Doctorate of Nursing Practice (BSN-DNP)
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at Kentucky State University in the School of Nursing is a 72-credit hour (9 semester) program. The BSN-DNP online program places emphasis in the care of the adult gerontology population. Courses are completed online, and clinical/residency hours are to be completed in the student’s region with an approved preceptor/mentor. Course contents are based on the DNP Essentials. The DNP curriculum is a program designed to prepare the RN with a BSN degree to function in the role of an advanced practice nurse caring for patient ages 13 and beyond (Adult-Gerontology) within a variety of primary care settings. To satisfy the requirements for graduation, the student must complete 72 semester credit hours of coursework and 1080 hours in the clinical setting with qualified preceptors. The student must maintain a GPA of 3.00 or above. The DNP curriculum is congruent with established standards for clinical doctorate programs, it includes appropriate advanced nursing practice competencies, role specific professional standards and guidelines, and certification requirements. In addition, it has clearly articulated student learning outcomes and program outcomes consistent with contemporary practice.
The advanced practice nursing curriculum emphasizes competence, accountability, and legal, ethical standards in the practice of the profession, and evidence-based practice. The curriculum includes cultural, ethnic, and socially diverse concepts and includes knowledge from regional, national, or global perspectives. Graduates of the DNP program will be able to demonstrate the following competencies, which are aligned with the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing Standards for the Clinical Doctorate including:
- Scientific Foundation competencies
- Leadership competencies
- Quality competencies
- Practice Inquiry competencies
- Policy competencies
- Health Delivery System competencies
- Ethics competencies
- Independent Practice competencies
Terminal Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the BSN-DNP program will demonstrate leadership skills and knowledge in advanced nursing care and clinical outcomes to ensure patient safety. Specifically, End of Program [i.e., terminal] Student Learning Outcomes to be demonstrated by graduates of this program are as follows:
- Utilize epidemiologic, scientific findings from nursing and other clinical disciplines, as well as organizational, political, and economic sciences, to develop practice initiatives that will improve the quality of care delivery.
- Assume organizational and system leadership in the analysis, delivery, and management of nursing care.
- Provide organizational and systems leadership to develop care delivery models that are fiscally responsible and demonstrate sensitivity to diverse organizational cultures.
- Engage in clinical scholarship to evaluate the effectiveness of evidence-based efforts in the planning and practice of health care program delivery to individuals and communities.
- Utilize theories, concepts, and analytic methodologies to design, implement, and evaluate practice by applying evidence to transform nursing system.
- Collaborate with healthcare professionals, consumers, and other stakeholders to influence health policy and health promotion/disease prevention endeavors at the local, state, federal, and/or international levels that improve patient and population health outcomes.
- Implement the highest level of advanced nursing care to produce high quality, cost-effective outcomes for diverse patient populations.
- Contribute to the knowledge of best practices nursing interventions and the dissemination of outcomes through professional writing and presentations.
- Develop practice standards based on the integration of ethics and evidence-based nursing care.
Admission Criteria
- Earned baccalaureate degree in nursing (BSN) from a program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- GPA 3.00 or above on a 4.00 scale
- Candidates without 3.00 GPA MUST have 2 years of successful nursing experience (Minimum acceptable GPA is 2.80 to meet this criteria)
- Candidates without 3.00 GPA MUST have outstanding references and maintain a 3.00 GPA in the first semester of nursing graduate studies to remain in the program
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae
- Unencumbered, active registered nurse (RN) license in any state where licensed
- Strongly Recommend Graduate Research and Statistics Courses
- Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions
- Three letters of recommendation pertaining to academic ability, professional competency, nursing leadership potential and personal character
- Personal statement/philosophy
Exams such as GRE, MAT are not required.
To apply for the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Doctor of Nursing Practice Program go to www.nursingCAS.org and select Kentucky State University. NursingCAS is a service that allows applicants to use a single online application and one set of materials to apply to multiple programs at participating schools.
Transfer Student
A graduate nursing student from a nationally accredited program and regionally accredited institution who is applying for graduate nursing admission at Kentucky State University School of Nursing and intending or seeking to transfer graduate credits from the other accredited institution must submit all graduate application forms through NursingCAS and fulfill all graduate nursing admissions requirements. The policies regarding “Transfer Credits” apply.
