Nursing Practice, D.N.P.

Adrianne Lane, Ed.D., MSN, RN, DNP Graduate Program Director and Department Chair

William Terry Ray, Ph.D., MNSc, CRNA, Nurse Anethesia Track Program Director

The doctoral program prepares the graduate to be a steward of the discipline. The doctoral education 1) starts from the student’s experience 2) develops through experiences that are experiential and transformational and 3) culminates in the graduate taking on the role of nursing expert. Components of doctoral learning include opportunities for 1) formation of a deep understanding of the graduate’s place in the history and cultures of nursing, 2) development of skills of inquiry 3) generation of new nursing knowledge and 4) alignment with faculty in strong mentoring relationships. Doctoral education takes place in a nursing framework that intersects with the sciences, arts, technology, health policy and economics. This learning takes place in a scholarly community grounded in standards for rigor, the nursing imperative of caring and a plurality of voices.

The Nurse Anesthesia Program (NAP) is a specialization of the Doctor of Nursing Practice.  The program as designed, is a 36 month (106 credit hours) curriculum culminating in a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) nurse anesthesia specialization with a population focus of the family/individual across a lifespan.  Graduates will be eligible for the National Board of Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA) National Certification Exam (NCE) and to assume the role of an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).  

Purpose

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program builds upon the Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice (2006), as stated by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and the Accrediting Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and criteria for the clinical doctorate (2008). This is a practice focused doctoral program. Practice focused doctoral programs are designed to prepare nurses in advanced nursing practice. The focus of the DNP program is on evidence-based practice which reflects application of credible research findings. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program includes integrative practice experiences and an intense practice immersion experience (AACN 2006).

Contact Information

Department of Advanced Nursing Studies - AHC 206, advancednursing@nku.edu or 859-572-7964

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the DNP program, an applicant must have:

1. A bachelor’s of science in nursing and a master’s of science in nursing from a nationally accredited school with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale. The master’s of nursing will not be considered for the program.
2. Have successfully completed an upper division level graduate course in statistics.
3. Possesses an unencumbered RN license in the United States or the country in which the student practices.

Additional Admission Requirements: DNP - Nurse Anesthesia Program

1. Meets all NKU Graduate Admission Requirements as stated in the Graduate Catalog.
2. Submission of online application prior to deadline per university policy, found at http://apply.nku.edu.
3. BSN from an accredited nursing program (ACEN, NLNAC, or CCNE).
4. Unencumbered license as a Registered Nurse (licenses in KY and OH required prior to admission).
5. One year minimum full-time (2,080 hours) of critical care experience as RN within the past 2 years with employer verification; employment verfication form can be found at  http://healthprofessions.nku.edu/content/dam/healthprofessions/advancednursing/docs/Employment%20Verification.pdf. Critical care is defined by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) as: “Critical care experience must be obtained in a critical care area within the United States, its territories or a US military hospital outside of the United States. During this experience, the registered professional nurse has developed critical decision making and psychomotor skills, competency in patient assessment, and the ability to use and interpret advanced monitoring techniques. A critical care area is defined as one where, on a routine basis, the registered professional nurse manages one or more of the following: invasive hemodynamic monitors (e.g., pulmonary artery, central venous pressure, and arterial catheters), cardiac assist devices, mechanical ventilation, and vasoactive infusions. Examples of critical care units may include but are not limited to: surgical intensive care, cardiothoracic intensive care, coronary intensive care, medical intensive care, pediatric intensive care…..” (Standards for Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Programs, Practice Doctorate, 2015)
6. Undergraduate GPA of 3.25 or higher on 4.0 scale.
7. Science GPA 3.0 or higher on 4.0 scale.
8. Prerequite Classes:  Statistics; Anatomy; Physiology; Pathophysiology; Chemistry; Microbiology with a cumulative science GPA of 3.0 or greater.
9. Graduate level writing skills demonstrated in goal statement and CV.
10. Current CV.
11. Three professional recommendations sent directly from recommender.  Suggested recommenders include: Nurse Manager; Professor; APRN, preferably CRNA; or MD.
12. Goal statement indicating graduate level writing skills.  Please include your educational and professional goals, limiting statement to one page.
13. CCRN, ACLS, BLS certification required for application.  PALS required on admission to program.
14. Shadowing experience documentation with either a CRNA or anesthesiologist.
15. Successful interview with Admissions Committee.  Due to the competitive nature of the admission process meeting minimum standards does not guarantee admission.  All applicants will be screened and the most qualified will be invited for interview.
16. Non-refundable matriculation fee of $1,000 if accepted into the program.  Matriculation fee will be applied to student’s account on admission.  If applicant does not enroll in program, the matriculation fee is forfeited.
17. After acceptance, but prior to admission, documentation of required immunizations and physical examination through Certified Background NN39 Background Check, Drug Test, and Medical Document Manager.

