://www.washburn.edu/academics/college-schools/nursing/index.html.

DNP End-of-Program/Student Learning Outcomes

At the completion of the nursing program, the learner will be able to:

• Integrate nursing science with ethics, natural, social, and organizational sciences for advanced practice nursing.
• Support quality healthcare innovations through systems-level leadership.
• Use evidence-based practice methods to optimize healthcare outcomes and reduce disparities.
• Integrate technology with nursing practice to improve quality and accessibility of care.
• Advocate health care policies that seek to improve social justice, equity, and ethical treatment.
• Collaborate with intraprofessional and interdisciplinary teams to create innovation within complex healthcare systems.
• Synthesize concepts of health promotion and disease prevention to evaluate interventions aimed to improve health indicators.
• Demonstrate evidence-based competencies in advanced practice nursing as identified by the APRN consensus model.

DNP Admission Requirements

Students who meet the requirements noted below may apply for admission to the DNP program. The requirements for admission to the DNP program include:

• Submission of the Washburn University graduate degree seeking application (available online).
• Official transcripts sent to the School of Nursing (BSN and MSN as applicable).
• Evidence of current licensure in the states of residence and practice as a registered nurse and APRN (post-Master’s NP only).
• If MSN without FNP or NP without practice experience, advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology, and advanced health assessment courses that have lifespan content and have been completed within the last 5 years.
• Receipt of a minimum of two references from current or past employers, faculty, or professional peers.
• Evidence of national certifications through either ANCC or AANP (applies to post-Master’s NP applicants only).
• Current resume.
• Minimum GPA of 3.0, with preference given for a GPA of 3.25 or above in previous undergraduate and graduate work preferred.

The School of Nursing Graduate Admission, Progression, and Retention (GAPR) Committee reviews all applicants. Potential applicants are required to attend an interview and complete a brief writing assessment as part of the application process. The GAPR committee will make admission decisions.

The School of Nursing seeks applicants who demonstrate honesty and personal integrity, who take responsibility for actions taken or omitted, who prioritize patient safety and confidentiality, who maintain professional boundaries with patients and colleagues, and who communicate respectfully and in a timely manner with faculty/staff, preceptors, and agencies that offer learning opportunities.  Applicants should possess flexibility to deal with changing situations and should demonstrate a willingness to utilize constructive feedback to develop behaviors characteristic of the advanced practice nurse. The School of Nursing reserves the right to withhold admission to or withdraw students from the program who do not demonstrate these professional behaviors.

Conditional Admission

Students may be “conditionally” admitted to a Washburn School of Nursing graduate program. A student whose status is “conditional” may have requirements such as licensure, certification, or another degree to complete prior to starting the program. If a graduate level statistics course was a required prerequisite at the time of application, then the student is expected to complete the admission requirement within one year. If a conditional admission requirement is present and is met at the time the program is scheduled to start, the student will be considered a degree or certificate-seeking student in the program. If a conditional admission requirement is not met at the time when the program is scheduled to start, the prospective student will be allowed to take one or more courses in the program only with the consent of the program director and each course instructor.

Non-Degree Seeking Option

Students may complete up to nine (9) credit hours of non-practicum coursework prior to acceptance to the DNP program. The completion of these courses prior to admission may affect future financial aid by decreasing the number of credit hours taken within a given semester. Please contact the Director of Graduate Student Services for enrollment assistance.

DNP Application Procedures

1. Submit the Washburn University graduate application. A link to the application can be found on the DNP program webpage.  The online application includes:
   1. Three references from current or past employers, faculty, or professional peers are recommended for priority consideration.
   2. Current resume.
2. Request official transcripts be sent directly to the School of Nursing (BSN and MSN if applicable).
3. For post-Master’s NP applicants, submit
   1. Evidence of current licensure in the states of residence and practice as a registered nurse and APRN.
   2. National certifications through either ANCC or AANP.
4. Attend an interview and complete a brief writing assessment as part of the application process.

Transfer Credit

Transfer of credits from another graduate nursing program is considered on a case-by-case basis after review of appropriate course syllabi. The applicant must have received a grade of “B” or better in the course(s) being considered. Transfer of courses from another institution may affect future financial aid by decreasing the number of credit hours taken within a given semester. Academic credit is not given for life or work experience.

