Nursing Major, DNP

The College of Nursing offers the Doctor of Nursing Practice program (DNP), designed for MSN graduates who are interested in earning a clinical doctoral degree in nursing. At the completion of the DNP program, students will be able to

• Integrate nursing science with other disciplines as the basis for the highest level of evidence-based nursing practice.
• Demonstrate professionalism, advocacy, ethical principles, and scientific integrity in advanced nursing practice.
• Provide collaborative leadership in the development of clinical practice models, health policy, and standards of care, for diverse populations.
• Generate system and outcomes research and analyze other evidence to guide improvements in practice.
• Utilize information systems/technology to support and improve nursing care and healthcare systems, and prevent illness and disability

Admission

• Submit online application to the Graduate Admissions Office. Meet admission requirements of Graduate School.
• Hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in nursing from a program accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission or the Collegiate Commission on Nursing Education.
• Have a minimum cumulative graduate grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for previous college work.
• Have achieved a competitive score on the verbal and quantitative portions of the Graduate Record Examination.
• Have TOEFL scores of at least 550 on the paper test or 80 on the internet-based test if native language is not English.
• Complete College of Nursing Graduate Program Data Form.
• Submit College of Nursing Graduate Rating Forms from three college level instructors and/or nurses and administrators who have supervised applicant’s professional work.
• Submit an essay describing personal and professional aspirations.
• Schedule a personal interview with the College of Nursing DNP admissions committee. International applicants may be interviewed by telephone or teleconferencing at the discretion of the admissions committee.

See College of Nursing website (www.nursing.utk.edu) for current application deadlines and additional information on admission procedures.

Special Requirements and Policies

• Prior to enrollment in the DNP program, each student must successfully complete a criminal background check.
• Each student must hold personal professional liability insurance and health insurance.
• As Registered Nurses, DNP students must be licensed to practice nursing in the state where employed and in all states where their clinical experiences will occur (if different from state of employment).
• Each student must present evidence of meeting current health requirements. See College of Nursing website, www.nursing.utk.edu.
• Each student must present evidence of current health care provider CPR certified.
• A maximum of 6 graduate hours taken before acceptance into the DNP program may be applied toward the degree.
• A minimum grade of B in all DNP and other graduate-level nursing courses and a 3.0 cumulative GPA is required for continuation the program. 

Requirements

The following courses are required for all students.

Requirements for Family Nurse Practitioner concentration

NURS 501  3
NURS 504  3
NURS 505  3
NURS 515  3
NURS 580  3
NURS 581  4
NURS 571  3
NURS 572  4
NURS 586  3
NURS 587  6
Total hours 35
 

Students will be admitted to candidacy after successfully passing a comprehensive examination and defending the capstone project proposal. The capstone 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. The capstone project committee is composed of a minimum of two doctorally-prepared (DNP or PhD) faculty. When appropriate, a third committee member may be selected, who holds special expertise relative to the specific project. The third member may be a faculty member from another academic unit, or external to the university.