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.