DNP Degree Requirements

• A minimum of 35 semester hours of credit and up to 76 semester hours.
• A cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 in courses required for the current degree.
• At least two-thirds of the semester hours required for the degree must be earned at Washburn University.
• All course work must be completed within eight (8) calendar years.

Time Limit for Completion of the DNP Program

All students have eight years from their date of entry into the program to complete the requirements of the DNP program at Washburn University. Any student who cannot comply with this requirement and has a legitimate reason for being unable to do so may petition for an extension. The petition for extension should be approved by the advisor and sent to the Chairperson of the School of Nursing Graduate Admission, Progression, and Retention (GAPR) Committee. The student will be notified of the Committee decision in writing.

Requests to Change Track

The School of Nursing GAPR Committee admits qualified applicants to fill available positions within each track. DNP students admitted in one track may request to change to a different track by submitting a request to the Chairperson of the GAPR Committee. The letter should state the request and indicate the reason for the request. The DNP Program Director and the GAPR Committee decision will be based on space availability, the student’s reason for requesting the change, the student’s prior academic performance, and the approval of the faculty in the requested track. The student and academic advisor will be notified of the committee decision in writing by the GAPR Committee. The student should be aware that making this change may affect progression in the program.

DNP Program Requirements

BSN-DNP FNP Track (1)

(total of 74 credit hours)

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NU 801	Theoretical Foundations	2
NU 802	Population Health	3
NU 804	Emerging Concepts Informatics	2
NU 805	Health Policy	2
NU 809	Doctoral Leadership	2
NU 812	Innovations in Quality Care	2
NU 815	Research Methods for Practice Scholarship	3
NU 817	Evidence-Based Practice	3
NU 820	Advanced Pathophysiology	3
NU 822	Advanced Pharmacology: Lifespan	3
NU 829	Advanced Health Assessment and Differential Diagnosis Across the Lifespan	3
NU 830	Primary Care I	3
NU 832	Primary Care Practicum I 1	3
NU 834	Primary Care II	3
NU 836	Primary Care Practicum II 1	3
NU 838	Primary Care III	3
NU 840	Primary Care Practicum III 1	3
NU 843	Basic Office Procedures and Assessment	1
NU 870	Data Driven Practice	2
NU 874	Applied Diagnostic Reasoning and Clinical Decision-Making	2
NU 876	Advanced Office Procedures	2
NU 900	Philosophical Worldviews for Doctoral Nursing Practice	2
NU 902	Health Care Economics	3
NU 903	Perspectives for the Advancement of Global Health	2
NU 904	DNP Residency: BSN-DNP 2	4
NU 971	Practice Inquiry DNP Project I	2
NU 972	Practice Inquiry DNP Project II	2
NU 973	Practice Inquiry DNP Project III	2
NU 980	Professional Role Development and Transition to Practice	1
PY 610	Intermediate Statistics	3
Total Hours		74

¹

FNP Practicum hours are at a 5:1 ratio.

²

DNP Residency hours are at a 5:1 ratio.

Program Plan of Study: https://www.washburn.edu/academics/college-schools/nursing/grad/dnp/index.html 

BSN-DNP PMHNP Track (2)

(total of 76 credit hours)

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NU 801	Theoretical Foundations	2
NU 802	Population Health	3
NU 804	Emerging Concepts Informatics	2
NU 805	Health Policy	2
NU 809	Doctoral Leadership	2
NU 812	Innovations in Quality Care	2
NU 815	Research Methods for Practice Scholarship	3
NU 817	Evidence-Based Practice	3
NU 820	Advanced Pathophysiology	3
NU 822	Advanced Pharmacology: Lifespan	3
NU 827	Psychiatric Differential Diagnosis & Diagnostic Interviewing	3
NU 828	Advanced Psychopharmacology/Neurobiology	3
NU 829	Advanced Health Assessment and Differential Diagnosis Across the Lifespan	3
NU 850	Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nursing I	3
NU 854	Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing II	3
NU 857	Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practicum 1, 3	6
NU 859	Advanced Psychiatric Nursing Special Focus Practicum 1	3
NU 870	Data Driven Practice	2
NU 874	Applied Diagnostic Reasoning and Clinical Decision-Making	2
NU 900	Philosophical Worldviews for Doctoral Nursing Practice	2
NU 902	Health Care Economics	3
NU 903	Perspectives for the Advancement of Global Health	2
NU 904	DNP Residency: BSN-DNP 2	6
NU 971	Practice Inquiry DNP Project I	2
NU 972	Practice Inquiry DNP Project II	2
NU 973	Practice Inquiry DNP Project III	2
NU 980	Professional Role Development and Transition to Practice	1
PY 610	Intermediate Statistics	3
Total Hours		76

¹

PMH Practicum hours are at a 4:1 ratio. Offered as repeatable variable credit courses

²

DNP Residency hours are at a 5:1 ratio.

