Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
As you progressed in your medical career, you also had to progress academically, likely achieving a number of educational milestones. Now, take the new step and pursue your Doctor of Nursing Practice with ACU Online.
Our Doctor of Nursing Practice degree is designed to further develop your clinical and leadership skills as a medical professional through a combination of online learning and practical application in the workplace. Students have the opportunity to demonstrate leadership to proactively develop, implement, and evaluate ethical healthcare policies at all levels. By earning your degree, you’ll encourage your own career development while helping guide and support colleagues in their own journey in the healthcare profession.
ACU's online DNP program adheres and aligns with the current trend in the education of nurses and supports recommendations set forth by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), the Institute of Medicine, and numerous other healthcare organizations.
Could you use a $10,000 scholarship? Apply now to find out more!
New, first-time BSN to DNP or DNP students only. Must meet all admission requirements and start class on March 9, 2021.
Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
The Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Abilene Christian University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791
Meet the Program Director
Dr. Linda Gibson is the program director for the Doctor of Nursing Practice program. Dr. Gibson has been an associate professor within ACU’s School of Nursing for the past three years, though her teaching experience spans 30 years. Much of her clinical experience comes from a VA hospital, and her MSN specialty areas include Medical/Surgical Nursing (RNP), Teaching/Evaluation, and Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing (CNS). As a lifelong learner, she went on to complete her DNP and is currently pursuing a homeopathic degree. Dr. Gibson lives in the hills of Tennessee surrounded by her children and grandchildren.
Degree Highlights
Tracks
Advanced Practice Nurse
Executive Nursing Leadership
Timeframe
Credit Hours: 39
Minimum Program Length: 26 months
Example Coursework
NURS 703 Informatics to Improve Patient Outcomes
NURS 723 Foundations of Integrative Care
NURS 712 Epidemiology and Population Health
NURS 716 Healthcare Finance and Clinical Practice
Department
School of Nursing
Upcoming Start Dates
January 12, 2021
March 9, 2021
What career outcomes can you expect from our online Doctor of Nursing Practice programs?
- Academic Nurse Leader
- CNO
- Director of Nursing
- Director of Clinical Services
- Director of Advanced Practice Nurses
- Lead Clinician
- Public Health Coordinator
DNP Program Outcomes
- Integrate nursing science with knowledge from ethics, biophysical, psychosocial, analytical and organizational sciences to enhance health and alleviate or ameliorate illness.
- Develop, implement, and evaluate care delivery approaches based on scientific findings in nursing and other clinical sciences, as well as organizational, political, and economic sciences that meet current and future needs of patient populations.
- Design and implement processes to evaluate outcomes of practice, practice patterns, and systems of care within a practice setting, health care organization or community in order to promote safe, timely, effective, efficient, equitable, and patient- centered care.
- Use information systems/technology resources to implement quality improvement to support practice and administrative decision-making.
- Demonstrates leadership to proactively develop, implement and evaluate at all levels, health policies that are just, ethical, and equitable.
- Employ consultative and leadership skills in intra- and inter-professional teams in order to create excellence in all types of health care delivery systems.
- Demonstrate leadership in developing, implementing, and evaluating delivery models and/or strategies, using concepts related to community, environment, and occupation health and cultural and socioeconomic dimensions of health.
- Demonstrate advanced levels of clinical judgment, systems thinking and accountability as an advance practice nurse in designing, delivering, and evaluating evidence based care to achieve positive outcomes to individuals, families, groups, and communities.
- Continue professional development throughout own career, while supporting colleagues in their professional journey.
- Integrate insight about their own calling with their ability to influence the health care delivery system in order to promote social justice, equity, and ethical policies within all healthcare, by (a) articulating the rich tradition of literature and practice in Christian vocation; (b) reflecting upon the concept of vocation in their own leadership development; and (c) applying new understanding of vocation in their organizational contexts.
Admissions Requirements
- Application and processing fee
- A Master’s in Nursing from an accredited school of nursing (ACEN, CCNE)
- Official transcripts from the accredited colleges or universities that awarded the baccalaureate and master’s degrees
- Minimum graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0
- Complete undergraduate level statistics course with a grade of “C” or better
- Two professional letters of recommendation that attest to applicant’s
character and work ethic - A 500-word purpose statement outlining your interest in the Doctor of
Nursing Practice and your intended scholarly project topic, written in APA
format - Professional CV or resume
- Unencumbered registered nursing license
Foundational Courses
- The DNP Role
- Informatics to Improve Patient Care
- Applied Statistics and Research
- Epidemiology and Population Health
- Population Health & Management of Chronic Disease (DNP-APN/DNP-ENL) or Theories and Practices of Effective Leadership (DNP-ENL)
- Genomic Implications in Advanced Practice (DNP-APN) or Human Resources Development
(DNP-ENL) - Health Care Finance and Clinical Practice
- Foundations of Integrative Care (DNP-APN) or Leadership in Diverse Contexts (DNP-ENL)
- Healthcare Policy
- Organizational & Systems Leadership
- Healthcare Reform: Current Issues Affecting Nursing Practice
