The Post-M.S.N. to D.N.P. is a practice doctoral degree for advanced practice nurses and nurses who plan to function in a leadership position. The post-M.S.N. entry to the D.N.P. program allows students to apply up to 550 practicum hours from their M.S.N. program toward the 1000 post-B.S.N. practicum required by the national accrediting agencies. Required courses may be waived if prior graduate course work meets the same requirement; this will be evaluated on an individual basis. The post-M.S.N. student will complete between 38 credits and 46 credits depending on the number of practicum hours needed to be meet the 1000-hour requirement. A minimum of 30 credits at Penn State for the post-M.S.N. entry is required. 

The M.S.N. to D.N.P. curriculum will be composed of five components: 38-46 Credits 

1. D.N.P. Core Courses: 15 credits 

• NURS 830: Evidence Based-Practice I: Theory and Research Methods (3 credits) 

• NURS 831: Evidence Based-Practice II: Translation of Research (3 credits) 

• NURS 832: Doctor of Nursing Practice: Leadership I (3 credits) 

• NURS 833: Doctor of Nursing Practice: Leadership II (3 credits) 

• NURS 837: Evidence-Based Practice III: Project Development (3 credits) 

2. Other Required Courses: 17 credits 

• NURS 590: Colloquium (1 credit) (first year doctoral student colloquium; Ph.D. & D.N.P. students) 

• NURS 587: Ethics in Nursing Research (1 credit) (Ph.D. & D.N.P. students; SARI requirement met) 

• NURS 808: Population Health Perspectives (3 credits) 

• NURS 836: Healthcare Informatics (3 credits) 

• NURS 845: Healthcare Economics and Policy for Nurse Administrators (3 credits) 

• STAT 507: Epidemiologic Research Methods (3 credits) 

• STAT 800: Applied Research Methods (3 credits)  

3. Advanced Clinical Practicum: 0-8 credits (depending on the number of practicum hours in the M.S.N. program) 

• NURS 834: Doctor of Nursing Practice Clinical Practicum: (0-8 Credits: number of credits depend on the number of hours completed in the student’s M.S.N. program, if 550 hours were completed, additional clinical practice hours are not required) (variable 1-4; repeatable) 

4. Project Requirement: project: minimum - 6 credits  

• NURS 835: Doctor of Nursing Practice Project: (2 Credits) (repeatable)

M.S.N. to D.N.P. PLAN OF STUDY FOR FULL-TIME and PART-TIME STUDENT:  NOTE: The following plan of study is a sample plan. Each student will have an individual plan. Differences in plans and credit hours may be based on the number of practicum hours required to complete the D.N.P. and/or number of graduate courses previously completed and transferred to Penn State. This varies with each student. Students must strictly adhere to their individual plan of study.  Any change must be discussed with the D.N.P. advisor and approved by the D.N.P. Program Director.  

The B.S.N. to D.N.P. is for those individuals who plan to be nurse administrators. The B.S.N. to D.N.P. program will include a minimum of 1000 hours of practicum and a minimum of 61 credits. Practicum hours are on a 1 to 5 ratio: 1 didactic credit is equivalent to each 75 hours of practicum time. 

The curriculum will be composed of seven components: 61 Credits  

1.  Master’s Core: 6 credits  

• NURS 501: Issues in Nursing and Health Care (3 credits) 

• NURS 510: Theoretical and Scientific Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice (3 credits) 

2.  Nurse Administrator Option Courses: 13 credits  

• NURS 845: Healthcare Economics and Policy for Nurse Administrators (3 credits) 

• NURS 846: Leadership Concepts and Theories for Nurse Administrators (3 credits)

 • NURS 847: Human Resource and Workforce Issues for Nurse Administrators (3 credits) 

• NURS 848: Synthesis and Application of the Nurse Administrator Role (4 credits) 

3.  D.N.P. Core Courses: 15 credits

• NURS 830: Evidence Based-Practice I: Theory and Research Methods (3 credits) 

• NURS 831: Evidence Based-Practice II: Translation of Research (3 credits) 

• NURS 832: Doctor of Nursing Practice: Leadership I (3 credits) 

• NURS 833: Doctor of Nursing Practice: Leadership II (3 credits) 

• NURS 837: Evidence-Based Practice III: Project Development 

4.  Other Required Courses: 14 credits 

• NURS 590: Colloquium (1 credit) (first year doctoral student research colloquium; Ph.D. & D.N.P.) 