³

NU 857 is variable credit with a required total of 6 credit hours needed before progressing to NU 859.

Program Plan of Study: https://www.washburn.edu/academics/college-schools/nursing/grad/dnp/index.html 

MSN-DNP (with NP) Generic Track (3)

(total of 40 credit hours)

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NU 802	Population Health	3
NU 804	Emerging Concepts Informatics	2
NU 809	Doctoral Leadership	2
NU 812	Innovations in Quality Care	2
NU 815	Research Methods for Practice Scholarship	3
NU 817	Evidence-Based Practice	3
NU 870	Data Driven Practice	2
NU 900	Philosophical Worldviews for Doctoral Nursing Practice	2
NU 902	Health Care Economics	3
NU 903	Perspectives for the Advancement of Global Health	2
NU 905	DNP Residency: MSN-DNP 1	7
NU 971	Practice Inquiry DNP Project I	2
NU 972	Practice Inquiry DNP Project II	2
NU 973	Practice Inquiry DNP Project III	2
PY 610	Intermediate Statistics	3
Total Hours		40

¹

DNP Residency hours are at a 5:1 ratio.

Program Plan of Study: https://www.washburn.edu/academics/college-schools/nursing/grad/dnp/index.html 

MSN-DNP (with NP): FNP/ANP/AGNP/PNP to PMHNP Track (4)

For nurse practitioners with prior lifespan advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health assessment, the program is 54 credit hours. Additional credit hours may be needed if lifespan gaps exist in any of these courses.

(total of 54 credit hours)

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NU 802	Population Health	3
NU 804	Emerging Concepts Informatics	2
NU 809	Doctoral Leadership	2
NU 812	Innovations in Quality Care	2
NU 815	Research Methods for Practice Scholarship	3
NU 817	Evidence-Based Practice	3
NU 827	Psychiatric Differential Diagnosis & Diagnostic Interviewing	3
NU 828	Advanced Psychopharmacology/Neurobiology	3
NU 850	Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nursing I	3
NU 854	Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing II	3
NU 857	Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practicum 1, 2	6
NU 859	Advanced Psychiatric Nursing Special Focus Practicum 1	3
NU 870	Data Driven Practice	2
NU 900	Philosophical Worldviews for Doctoral Nursing Practice	2
NU 902	Health Care Economics	3
NU 903	Perspectives for the Advancement of Global Health	2
NU 971	Practice Inquiry DNP Project I	2
NU 972	Practice Inquiry DNP Project II	2
NU 973	Practice Inquiry DNP Project III	2
PY 610	Intermediate Statistics	3
Total Hours		54

¹

PMH Practicum hours are at a 4:1 ratio. Offered as Repeatable variable credit courses.

²

NU 857 is variable credit with a required total of 6 credit hours needed before progressing to NU 859.

Program Plan of Study: https://www.washburn.edu/academics/college-schools/nursing/grad/dnp/index.html 

MSN to DNP (without NP)

This program is 70 credit hours depending on the specialty chosen with a minimum of 975 clock hours of direct patient care.

