Doctorate of Nursing Practice
The College of Nursing at the University of Rhode Island offers a DNP program in nursing. Its purpose is to prepare advanced practice nurses nurse at the highest level for clinical practice. It prepares clinicians capable of translating scientific findings, evaluating outcomes and programs, producing clinical scholarship, and transforming health care systems and policies.
Curriculum
The DNP program consists of 42 credits including 510 clinical practicum hours. A Master's degree in Nursing is required. At the present time, the curriculum builds on four specializations - family nurse practitioner, gerontological nurse practitioner, gerontological clinical nurse specialist, and psychiatric-mental health clinical nurse specialist. A unique feature is the close link between DNP and PhD course work where 4 required courses are shared.
The course work includes nursing courses in scientific thinking, research methods (qualitative and quantitative), informatics, administration/leadership, and evidence based strategies in health care (21 credits). Practicum courses are continuous throughout the program (6 total credits; 240 hours). Interdisciplinary courses include epidemiology, social and health care policy, and organizational design & decision making in the Colleges of Pharmacy, Human Science & Services, and Business in (9 credits). The program culminates with a capstone practicum (6 credits, 270 hours).
Download the Curriculum Sheet (PDF)
Courses in Nursing
(21 credits)Scientific Foundations
NUR 660 Philosophical Foundations in Health and Social Research (3 credits)
NUR 601 Foundations of Nursing Science (3 credits)
Research Methods
NUR 651 Advanced Methods in Nursing Research I (Quantitative Methods) (3 credits)
NUR 652 Advanced Methods in Nursing Research II (Qualitative Methods) (3 credits)
Strategies and Tools
NUR 549 Evidence Based Strategies in Health Care Program Evaluation (3 credits)
NUR 551 Theoretical Study of Nursing: Administration/Leadership (3 credits)
NUR 680 Informatics in Health Care Settings (3 credits)
Interdisciplinary Courses (9 credits)
PHP 540 Introduction to Epidemiology (3 credits)
HDF 527 Social and Health Care Policy (3 credits)
MBA 540 Organizational Decision Making and Design (3 credits)
Clinical Practicums (6credits)
NUR 686 DNP Role Development (1 credit each semester; 6 credits total)
Clinical practice is available in a variety of settings. The practicum experiences are planned with the student, taking into consideration the student's interest, learning needs and career goals.
Capstone practicum & project (6 credits)
NUR 688 This practicum course culminates in a major synthesis project that results in system level change. The final DNP project produces a tangible and deliverable academic product that is derived from the practice immersion experience and is reviewed and evaluated by an academic committee. This product documents outcomes of the student’s educational experiences, provides a strategy to evaluate the immersion experience, and summarizes the student’s growth in knowledge and expertise.
Part-Time and Full-Time Study
Students take 1 or 2, 3 credit courses per semester for part-time and 3 courses for full-time. Students can select to move through courses anywhere between two-and-one-half to a five-year time frame.
Financial Aid
A variety of traineeships, graduate assistantships and loans are available to help finance doctoral education.
Admissions Requirements
Admission decisions will be based on a comprehensive review of applicant qualifications presented as a total package. The following criteria will be used as the guidelines for admission decisions:
- Master’s degree in nursing or its equivalent. A minimum of 3.3 QPA is desirable.
- Submission of two scholarly papers (one theoretical and the other empirical) is required for review by the graduate faculty. A master's thesis or its equivalent may be submitted in liew of two scholarly paper for review.
- National certification as an Advanced Practice Nurse
- RN licensure
- Evidence of graduate course work in concept development and theory (NUR500, NUR507) or equivalent
- Two letters of reference attesting to the applicant's capability for doctoral study, one of which should be by a doctorally prepared nurse.
- Congruence of applicant goals with the objectives of the program and the goals of the College and University.
To view the University catalog please go to: http://www.uri.edu/catalog/
To apply please go to: http://www.uri.edu/gsadmis/ and click Apply Online Now!
For further information, contact:
Patricia M. Burbank, DNSc, RN
Professor
University of Rhode Island
College of Nursing
2 Heathman Rd.
Kingston, RI 02881
Ph: 401-874-5314
Fax: 401-874-3811
Email: pburbank@verizon.net
graduate student links
graduate degree programs
- Administration
- Nursing Education
- Clinical Specialist in Psychiatric/ Mental Health (ON HOLD)
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
graduate student contacts
Bethany Fay
Graduate Studies Secretary
p. 401.874.5334
bfay@uri.edu
Mary Sullivan, Ph.D., RN
Director of Graduate Studies
p. 401.874.5339
mcsullivan@uri.edu