Re-Admission
After any interruption of studies at Kentucky State University, a DNP student may be required to apply for readmission to the program. Students, who have an interruption in the course sequence, will be considered on a space-available basis and must meet the current academic qualifications for readmission. Students have 7 years to complete the DNP program from the initial start date in the program.
Additional Information
Criminal Background Check
Kentucky Board of Nursing (KBN) requires all misdemeanor and felony convictions occurring in Kentucky or any other states as well as federal and military convictions be reported to the KBN. Conviction of certain felonies will cause a “Notice to Deny Licensure” to be issued to applicants seeking to write the nursing licensure examination in accordance with this policy. The School of Nursing requires that each student submit a criminal background check to the School of Nursing prior to admission to the program.
CastleBranch
Upon admission to the program the student must complete the requirements as set forth by the School of Nursing for the BSN-DNP Program in CastleBranch [e.g., background check, drug screening, license verification, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), immunizations including the influenza vaccine, TB skin test, health insurance, health physical, HIPPA, Graduate Nursing Handbook Attestation, etc.]. All requirements must be current throughout the duration of enrollment in the BSN-DNP Program. CPR training must be from an approved American Heart Association curriculum. All students who are accepted in the BSN-DNP program are admitted pending submission of the CastleBranch requirements. Admission will be withdrawn for students who do not comply with CastleBranch requirements.
CastleBranch’s mission is to empower the School of Nursing and Graduate Nursing Program to make safe and informed decisions through fully customizable screening and clinical experience solutions. Requirements for CastleBranch must be completed upon admission to the BSN-DNP Program. CastleBranch can be reached at https://discover.castlebranch.com/, https://www.castlebranch.com/online_submission/package_code.php, customerservice@castlebranch.com or (888) 723-4263
Typhon
Before entering the clinical or residency setting, students and preceptors must be credentialed in Typhon. Typhon credentialing should be completed upon enrollment in clinical and residency courses by the course faculty. All Typhon requirements must be current throughout the duration of enrollment in clinical and residency courses in the BSN-DNP Program.
Typhon is a robust student tracking system that focuses on education, not paperwork. Typhon is instrumental in assisting the clinical faculty and the Scholarly Project Chair in tracking student clinical and residency hours and activities, SOAP Notes, evaluations, etc. Typhon can be reached at http://www.typhongroup.com/npst.html or 800-333-7984.
Additional Information Regarding Clinical and Residency
Faculty and students see the Clinical Policies and Appendix D (the Preceptor Orientation Manual, Clinical Practicum Guidelines, and Scholarly Project Guidelines) in the Graduate Nursing Handbook (https://www.kysu.edu/academics/college-acs/school-of-nursing/school-of-nursing-dnp/index.php).
Expenses
Graduate nursing students pay the same general fees and tuition as do other students at the University. However, students in the Graduate Nursing Program may incur additional expenses for lab jackets, name badge, nursing emblem, stethoscope, bandage scissors, wristwatch with secondhand, otoscope, ophthalmoscope, tuning fork, hammer, travel fees, multiple criminal background checks if indicated, CastleBranch requirements, formative/summative testing program, etc.