MSN-DNP (without NP) FNP Track (5)

(total of 70-credit hours)

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NU 802	Population Health	3
NU 804	Emerging Concepts Informatics	2
NU 809	Doctoral Leadership	2
NU 812	Innovations in Quality Care	2
NU 815	Research Methods for Practice Scholarship	3
NU 817	Evidence-Based Practice	3
NU 820	Advanced Pathophysiology	3
NU 822	Advanced Pharmacology: Lifespan	3
NU 829	Advanced Health Assessment and Differential Diagnosis Across the Lifespan	3
NU 830	Primary Care I	3
NU 832	Primary Care Practicum I 1	3
NU 834	Primary Care II	3
NU 836	Primary Care Practicum II 1	3
NU 838	Primary Care III	3
NU 840	Primary Care Practicum III 1	3
NU 843	Basic Office Procedures and Assessment	1
NU 870	Data Driven Practice	2
NU 874	Applied Diagnostic Reasoning and Clinical Decision-Making	2
NU 876	Advanced Office Procedures	2
NU 900	Philosophical Worldviews for Doctoral Nursing Practice	2
NU 902	Health Care Economics	3
NU 903	Perspectives for the Advancement of Global Health	2
NU 905	DNP Residency: MSN-DNP 2	4
NU 971	Practice Inquiry DNP Project I	2
NU 972	Practice Inquiry DNP Project II	2
NU 973	Practice Inquiry DNP Project III	2
NU 980	Professional Role Development and Transition to Practice	1
PY 610	Intermediate Statistics	3
Total Hours		70

¹

FNP Practicum hours are at a 5:1 ratio. Offered as repeatable variable credit courses.

²

DNP Residency hours are at a 5:1 ratio.

Program Plan of Study: https://www.washburn.edu/academics/college-schools/nursing/grad/dnp/index.html 

MSN-DNP (without NP) PMHNP Track (6)

(total of 72 credit hours)

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NU 802	Population Health	3
NU 804	Emerging Concepts Informatics	2
NU 809	Doctoral Leadership	2
NU 812	Innovations in Quality Care	2
NU 815	Research Methods for Practice Scholarship	3
NU 817	Evidence-Based Practice	3
NU 820	Advanced Pathophysiology	3
NU 822	Advanced Pharmacology: Lifespan	3
NU 827	Psychiatric Differential Diagnosis & Diagnostic Interviewing	3
NU 828	Advanced Psychopharmacology/Neurobiology	3
NU 829	Advanced Health Assessment and Differential Diagnosis Across the Lifespan	3
NU 850	Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nursing I	3
NU 854	Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing II	3
NU 857	Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practicum 1, 3	6
NU 859	Advanced Psychiatric Nursing Special Focus Practicum 1	3
NU 870	Data Driven Practice	2
NU 874	Applied Diagnostic Reasoning and Clinical Decision-Making	2
NU 900	Philosophical Worldviews for Doctoral Nursing Practice	2
NU 902	Health Care Economics	3
NU 903	Perspectives for the Advancement of Global Health	2
NU 905	DNP Residency: MSN-DNP 2	6
NU 971	Practice Inquiry DNP Project I	2
NU 972	Practice Inquiry DNP Project II	2
NU 973	Practice Inquiry DNP Project III	2
NU 980	Professional Role Development and Transition to Practice	1
PY 610	Intermediate Statistics	3
Total Hours		72

¹

PMH Practicum hours are at a 4:1 ratio. Offered as repeatable variable credit courses.

²

DNP Residency hours are at a 5:1 ratio.

³

NU 857 is variable credit with a required total of 6 credit hours needed before progressing to NU 859.

Program Plan of Study: https://www.washburn.edu/academics/college-schools/nursing/grad/dnp/index.html 

MSN-DNP (with APRN-NP & PMHNP Certificate)

MSN-DNP (with FNP/ANP/AGNP/PNP plus PMHNP) Generic Track (7)

(total of 35 Credit Hours)

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NU 802	Population Health	3
NU 804	Emerging Concepts Informatics	2
NU 809	Doctoral Leadership	2
NU 812	Innovations in Quality Care	2
NU 815	Research Methods for Practice Scholarship	3
NU 817	Evidence-Based Practice	3
NU 870	Data Driven Practice	2
NU 900	Philosophical Worldviews for Doctoral Nursing Practice	2
NU 902	Health Care Economics	3
NU 903	Perspectives for the Advancement of Global Health	2
NU 905	DNP Residency: MSN-DNP 1	2
NU 971	Practice Inquiry DNP Project I	2
NU 972	Practice Inquiry DNP Project II	2
NU 973	Practice Inquiry DNP Project III	2
PY 610	Intermediate Statistics	3
Total Hours		35

¹

DNP Residency hours are at a 5:1 ratio.

Program Plan of Study: https://www.washburn.edu/academics/college-schools/nursing/grad/dnp/index.html