UMass Boston

Doctor of Nursing Practice - DNP

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Lead the way to the future of clinical nursing.

UMass Boston’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program is designed to give experienced nurses the knowledge, skills, and judgment competencies that are required for leading the way to the future of clinical nursing and health care delivery systems. The DNP program prepares advanced practice nurses for roles in health systems leadership, policy development, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

UMass Boston’s Nursing DNP program has BS-to-DNP and MS-to-DNP options. The BS-to-DNP program is for nurses who have a BSN, and the MS-to-DNP program is for advanced practice nurses with a master’s degree in nursing.

In the DNP program at UMass Boston, you will focus on:

  • Improving health care quality
  • Advocating for health policy at the local and national level
  • Applying theories and conceptual models to the analysis of health care disparities
  • Applying scientific evidence to improve patient outcomes
  • Utilizing informatics to monitor care, control costs, and improve efficiencies
  • Increasing health care access to all communities and groups, especially diverse underserved populations, across the lifespan

Career Possibilities

Teach and mentor nursing students and staff, create educational materials, and participate in curriculum development as a nurse educator. Provide expert advice and guidance to healthcare organizations, policymakers, and other stakeholders on issues related to patient care as a consultant. Or, conduct studies to develop evidence-based practice guidelines as a clinical researcher. These are just a few of the possibilities a DNP offers.

Become a(n):

  • Advanced Nurse Practitioner
  • Healthcare Administrator
  • Nurse Educator
  • Clinical Researcher
  • Nurse Consultant
  • Nurse Executive

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Plan Your Education

How to Apply

Applicants must meet general graduate admission requirements in addition to the following program-specific requirements:

BS-DNP

  • A current RN licensure in the state of Massachusetts
  • One year of clinical practice
  • Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
  • Personal statement: As a prompt, focus on the following: why you want to pursue graduate studies, why are you interested in pursuing the track (DNP AGNP/ DNP FNP) you are applying for, and how will the degree help with your professional and personal goals
  • Two (2) letters of recommendation
  • Current résumé or CV
  • Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from an accredited program

MS-DNP

  • Official transcripts for all colleges and universities attended
  • Personal statement: As a prompt, focus on the following: why you want to pursue graduate studies, why are you interested in pursuing a DNP, and how will the degree help with your professional and personal goals
  • Two (2) letters of recommendation
  • Current résumé or CV
  • Bachelor’s degree in nursing from a nationally accredited program or equivalent coursework
  • Master’s degree in nursing or other health-related field from an accredited program
  • Registered nurse license in the state or county of residence, advanced practice licensure in the state of residence with national certification

Deadline & Cost

Deadlines: February 1 for fall

Application Fee: The nonrefundable application fee is $75. UMass Boston alumni and current students that plan to complete degree requirements prior to graduate enrollment can submit the application without paying the application fee.

Program Cost Information: For additional information regarding tuition and fees, please visit the Bursar’s Office or send an email to Bursar@umb.edu. Please refer to Graduate Student Financial Aid for more information on financial aid.

Curriculum

Course Requirements - BS to DNP

Core Courses (61 Credits)

  • NURSNG 601 - Introduction to Advanced Practice Nursing: Knowledge for Practice in the Global Community 3 Credit(s)
  • NURSNG 614 - Advanced Pathophysiology 3 Credit(s)
  • NURSNG 615 - Advanced Health Assessment Practicum 3 Credit(s)
  • NURSNG 616 - Evidence Based Practice I: Appraising the Strength and Significance of Evidence 3 Credit(s)
  • NURSNG 618 - Introduction to Health Policy, Finance and Ethics 3 Credit(s)
  • NURSNG 634 - Advanced Pharmacology for the Advanced Practice Nurse 3 Credit(s)
  • NURSNG 637 - Mental and Psychosocial Health of the Urban Family 3 Credit(s)
  • NURSNG 639 - Primary Care of Adults 3 Credit(s)
  • NURSNG 640 - Advanced Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Across the Lifespan 6 Credit(s)
  • NURSNG 670 - Primary Care of the Adult Practicum 6 Credit(s)
  • NURSNG 714 - DNP Seminar I: Translating Evidence to Improve Practice 3 Credit(s)
  • NURSNG 715 - Health Informatics 3 Credit(s)
  • NURSNG 716 - DNP Seminar II: Designing & Evaluating Improvement Projects 3 Credit(s)
  • NURSNG 722 - Improving Outcomes: Identification, Interventions, and Evaluation of Quality Improvement Activities 3 Credit(s)
  • NURSNG 745 - Population Health I 3 Credit(s)
  • NURSNG 765 - Health Systems Leadership 3 Credit(s)
  • NURSNG 717 - DNP Seminar III: Implementation of a Theory Guided Improvement Project 3 Credit(s)
  • NURSNG 718 - DNP Seminar IV: Improvement Project Synthesis & Outcomes 2 Credit(s)
  • NURSNG 719 - DNP Seminar V : Dissemination of Improvement Project Outcomes 2 Credit(s)

Concentration Courses (9 Credits)

Complete two courses from one of the concentrations below.

