DOCTOR OF NURSING
PRACTICE DNP

This foundational course introduces students to the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) role, emphasizing its historical evolution, philosophical underpinnings, and impact on healthcare. Students will explore the diverse roles, leadership responsibilities, and professional identity of DNP-prepared nurses as advocates for practice transformation and healthcare innovation. The course fosters a spirit of inquiry and professional maturity, guiding students in developing strategies for evidence-based decision-making, ethical leadership, and lifelong learning. Through self-assessment and reflection on personal strengths, emotional intelligence, and resilience, students will create an individualized action plan for professional growth throughout their DNP journey. Collaborative communication, stakeholder engagement, and advocacy principles are integrated to prepare students for effective leadership in complex healthcare environments.

This course provides a comprehensive foundation for the integration of evidence into nursing practice to enhance healthcare quality and patient outcomes. Students will explore research methodologies, quality improvement frameworks, and models of evidence-based practice (EBP) to differentiate their roles in clinical decision-making. Emphasis is placed on systematic literature searching, critical appraisal of evidence, and synthesis of diverse sources to establish the significance of a practice problem. Additionally, students will examine ethical considerations in research and EBP while evaluating the applicability of findings to practice change and continuous quality improvement.

This course prepares DNP students to lead and sustain evidence-based practice transformation within complex healthcare systems. Students will apply change management and implementation science principles to drive innovation while analyzing the organizational, policy, and financial factors influencing practice change. Emphasis is placed on strategic communication, stakeholder engagement, and interprofessional collaboration to navigate resistance and foster a culture of continuous improvement. Through leadership development and evaluation, students will refine their ability to implement sustainable, systems-based change that advances health outcomes.

This course builds on the foundation of the evidence-based practice (EBP) paradigm, emphasizing critical appraisal, synthesis, and application of research to inform clinical decision-making and practice change. Students will evaluate the quality and strength of evidence sources, analyze ethical considerations in scholarly inquiry, and apply Institutional Review Board (IRB) guidelines. Methods for translating research into practice, implementing sustainable EBP changes, and assessing outcomes across healthcare settings will be explored within ethical, legal, and regulatory frameworks.

Exploration of data management systems needed to manage patient, systems and research information is the focal point of this course. Students will develop their data analysis and visualization skills with hands-on practice using business software. Refinement of the data analysis plan for the DNP Scholarly Project will be included.

This course prepares DNP students to implement evidence-based practice initiatives with a focus on project management and stakeholder collaboration. Using their DNP Scholarly Project as a foundation, students will translate evidence into practice, design interventions to improve patient and population health outcomes, and evaluate implementation strategies. Emphasis is placed on ethical decision-making, policy analysis, and optimizing healthcare quality, access, and cost-effectiveness. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and evaluation methods, students will develop practical skills to lead sustainable practice change and innovation across healthcare settings.

This course prepares DNP students to lead evidence-based initiatives that drive organizational and systems-level change. Emphasizing strengths-based leadership, emotional intelligence, and strategic decision-making, students will analyze system-wide processes to assess the sustainability of healthcare improvements. Through interprofessional collaboration and stakeholder engagement, students will develop and evaluate initiatives that enhance healthcare quality, value, access, and cost-effectiveness. Ethical decision-making, policy evaluation, and innovation strategies are integrated to equip students with the skills necessary to navigate complex healthcare environments and lead transformative change.

This course examines population health across the healthcare continuum, focusing on the determinants of health, risk factors for poor outcomes, and strategies to improve access to care. Students will explore collaborative partnerships, clinical prevention, information systems, and interdisciplinary approaches to enhance population health. Emphasis is placed on the role of healthcare systems, policy influence, and advocacy in addressing health disparities. Through self-reflection and application of evidence-based strategies, students will develop implementation plans to integrate population health principles into their DNP scholarly projects.

This course equips DNP students with essential financial and business management skills to lead cost-effective and accessible healthcare initiatives. Students will analyze economic drivers, reimbursement models, and regulatory policies that impact healthcare costs and sustainability. Emphasis is placed on evaluating the financial implications of organizational structures, leadership models, and workforce dynamics. Through evidence-based strategies and policy advocacy, students will develop fiscal solutions that enhance healthcare value, improve access, and promote high-quality patient care within complex healthcare systems.

This course equips DNP students with the knowledge and skills to engage in health policy analysis, advocacy, and research. Students will examine the policymaking process, from problem identification and policy design to enactment, implementation, and evaluation. Emphasis is placed on assessing the impact of public policy on healthcare systems, quality, access, and health outcomes. Through evidence-based strategies, students will develop policy initiatives, utilize data analytics to inform recommendations, and explore advocacy approaches to influence healthcare reform. Interprofessional collaboration and ethical considerations in policy development are integrated to prepare students for leadership in health policy.

This course explores the principles of quality and safety in healthcare delivery, emphasizing the DNP leader’s role in driving system-wide improvements. Students will analyze performance metrics, patient safety initiatives, and regulatory frameworks to inform quality improvement strategies. Emphasis is placed on interprofessional collaboration, process improvement, and data-driven decision-making to enhance patient outcomes. Students will also examine workplace safety, ethical practice, and just culture as integral components of high-quality care. Through evidence-based approaches, students will develop interventions to mitigate risks, reduce errors, and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

Outcomes-based course for the purpose of acquiring skill in the development and production of a scholarly scientific manuscript to contribute to the evidence base of a professional discipline. Progressive written products with feedback/critique will move incrementally toward the completed manuscript that will be submitted for publication to a peer-reviewed scholarly journal. Students are advised to come into the course with a written academic paper that will foster their program of research or clinical focus or previous unpublished research that can be transformed into a manuscript for publication.

This capstone course integrates prior coursework to support the finalization and dissemination of the DNP Scholarly Project. Students will synthesize leadership strengths, emotional intelligence, and interprofessional collaboration to develop a comprehensive DNP leadership plan. Emphasis is placed on ethical leadership, financial and business management principles, and sustaining practice change within healthcare systems. Students will refine their ability to communicate scholarly findings effectively using evidence-based strategies and multiple dissemination modalities to impact nursing practice and healthcare outcomes.