Program Outcomes
The objectives of the DNP program are to prepare graduates for advanced nursing practice who are capable of providing holistic health care for diverse individuals, families or populations in a variety of settings. Specifically, the program seeks to produce graduates who:
1. Demonstrate clinical reasoning through an under-standing of science and evidence-based practice.
2. Design, implement and evaluate quality improvement initiatives across the systems in which health care is delivered.
3. Analyze and critique the available evidence for best practices in health care.
4. Apply technology and information fluency to conduct practice inquiry.
5. Advocate for rational health policies to improve patient care and enhance effective use of resources.
6. Demonstrate leadership through inter-professional collaboration to improve patient and population health outcomes.
7. Direct health promotion and disease prevention efforts to improve patient and population health outcomes.
8. Provide competent, culturally sensitive, and ethically based care to individuals and/or populations in a defined specialty of advanced nursing practice.
Post-bachelor’s Program
Students who are registered nurses and have a bachelor’s degree may pursue doctoral training as an advanced practice nurse in one of three specialty areas as an advanced practice registered nurse:
1. adult-gerontology nurse practitioner 2. family nurse practitioner
3. nurse anesthesia
Full-time students enrolled in the adult-gerontology or family nurse practitioner tracks can complete the degree requirements for a doctor of nursing practice in three years, with a two-day-per-week schedule. Students who are new to nursing or those who wish to begin their education at a more relaxed pace can choose a four-year option, which allows for part-time study during the first two years. This option allows for full-time work in the first two years of the program and part-time work in the final two years.
All students in the nurse anesthetist track are
full time and complete the degree in three years.
Clinical experience is graduated throughout the program, beginning with part time hours and ending with full time hours plus a call rotation.
Post-master’s Program
For students with a master’s degree in nursing or a related field, the post-master’s doctoral option offers an opportunity to advance career goals more rapidly in two years in one of three tracks:
1. care of populations 2. nurse anesthesia 3. nursing leadership
Students in the care of populations track focus on public health and “big picture” health care analysis, which is useful for systematic chronic disease management and health care services design. Those in the licensed certified registered nurse anesthesia track utilize their clinical work experience to advance their professional scope of practice, preparing them for an evolving health care environment as clinicians and leaders.
Students in the nursing leadership track may come with or without past experiences in management. The courses prepare students for leadership responsibilities and roles across the health care field.
Scholarly Portfolio
Upon admission, students are assigned an adviser, who meets with them for academic and scholarly advising over the course of the program. All stu-dents in the DNP program engage in scholarly inquiry through a variety of projects that are embedded in core and specialty courses throughout the program. Students are encouraged early to identify a theme or focus of inquiry. These com-pleted projects are collected in a capstone portfolio.
In the final semester, students reflect on how these projects have helped them achieve the overall pro-gram objectives during their course of study. The student’s ongoing portfolio work is evaluated by the full time faculty teaching the courses, in which the projects reside and the final synthesis will be graded as pass/fail by a faculty committee.
For more information about any of these offerings, visiting the graduate nursing program website at www.quinnipiac.edu/gradnursing.
Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Track (68 credits)
The adult-gerontology nurse practitioner track pre-pares qualified professional nurses to practice at an advanced level in primary care settings. The cur-riculum follows the standards set by the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, the American Nurses Association, and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. It provides 1,000 hours of precepted practice, thereby enabling graduates to diagnose and manage most common illnesses, and to assume the responsibilities com-mensurate with prescriptive authority and advanced nursing practice. Working independently and col-laboratively with nurse practitioners and other members of the health care team, graduates are prepared to provide high-quality, cost-effective and holistic primary care across the lifespan of adults.
Graduates are eligible to take a national examina-tion for certificaexamina-tion as adult nurse practiexamina-tioners.
