The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree is designed to prepare nurses for the highest level of clinical practice in the profession of nursing. Graduates are prepared to create and lead new models of health care delivery for communities locally, across the nation and around the world.  The DNP program is innovative, inter-/intra-professional and focuses on evidence-based health care.  The program maximizes the use of hybrid delivery methods for enhanced learning and increased course accessibility.  (To read more about the DNP, visit the American Association of Colleges of Nursing website: https://www.aacnnursing.org/)

This program will prepare students to provide advanced evidence-based patient-centered care psychiatric and mental health patients across the lifespan. The graduate will be eligible to take the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification examination. 

Some states require a specific master’s degree to practice as a nurse practitioner; therefore, a concurrent Master of Science with a major in Nursing will be awarded with completion of the DNP.

The School of Nursing also offers the post graduate certificate for DNP-prepared nurses.  The plan of study is individualized based on academic completion and requirements.

School of Nursing Mission

The mission of the School of Nursing is to prepare graduates for professional positions as safe, competent, and caring nurses to meet the health care needs of diverse populations.

Acceptance of Transfer Credits

Transfer credit will be awarded per the published Graduate Programs section of the University catalog.  A maximum of nine semester hours of transfer credits from an accredited institution may be applied to the degree with approval from the graduate nursing program coordinator.

Time Limits

Courses completed 6 or more years before the date of graduation will not be accepted as satisfying graduation requirements without the approval by the graduate nursing program coordinator.

Accreditation

Seeking Candidacy for the DNP from:

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850
Atlanta, Georgia 30326
Phone: (404) 975-5000
Fax: (404) 975-5020

Admission Requirements

Students are responsible for following all admission policies and procedures as outlined in the Graduate Programs section of the University catalog.

1. Complete application to the nursing program.
2. Proof of active, unrestricted Colorado or Colorado Nursing Compact State Registered Nurse license for all MS and MS-DNP emphasis options or by the end of the first semester for the BSN-DNP emphases options).
3. Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from an accredited university with a 3.0 GPA, or higher (MS, BSN-DNP and associate post-masters certificate options).
4. All prerequisites must be passed with a C or better (C- is not acceptable) including statistics, microbiology and chemistry. Students receiving a grade less than C in a nursing prerequisite course are not eligible for admission.
5. Master’s degree in Nursing from an accredited university with a 3.0 GPA, or higher (MS-DNP Program and associate post-masters certificate options).

Admission Criteria

BSN or MS (Nursing) to DNP or Post Masters Certification

Students are responsible for following all admission policies and procedures as outlined in the Graduate Programs section of the University catalog.

1. Baccalaureate degree in nursing from an institution accredited by a regional accreditation agency (or equivalent).
2. Undergraduate BSN cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher will consider courses with a graduate nursing GPA of 3.0 or higher.
3. Undergraduate statistics course with a grade of C or higher.
4. Application for admission to graduate programs in the university Office of Admission (admission to graduate programs does not constitute admission to the nursing graduate program).
5. Proof of active, unrestricted Colorado Registered Nurse license by the end of the first semester of the program.
6. Background check per Colorado Law (see application).
7. Current immunizations.
8. Current certification in CPR (Health Care Provider – C or equivalent).
9. Three letters of recommendation:
   1. Professional or Academic
   2. Clinical
   3. Other
10. Letter of intent that includes:
    1. Brief professional history
    2. Reason for pursuing advanced degree
    3. How applicant will manage work, home, and study
11. Curriculum Vitae

(Use the template located under Graduate Nursing Student Application Instructions on the website)

Preference for acceptance will be given to applicants who have:

1. 2000 Hours (1 year full-time) experience as a registered nurse (AGACNP, AGACNP/FNP and PMHNP emphases only).
2. One year or more of experience as a clinical adjunct instructor (Nurse Educator only)
3. Residency in Southern Colorado
4. Graduate from CSU-Pueblo

If accepted into a program, requirements prior to attending first class include:

1. Drug screen
2. Physical exam within last 12 months

Program Outcomes

1. Eighty percent of graduates will:
   • Complete the program within one and one-half times the length of the program
   • Express satisfaction with the program
   • Pass national certification exam the first time
   • Be employed in role-related professional practice within six months to one year
2. Eighty percent of employers’ will express satisfaction with graduates’ job performance.