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Doctor of Nursing Practice Plan of Study
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| NUR 700 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 |
| NUR 701 | Analysis of Adv. Nursing Prac. | 3 |
| NUR 702 | Epidemiology in Healt Care | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| NUR 703 | Advanced Pharmacology | 3 |
| NUR 704 | Theor. Foun. for Adv. Nur. Pra | 3 |
| NUR 705 | Evid-Base Prac./Qual. Impr. in | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| NUR 706 | Adv. Physical Assessment | 3 |
| NUR 707 | Adv. Nurs. Care for Vul. Pop. | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| NUR 800 | Adv. Adu/Gero. Pri. Ca. Nur. I | 3 |
| NUR 801 | Ad. Adu/Gero. Pri. Ca. Nu I Pr | 3 |
| NUR 802 | Health Systems Assessment | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| NUR 804 | Ad. Adu/Ger. Pri. Car. Nur II | 3 |
| NUR 805 | Ad. Ad/Ger. Pri. Ca. Nu. II Pr | 3 |
| NUR 806 | Research Design and Methods | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| NUR 807 | Adv. Adu/Ger. Pr. Car Nur. III | 3 |
| NUR 808 | Ad. Adu/Ger. Pr. C Nu III Pra. | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| NUR 809 | Diver. & Eth. Iss. in Adv. Pra | 3 |
| NUR 900 | Adv. Prac. Lead. & Mgmt | 3 |
| NUR 901 | Adv. Prac. Lead & Mgt. Prac. | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| NUR 902 | Residency I Practicum | 3 |
| NUR 903 | Health Care Policy | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| NUR 905 | Residency II | 3 |
| NUR 906 | DNP Focused Course | 3 |
| NUR 907 | DNP Project | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 72 | |
Electives Offered
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NUR 699 | Advanced Statistic in Nursing | 3 |
| NUR 708 | Psychopharmacology | 3 |
The purpose of this course is to review basic concepts of statistics and review use of statistics in nursing research. The course contains an overview of evidence based on practice and analysis of advanced research concepts in nursing. Primary focus on research in nursing practice. Graduate Nursing Elective. Credit: 3 semester hours.
The purpose of this course is to provide the advanced practice nurse with knowledge of normal physiology and alterations in physiology in individuals across the life span. The focus is theory and research applicable to organ systems and cellular events. Emphasis is on regulatory and compensatory functions in health and in pathophysiological conditions. This course serves as a transition from the advanced practice nurse with the basic medical sciences to clinical medicine. The goal is to establish a knowledge base for various clinical problems encountered in internal medicine and will review the fundamental concepts of pathophysiology in the clinical setting. Credit: 3 semester hours.
This course is designed to provide students with opportunities to explore contemporary issues in health care delivery that affect the process and/or outcomes of relevant to patient populations. Specific focus will be on: (1) health disparities, (2) barriers to care, (3) cultural competency and sensitivity, (4) cultural/SES influences on health and care delivery, (5) public health and health promotion models, (6) emerging infectious disease, (7) advances in healthcare, (8) environmental/occupational health concepts, and (9) the impact of global health on individuals/ communities. Credit: 3 semester hours.
Epidemiology focuses on the distribution and determinants of disease frequency in human populations. This graduate-level course utilizes epidemiology as a method for examining problems of health and disease in the community. This application of epidemiologic methods to evaluate the distribution and determination of disease and other health problems will be a major focus of this course. Basic principles and methods of epidemiology are presented together with many of the applications of epidemiology to public health and the role it plays in the development and evaluation of public policy. Credit: 3 semester hours.
The purpose of this course is to expand the pharmacological knowledge of the advance practice nurse. Principles of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics across the life span serve as the foundation for this comprehensive course in pharmacology for prescribers. Emphasis is placed on understanding the physiological action of drugs, expected client responses, and major side effects. Issues related to evidence-based pharmacologic practice and legal aspects of prescribing are examined. CREDIT: 3 SEMESTER HOURS
This course explores the history of advanced practice registered nursing (APN) roles in the current socio-political environment, preparing students to serve in a leadership role to shape the delivery of effect health care. An overview of various communication methods, community assessment, and epidemiological principles is provided. Students will apply principles of advanced practice to promote the health of individuals and populations. Principles of client centered care and theory based care to promote health will be explored in depth. The principle of clear and respectful communication in care will be introduced in terms of cultural sensitivity. The principle of 401basing care on evidence will be introduced. The principle of caring for populations within a context of health systems will be introduced. The principle of ethical care will be introduced in terms of social justice. CREDIT: 3 SEMESTER HOURS.
This course explores philosophical and foundational components of evidence-based practice for advance nursing practice.Concepts, models, and methods for developing advanced practice based on the best evidence are applied. Developing the well-built question as well as understanding best search strategies are incorporated into research-based evidence, particularly related to the clinical and administrative practice question(s) and outcomes. Outcomes evaluation methods are explored. CREDIT: 3 SEMESTER HOURS.
