Nurse leaders positively impact healthcare delivery, outcomes, and equity, and the need for nurses with their DNP only continues to grow. The DNP program at Carson-Newman will provide you with the guidance and tools you need to be a force for change with courses focused on translating evidence for interprofessional practice, quality improvement, health policy, complex systems leadership, and more.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM YOUR DNP

• Expand your knowledge and increase your impact in a leadership role in nursing.
• Meet the ever-increasing demand in the healthcare industry for competent nurse leaders.
• Graduate students enrolled in at least 4.5 credit hours qualify to apply for federal financial aid. If you qualify, you can borrow up to $20,500 per year, which is more than enough to cover the total program cost.
• You’ll be assigned a personal faculty advisor, who will help draft a course plan tailored to your specific goals.

DNP AT A GLANCE

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF), released a statement in 2018 calling for the DNP to replace the MSN as the mandatory minimum educational requirement for all Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) roles by 2025. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, APRN positions earn a median annual salary of $117,670 and include:

• Nurse Anesthetists
• Nurse Midwives
• Nurse Practitioners

Admissions Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in nursing from an NLN or CCNE accredited four-year program
• A master’s degree or post-master’s earned from a nationally accredited program (CCNE, NLN, COA, ACME) as an advanced practice nurse (nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife, or clinical nurse specialist) with current advanced practice certification
• Official transcript from all previous post-secondary coursework
• A minimum overall GPA of 3.00 for an undergraduate degree
• Current unencumbered active registered nurse license and advanced practice registered nurse licensure in the state where practice will occur
• Resume or curriculum vitae
• Three (3) Recommendations: (on-line recommendation request form)
• Submit an Essay that communicates your professional goals.  Incorporate how the DNP will help you obtain these goals and how you plan to integrate the rigors of full-time doctoral study into your current situation recognizing that this typically requires a minimum commitment of 25-30 hours per week. This essay should be 2-3 pages, 11- or 12-point font, double-spaced
• Applicants accepted to the program must complete the following with instruction and counsel provided by the Department of Nursing.
  • Background Records Check submitted directly to Carson-Newman:  no second-party background checks are accepted
  • Drug screening prior to the first day of the DNP Introductory Seminar
  • Additional requirements may be necessary based on the clinical site

Graduation Requirements

To earn the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, the following criteria must be met:

• Completion of all 33 credit hours in the DNP program while maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher within 5 years of beginning the program
• Completion of 1,000 hours or more of post-baccalaureate supervised academic program practice hours with a minimum of 400 hours completed at Carson-Newman University during the DNP program
• Recommendation of the student’s DNP Project Committee for graduation after the successful completion and dissemination of the DNP Project

Accreditation
Carson-Newman is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Carson-Newman University is pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Applying for accreditation does not guarantee that accreditation will be granted.