Family Nurse Practitioner Track (75 credits) The family nurse practitioner track prepares qualified professional nurses to practice at an advanced level in primary care settings. The curriculum follows the standards set by the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, the American Nurses Association, and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
It provides 1,000 hours of precepted practice, thereby enabling graduates to diagnose and manage most common illnesses, and to assume the
responsibilities commensurate with prescriptive authority and advanced nursing practice. Working independently and collaboratively with nurse practitioners and other members of the health care team, program graduates are prepared to provide high-quality, cost-effective and holistic primary care across the lifespan. Graduates are eligible to take a national examination for certification as family nurse practitioners.
Post-master’s Care of Populations Track (33 credits)
The post-master’s care of populations track is for master’s prepared nurses who want to further develop population health management skills. In addition to the DNP core classes, a select group of classes explore health care systems, organizational dynamics, and population-focused inquiry. Five
hundred hours of practice and field experience related to the student’s interests enhance learning.
The track is open to all master’s prepared nurses.
Nursing Leadership Track (post-master’s, 30 credits)
The post-master’s nursing leadership track provides leadership development for master’s prepared nurses who aspire to assume or who currently hold leadership positions. Practica of 840 hours offer real time experience with health care leaders. The track is open to all master’s prepared nurses.
Nurse Anesthesia Track (post-bachelor’s, 73 credits;
post-master’s, 30–35 credits)
The curriculum of the nurse anesthesia track offers entry-level post-bachelor’s to DNP and post-mas-ter’s CRNA to DNP degree options. The curricula and policies were developed in accordance with The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice (AACN, 2006) and the Standards for Accreditation of Nurse Anesthe-sia Educational Programs (COA, 2013). Core DNP courses taught by experienced nursing facul-ty and members of the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Health Sciences will be shared col-laboratively with the other advanced practice DNP candidates. Nurse anesthesia students receive a strong science foundation as well as course content including patient safety and human factors as out-lined in the standards. A portfolio is required as a final capstone project focusing on nurse anesthesia scholarship. An oral comprehensive exam and grand rounds presentation are included as well as the portfolio for post-bachelor’s candidates.
The program’s goal—to develop knowledgeable, caring and compassionate nurse anesthetists who are committed to excellence in health care, preserving the dignity and rights of patients and advancing the profession—is congruent with the Quinnipiac University mission statement. The nurse anesthesia specialty is organized within the context of the DNP program in the School of Nursing. The DNP program builds on the generalist preparation of the bachelor’s-prepared nurse in the entrance-level DNP and the post-master’s level for the CRNA. The DNP prepares leaders in advanced practice roles who can synthesize knowledge from nursing and relevant
fields of study as a basis for practice. The graduate curriculum provides both didactic and clinical experiences that facilitate critical thinking skills so that graduates are able to provide quality, cost-effective health services to individual clients, families and communities.
Admission Requirements
An applicant to the DNP program must be a registered nurse or NCLEX eligible nurse and have a bachelor’s degree in nursing or another field. An undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better is required. Additionally applicants to the post-master’s tracks must have a master’s degree in nursing or a related field and those applying to the care of individuals track must be certified as APRNs. Post-master’s applicants are required to provide a letter from their prior master’s program detailing the total number of supervised clinical hours they completed as part of that program.
Applicants should submit the following to the Office of Graduate Admissions.
1. A completed admissions application including a resume and a personal statement addressing the following: a) professional goals and motivations;
b) a nursing experience that has influenced or shaped your practice; c) a health care problem that interests you for potential doctoral study.
2. Official transcripts from all schools previously attended.
3. Official recent results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or (IELTS) International English Language Testing System for international applicants.
4. Two letters of recommendation from persons with authority to evaluate your professional ability. Nurse anesthesia candidates can see the requirements at www.quinnipiac.edu/CRNA.
5. Proof of current licensure or eligibility for licensure as a registered nurse in the state of Connecticut.
6. Letter from applicant’s prior master’s program detailing the number of supervised clinical hours completed as part of that program (for post-master’s DNP applicants only).