Adult/Gerontological Nurse Practitioner Concentration
Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration

Elective (3 Credits)

Complete one additional course.


Course Requirements - MS to DNP

Core Courses (21 Credits)

  • NURSNG 618 - Introduction to Health Policy, Finance and Ethics 3 Credit(s)
  • NURSNG 714 - DNP Project Seminar I: Translating Evidence to Improve Practice 3 Credit(s)
  • NURSNG 715 - Health Informatics 3 Credit(s)
  • NURSNG 716 - DNP Seminar II: Designing & Evaluating Improvement Projects 3 Credit(s)
  • NURSNG 722 - Improving Outcomes: Identification, Interventions, and Evaluation of Quality Improvement Activities 3 Credit(s)
  • NURSNG 745 - Population Health I 3 Credit(s)
  • NURSNG 765 - Health Systems Leadership 3 Credit(s)

Internship Courses (7 Credits)

  • NURSNG 717 - DNP Seminar III: Implementation of a Theory Guided Improvement Project 3 Credit(s)
  • NURSNG 718 - DNP Seminar IV: Improvement Project Synthesis & Outcomes 2 Credit(s)
  • NURSNG 719 - DNP Seminar V : Dissemination of Improvement Project Outcomes 2 Credit(s)

Elective (3 Credits)

Complete one from below.

  • NURSNG 601 - Introduction to Advanced Practice Nursing: Knowledge for Practice in the Global Community 3 Credit(s)
  • NURSNG 607 - Evidenced Based Teaching Practices 3 Credit(s)
  • NURSNG 608 - The Nurse Educator in the Academic Setting 3 Credit(s)
  • NURSNG 609 - The Nurse Educator in the Practice Setting 3 Credit(s)
  • NURSNG 612 - Transition from Nurse Clinician to Nurse Educator 3 Credit(s)
  • NURSNG 637 - Mental and Psychosocial Health of the Urban Family 3 Credit(s)
  • NURSNG 697 - Special Topics in Nursing 1-6 Credit(s)
  • NURSNG 700 - Philosophy of Nursing Science: Ways of Knowing 3 Credit(s)
  • NURSNG 711 - Scientific Basis for Chronic Illness Preventative and Risk Reduction 3 Credit(s)
  • NURSNG 757 - Social Behavioral Determinants of Health 3 Credit(s)

For more information on curriculum, including course descriptions and degree requirements, visit the Academic Catalog.

Graduation Criteria

Program Requirements - BS to DNP

Complete 73 credits from 19 core courses, 3 concentration courses, and 1 elective course.

Concentration: Students must declare a concentration in adult/gerontological nurse practitioner or family nurse practitioner.
Capstone: Completion of a quality improvement project with implementation in a clinical setting. This scholarly project is completed under the direction of UMass Boston faculty.
Practicum: Complete 1065 clinical hours.

En Route Master’s Degree: Students may, with the approval of the program director, apply to receive an MS degree en route to the PhD. To qualify, students must complete 665 clinical hours and 48 credits of coursework.

Minimum grade: No courses with a grade below B may be applied toward the program.
Statute of limitations:
Eight years.


Program Requirements - MS to DNP

Complete 31 credits from 11 courses including seven core courses, three internship courses, and one elective.

Capstone: Completion of a quality improvement project with implementation in a clinical setting. This scholarly project is completed under the direction of UMass Boston faculty.
Practicum: Complete 400 hours over two years.

Minimum grade: No courses with a grade below B may be applied toward the program.
Statute of limitations:
Five years.

Contact

Graduate Program Director Christine Salvucci
christine.salvucci [at] umb.edu
(617) 287-7547

Nursing DNP Program
dnp [at] umb.edu

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UMass Boston programs are designed to meet the requirements for licensure or certification in Massachusetts. Please contact your state licensing or certification board to determine whether the program meets the requirements for licensure or certification in other states.

 

 

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