Advance your nursing career with a DNP from the University of Missouri–St. Louis.
The College of Nursing provides coursework leading to the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). The DNP program prepares graduates for the highest level of clinical practice, including clinical and translational analysis for improved practice outcomes.
The doctoral programs involve core coursework and independent research projects for dissertation. The DNP program is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Program type:
Doctorate, DNP
Format:
On Campus
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Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree is designed for nurses interested in pursuing a practice doctorate instead of the traditional research doctorate. The practice doctorate is for advanced clinicians who are in direct or indirect clinical practice. Endorsed by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN, 2004), the focus of the DNP is to provide nurses with additional education in the areas of health policy, organizational leadership and management, and additional clinical expertise with a focus on evidence-based practice. The DNP graduate is dedicated to improving the health outcomes of individuals, families and communities through translation of clinical research into practice.
Outcomes and Career Outlook
Obtaining a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree from UMSL can open up various career opportunities in nursing. DNP graduates can pursue advanced practice nursing roles, such as nurse practitioners or nurse anesthetists, where they can provide advanced patient care. They can also enter leadership and administrative positions in healthcare organizations, contribute to education and research in nursing schools or research institutions, participate in healthcare policy and advocacy, or start consulting businesses. Graduates may also advance in their current careers in the healthcare field. The DNP program empowers our graduates to be at the forefront of healthcare and innovative leadership.
The median annual salary for Nurse Practitioners is $123,780 according to wage and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
123,780
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BSN to DNP Emphasis Areas
The BSN to DNP student chooses a nurse practitioner population of focus for their studies or the leadership in healthcare systems focus. Students will learn how to put evidence into practice and measure the outcomes through completion of a clinical scholarship project (CSP) in the final year of the program.
The role of the AGNP is to provide primary care to adults from youth (14-years of age) through geriatrics with an in-depth knowledge and experience in the primary health care needs for well-person care and the prevention/management of common adult acute illnesses and chronic conditions. This primary care is provided to support the optimal health of adults within the context of their family, community, and environmental setting. Although AGNPs practice primarily in private practices and ambulatory clinics, their scope of practice may also extend into the residential care and inpatient settings and is based upon the needs of the patient.
Plan of study
The graduate of an FNP program is prepared to provide primary care for individuals and families across the lifespan. The FNP role includes preventative healthcare, as well as the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illness and preventative health care for individuals and families. Family nurse practitioners demonstrate a commitment to family –centered care and understand the relevance of the family’s identified community in the delivery of family- centered care. (AACN, 2013)
Plan of study
The role of the PNP-PC is to provide primary care to children from birth through young adult with an in-depth knowledge and experience in pediatric primary health care including well child care and prevention/management of common pediatric acute illnesses and chronic conditions. This care is provided to support optimal health of children within the context of their family, community, and environmental setting. Although PNP-PC practice primarily in private practices and ambulatory clinics, their scope of practice may also extend into the inpatient setting and is based upon the needs of the patient. (AACN, 2013)
Plan of study
A graduate of the PNP-AC program is prepared to care for children with complex acute, critical and chronic illness across the entire pediatric age spectrum, from birth to young adulthood. Circumstances may exist in which a patient, by virtue of age, could fall outside the traditionally defined PNP-AC population but by virtue of special need, the patient is best served by the PNP-AC. The PNP-AC implements the full scope of the role through assessment, diagnosis and management with interventions for patients and their families. The PNP-AC provides care to patients who are characterized as “physiologically unstable, technologically dependent, and/or are highly vulnerable to complications” (AACN Scope and Standards, 2006, p 9), and a continuum of care ranging from disease prevention to critical care in order to “stabilize the patient’s condition, prevent complications, restore maximum health and/or provide palliative care” (AACN p. 10). Patients may be encountered across the continuum of care settings and require ongoing monitoring and intervention. (AACN, 2013)
Plan of study
For all Nurse Practitioner emphasis areas, a student must complete both focus content above and specialty courses as listed below.
| Diagnosis and Management Foundations | ||
| NURSE 6723 | Foundations of Pediatric Health | 3 |
| Diagnosis and Management I | ||
| NURSE 6743 | Pediatric Health I: Acute and Chronic Care | 4 |
| Diagnosis and Management II | ||
| NURSE 6745 | Pediatric Health II: Complex Acute Care | 4 |
Total Hours |
17 |
|
The PMHNP focuses on individuals, families, and populations across the lifespan at risk for developing and/or having a diagnosis of psychiatric or mental health conditions. The PHMNP provides mental health care to patients seeking mental health services in a wide range of settings and across all acuity levels. The mental health care provided by the PMHNP involves relationship-based, continuous and comprehensive services, necessary for the promotion of optimal mental health, prevention, and treatment of psychiatric disorders and health maintenance. This includes assessment, diagnosis, and management of psychiatric and mental health conditions across the lifespan using pharmacological, psychotherapeutic, and non-pharmacological treatments. (AACN, 2013)
Plan of study
The WHNP provides primary care to women across the life cycle with emphasis on conditions unique to women from menarche through the remainder of their life cycle within the context of sociocultural environments – interpersonal, family, and community. In providing care, WHNP considers the inter-relationship of gender, social class, culture, ethnicity, sexual orientation, economic status, and socio-political power differentials. (AACN, 2013)
