Doctor of Nursing Practice

Chair: Dr. Sally Cantwell
Director: Melissa Neville-Norton, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC
Location: Marriott Allied Health Building, Rm 438
Graduate Nursing Administrative Assistant: Cheryl Hyatt (801) 626-6137 or cherylhyatt@weber.edu
Enrollment Director: Robert Holt (801) 626-7774, prompt 6 or rholt@weber.edu

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree is a practice-focused terminal degree in nursing, designed for nurses who are seeking preparation and excellence at the highest level of clinical nursing practice. The DNP program of study has two emphases: a family nurse practitioner emphasis and a leadership emphasis. Both emphases focus on direct and indirect advanced nursing practice leadership and healthcare provision to influence the health outcomes of individuals and populations from a systems approach. The DNP-Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) emphasis prepares nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to become eligible for national FNP certification, which is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) and future healthcare leadership. The DNP-Leadership emphasis prepares nurses who possess a BSN and a master’s degree in one of the following-nursing, public health, business, or health administration for healthcare transformation and leadership.

Graduates of the DNP program are prepared to fully evaluate, translate, and implement science for improved healthcare outcomes and healthcare systems improvement. The practice-focused DNP degree is distinctly different from a Ph.D. or research doctoral degree program. The Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing is responsive to national APRN academic and practice mandates recommendations and community workplace demands for leadership and access to primary care in our regional health care systems.

The DNP degree at WSU ensures optimally prepared nurse practitioners and nurse leaders who achieve the university’s dual mission; integrating access, learning, and community in the service of high-quality health care and favorable outcomes for regional patients, families, and communities. Nationally, the DNP degree is replacing the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) for all APRNs as this terminal degree in the field becomes the requirement by 2025. The DNP degree is the preferred degree for advanced nursing practice for the provision of direct and indirect care (executive leadership, health policy, informatics, and population health).

Admission

Admission is competitive; therefore, the criteria listed on the application form should be considered as minimum standards.

Applicants must apply for admission to the DNP-Leadership program. Applications may be obtained online on the Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing website http://weber.edu/nursinsg.

Applications must be completed and on file by the admission cycle application deadline. An application fee must be paid at the time the application is submitted. Admission applications are reviewed by the Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing Program Admissions and Advancement Committee. Applicants are notified of committee decision by email and/or US Postal Service mail. Admission requirements are outlined on the applicant website available at http://weber.edu/nursing.

Accreditation

Effective July 7, 2020, this nursing program is a candidate for initial accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. This candidacy status expires on July 1, 2022.

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400

Atlanta, GA 30326

(404) 975-5000

http://www.acenursing.us/candidates/candidacy.asp

Note: Upon granting of initial accreditation by the ACEN Board of Commissioners, the effective date of initial accreditation is the date on which the nursing program was approved by the ACEN as a candidate program that concluded in the Board of Commissioners granting initial accreditation