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

The doctor of nursing practice (D.N.P.) degree program prepares nurses to provide health services at the highest level of clinical nursing practice. The curriculum is designed to develop leaders able to expand their impact on the health of society by improving quality of care, patient outcomes, and health policy. The program features curricular threads including leadership, inquiry, social justice and ethics, and integrative health. Graduates are prepared as holistic practitioners who understand many different healing methodologies and who practice collaboratively with those who seek care. There is also an emphasis on caring for disadvantaged populations and using evidence-based interventions in care to advance health equality.

In the preparation of the curriculum and evaluation of outcomes, the D.N.P. program incorporates professional standards and guidelines from the Oregon State Board of Nursing, 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 Graduate Competencies and Recommendations for Educating Nursing Students (AACN, 2019), the National Center for Integrative Primary Health Care Competencies, the Population-Focused Nurse Practitioner Family Competencies: Family/Across the Lifespan (NONPF, 2013) for students in the F.N.P. track, and the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Competencies (NONPF, 2016) for students in the A.G.P.C.N.P. track.

All students complete a D.N.P. scholarly project related to advanced nursing practice in NRS 665 D.N.P. Scholarly Project. Students log the hours they spend completing NRS 665 as clinical hours. Additionally, students in the F.N.P. and A.G.P.C.N.P. tracks complete NRS 675 Directed D.N.P. Clinical and students in the N.P. to D.N.P. track complete NRS 685 Directed D.N.P. Clinical for N.P. to D.N.P. Students I and NRS 686 Directed D.N.P. Clinical for N.P. to D.N.P. Students II. These directed clinical courses are designed for students to demonstrate synthesis of knowledge and use evidence to improve practice or patient outcomes for specific program competencies.

Graduates of the F.N.P. track are eligible for F.N.P. national certification through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPBC) or American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Graduates of the A.G.P.C.N.P. track are eligible for A.G.P.C.N.P. national certification through the AANPBC or ANCC. The A.G.P.C.N.P. track also prepares graduates for the Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse exam if they wish to be distinguished as palliative care experts and complete the required clinical hours and experiences. Graduates of the F.N.P. and N.P. to D.N.P. tracks who complete NRS 654: Primary & Specialty Palliative Care and the required clinical hours and experiences during their program may also take the Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse exam if they wish to be distinguished as palliative care experts.

D.N.P. Program Outcomes

The D.N.P. program prepares competent, entry-level primary care 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 and/or palliative 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.

D.N.P. - F.N.P. and A.G.P.C.N.P. Admission Requirements

  1. D.N.P. writing sample.
  2. Current resume.
  3. Three letters of recommendation. Applicants provide email addresses for three references in the online application. A request will be sent directly to the references who will be able to upload a letter in Word or as a PDF. References may also return recommendation letters as signed attachments by email to the Graduate School at gradschl@up.edu or by mail to the University of Portland, ATTN: Graduate School, 5000 N. Willamette Blvd., Portland, Oregon 97203.
  4. Official transcripts from all previously attended academic institutions must be submitted directly from the institution either by email to gradschl@up.edu or by mail to the University of Portland, ATTN: Graduate School, 5000 N. Willamette Blvd., Portland, OR, 97203.
  5. A bachelor's or master's degree in nursing from a school of nursing accredited by an appropriate national nursing accrediting body.
  6. Cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) in the most recently completed nursing program.
  7. Current unencumbered registered nurse (R.N). license to practice nursing in state of residence. R.N. licensure in Oregon is recommended. R.N. licensure in the state in which a student completes clinical hours is required. Additional costs may be incurred for clinical placements outside of Oregon.
  8. Preference is given to Oregon and Washington applicants with at least two years of experience as an R.N.
  9. International Applicants: An official score from the TOEFL (minimum score of 100), IELTS (minimum score of 7.5), or Duolingo (minimum score of 120) exam is required.
  10. International Applicants: Proof of financial support will be required to attend the University of Portland but is not required for application review.
  11. An admission interview upon request of the School of Nursing and Health Innovations.

N.P. to D.N.P. Admission Requirements:

  1. D.N.P. writing sample.
  2. Current resume.
  3. Three letters of recommendation. Applicants provide email addresses for three references in the online application. A request will be sent directly to the references who will be able to upload a letter in Word or as a PDF. References may also return recommendation letters as signed attachments by email to the Graduate School at gradschl@up.edu or by mail to the University of Portland, ATTN: Graduate School, 5000 N. Willamette Blvd., Portland, Oregon 97203.
  4. Official transcripts from all previously attended academic institutions must be submitted directly from the institution either by email to gradschl@up.edu or by mail to the University of Portland, ATTN: Graduate School, 5000 N. Willamette Blvd., Portland,
    OR, 97203.
  5. A master’s degree in nursing from a school of nursing accredited by an appropriate national nursing accrediting body.
  6. Cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale in the most recently completed nursing program.
  7. Current unencumbered registered nurse (R.N.) license to practice nursing in state of residence. R.N. licensure in any state in which clinical hours are completed is required. Additional costs may be incurred for clinical placements outside of Oregon.
  8. Current unencumbered nurse practitioner license in state of practice and currently employed as a nurse practitioner in a clinical setting. Nurse practitioner licensure in any state in which clinical hours are completed is required. Additional costs may be incurred for clinical placements outside of Oregon.
  9. Current national nurse practitioner certification.
  10. International Applicants: an official score from the TOEFL (minimum score of 100), IELTS (minimum score of 7.5), or Duolingo (minimum score of 120) exam is required.
  11. International Applicants: Proof of financial support will be required to attend the University of Portland but is not required for application review.
  12. An admission interview upon request of the School of Nursing and Health Innovations.

D.N.P. Program Progression Requirements

To progress in the D.N.P. program, students must meet the following criteria:

  1. Successfully complete all prerequisites for a course prior to enrolling in a course.
  2. Earn a grade of C or better in all required non-clinical courses and a grade of Pass in all required clinical courses and NRS 665.
  3. Earn a minimum G.P.A. of 3.0 each semester.
  4. Maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0.
  5. Maintain current, unencumbered R.N. licensure in state of residence and any state in which clinical hours are completed.
  6. N.P. to D.N.P. students must maintain current national N.P. certification and current, unencumbered N.P. licensure in their state of residence and any state in which clinical hours are completed.

Courses (non-clinical and clinical) in the D.N.P program are offered once yearly and intentionally sequenced for achieving clinical practice competencies and successful progression in the program. It is therefore imperative that clinical courses be taken sequentially without breaks. Students who are granted a leave of absence from the D.N.P. program, for any reason, while enrolled in a clinical course will be required to complete a directed study clinical course prior to re-sequencing in the D.N.P. clinical courses. The directed study clinical course will range from one to two credits based on student needs and program requirements.

Dismissal
A D.N.P. student may be dismissed from the program by the School of Nursing and Health Innovations dean or their designee for any of the following reasons:

  1. Cumulative grade point average (G.P.A.) falls below a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) two or more times during the program.
  2. Semester G.P.A. falls below a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) two or more times during the program.
  3. Receiving a grade of C- or below in a required non-clinical course, a No Pass in a required clinical course or NRS 665, or withdrawing from a second attempt (repeat) of a required course.
  4. Breach of academic integrity.
  5. Unsafe clinical performance.

D.N.P.-F.N.P. Degree Requirements

  • Program of study requires a minimum of 1,000 clinical hours in NRS 630, NRS 631, NRS 633, NRS 634, NRS 665, and NRS 675 and includes a focus on integrative health.
  • 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 and Health Innovations’ discretion.

To qualify for the D.N.P. - F.N.P. degree, students must:

  1. Complete all 76 required semester credit hours for the D.N.P. - F.N.P. track.
  2. Achieve a cumulative grade point average (G.P.A.) of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
  3. Earn a grade of C or above or Pass in all required courses.
  4. Meet the D.N.P. program outcomes.
  5. Successfully complete the scholarly project and directed clinical.
  6. Submit the final scholarly project manuscript to Pilots Scholars.
  7. Complete a portfolio.

Upon approval of the School of Nursing and Health Innovations, a maximum of 12 semester credit hours may be accepted in transfer if the following conditions are met: (1) the courses were completed as part of a post master’s certificate program or an unfinished doctoral degree, (2) the courses were completed at an accredited institution, (3) the student earned a grade of B or better, and (4) the courses were completed within five years of acceptance to the D.N.P. program. Additionally, transfer credit may only be accepted for the following D.N.P. courses: NRS 601, NRS 602, NRS 604, NRS 605, NRS 606, NRS 614, NRS 649, NRS 650, NRS 651, and NRS 652.

Upon approval of the School of Nursing and Health Innovations, a D.N.P. course may be waived if the student completed an equivalent course as part of a previously earned doctoral degree at an accredited institution within five years of acceptance to the D.N.P. program and the student earned a grade of B or better. A maximum of 12 credit hours may be waived. Only the following D.N.P. courses may be waived: NRS 601, NRS 602, NRS 604, NRS 605, NRS 606, NRS 614, NRS 649, NRS 650, NRS 651, and NRS 652.

Requirements

NRS 601Professional Role Development for Advanced Practice Nursing

3
NRS 602Leadership in a Complex Health care 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 Primary Care 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 Health Care 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 672Management of Common Mental Health Conditions in Primary Care

2
NRS 673Management of Pediatric Patients in Primary Care

3
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
NRS 681Management of Common Gender Specific & Adolescent Health Conditions

4
Total Credit Hours:76

NRS 665: Students are required to take NRS 665 a minimum of three semesters and will continue to register for it every semester until successful completion and dissemination of the final project.

D.N.P.-F.N.P. students interested in palliative care may complete NRS 654 as an unrequired elective. Students who complete NRS 654 and plan to take the Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse exam upon graduation must complete 500 total clinical hours in palliative care in the 12 months prior to taking the exam.

D.N.P. - A.G.P.C.N.P. Degree Requirements

  • Program of study requires a minimum of 1,000 clinical hours (NRS 620, NRS 621, NRS 623, NRS 624, NRS 665, and NRS 675) and includes a focus on palliative care.
  • 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 and Health Innovations’ discretion.

To qualify for the D.N.P. - A.G.P.C.N.P. degree, students must:

  1. Complete all 76 required semester credit hours for the D.N.P. - A.G.P.C.N.P. track.
  2. Achieve a cumulative grade point average (G.P.A.) of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
  3. Earn a grade of C or above or Pass in all required courses.
  4. Meet the D.N.P. program outcomes.
  5. Successfully complete the scholarly project and directed clinical.
  6. Submit the final scholarly project manuscript to Pilots Scholars.
  7. Complete a portfolio.

Upon approval of the School of Nursing and Health Innovations, a maximum of 12 semester credit hours may be accepted in transfer if the following conditions are met: (1) the courses were completed as part of a post master’s certificate program or an unfinished doctoral program, (2) the courses were completed at an accredited institution, (3) the student earned a grade of B or better, and (4) the courses were completed within five years of acceptance to the D.N.P. program. Additionally, transfer credit may only be accepted for the following D.N.P. courses: NRS 601, NRS 602, NRS 604, NRS 605, NRS 606, NRS 607, NRS 608, NRS 614, NRS 649, NRS 650, NRS 651, and NRS 652.

Upon approval of the School of Nursing and Health Innovations, a D.N.P. course may be waived if the student completed an equivalent course as part of a previously earned doctoral degree at an accredited institution within five years of acceptance to the D.N.P. program and the student earned a grade of B or better. A maximum of 12 credit hours may be waived. Only the following D.N.P. courses may be waived: NRS 601, NRS 602, NRS 604, NRS 605, NRS 606, NRS 614, NRS 649, NRS 650, NRS 651, and NRS 652.

Requirements

NRS 601Professional Role Development for Advanced Practice Nursing

3
NRS 602Leadership in a Complex Health care 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 610Advanced Health Assessment for Primary Care Nurse Practitioners

4
NRS 614Health Organization Systems & Resource Management

3
NRS 620AGPCNP Clinical I

3
NRS 621AGPCNP Clinical II

2
NRS 623AGPCNP Clinical III

2
NRS 624AGPCNP Clinical IV

3
NRS 649Policy and Politics for the Nurse Leader

2
NRS 650Informatics in a Complex Health Care Environment

2
NRS 651Epidemiology and Clinical Prevention in Population Health

3
NRS 652Translation Science

2
NRS 654Primary and Specialty Palliative Care

4
NRS 665DNP Scholarly Project

1
NRS 670Management of Adults with Acute Conditions

3
NRS 672Management of Common Mental Health Conditions in Primary Care

2
NRS 673Management of Pediatric Patients in Primary Care

3
NRS 674Management of Adults and Older Adults with Chronic Conditions

3
NRS 675Directed DNP Clinical

6
NRS 681Management of Common Gender Specific & Adolescent Health Conditions

4
NRS 683Management of Geriatric Patients in Primary Care

3
Total Credit Hours:76

NRS 665: Students are required to take NRS 665 a minimum of three semesters and will continue to register for it every semester until successful completion and dissemination of the final project.

Students who plan to take the Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse exam upon graduation must complete 500 total clinical hours in palliative care in the 12 months prior to taking the exam.

D.N.P.-A.G.P.C.N.P. students interested in integrative health may complete NRS 609 and/or NRS 676 as unrequired electives.

N.P. to D.N.P Degree Requirements

  • Program of study requires a minimum of 500 clinical hours in NRS 665, NRS 685, and NRS 686 (a directed study may also be required) and includes a focus on either integrative health or palliative care.
  • 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 and Health Innovations' discretion.

To qualify for the N.P. to D.N.P. degree, students must:

  1. Complete all 40 required semester credit hours for the N.P. to D.N.P. track.
  2. Achieve a cumulative grade point average (G.P.A.) of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
  3. Earn a grade of C or above or Pass in all required courses.
  4. Meet the D.N.P. program outcomes.
  5. Successfully complete the scholarly project and directed clinical.
  6. Submit the final scholarly project manuscript to Pilots Scholars.
  7. Complete a portfolio.

Upon approval of the School of Nursing and Health Innovations, a maximum of 12 semester credit hours may be accepted in transfer if the following conditions are met: (1) the courses were completed as part of a post master’s certificate program or an unfinished doctoral program, (2) the courses were completed at an accredited institution, (3) the student earned a grade of B or better, and (4) the courses were completed within five years of acceptance to the D.N.P. program. Additionally, transfer credit may only be accepted for the following D.N.P. courses: NRS 601, NRS 602, NRS 604, NRS 605, NRS 606, NRS 614, NRS 649, NRS 650, NRS 651, and NRS 652.

Upon approval of the School of Nursing and Health Innovations, a D.N.P. course may be waived if the student completed an equivalent course as part of a previously earned doctoral degree at an accredited institution within five years of acceptance to the D.N.P. program and the student earned a grade of B or better. A maximum of 12 credit hours may be waived. Only the following D.N.P. courses may be waived: NRS 601, NRS 602, NRS 604, NRS 605, NRS 606, NRS 614, NRS 649, NRS 650, NRS 651, and NRS 652.

Requirements

NRS 601Professional Role Development for Advanced Practice Nursing

3
NRS 602Leadership in a Complex Health care 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 614Health Organization Systems & Resource Management

3
NRS 649Policy and Politics for the Nurse Leader

2
NRS 650Informatics in a Complex Health Care Environment

2
NRS 651Epidemiology and Clinical Prevention in Population Health

3
NRS 652Translation Science

2
NRS 665DNP Scholarly Project

1
NRS 685Directed DNP Clinical for NP to DNP Students I

3
NRS 686Directed DNP Clinical for NP to DNP Students II

3
Total Credit Hours:36

NRS 665: Students are required to take NRS 665 a minimum of three semesters and will continue to register for it every semester until successful completion and dissemination of the final project.

 

Focus Area Requirement - 4 credit hours

Select one of the following focus areas:

Integrative Health

NRS 609Botanicals in Primary Care

1
NRS 676Integrative Health: Adult Health Promotion and Acute Health Problems

3

Palliative Care

NRS 654Primary and Specialty Palliative Care

4

NRS 654: Students who complete NRS 654 and plan to take the Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse exam upon graduation must complete 500 total clinical hours in palliative care in the 12 months prior to taking the exam.

Students may complete additional focus area courses as unrequired electives.