Post Masters Doctorate in Nursing Practice, D.N.P.
Justin DiLibero, Interim Dean, Onanian School of Nursing
Bethany Petronio-Defanti, Associate Dean, Onanian School of Nursing
Graduate Department Chair: Debra Servello
D.N.P. Program Director: Kara Misto
D.N.P. Program Faculty: Professor Costello, Servello; Associate Professors Dame, DiLibero, Misto Assistant Professors Walsh
Admission Requirements for All Post-Masters D.N.P. Students
Admission to the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program is competitive. Ideal candidates demonstrate a history of academic success, strong leadership, and potential for future success in leadership and practice scholarship. Specific requirement for admission include:
- A completed application accompanied by a fifty-dollar nonrefundable application fee.
- Current unrestricted Registered Nurse licensure in the state of intended practice.
- Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN) OR
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and a masters degree in nursing or a related field
- Attainment of a cumulative masters GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended
- Completion of a graduate-level inferential statistics course within the past 5 years with a minimum grade of C. Students who have not completed a graduate statistics course may be admitted to the program and may complete this requirement within one year of matriculation. Students may not progress beyond 12 months until this requirement is met.
- Verification of the number of clinical/experience hours completed at the masters/graduate level
- A statement of intent which should demonstrate the candidate’s leadership and practice experience, reasons for pursuing doctoral study, and the student’s potential area of focus for the DNP Scholarly Project. This statement should be representative of the applicant’s writing ability. The statement should be 2-4 pages, double-spaced, and written in 12-point font.
- Current resume or curriculum vitaeThree letters of recommendation.
Additional Requirements for International Students:
- Applicants with international degrees must have their transcripts evaluated for degree and grade equivalency to that of a regionally accredited institution in the United States.
- An official report of scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) from international applicants who are from countries where English is not the first language.
Applicants may be asked to participate in an interview prior to admission
Retention Requirements for All General Declared Nursing Majors
Students who earn less than a B in a required nursing course will be placed on probationary status and must earn a minimum grade of B in all required nursing courses over the next 9 credits.
Handbook
The School of Nursing Handbook for Doctor of Nursing Practice Students provides detailed and essential information about the graduate nursing program. It is available online at DNP Programs | Rhode Island College (ric.edu)
Course Requirements - Full-Time Students
First Semester
| NURS 701 | Scientific Underpinnings for Clinical Scholarship | 3 | Fall. |
| NURS 702 | Systems Leadership/Quality Improvement | 3 | Fall, SSI. |
| NURS 703 | Advanced Epidemiology and Biostatistics | 3 | Fall. |
| NURS 791 | Directed Readings I | 1 | Spring. |
Second Semester
| NURS 704 | Clinical Research/Analytic Methods | 3 | Spring. |
| NURS 708 | Interprofessional Collaborative Practice | 3 | Fall, SSII. |
| NURS 720 | D.N.P. Project Planning | 1 | Spring. |
| NURS 792 | Directed Readings II | 1 | Fall. |
Third Semester
| NURS 730 | D.N.P. Proposal Development | 3 | Summer. |
Fourth Semester
| NURS 707 | Information Technology/Decision Support | 3 | Fall. |
| NURS 709 | Population Health | 3 | Fall. |
| NURS 740 | D.N.P. Project Implementation | 2 | Fall. |
Fifth Semester
| NURS 705 | Health Care Policy and Advocacy | 3 | Spring. |
| NURS 706 | Economics, Finance, Business Management | 3 | Spring. |
| NURS 750 | D.N.P. Project Evaluation and Dissemination | 1 | Spring. |
| Total Credit Hours: | 36 | |
Course Requirements - Part-Time Students
First Semester
| NURS 701 | Scientific Underpinnings for Clinical Scholarship | 3 | Fall. |
| NURS 702 | Systems Leadership/Quality Improvement | 3 | Fall, SSI. |
Second Semester
| NURS 704 | Clinical Research/Analytic Methods | 3 | Spring. |
| NURS 708 | Interprofessional Collaborative Practice | 3 | Fall, SSII. |
| NURS 791 | Directed Readings I | 1 | Spring. |
Third Semester
| NURS 703 | Advanced Epidemiology and Biostatistics | 3 | Fall. |
| NURS 709 | Population Health | 3 | Fall. |
| NURS 792 | Directed Readings II | 1 | Fall. |
Fourth Semester
| NURS 706 | Economics, Finance, Business Management | 3 | Spring. |
| NURS 720 | D.N.P. Project Planning | 1 | Spring. |
Fifth Semester
| NURS 730 | D.N.P. Proposal Development | 3 | Summer. |
Sixth Semester
| NURS 707 | Information Technology/Decision Support | 3 | Fall. |
| NURS 740 | D.N.P. Project Implementation | 2 | Fall. |
Seventh Semester
| NURS 705 | Health Care Policy and Advocacy | 3 | Spring. |
| NURS 750 | D.N.P. Project Evaluation and Dissemination | 1 | Spring. |
| Total Credit Hours: | 36 | |