Candidates applying for full-time admission for the fall term must submit a completed application by June 1.
When all application materials are received, an interview with the graduate nursing program director and/or member of the faculty will be arranged for eligible candidates.
Learning Pathways
DNP: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
Course Title Credits
First Year, Fall Semester
BMS 515 Advanced Pathophysiology I 3
NUR 500 Biostatistics 1
NUR 516 Health Policy & Organizational Systems 3 NUR 520 Advanced Health Assessment I 3 NUR 520L Advanced Health Assessment Lab 2 NUR 632 Health Promotion & Advocacy 3 Total 15 First Year, Spring Semester
BMS 516 Advanced Pathophysiology II 3 NUR 514 Epidemiology & Evidence-based Practice 3 NUR 630 Advanced Health Assessment II 3 NUR 630L Advanced Health Assessment Lab 2 NUR 634 Reproductive Health Problems in
Primary Care 3
Total 14 Summer 1
NUR 602 Principles of Ethical Theory in Nursing 1
NUR 638 Laboratory Diagnosis 2
Total 3 Second Year, Fall Semester
NUR 530 Advanced Pharmacology 3
NUR 636 Common Problems in Primary Care 3 NUR 641 Adult Health Practicum & Seminar I 3 Total 9 Second Year, Spring Semester
NUR 528 Principles of Radiography 2
NUR 640 Special Topics in Adult Pharmacology 1 NUR 642 Complex Problems in Primary Care 3 NUR 643 Adult Health Practicum & Seminar II 3
Total 9 Summer 2
NUR 524 Principles of ECG Interpretation 1 NUR 605 Clinical Practice Immersion 1
Total 2 Third Year, Fall Semester
NUR 610 Clinical Scholarship & Inquiry in Nursing 3 NUR 610 PBL Portfolio Synthesis Seminar I
NUR 645 Adult Health Practicum & Seminar III 3 Total 7 Third Year, Spring Semester
NUR 612 Leadership & Collaboration for
Change in Health Care 3
NUR 612 PBL Portfolio Synthesis Seminar II 1 NUR 647 Adult Health Practicum & Seminar IV 3 Total 7 Summer 3
NUR 637 Clinical Fellowship 2
Total 68
DNP: Family Nurse Practitioner
First Year, Fall Semester
BMS 515 Advanced Pathophysiology I 3
NUR 500 Biostatistics 1
NUR 516 Health Policy & Organizational Systems 3 NUR 520 Advanced Health Assessment I 3 NUR 520L Advanced Health Assessment Lab 2 NUR 632 Health Promotion & Advocacy 3 Total 15 First Year, Spring Semester
BMS 516 Advanced Pathophysiology II 3
NUR 514 Epidemiology & Evidence-based Practice 3 NUR 630 Advanced Health Assessment II 3 NUR 630L Advanced Health Assessment Lab 2 NUR 634 Reproductive Health Problems in
Primary Care 3
Total 14 Summer 1
NUR 602 Principles of Ethical Theory in Nursing 1
NUR 638 Laboratory Diagnosis 2
NUR 656 Pediatric Assessment 1
Total 4 Second Year, Fall Semester
NUR 530 Advanced Pharmacology 3
NUR 636 Common Problems in Primary Care 3 NUR 651 Family Health Practicum & Seminar I 3 NUR 652 Primary Care of the Child & Family I 3 Total 12 Second Year, Spring Semester
NUR 528 Principles of Radiography 2
NUR 642 Complex Problems in Primary Care 3 NUR 650 Special Topics in Family Pharmacology 1 NUR 653 Family Health Practicum & Seminar II 3 NUR 654 Primary Care of the Child & Family II 3 Total 12 Summer 2
NUR 524 Principles of ECG Interpretation 1
NUR 605 Clinical Practice Immersion 1
Total 2 Third Year, Fall Semester
NUR 610 Clinical Scholarship & Inquiry in Nursing 3 NUR 610 PBL Portfolio Synthesis Seminar I 1 NUR 655 Family Practicum & Seminar III 3 Total 7 Third Year, Spring Semester
NUR 612 Leadership & Collaboration for
Change in Health Care 3
NUR 612 PBL Portfolio Synthesis Seminar II 1 NUR 657 Family Health Practicum & Seminar IV 3 Total 7
Summer 3
NUR 637 Clinical Fellowship 2
Total 75
Post-master’s DNP: Care of Populations
First Year, Fall Semester
HM 600 Foundations of Health Care Management
(Option 1) 3
NUR 500 Biostatistics 1
NUR 516 Health Policy & Organizational Systems 3 NUR 602 Principles of Ethical Theory in Nursing 1 NUR 620 Advanced Principles of
Population-Based Health Care 3
Total 7/10 First Year, Spring Semester
NUR 514 Epidemiology & Evidence-based Practice 3 NUR 622 Special Topics in Advanced Practice
Nursing 3
OL 601 Foundations of Organizational
Leadership (Option 2) 3
Total 6/9 Summer 2
NUR 605 Clinical Practice Immersion 1
NUR 623 Population Health Fellowship 1 Total 2 Second Year, Fall Semester
NUR 610 Clinical Scholarship & Inquiry in Nursing 3 NUR 610 PBL Portfolio Synthesis Seminar I 1
Elective 3
Total 7 Second Year, Spring Semester
NUR 612 Leadership & Collaboration for
Change in Health Care 3
NUR 612 PBL Portfolio Synthesis Seminar II 1 NUR 700 An Interprofessional Approach to Caring for
the Underserved 3
Total 7 Total 33
Post-master’s DNP: Nursing Leadership
First Year, Fall Semester
HM 600 DE Foundations of Health Care Management 3 (first seven weeks)
NUR 500 Biostatistics 1
NUR 611 Nursing Leadership Seminar & Practicum I: 2 Culture of Safety (120 hours & online seminar) (second seven weeks)
Total 6 First Year, Spring Semester
HM 664 Financial Management in Health Care 3 Organizations (first seven weeks)
NUR 613 DE Nursing Leadership Seminar & Practicum II: 2 Applying Data to Practice (120 hours &
online seminar) (second seven weeks) Total 5 First Year, Summer Semester
NUR 610 DE Clinical Scholarship & Inquiry in Nursing 3 (10 weeks)
NUR 610 PBL Portfolio Synthesis I: 80 project hours; 1 online seminar (DNP Essentials)
NUR 615 DE Nursing Leadership Seminar & Practicum 2 III: Legal Contexts of Health Care (120 hours practicum & online seminar) (10 weeks)
Total 6 Second Year, Fall Semester
NUR 516 DE Health Policy & Organizational Systems 3 NUR 612 DE Leadership & Collaboration for Change in 3
Health Care
NUR 612 PBL Portfolio Synthesis II: 80 project hours; 1 Online seminar
Total 7 Second Year, Spring Semester
NUR 617 DE Nursing Leadership Fellowship I: 2 Relationship Management (120 hrs & online seminar) (includes two-day residency NUR 700 DE An Interprofessional Approach to Caring 3
for the Underserved with Multiple Chronic Conditions
Total 5 Second Year, Summer Semester
NUR 619 DE Nursing Leadership Fellowship II: Strategic 2 Leadership (120 hours & online seminar) NUR 621 Nursing Leadership Additional Clinical 2
(120 hours practicum) (as needed to secure sufficient clinical hours)
Total 2–4 Program Total 31–33
Post-bachelor’s to DNP: Nurse Anesthesia
Summer 1
NUR 602 Principles of Ethical Theory in Nursing 1
NUR 517 Human Anatomy 2
NUR 517L Human Anatomy Lab 1
PY 501 Advanced Human Physiology 3
Total 7 First Year, Fall Semester
NUR 516 Health Policy & Organizational Systems 3 NUR 520 Advanced Health Assessment I 3 NUR 520L Advanced Health Assessment Lab 2
NUR 530 Advanced Pharmacology I 3
NUR 500 Biostatistics 1
Total 12
First Year, Spring Semester
NUR 671 Clinical Practicum I 1
NUR 670 Basic Principles of Anesthesia 3 NUR 670L Basic Principles of Anesthesia Lab 1
NUR 672 Advanced Pharmacology II 3
NUR 514 Epidemiology & Evidence-based Practice 3
NUR 674 Professional Aspects I 1
Total 12 Summer 2
NUR 673 Clinical Practicum II (3-4 days/week) 1 NUR 680 Physics, Equipment & Technology
Advanced Chemistry Concepts for
the Nurse Anesthetist 4
Total 5 Second Year, Fall Semester
NUR 675 Clinical Practicum III (3-4 days/week) 2
BMS 518 Advanced Pathophysiology 3
NUR 682 Advanced Principles of Anesthesia I 3 NUR 682L Advanced Principles of Anesthesia Lab 1
NUR 676 Professional Aspects II 1
Total 10 Second Year, Spring Semester
NUR 677 Clinical Practicum IV (4 days per week) 2 NUR 684 Advanced Principles of Anesthesia II 3 NUR 688 Human Factors & Patient Safety 3 Total 8 Summer 3
NUR 679 Clinical Practicum V (4 days) 2
NUR 678 Professional Aspects III 1
NUR 686 Advanced Principles of Anesthesia III 3
Third Year, Fall Semester
NUR 681 Clinical Practicum VI (4 days) 2 NUR 610 Clinical Scholarship and Inquiry 3
NUR 610 PBL Portfolio Synthesis I 1
Total 6
Third Year, Spring Semester
NUR 683 Clinical Practicum VIII (3–4 days) 2
NUR 694 Oral Comprehensives 1
NUR 612 Leadership & Collaboration for Change in
Health Care 3
NUR 612 PBL Portfolio Synthesis II 1
Total 7
Pre-req for entrance: Undergrad A&P with labs (8 credits), Chemistry:
Inorganic and Organic (8 credits) Microbiology (3–4 credits) Pharmacology (3–4 credits), statistics (3 credits).
Oral comprehensives: Pharmacology, A&P, Pathophysiology, Advanced principles of Anesthesia
Clinical Practicum—5 semesters—approx.. hours 1800–2000.
Post-master’s DNP: Nurse Anesthesia
First Year, Fall Semester
NUR 685 Clinical Practicum I 1
NUR 516 Health Policy & Organizational Systems 3 NUR 520 Advanced Health Assessment I* 3 NUR 520L Advanced Health Assessment Lab* 2
BMS 510 Biostatistics 1
*May be waived if taking the nurse anesthesia program Total 5/10 First Year, Spring Semester
NUR 687 Clinical Practicum II 1
NUR 688 Human Factors & Patient Safety 3 NUR 514 Epidemiology & Evidence-based Practice 3 Total 7 Summer 1
NUR 689 Clinical Practicum III 1
NUR 690 Patient Safety Seminar 3
NUR 692BPL Clinical Case Study Presentation 1 NUR 678 Professional Aspects
(Educational Leadership) 1
Total 6 Second Year, Fall Semester
NUR 691 Clinical Practicum IV 1
NUR 602 Principles of Ethical Theory in Nursing 1 NUR 610 Clinical Scholarship and Inquiry 3
NUR 610 PBL Portfolio Synthesis I 1
Total 6 Second Year, Spring Semester
NUR 693 Clinical Practicum V 2
NUR 612 Leadership & Collaboration for
Change in Health Care 3
NUR 612 PBL Portfolio Synthesis II 1
Total 6