Application Process

The application process has two parts. The first consists of the documents required to be submitted. The second part is the interview.

Documents to be submitted:
The completed application file will contain the following documents. No application will be considered until all documents have been received.

1. NKU application for graduate admission, found at http://apply.nku.edu.
2. Three satisfactory academic and professional recommendations with at least two from nurses.
3. Resume or Curriculum Vitae: educational background, employment history, awards and accomplishments.
4. All official transcripts of post-baccalaureate study.
5. TOEFL scores as needed per international student admissions requirements.
6. Submission of a graduate level paper (maximum 5-8 pages, excluding title page and references) in APA 6th edition format addressing the following:
   • Discuss your current practice, why you wish to pursue the DNP degree, and what you hope to contribute to the nursing profession after completion of the degree.
     This may be in the first person narrative.
   • Describe how the DNP graduate may impact healthcare locally, nationally, and globally.
7. Admission Interview

Admission in the program is limited by numbers. Eligible applicants will be invited for an interview with DNP faculty. This may be done in person, via telephone, or electronic means.

Application Process Specific to DNP - Nurse Anesthesia Program

The application process has two parts. The first consists of the documents required to be submitted. The second part is the interview.  

Documents to be submitted:
The completed application file will contain the following documents. No application will be considered until all documents have been received.

1. NKU application for graduate admission, found at http://apply.nku.edu. 
2. Applications will be accepted from June 1 through August 15.  All materials must be submitted by August 15 deadline.
3. Three professional recommendations sent directly from recommender.Suggested recommenders include: Nurse Manager; Professor; APRN, preferably CRNA; or MD.
4. Resume or Curriculum Vitae: educational background, employment history, awards and accomplishments.
5. All official transcripts of post-baccalaureate study.
6. Documentation of one year full-time critical care experience as a RN within the past 2 years.
7. Verification of CCRN, BLS, and ACLS certification.
8. Documentation of shadowing experience
9. TOEFL scores as needed per international student admissions requirements.
10. Submission of goal statement indicating graduate level writing skills.  Please include your educational and professional goals, limiting statement to one page.
11. Successful interview with Admissions Committee.Due to the competitive nature of the admission process meeting minimum standards does not guarantee admission.All applicants will be screened and the most qualified will be invited for interview.Interviews will be held in October.
12. Non-refundable matriculation fee of $1,000 if accepted into the program.Matriculation fee will be applied to student’s account on admission.If applicant does not enroll in program, the matriculation fee is forfeited.
13. Admission into the NAP is PENDING Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) Accreditation Approval

DNP Project Process

The DNP Project Team is comprised of the DNP student, practice mentor, and a graduate faculty member who serves as chair. The faculty team members must hold terminal degrees. The clinical mentor is the content expert in the DNP student’s field of interest. The DNP Project Team Chair is facilitating the learning within the DNP Project.

All DNP projects must go through the NKU Institutional Review Board (IRB) process. IRB processes in the facility in which the DNP project is implemented may be required as well. The student needs to discuss the IRB processes with their DNP Project Team Chair prior to data collection. The IRB process and IRB forms are described and found on the NKU IRB website at http://gero.nku.edu/research/rgc/irb/irb.html.

1. The DNP program shall have a project proposal process that provides for the Office of Graduate Education, the program, and the candidate, a written and signed document defining the expectations of the program for a successful project.
2. The “approval of the project proposal” is deemed successful when the project chair files appropriate paperwork with the Office of Graduate Education signifying approval for the candidate to move forward.  Until the project presentation is scheduled, the initial proposal may be amended with unanimous agreement of the project team.
3. A project presentation may not be scheduled without a signed project proposal. The candidate shall initiate the scheduling of the presentation.  Project presentation scheduling requires the concurrence of all members.
4. The DNP program must provide alternatives for candidates to alter or change project chairs and team membership.
5. The “completion of the project” is deemed successful when both the chair and the practice mentor of the Project Team vote approval.
6. Project presentation shall be open to the public.

Information for this process can be found under Doctoral Degree Specific Information under Degree & Certificate Exit Program Requirements in the Graduate Catalog.

♦ Indicates prerequisite.