DNP Graduate Student Learning Outcomes

At the completion of this program, graduates will be able to:

1. Integrate evidence-based practice, ethical decision making and technology into advanced nursing practice
2. Conduct scholarly inquiry to influence health outcomes of individuals, aggregates and populations
3. Organize interprofessional collaboration to provide safe, quality patient-centered care.
4. Assume a leadership role in transforming health care systems, policies and standards of care

The School of Nursing offers the DNP for the:

• Baccalaureate-prepared registered nurse
• Master-prepared nurse practitioner who is certified in adult/geriatric acute care, family or psychiatric-mental health
• Post-master’s registered nurse

Program Requirements

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Emphasis (PMHNP)

Plan of Study Grid

Course	Title	Credits
Year 1
Fall
NSG 504	NSG WRITING & PRESENTATION SKILLS 1	1
NSG 505	BIOSTATISTICS & RESEARCH	3
NSG 507	ADVANCED PRACTICE ROLES	2
NSG 508	ADVANCED PRACTICE THEORY	3
	Credits	9
Spring
NSG 562	ADVANCED ASSESSMENT	2
NSG 562L	ADVANCED ASSESSMENT LAB	1
NSG 748	HEALTHCARE: ETHICS, LAW & POLICY	4
NSG 712	RESEARCH & EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE	3
	Credits	10
Summer
NSG 551	HEALTH PROMOTION	2
NSG 571	HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS	2
NSG 714	EPIDEMIOLOGY	3
	Credits	7
Year 2
Fall
NSG 552	ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY	3
NSG 561	ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY	3
NSG 716	HEALTH CARE BUSINESS & FINANCE	4
	Credits	10
Spring
NSG 676	THEORETICAL MENTAL HEALTH MODELS	2
NSG 677	PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY	2
NSG 718	ORGANIZATIONAL & SYSTEMS LEADERSHIP	4
	Credits	8
Summer
NSG 678	PSYCHIATRIC ASSESSMENT & EVALUATION	2
NSG 679	PSYCHIATRIC DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS	2
NSG 801	DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE SEMINAR	1
	Credits	5
Year 3
Fall
NSG 651	PSYCH MENTAL HEALTH I	2
NSG 651L	PMH PRACTICUM I	2
NSG 802	DNP PROJECT PRACTICUM I	3
	Credits	7
Spring
NSG 652	PSYCH MENTAL HEALTH II	2
NSG 652L	PMH PRACTICUM II	2
NSG 803	DNP PROJECT PRACTICUM II	3
	Credits	7
Summer
NSG 653	PSYCH MENTAL HEALTH III	3
NSG 653L	PMH PRACTICUM III	3
NSG 804	DNP PROJECT PRACTICUM III	2
	Credits	8
Year 4
Fall
NSG 654	PSYCH MENTAL HEALTH IV	3
NSG 654L	PMH PRACTICUM IV	3
NSG 805	DNP PROJECT PRACTICUM IV	3
	Credits	9
Spring
NSG 808L	FINAL DNP PRACTICUM PMHNP	6
	Credits	6
Summer
NSG 810L	DNP PROJECT PRACTICUM (if needed)	1
	Credits	1
	Total Credits	87

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
Total Lab Hours		90
Total PMHNP Practicum Hours		585
Total DNP Practicum Hours		540
Total Practicum Hours		1125
Total Program Credita		86

Graduation Requirements for DNP

The graduate degree will be granted to candidates who meet all of the University catalog requirements plus the following:

1. Graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.
2. All courses must be passed with a B or better.
3. Completed and approved DNP Project Practicum.