This course is designed to further develop the student’s advanced knowledge and skills for obtaining and recording a systematic health history and advanced physical examination of individuals and families across the lifespan. The course involves the synthesis of nursing, biologic, psychological, and sociocultural knowledge and theories as applied to the findings obtained in the comprehensive health assessment. The central objective is the development of cognitive and clinical skills needed to provide comprehensive care to individuals of all ages in primary,secondary, and tertiary care settings. CREDIT: 3 SEMESTER HOURS.
The purpose of this course is to provide the DNP-NP with an understanding of issues relevant to patient populations. Specific focus will be on: (1)health disparities, (2) barriers to care, (3) cultural competency and sensitivity, (4) cultural/SES influences on health and care delivery, (5) public health and health promotion models, (6) emerging infectious diseases, (7) advances in healthcare (genomics, neurocomputing, neuroimmunology, anatomical reconstruction), (8) environmental/occupational health concepts, and (9) the impact of global health on individuals/communities.The course discussions will focus on the topics outlined above. This course will address the BPHr Goals and goals of Health People 2020 by enabling students to understand how to improve health care of diverse/underserved populations. CREDIT: 3 SEMESTER HOURS.
The purpose of this course is to review psychopharmacology concepts utilized in nursing. Graduate Nursing Elective. CREDIT: 3 SEMESTER HOURS.
This course focuses on synthesis and application of theory and research to effectively address the complexities of aging. Comprehensive evidenced-based management across settings, evaluation of care, role implementation, and influences of contextual factors on health care services for the elderly including palliative and end of life care are presented. This course provides the knowledge base for clinical gerontological management. CREDIT: 3 SEMESTER HOURS.
This is the first clinical course of this advance nursing practice specialty. The objectives of this practicum are based on the content of the didactic component of the course. CREDIT: 3 SEMESTER HOURS.
The purpose of this course is to prepare students to activelyparticipate in the evaluation of health care and healthcare organizations. Specific emphasis will be on organizational assessments, quality improvement projects, outcomes research, technology evaluation, and performance appraisals. The course will provide the students with opportunities to learn to assess and diagnose organizations, facilitate organizational change in clinical care delivery, and foster quality improvement while addressing cost=constraints. During this course, the students will conduct their own administrative project at the site where they are participating in the clinical residency. The projects will focus on topics such as total quality improvement, protocol development, practice efficiency, practice effectiveness, or clinical outcomes. They will work with other personnel at the site in a collaborative arrangement. Each week, the students will meet as a group in order to address problems encountered with their administrative project and offer suggestions and support. The course will consist of didactic sessions,presentations by the students, and problem-solving sessions. CREDIT:3 SEMESTER HOURS.
This course continues to focus on synthesis and application of more complex theory and research to effectively address the complexities of aging. Comprehensive evidence based management across settings, evaluation of care, role implementation, and influences of contextual factors on health care services for the elderly including palliative and end of life care are presented. This course provides the knowledge base for clinical gerontological management. CREDIT: 3 SEMESTER HOURS.
This is the second clinical course of this advance nursing practice specialty. The objectives of this practicum are based on the content of the didactic component of the course. CREDIT: 3 SEMESTER HOURS.
This course is designed to provide the student with knowledge, skills, and practice in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting quantitative data within the context of application to research design and methodology. The following advanced statistical techniques will be examined: analysis of variance (ANOVA/MANOVA), analysis of co-variance (ANCOVA/MANCOVA), use of psychometric techniques (for instruments used in patient care, nursing education and nursing research), linear regression, multiple regression, logistic regression, and structural equation modeling (SEM). Credit: 3 semester hours.
This is the third in the series. This course continues to focus on synthesis and application of more complex theory and research to effectively address the complexities of aging. Comprehensive evidence based management across settings, evaluation of care, role implementation, and influences of contextual factors on health care service for the elderly including palliative and end of life care are presented. This course provides the knowledge base for clinical gerontological managements. Credit: 3 semester hours.
This is the third clinical course of this advanced nursing practice specialty. The objectives of this practicum are paces on the content of the didactic component of the course.
