The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a practice doctorate that prepares clinical scholars recognized for outstanding leadership and innovative evidence-based patient/population centered outcomes. The program focuses on interprofessional collaboration and developing competencies in practice, leadership, and quality improvement and safety that lead to enhanced outcomes important to patients, families, providers, and organizations.
The BSN to DNP curriculum is in line with the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties' (NONPF), the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) and American Organizations of Nurse Executives (AONE) commitment to move all entry-level nurse practitioner education to the DNP degree by 2025. The program is not an addition to master's studies, but rather an integration of the objectives and learning opportunities required for attainment of doctoral level core and population-focused competencies.
OU College of Nursing's Adult/Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist program prepares skilled nurses to function at the highest level of care in a wide range of health care settings where patients with adult/geriatric care needs are served.
Clinical experts in the diagnoses, interventions and treatments of illnesses, CNSs work with other professionals to advance the nursing practice and improve outcomes in patient care, in addition to providing clinical expertise to influence system-wide changes in care.
Those who earn a doctoral degree as a clinical nurse specialist often:
- Lead and collaborate in an interdisciplinary healthcare team
- Assist and offer guidance to patients and their families as they navigate the complex healthcare delivery system
- Serve as educators, consultants, evidence-based researchers, change agents and case managers, as well as clinical nurses
Graduates of this program can be found working in independent or collaborative practice, hospitals, outpatient, rehabilitation facilities, extended care situations hospice and home health care.
To learn more about career options available to graduates of the Doctoral of Science in Clinical Nurse Specialist: Adult/Gerontology program, visit Explorehealthcareers.org or the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists.
Cost
It is the student’s responsibility to ensure they are enrolled in the prescribed courses and to pay tuition and fees at the time designated by the Bursar's Office. Details regarding tuition/fee charges and collection are available from the Bursar's Office.
Admission Requirements
Due to federal regulations from the Department of Education, the College of Nursing currently accepts applications for its online doctoral degree programs from residents of the states participating in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA). A list of participating states can be found at: http://nc-sara.org/sara-states-institutions. Applicants are encouraged to check with their local State Boards of Nursing regarding any specific professional licensure requirements prior to applying or enrolling.
Curriculum
http://nursing.ouhsc.edu/Programs-Academics/Doctor-of-Nursing-Practice/BSN-to-DNP-CNS-Adult-Gerontology#la-938035581-curriculum
- Program Start: Fall
- Clinical Nurse Specialist: 67 credit hours/ 1002 clinical hours (all clinical hours must be completed in the state of Oklahoma).
- Hybrid Program: Some on-campus and online components
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Hours |
| NURS 8443 | Organizational and Systems Leadership in Nursing | 3 |
| NURS 7153 | Advanced Physical/Health Assessment & Diagnostic Reasoning | 3 |
| PATH 5503 | Applied Principles of Pathology | 3 |
| NURS 8003 | Background & Scientific Underpinnings for Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NURS 8423 | Evidence-based Practice and Translational Science in Nursing | 3 |
| NURS 7043 | Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nurses | 3 |
| NURS 8313 | Economics and Finance in Health Care | 3 |
| NURS 8123 | Information Systems and Technologies for Health Care Transformation | 3 |
| BMSC 5102 | Fundamentals of Scientific Writing | 2 |
| BSE 5163 | Biostatistical Methods I | 3 |
| or NURS 6123 | Applied Statistics I |
| NURS 8113 | Research Methods | 3 |
| NURS 7103 | Systems Management for the Clinical Nurse Specialist | 3 |
| BSE 5113 | Principles of Epidemiology | 3 |
| NURS 7113 | Advanced Concepts in Adult/Gerontology Nursing I | 3 |
| NURS 7123 | Advanced Practicum in Adult-Gerontology Nursing I | 3 |
| NURS 8712 | Roles and Responsibilities of the Doctor of Nursing Practices | 2 |
| NURS 8730 | Practice Inquiry I (64 clinical hours) | 1-5 |
| NURS 8333 | Healthcare Quality for Improved Outcomes | 3 |
| NURS 8740 | Practice Inquiry II | 1-5 |
| NURS 7133 | Advanced Concepts in Adult-Gerontology Nursing II | 3 |
| NURS 7143 | Advanced Practicum in Adult/Gerontology Nursing II | 3 |
| NURS 8800 | Practice Inquiry III | 1-5 |
| NURS 7154 | Synthesis in Nursing | 4 |
| NURS 8323 | Health Policy Local to Global | 3 |
Prerequisite Courses
http://nursing.ouhsc.edu/Programs-Academics/Doctor-of-Nursing-Practice/BSN-to-DNP-CNS-Adult-Gerontology#la-938035582-prerequisite-courses
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Hours |
| |
| |
Prerequisite Requirements
-
Successful completion of a Bachelor or Master of Science in Nursing degree from a regionally accredited institution.
-
Minimum 3.0 GPA from the last 60 hours.
-
Current United States license to practice as a Registered Nurse in state where clinical rotations are completed.
Expected DNP Program Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the program, the graduate will be prepared to:
- Integrate theories from nursing and support sciences to guide practice and role development
- Use evidence-based and best practice literature to propose and initiate change.
- Use political acumen to influence health care policy in the promotion of safe, ethical health care delivery.
- Deliver a broad array of evidence-based, patient-centered nursing interventions to culturally diverse or at-risk individuals and populations in a specialized area of practice.
- Demonstrate expertise in a specialized area of clinical, teaching, and management/administrative practice and/or initial competence in a functional role (advanced practice registered nurse [APRN], educator and administrator).
- Employ leadership and management skills in decision making to improve nursing care delivery and the care environment.
- Collaborate with the interprofessional teams to improve nursing care and health care services.
- Contribute to knowledge dissemination through scholarly activities and communication.
- Use critical synthesis to effectively manage resources and systems.
- Demonstrate competency in information analysis, management and technology consistent with role preparation.
- Engage in lifelong learning and professional development.
