DNP PROGRAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1) What is a DNP?
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a doctoral degree for nurses at the
highest level of nursing practice. The American Association of Colleges of
Nursing (AACN) has proposed that the DNP degree will be the level of entry for
all advanced practice nurses by 2015. For more information about AACN’s
proposal, visit:
www.aacn.nche.edu/DNP
2) Why is the DNP degree necessary?
The changing demands of today’s complex health care environment, outlined in
recent reports from the Institute of Medicine, require that nurses serving in
specialty positions have the highest level of scientific knowledge and practice
expertise possible. Nurses are constantly working with individuals who have a
high level of preparation in their respective fields—physicians, pharmacists,
and other health providers. The effectiveness of nurses is directly related to
the amount and type of education they receive, and recent research has
established a clear link between higher levels of nursing education and better
patient outcomes.
3) What knowledge, skills and abilities will a DNP provide over and above
my existing Master’s preparation?
Practice-focused doctoral programs prepare experts in specialized advanced
practice nursing. Preparation includes the development of advanced competencies
for increasingly complex practice and leadership roles; enhanced knowledge to
improve nursing practice and patient outcomes; and enhanced leadership skills to
strengthen practice and health care delivery. Learn more about the
knowledge, skills and abilities that will be provided in the DNP education by
reading the AACN’s
Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice.
4) What is the difference between the DNP and PhD programs at JHUSON?
The JHUSON DNP program builds upon the current master’s program content to
prepare nurse leaders for evidence-based practice in both direct patient care
and executive roles. This requires competence in translating research in
practice, evaluating evidence, applying research in decision-making, and
implementing viable clinical and organizational innovations to change practice.
The PhD program is designed to prepare nurses for careers as research
scientists, often in academic or governmental positions.
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Comparison
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DNP
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PhD
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Objectives
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Prepare nurses at the highest level of nursing practice who will
lead in applying and translating research into practice
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Prepares nurse scholars to conduct research that advances the
theoretical foundations of nursing and health care globally
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Competencies and Content
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Knowledge and skills in applying and translating research into
practice; leads dissemination and integration of new knowledge in
health care organizations
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Knowledge and skills in theoretical, methodological, and analytic
approaches to the discovery and application of knowledge in nursing
and health care
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Program Outcome
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Practice leaders such as an advanced practice nurse caring for
individuals; or other practice leadership positions such as in
nursing and health care administration
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Nurse scientist prepared for a career in research in academia or
other research-intensive environments
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Hopkins Program Hallmarks
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An intense practice immersion experience with expert clinical
faculty
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An intense mentored research experience with a faculty
investigator with an established funded program of research
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Final Project
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A practice application-oriented DNP capstone project
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Completion and defense of an original research project
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References:AACN Comparison of DNP and
PhD/DNSc/DNS Programs;
http://www.aacn.nche.edu/DNP/pdf/conf/Regionals/Grid8-05.pdf
The Essentials of Doctoral Education for
Advanced Nursing Practice;
http://www.aacn.nche.edu/DNP/pdf/Essentials.pdf
5) If I am an NP now, will I have to return to school to get a DNP degree
in order to practice?
No, advanced practice nurses with Master’s degrees will be able to continue
to practice in their current capacities.
6 )Will DNP graduates be able to assume the
nurse educator role in schools of nursing?
Yes, but the DNP degree does not prepare nurses to be educators. Graduates
from all doctoral programs (DNP and PhD) who want to teach should take
additional coursework in education. Expectations of faculty in terms of
scholarship (i.e., research and publications) vary widely across institutions.
7) What are the requirements for admission?
To be eligible for admission to the DNP Program, applicants must have:
- Baccalaureate degree from an accredited nursing program or
equivalency
- Master’s degree from an accredited nursing program (master’s degree
in a related field may be considered and may require additional
coursework prior to enrollment)
- Scholastic GPA of at least 3.0 in master’s of nursing program
- Demonstrated commitment to nursing practice and scholarly pursuit
- RN licensure and APRN certification or licensure appropriate to the
state where the capstone courses will be completed
- An interview with faculty may be requested.
- The DNP Admissions Committee will review each application and render
a decision. Notification of acceptance for the January 2008 class will
be made on or before December 1, 2007.
8) Are GRE’s required?
No, not for the post-master’s option.
9) Will credits from other programs transfer?
Up to six credits from another institution may be transferred into the DNP
program with approval.
10) Is part time study an option?
Yes, part-time study is an option on a space available basis.
11) Is a dissertation required?
No a dissertation is not required. Instead, a capstone project will be
completed by the end of the program.
12) What is a Capstone project?
Doctoral education is distinguished by the completion of a project that
demonstrates synthesis of the student’s work and lays the groundwork for future
scholarship. The DNP capstone project is a scholarly experience that implements
the principles of evidence-based practice and translation under the guidance of
a faculty mentor. The outcome of the DNP capstone project will be a tangible and
deliverable academic product that is derived from the practice immersion
experience and will be reviewed and evaluated by an academic committee.
13) What is the cost of tuition?
$9,500 per semester
14) What funding is available to pay for graduate school?
Funding is available from a variety of sources including employment tuition
benefits, and state and federal loan and scholarship programs. Some sources of
funding include:
Federal Loans
Nursing Support Program II- Graduate Nursing Faculty Scholarship and
Living Expenses Grant
Maryland Higher Education Commission Graduate and Professional
Scholarship Program
Other Funding Sources
