Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.)

The doctor of nursing practice (D.N.P.) degree prepares students to be family nurse practitioners (F.N.P.) at the doctoral level. The F.N.P. is a health care professional who is prepared to work independently and collaboratively with other health care professionals, to diagnose and manage acute and chronic health conditions, and promote health and wellness to families and individuals of all ages. This practice doctoral program prepares nurses to provide health services at the highest level of clinical nursing practice. Registered nurses who currently are nurse practitioners retain their specialty and earn the D.N.P. degree.

The D.N.P. program incorporates professional standards and guidelines from The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice (AACN, 2006), the Criteria for Evaluation of Nurse Practitioner Programs (NTF, 2016), the Nurse Practitioner Core Competencies (NONPF, 2017), the Population-Focused Family/Across the Lifespan Competencies (NONPF, 2013) and the Oregon State Board of Nursing in preparation of the curriculum and evaluation of outcomes.

Students will complete a D.N.P. scholarly project related to advanced nursing practice. NRS 675 Directed D.N.P. Clinical is designed for students to demonstrate synthesis of knowledge and use evidence to improve practice or patient outcomes.

D.N.P. Program Outcomes

The D.N.P. program prepares competent, entry-level family nurse practitioners and experienced nurse practitioners who:

  1. Practice independently in a variety of primary care health environments, translate best evidence into practice, employ a population focus, incorporate an integrative health care perspective, and collaborate with multiple disciplines with the goal of providing effective, comprehensive health care;
  2. Demonstrate leadership in macro and micro health care system change and personal practice improvement; and
  3. Proactively strive for social justice, actively address health disparities and function as culturally competent practitioners who relate effectively with diverse and under-served individuals, families, and populations.

Admission Requirements

Non-Nurse Practitioner Admission Requirements:

  1. D.N.P. writing sample.
  2. Current resume.
  3. Three letters of recommendation: all completed recommendation forms and letters should either be emailed as a signed attachment to gradschl@up.edu or sent via mail to ATTN: Graduate School, 5000 N. Willamette Blvd., Portland, Oregon 97203, directly by the reference.
  4. Official transcripts (from all previously attended academic institutions) must be submitted directly from the institution or in a sealed envelope given to the applicant directly from the academic institution.
  5. A bachelor's degree in nursing or a master's degree in nursing from a school of nursing accredited by an appropriate national nursing accrediting body.
  6. Current unencumbered registered R.N. license to practice nursing in state of residence. R.N. licensure in Oregon is recommended. Additional costs may be incurred for clinical placements outside of Oregon.
  7. Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) in the most recently completed nursing program.
  8. Preference given to Oregon and Washington applicants with at least 2 years experience as an R.N.
  9. An admission interview upon request of the School of Nursing.

Nurse Practitioner Admission Requirements:

  1. D.N.P. writing sample.
  2. Current resume.
  3. Three letters of recommendation: all completed recommendation forms and letters should either be emailed as a signed attachment to gradschl@up.edu or sent via mail to ATTN: Graduate School, 5000 N. Willamette Blvd., Portland, Oregon 97203, directly by the reference.
  4. Official transcripts (from all previously attended academic institutions) must be submitted directly from the institution or in a sealed envelope given to the applicant directly from the academic institution.
  5. A master’s degree from a school of nursing accredited by an appropriate national nursing accrediting body.
  6. Current unencumbered R.N. license to practice nursing in state of residence.
  7. Current nurse practitioner license in state of practice and currently employed as a nurse practitioner in a clinical setting.
  8. Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) in the most recently completed nursing program.
  9. An admission interview upon request of the School of Nursing.

Doctor of Nursing Practice - Program of Study for Master's Prepared Nurse Practitioners

  • Program of study includes 360 clinical hours.
  • Courses are offered via hybrid method: greater than 50% face to face.
  • Because nursing is a dynamic field, the nursing curriculum is subject to change at the School of Nursing’s discretion.
NRS 601Professional Role Development for Advanced Practice Nursing

3

NRS 602Leadership in a Complex Healthcare Environment

3

NRS 604Nursing Science and Ethics for Advanced Practice

3

NRS 605Analytical Methods for Practice Improvement

3

NRS 606Quality Improvement Processes for Practice Improvement

3

NRS 609Botanicals in Primary Care

1

NRS 614Health Organization Systems & Resource Management

3

NRS 649Policy and Politics for the Nurse Leader

2

NRS 650Informatics in a Complex Healthcare Environment

2

NRS 651Epidemiology and Clinical Prevention in Population Health

3

NRS 652Translation Science

2

NRS 665DNP Scholarly Project

1

NRS 676Integrative Health: Adult Health Promotion and Acute Health Problems

3

NRS 685Directed DNP Clinical for Post Master's NP Students I

3

NRS 686Directed DNP Clinical for Post-Master's NP Students II

3

Total Credit Hours:40

Note for NRS 665 - Students are required to take this course a minimum of three times, but will continue to register for it every semester until successful completion and dissemination of the final project.

For applicants who have a master’s degree in nursing and are nurse practitioners, upon approval of the D.N.P. program director, a maximum of 9 semester hours may be accepted in transfer for graduate courses completed at a nationally accredited institution with a grade of B or better and within five years of acceptance to the program.

Doctor of Nursing Practice - Family Nurse Practitioner Program of Study for Bachelor of Science in Nursing Prepared Nurses

  • Program of study includes 960 clinical hours.
  • Courses are offered via hybrid method: greater than 50% face to face.
  • Because nursing is a dynamic field, the nursing curriculum is subject to change at the School of Nursing’s discretion.
NRS 601Professional Role Development for Advanced Practice Nursing

3

NRS 602Leadership in a Complex Healthcare Environment

3

NRS 604Nursing Science and Ethics for Advanced Practice

3

NRS 605Analytical Methods for Practice Improvement

3

NRS 606Quality Improvement Processes for Practice Improvement

3

NRS 607Advanced Pathophysiology and Genetics

4

NRS 608Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics

3

NRS 609Botanicals in Primary Care

1

NRS 610Advanced Health Assessment for Family Nurse Practitioners

4

NRS 614Health Organization Systems & Resource Management

3

NRS 630FNP Clinical I

3

NRS 631FNP Clinical II

2

NRS 633FNP Clinical III

2

NRS 634FNP Clinical IV

3

NRS 649Policy and Politics for the Nurse Leader

2

NRS 650Informatics in a Complex Healthcare Environment

2

NRS 651Epidemiology and Clinical Prevention in Population Health

3

NRS 652Translation Science

2

NRS 665DNP Scholarly Project

1

NRS 670Management of Adults with Acute Conditions

3

NRS 671Management of Common Gender Specific Health Issues

3

NRS 672Management of Common Mental Health Conditions in Primary Care

2

NRS 673Management of Pediatric Patients in Primary Care

4

NRS 674Management of Adults and Older Adults with Chronic Conditions

3

NRS 675Directed DNP Clinical

6

NRS 676Integrative Health: Adult Health Promotion and Acute Health Problems

3

Total Credit Hours:76

Note for NRS 665 - Students are required to take this course a minimum of three times, but will continue to register for it every semester until successful completion and dissemination of the final project.

For applicants who have a master’s degree in nursing and are not nurse practitioners:  upon approval of the D.N.P. program director, a maximum of 9 semester hours may be accepted in transfer for graduate courses completed at a nationally accredited institution with a grade of B or better and within five years of acceptance to the program.