• NURS 587: Ethics in Nursing Research (1 credit) (Ph.D. & D.N.P. students; SARI requirement met) 

• NURS 808: Population Health Perspectives (3 credits) 

• NURS 836: Healthcare Informatics (3 credits) 

• STAT 800: STAT 800: Applied Research Methods (3 credits) 

• STAT 507: Epidemiologic Research Methods (3 credits) 

5.  Advanced Clinical Practicum: 4 credits (needed to meet the 1000-hour requirement) 

• NURS 834: Doctor of Nursing Practice Clinical Practicum (4 credits) (variable 1-4; repeatable) 

6.  Project Requirement: project: minimum 6 credits  

• NURS 835: Project (2 credits) (repeatable) 

7.  Electives: 6 credits 

ELECTIVES MAY INCLUDE:  

• NURS 522: Comprehensive Assessment of the Older Adult (3 credits) 

• NURS 523: Interventions for Common Health Issues in Older Adults (3 credits) 

• HRER 501: Labor and Employment Law Legal Context of Employment in the United States (3 credits) 

• HRER 802: Organizations in the Workplace (3 credits) 

• HRER 836: Diversity in the Workplace (3 credits) 

• PHP 527: Public Health Evaluation of Disasters and Bioterrorism (3 credits) 

• PHP 530: Critical Infrastructure Protection of Health Care Delivery Systems (3 credits) 

• PSY 532: Psychological Foundations of Leadership (3 credits) 

• PSY 539: Foundations of Behavior, Motivation, and Attitudes at Work (3 credits) 

• STAT 501: Regression Methods (3 credits) 

• STAT 509: Design and Analysis of Clinical Trials (3 credits)  

B.S.N. to D.N.P. PLAN OF STUDY FOR FULL-TIME and PART-TIME STUDENT:  NOTE: The following plan of study is a sample plan. Each student will have an individual plan. Differences in plans and credit hours may be based on the number of practicum hours required to complete the D.N.P. and/or number of graduate courses previously completed and transferred to Penn State. This varies with each student. Students must strictly adhere to their individual plan of study.  Any change must be discussed with the D.N.P. advisor and approved by the D.N.P. Program Director.  

DNP Core Courses

NURS 831  Evidence-Based Practice II: Translation of Research (3 Credits) Evaluation and translation of evidence-based research and inquiry into nursing practice. This course will provide students will the skills to evaluate evidence-based research in order to translate the research into practice. Students will identify a clinical or practice phenomenon in need of evaluation and change and conduct a systematic search of the research literature. 

NURS 832  Doctor of Nursing Practice: Leadership I (3 Credits) Foundations of Doctor of Nursing Practice transformational leadership in complex health care settings. 

NURS 833  Doctor of Nursing Practice: Leadership II (3 Credits) Doctor of Nursing Practice transformational leadership to improve healthcare delivery and quality outcomes. 

NURS 837  Evidence-Based Practice III: Project Development (3 Credits) Doctor of Nursing Practice project plan will be developed focusing on design, sample, data collection, projected outcomes, resourcing, plan for analysis, and sustainability. Students will collaborate with key stakeholders to build project support. Students will complete steps for Institutional Review Board (IRB) submission. The course includes 75 hours of required clinical practicum hours. 

NURS 834  Doctor of Nursing Practice Clinical Practicum (1-4 Credits, repeatable, maximum of 8) The focus of the clinical practicum is planning, implementing, and evaluating evidence-based interventions to address a healthcare problem. 

NURS 835  Doctor of Nursing Practice Project (2-3 Credits, repeatable, maximum of 10) The Doctor of Nursing Practice capstone project demonstrates clinical scholarship in an area of practice. 

OTHER REQUIRED COURSES 

NURS 587  Ethics in Nursing Research (1 Credit) Provides the theoretical and practical knowledge needed to design and conduct ethically responsible social and behavioral health research. 

NURS 590  Colloquium (1 Credit) Continuing seminars which consist of a series of individual lectures by faculty, students, or outside speakers. 

NURS 808  Perspectives in Population-Based Health (3 Credits) This course explores population health concepts, measurement, and application in practice, research, and policy. This course explores population health as a framework for improving health in society. Multiple determinants will be examined in relation to health status measurement, health and disease trends, and health disparities at a community, national, and global perspective. Students will explore models for health improvement and how evidence is utilized in determining population-based intervention and policies directed at health promotion and disease prevention. 

NURS 836  Healthcare Informatics (3 Credits) This course provides a foundation in information systems and technology for improvement of healthcare. 

NURS 845  Healthcare Economics and Policy for Nurse Administrators (3 Credits) Concepts of healthcare economics and policy for nurse administrators 

STAT 507  Epidemiologic Research Methods (3 Credits) Research and quantitative methods for analysis of epidemiologic observational studies. Non-randomized, intervention studies for human health, and disease treatment. STAT 507 Epidemiologic Research Methods (3) This 3-credit course develops research and quantitative methods related to the design and analysis of epidemiological (mostly observational) studies. Such studies assess the health and disease status of one or more human populations or identify factors associated with health and disease status. To a lesser degree, the course also covers non-randomized, intervention (experimental) studies that may be designed and analyzed with epidemiological methods. This course is a second-level course and complements Biostat Methods, STAT 509, which is focused on clinical (experimental) trials. Together, these two courses provide students with a complete review of research methods for the design and analysis for common studies related to human health, disease, and treatment. Prerequisite are Intro Biostats (STAT 250 or equivalent). 

STAT 800  Applied Research Methods (3 Credits) Investigates methods for assessing data collected from experimental and/or observational studies in various research setting. STAT 800 Applied Research Methods (3) This course provides students with a broad exploration of the tools and methods in Applied Statistics. In particular, it investigates basic probability distributions and methods for assessing data collected from experimental and/or observational studies in social science and other research settings. Students learn methods of point and interval estimation, including sample size determinations required to achieve a prescribed margin of error. Additionally, students examine hypothesis testing and the determination of sample sizes to achieve a prescribed power of a given test. The distinction between observational studies and randomized experiments is clarified and the limitations of the conclusions are emphasized. Research articles that are relevant to students' fields of study are used to determine how these statistical methods are being applied. Students then identify and critique appropriate research methods. Students work with various data sets to establish fundamental practices that properly analyze data and interpret results via either Minitab or SPSS statistical software as they formulate and communicate conclusions based on a given research context.  

BSN TO DNP (LEADERSHIP) ADDITIONAL REQUIRED COURSES 

NURS 501  Issues in Nursing and Health Care (3 Credits) Analysis and evaluation of the health care system with emphasis on health policy and economic issues affecting nursing practice. NURS 501 Issues in Nursing and Health Care (3) This course will focus on the state of the U.S. health care system within global, health policy, and economic perspectives. The course will cover current and complex issues and trends specific to nursing, and in the broader context of interdisciplinary health care. Master's level nurses will develop beginning mastery over the concepts and principles of health care policy, and the leadership skills necessary to influence policy changes in health care within organizations and on a national, state or local level. 

NURS 510  Theoretical and Scientific Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice (3 Credits) Examines the relationship of nursing theories to the development of nursing science, as well as current scientific advances that guide nursing practice and research. 

NURS 846  Leadership Concepts and Theories for Nurse Administrators (3 Credits) Concepts and theories of leadership for nurse administrators. NURS 846 Leadership Concepts and Theories for Nurse Administrators (3) This course provides a foundation in nurse leadership roles, concepts, and theories. Students will explore the theoretical basis of leadership and change, as well as analyze organizational structure, power, and politics. This course is intended to provide students with a theoretical and evidence-based foundation for leadership roles within health care organizations. Discussion of communication, decision-making, and problem-solving strategies for nurse administrators is included throughout the course. 

NURS 847  Human Resource and Workforce Issues for Nurse Administrators (3 Credits) Human resource management and work force issues for nurse administrators. NURS 847 Human Resource and Work Force Issues for Nurse Administrators (3) This course provides a foundation in human resources within health care organizations. Students will examine ethical and legal issues related to collective bargaining, unions, and staffing. This course is intended to prepare students to utilize leadership strategies for recruiting, retaining, developing, and evaluating a diverse, multidisciplinary work force in complex healthcare environments. Discussion of evidence-based strategies for conflict resolution will be included throughout the course. 

NURS 848A  Synthesis and Application of the Nurse Administrator Role (4 Credits) This course involves the practical application of knowledge acquired in previously completed courses related to the nurse administrator. Students will work with a preceptor in a health care setting to demonstrate multiple aspects of the nurse administrator role. The practicum experience will be developed to fulfill mutually agreed-upon objectives based on students' previous experiences and identified learning needs. This course is specifically designed as a practicum course for students in the B.S.N. to D.N.P. program and evaluated based on the nationally acknowledged foundational competencies that are core to all advanced nursing practice roles and known as the D.N.P. Essentials (AACN, 2006).