Doctor of Nursing Practice
Our program prepares nursing professionals to work at the highest level of professional practice and equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to lead within complex health care systems, drive innovation, and apply best practices to improve quality of care.
The best way to learn more about our DNP Program is to attend an information session. We will discuss the application process and then move to break out rooms with specialty track faculty and current students. Dates and details will be posted at https://nursing.utah.edu/information.
The Utah Advantage
The University of Utah College of Nursing offers advanced practice nursing programs as a Doctor of Nursing Practice (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 provides education in evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and systems leadership, among other key areas.
Guaranteed Clinical Placements
Our DNP program guarantees clinical placement sites for our students along the Wasatch Front region in Utah.
Remain Within Your Community
We offer distance-accessible education for five DNP Specialty Tracks.
Nationally Ranked Programs
Our Doctor of Nursing Practice program is ranked #23 among public universities within the United States.
Outstanding Certification Pass Rates
Our combined national certification pass rate for Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Certification stands at 99.5%.
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN certificate program at the University of Utah is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
BS to DNP Programs
The BS-DNP program is completed in three years (eight consecutive semesters). This program is only available as a full-time plan of study. Click here for a sample Program of Study. Classes are offered in a combination of in person and online. The DNP program is not a fully online program.
The BSN to DNP specialty tracks includes:
Post-MS to DNP Programs
Courses are taught in executive and online formats each semester. The executive format requires the student to attend class by video conference 4 - 5 times over the semester. campus attendance is not required.
Full-time (completed in 5 semesters) or part-time (one additional year) programs of study available. The Post-Master of Science 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 advance practice registered nurses (APRNs)
- Organizational Leadership (APRNs and non-APRNs, i.e. nurse administrators, business managers, educators)
Nursing Education Xchange (NEXus)
The College of Nursing is a member of the Nursing Education Exchange (NEXus). NEXus is a collaboration between participating doctoral programs in nursing that allows doctoral students enrolled at member colleges and universities to take courses for a common price that may not be offered at a student's home institution. Enrollment, registration, tuition, and contact information may be found by visiting the University of Utah NEXus page.
Post-APRN Licensure Certificates
Post-APRN licensure certificates are available to advanced practice nurses who are certified in one area of practice and wish to expand their area of advanced practice to another population. Students who fulfill the course and practicum requirements will be issued a certificate of completion of training, leading to eligibility to sit for national certification in the new area of care. Click here for more information.
Nursing Practice
- Prepares nurses for the highest level of clinical practice and leadership.
- Develops expertise in applying and translating evidence to improve healthcare outcomes.
- Recognized as the terminal degree for advanced nursing practice.
Course Work: Focuses on evidence-based practice, quality and safety, systems leadership, healthcare policy, complex healthcare/organizational systems, and interprofessional collaboration to impact healthcare systems and improve patient outcomes at a broader level.
Culminating Scholarly Assignment: Completion of a Scholarly Project, such as an Evidence-Based Quality Improvement Initiative or a practice-focused intervention.
Career Path: Nurse leaders who apply evidence to improve healthcare outcomes in a variety of settings, including clinical practice, administration, and policy. They generally take on roles such as nurse executives, advanced practice providers, healthcare administrators, academic educators, and policymakers, focusing on translating research into practice and driving system-level change.
Nursing Research
- Prepares nurses to generate and advance nursing science as researchers and scholars.
- Develops expertise in research methodologies to create, test, and disseminate new knowledge and theories.
- Recognized as the terminal degree for nursing research and academic scholarship.
Course Work: Focuses on research and analytical methods, theory, and nursing science. Allows for an individualized program of study to develop expertise in the core knowledge and methods of the discipline as well as specific expertise in a selected area of research.
Culminating Scholarly Assignment: Completion of a Dissertation, involving original research that contributes new knowledge to nursing science.
Career Path: Nurse scientists and scholars who generate new knowledge to advance nursing science, healthcare policy, and practice. They generally pursue careers in academia, research institutions, and public or private sectors as researchers, professors, principal investigators, policy advisors, and authors, leading research teams and shaping healthcare policy through generating new evidence.
Contact Us
Cynthia Beynon, PhD, MSN-Ed, RN, CNE
Assistant Dean, MS and DNP Programs
cynthia.beynon@nurs.utah.edu
Shelley Kern, MPC
DNP Program Manager
shelley.kern@nurs.utah.edu
Office of Student Services
(801) 587-3194
Resources
Graduate Certificates
We offer graduate certificates in:
We offer post-APRN licensure certificates in: