Nursing Practice, DNP

a. Admission Requirements

1. One official transcript from each college or university attended
2. A master’s degree in nursing from a nationally accredited nursing program
3. APRNs must have evidence of completion of graduate-level pathophysiology, pharmacology, and advanced physical assessment courses from nationally accredited schools
4. Certification as an APRN or permission of the director
5. Preferred minimum undergraduate BSN GPA of 3.0
6. A minimum grade-point average of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale on all graduate work.
7. A current non-restricted license to practice as a registered nurse (RN) is required in order to apply
8. Must have a current non-restricted license to practice as an RN in North Carolina upon admission to the program
9. International applicants must work with the Commission on Graduate of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) to validate credentials before applying for RN licensure
10. Satisfactory performance on Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores where English is not the first language (students on foreign student visas must present evidence of professional standing in their respective countries)
11. Computer competency with proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, development and use of databases, patient information systems, statistical sets, and use of various statistical packages for data analysis
12. A current resume or curriculum vita that includes education and work history, credentials (licensures, registrations, and certifications), workplace committee activity, quality improvement activity, membership in professional nursing organizations, professional and community service, presentations and publications, volunteer activity, and other information that the applicant would like to share.
13. Written statement integrating the attributes of the DNP-prepared nurse in the applicant’s personal career, educational, and scholarship goals, including identification of practice interests and leadership goals consistent with program goals
14. Three written professional references from individuals with expertise to comment on the applicant’s capability for doctoral scholarship (for example, university professors, employers; at least one of the references must be from a doctorally prepared nurse)
15. A graduate research methodology course (a graduate-level inferential statistics course within the past 5 years is strongly recommended, but not required).
16. An interview with DNP faculty to include a discussion of congruence between the student’s practice interests and career goals, and the aims, mission, and vision of ECU College of Nursing the DNP program

b. Application Requirements

The DNP post-master’s pathway admits students in fall and spring semesters each year. Please refer to the Graduate School website for application deadlines. Those who are admitted begin coursework in the following fall or spring semester. Applicants are expected to ensure that the Graduate School and the College of Nursing receive all supporting credentials by the final filing date. Applicants are evaluated in four areas: GPA, references, essay, and interview. The post-master’s DNP specialty considers qualified applicants on a rolling admissions cycle. All completed applications are reviewed by the DNP admission committee shortly after receipt of the completed application. Each applicant will be notified in writing of the admission decision after the admission process is completed.

Preference is given to applicants who demonstrate a capacity for creative inquiry, critical thinking, scholarship, and leadership. Students will be assigned an academic advisor at the time of admission. All admitted DNP students are expected to attend a College of Nursing orientation session at the beginning of the fall or spring semester, whichever is applicable. 

c. Degree Requirements

The DNP post-master’s option is offered as an online, 36-semester hour program of study beyond the master’s degree, which includes DNP core, project courses, and 9 semester hours of electives at the master’s or doctoral level. Students with an earned MSN and who are certified registered nurse anesthetists are required to complete 27 semester hours (DNP core and project course requirements with no electives). Campus requirements and group learning will serve as a foundational component of the DNP program of study. A minimum of 9 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project credit hours will be divided over 3 to 4 semesters depending on project complexity. In order to achieve the DNP competencies, students must complete a minimum of 1,000 hours of post-baccalaureate practice hours as part of a supervised academic program. Practice hours earned in accredited MSN/APRN programs are included in the total of the minimum required hours.

As in other programs of doctoral study, students in this program may expect to enroll in more than the minimum required credit hours and be aware that study opportunities that focus on particular areas of study are in addition to the basic program requirements. Additional study is individualized and depends on the student’s background and graduate preparation as well as the employment role identified as a career focus.

The DNP post-master’s advanced practice registered nurse option requires a minimum of 36 s.h. (27 s.h. for CRNAs) as follows:

a. Admission Requirements

1. One official transcript from each college or university attended
2. A master’s degree in nursing from a nationally accredited nursing program with evidence of completion of graduate-level pathophysiology, pharmacology, and advanced physical assessment courses from nationally accredited institutions of higher learning
3. Certification as an APRN
4. Preferred minimum undergraduate BSN GPA of 3.0
5. A minimum grade-point average of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale on all graduate work.
6. A current non-restricted license to practice as a registered nurse (RN) is required in order to apply
   • Must have a current non-restricted license to practice as an RN in North Carolina upon admission to the program
   • International applicants must work with the Commission on Graduate of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) to validate credentials before applying for RN licensure
7. Satisfactory performance on Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores where English is not the first language (students on foreign student visas must present evidence of professional standing in their respective countries)
8. Computer competency with proficiency in development and use of databases, patient information systems, statistical sets, and use of various statistical packages for data analysis
9. A graduate research methodology course (a graduate level inferential statistics course within the past 5 years is strongly recommended, but not required)
10. Written statement of personal career, educational and scholarship goals, including identification of practice interests and leadership goals consistent with program goals
11. Three written professional references from individuals with expertise to comment on the applicant’s capability for doctoral scholarship (for example, university professors, employers; at least one of the references must be from a doctorally prepared nurse)
12. A current resume or curriculum vita
13. An interview with members of the DNP faculty, to include a discussion of congruence between the student’s practice interests and career goals, and the expertise and research of the faculty

b. Application Requirements

The post-master’s DNP pathway admits students in fall and spring semesters each year. Please refer to the Graduate School webpage for application deadlines. Those who are admitted begin coursework in the following fall or spring semester. Applicants are expected to ensure that the Graduate School and the College of Nursing receive all supporting credentials by the final filing date. Applicants are evaluated in four areas: GPA, references, essay, and interview. The post-master’s DNP specialty considers qualified applicants on a rolling admissions cycle. All completed applications are reviewed by the DNP admission committee shortly after receipt of the completed application. Each applicant will be notified in writing of the admission decision after the admission process is completed.

Preference is given to applicants who demonstrate a capacity for creative inquiry, critical thinking, scholarship, and leadership. Students will be assigned an academic advisor at the time of admission. All admitted DNP students are expected to attend a College of Nursing orientation session at the beginning of the fall or spring semester, whichever is applicable. 

c. Degree Requirements

The DNP post-master’s nurse anesthetist option is a 27-semester hour program of study. Students are required to complete a minimum of 27 semester hours beyond the master’s degree; DNP Core Courses represent 18 semester hours. A minimum of 9 semester hours for the Doctor of Nursing Practice Project will be divided over 3-4 semesters depending on project complexity. In order to achieve the DNP competencies, students must complete a minimum of 1,000 hours of post-baccalaureate practice hours as part of a supervised academic program. Practice hours earned in accredited MSN/APRN programs are included in the total of the minimum required hours. Students may enroll in a part-time program of study, completing their degree requirements in 6 semesters.

As in other programs of doctoral study, students in this program may expect to enroll in more than the minimum required credit hours and to be aware that study opportunities that focus on particular areas of study are in addition to the basic program requirements. Additional study is individualized and depends on the student’s background and graduate preparation as well as the employment role identified as a career focus.

The DNP post-master’s pathway nurse anesthetist option requires a minimum of 27 s.h. as follows:

a. Admission Requirements

1. One official transcript from each college or university attended
2. A master’s degree in nursing from a nationally accredited nursing program in leadership/administration, informatics, or an advanced practice specialty (NP, CRNA, CNM, or CNS)
3. Certification as an APRN (if applicable) Note: It is preferred that APRNs have at least two years of management experience.
4. A minimum grade-point average of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale of graduate work
5. A current non-restricted license to practice as a registered nurse (RN) is required to apply
   • Must have current non-restricted license to practice as an RN in North Carolina upon admission to the program
   • International applicants must work with the Commission on Graduate of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) to validate credentials before applying for RN licensure
6. Satisfactory performance on Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores where English is not the first language (students on foreign student visas must present evidence of professional standing in their respective countries)
7. Computer competency with proficiency in development and use of databases, patient information systems, statistical sets, and use of various statistical packages for data analysis
8. A graduate level inferential statistics course within the past 5 years is strongly recommended, but not required
9. A graduate research methodology course
10. Written statement of personal career, educational, and scholarship goals; identification of practice interests, leadership goals consistent with program goals
11. Three written professional references from individuals with expertise to comment on the applicant’s capability for doctoral scholarship (for example, university professors, employers; at least one of the references must be from a doctorally prepared nurse)
12. A current curriculum vita or resume
13. An interview with members of the DNP faculty, to include a discussion of congruence between the student’s practice interests/career goals and the expertise and research of the faculty

b. Application Requirements

Applications for study to begin in the fall semester will be accepted until the end of the first full week in January. Applicants are expected to ensure that the Graduate School and the College of Nursing receive all supporting credentials by the final filing date. Applicants are evaluated in five areas: GPA, GRE (if applicable), references, essay, and interview. Completed applications are considered in a competitive review process. All completed applications received by the final filing date will be given careful consideration. All completed applications are reviewed by the DNP admission committee shortly after the admission deadline. All completed applicant packets are discussed among the DNP admissions committee until consensus has been attained for competitive rankings for admission decisions. Each applicant will be notified in writing of the admission decision after the admission process is completed.

Preference is given to those who demonstrate a capacity for creative inquiry, critical thinking, scholarship, and leadership. Students will be assigned an academic advisor at the time of admission. All admitted DNP students are required to attend a College of Nursing orientation session at the beginning of the fall semester.

c. Degree Requirements

The DNP post-master’s nursing leadership option requires a minimum of 36 s.h. as follows:

a. Admission Requirements

1. One official transcript from each college or university attended
2. A baccalaureate degree in nursing from a nationally accredited nursing program
3. Preferred minimum undergraduate BSN GPA of 3.0
4. A minimum grade-point average of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale on all graduate work
5. Current non-restricted license to practice as a registered nurse (RN) in North Carolina or NCSBN-compact state
6. A minimum of one year of experience as a Registered Nurse (RN)
7. Must have a current non-restricted license to practice as a RN in North Carolina upon admission to the program
8. International applicants must work with the Commission on Graduate of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) to validate credentials before applying for RN licensure
9. Satisfactory performance on Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores where English is not the first language.
10. Students on foreign student visas must present evidence of professional standing in their respective countries
11. Computer competency with proficiency in development and use of databases, patient information systems, statistical sets, and use of various statistical packages for data analysis
12. Written statement of personal career, educational, and scholarship goals; identification of practice interests, leadership goals consistent with program goals
13. Three written professional references from individuals with expertise to comment on the applicant’s capability for doctoral scholarship (for example, university professors, employers) At least one of the references must be from a doctorally prepared nurse.
14. Successful completion of an undergraduate research course
15. Though not required, a graduate-level inferential statistics course within the past 5 years is strongly recommended
16. A current resume or curriculum vita
17. An online interview via Microsoft Teams to include a discussion of the student’s goals, commitment to primary care, professional/community engagement, and alignment with the missions/vision of the AGPCNP or FNP program. 

b. Application Requirements

Applications for study to begin in the fall semester will be accepted until January 10th. Applicants are expected to ensure that the Graduate School and the College of Nursing receive all supporting credentials by the final filing date. Applicants are evaluated in four areas: GPA, references, essay, and interview. Completed applications are considered in a competitive review process. All completed applications received by the final filing date will be given careful consideration. All completed applications are reviewed by the DNP admission committee shortly after the admission deadline. All completed applicant packets are discussed among the DNP admissions committee until consensus has been attained for competitive rankings for admission decisions. Each applicant will be notified in writing of the admission decision after the admission process is completed.

Preference is given to those who demonstrate a capacity for creative inquiry, critical thinking, scholarship, and leadership. In the case of equally qualified applicants, preference will be given to individuals who intend to pursue doctoral study on a full-time basis. Students will be assigned an academic advisor at the time of admission. All admitted DNP students are required to attend a College of Nursing orientation session at the beginning of the fall semester.

c. Degree Requirements

The DNP post-baccalaureate nurse practitioner program requires a minimum of 61-70 s.h. as follows:

a. Admission Requirements

1. Admission to the DNP program requires that student meet the minimum admission requirements for graduate study as established by the university and the following requirements established by the College of Nursing
2. One official transcript from each college or university attended
3. A baccalaureate degree in nursing from a nationally accredited program
4. A preferred minimum BSN GPA of 3.0
5. Satisfactory performance on Test of Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores where English is not the first language (students on foreign student visas must present evidence of professional standing in their respective countries)
6. Acceptable score on the Graduate Records Examinations (GRE) within the past five years
7. A current non-restricted license to practice as a registered nurse (RN) is required in order to apply (must have current non-restricted license to practice as an RN in North Carolina upon admission to the program)
8. Must have one year adult critical care experience as an RN
9. A statement describing the applicant’s interest in graduate study, career goals, and the DNP degree’s relationship to those goals
10. Five professional references (two on forms provided in nurse anesthesia addendum packet)
11. Completion of a supplemental nurse anesthesia admissions addendum packet
12. A personal interview with a member of the Nurse Anesthesia Admissions Committee
13. A statistics course with a grade of “C” or higher

Note: The out-of-state student must procure a North Carolina RN license upon admission to the program.

b. Application Requirements

Applications to the DNP post-baccalaureate nurse anesthesia specialty area entry level program are accepted throughout the year for consideration by the Nurse Anesthesia Admissions Committee.  Applicants are expected to ensure that the Graduate School and the College of Nursing receive all supporting credentials by the final filing date. All completed applications are reviewed by the Nurse Anesthesia Admissions Committee. The application deadline for the nurse anesthesia program is October 30. Each new class will begin in May. All admitted DNP students are required to attend a College of Nursing orientation session at the beginning of the fall semester.

c. Degree Requirements

The DNP post-baccalaureate nurse anesthetist specialty requires a minimum of 90 s.h. as follows: