Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
The University of Utah College of Nursing offers advanced practice nursing programs as a DNP degree. The DNP degree is designed for bachelor's prepared nurses seeking a terminal degree in nursing practice and offers an alternative to research-focused doctoral programs. The DNP curricula provide education in evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and systems leadership, among other key areas.
BS to DNP Program
The BS-DNP program specialty tracks includes Adult/Gerontology Acute Care, Neonatal, Nurse Midwifery, Primary Care (Adult/Gerontology, Family, and Pediatrics), Psychiatric Mental Health, Women's Health, and a dual-track in Nurse Midwifery and Women's Health.
Masters to DNP Program
The Masters to Doctor of Nursing Practice (MS-DNP) program of study is designed for master's prepared nurses to obtain the DNP degree in one of two pathways:
- Direct Care for advanced practice registered nurses (APRN)
- Organizational Leadership (non-APRNs, i.e., for nurse administrators, and APRNs)
Expected Learning Outcomes
- Integrate nursing science with knowledge from ethics, the biophysical, psychosocial, analytical, and organizational sciences to provide the basis for advanced nursing practice.
- Provide, manage and evaluate the care of individuals and populations using evidence-based concepts related to physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, as well as community, environmental, cultural, and socioeconomic dimensions of health.
- Demonstrate advanced levels of clinical judgment and decision-making, systems thinking, and accountability in designing, delivering, and evaluating evidence-based care.
- Develop and evaluate initiatives that will improve the quality of care delivery.
- Analyze and communicate critical elements necessary to the selection, use, and evaluation of healthcare information systems and patient care technology.
- Actively engage in interdisciplinary collaborations aimed at improving healthcare delivery, care coordination, and policy.
- Demonstrate professionalism, value lifelong learning, and recognize the need to adapt the practice to changing social, political, and global healthcare environments.
Nursing Education Xchange (NEXus)
Opportunities are offered for doctoral/graduate students, through the Nursing Education Xchange (NEXus), enrolled at member colleges and universities to take courses that may not be provided at his/her home institution for a typical price.
Eligibility for Licensure within US States and Territories
The nursing programs in the College of Nursing are board approved and possess national certifications from recognized national organizations. Please click HERE to access a list of states/jurisdictions that indicate whether or not our undergraduate (BS) and graduate (DNP) curricula meet one of the following options: meets requirement for licensure, does not meet requirements for licensure, or has not yet been determined.