The course focuses on the exploration of cultural diversity on client populations and nursing practice and provides opportunities for the exploration of the influence of culture on client health related behaviors. Emphasis is placed on the exploration of the contributions of the evolution of advanced nursing practice to the health of families, especially minority families. Students will explore the development of nursing theory by means of culturally appropriate nursing research methods. Researchable questions a merging from advanced nursing practice will be identified. The principle of ethical care will also be introduced in terms of social justice.
This course will focus particular attention on the organizational and structural opportunities and barriers inherent in obtaining access to health care for cultures and subcultures. This includes applying systems thinking to develop financial and cost effective strategies, legal and ethical dimensions of the business of health care delivery. This course provides the advance practice nurse with the skills to work with all organizational designs to eliminate health disparities. The advanced practice nurse will need to collaborate with other health care professionals from a variety of subcultures to analyze complex clinical situations as well as delivery systems to ensure safe and timely, effective, efficient, equitable and patient-centered care that meets or exceeds the standards of practice. This course will emphasize the delivery of health care to underserved populations as well as examining strategies to recruit, retain and recognize the accomplishments of a diverse nursing workforce. Leadership skills in human relations, organizational culture, effective patterns of communication and synergistic decision-making will accent this course. Credit: 3 semester hours.
This course is the clinical component of the leadership and management course. Leadership skills in human relations, organizational culture, effective patterns of communication and synergistic decision-making will accent this course. The student must complete 180 contact hours. Credit: 3 semester hours.
This is the first of a two-course series that provides the DNP student with mentored opportunities to identify, develop, implement, evaluate and disseminate an independent, analytic scholarly project focusing on problems of practice within specific populations. Each course builds on the knowledge and practice expertise of the DNP student, culminating in the completion of the scholarly project. The range of projects will be varied as they relate to the unique clinical practices of the DNP student, e.g., quality improvement, analyzing policy designing and using databases, designing and evaluating new models of care, collaboration with researchers to answer clinical questions, program development, implementation, and evaluation. To complete the objectives of this course successfully, the DNP student works with a faculty mentor to refine the design of the scholarly project. Students must successfully complete an oral defense of the project prior to implementation. The student will be required to submit individual objective and is expected to complete a minimum of 180 hours of supervised practice in a clinical area related to their topic of interest. Credit: 3 semester hours.
The purpose of this course is to facilitate the students’ exploration of policy formulation, implementation, and modification in the United States. A model of policymaking will be analyzed and core elements of health care policy and planning, including the sociopolitical and economic context of health and health-seeking behaviors will be emphasized. Health care policy and planning at the local, state, federal, and international levels will be explored. Ethical dimensions of public policy formulation and implementation will be highlighted. The roles of the Nursing profession and individual nurses as they relate to the development and implementation of health policy will be investigated. Key concepts that influence policymaking such as politics, advocacy, ethics, federalism, pluralism, polarization, civil rights and civil liberties will be discussed. Credit: 3 semester hours.
In this capstone course, the DNP student completes implementation of the evidenced-based scholarly project specific to a population of interest within a clinical setting and evaluates its impact on health care outcomes. Students will disseminate their findings through an oral presentation and a manuscript suitable for a peer-reviewed publication. Students will apply knowledge and skills obtained in the didactic and integrative courses in order to address the ethical, legal, financial and organizational aspects of the scholarly project. The DNP student will discuss his/her topic of interest, the development of the project and how it addressed the needs of a selected population; and evaluate the implementation and outcomes of the project. In order to successfully complete the objectives of this course, the student is expected to complete a minimum of 180 hours of supervised practice in a clinical area related to the topic of interest. Each student will be required to submit individual objectives at the beginning of the semester. Credit: 3 semester hours.
The purpose of this course is to assist students in the final stage of their research project. Credit: 3 semester hours.
This is a Capstone course in which students prepare a research project in their area of interest. Emphasis in this Capstone is placed on data collection, database creation, data entry, analysis, and interpretation of results. The project is guided by members of the Scholarly Project Committee and the final document is formally presented to the campus community in a Project defense. The students are expected to disseminate findings from their research to professional presentations and to use their projects to guide submission to scholarly journals. The students will learn to disseminate findings from their research through presentations and publications. Credit: 3 semester hours.