Nursing D.N.P.

stethoscope with computer and papers
Nursing D.N.P.

 Credit Hours: 21-33

 Program Length: 18-28 months

 Cost: $770 / $845 per credit

UNH's online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is designed for working advanced practice nursing professionals looking to make a greater impact on the world of healthcare. The low-residency, online DNP program is a post-master's program that prepares leaders in practice. All courses are offered fully online.  The online program admits students into two cohorts per year, in January and August.

What is a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree?

The need for advanced practice nursing professionals is expected to grow, and now’s the perfect time to pursue a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. The UNH DNP program is designed for students who hold a master of science degree in nursing or an equivalent field. The DNP emphasizes clinical, practice-oriented leadership training, and is designed to give you the skills to have a greater impact on the world of healthcare. You’ll increase your earning potential, discover new opportunities and learn how to become a leader with the ability to improve patient outcomes and influence important health policy.

Why study your DNP at UNH?

The online DNP is designed for working professionals who want to further their education while balancing the demands of a career, family and everyday life. The program is asynchronous, meaning you’ll be able to complete readings and coursework on your own schedule. Its low residency requirements involve only two campus visits, through which you’ll be able to better connect with other students and your professors. You’ll also have the support of a full-time faculty advisor who will help you balance your workload and manage your academic schedule. Begin in January or August, and complete the coursework in 18-28 months.

Potential careers

  • Advanced practice registered nurse
  • Certified nurse-midwife
  • Chief nursing officer
  • Clinical nurse specialist
  • Director of critical care
  • Healthcare manager
  • Nurse anesthetist
  • Nurse educator
  • Researcher

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Curriculum & Requirements

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program prepares nurses for the highest level of specialized nursing practice. DNP graduates are prepared to translate evidence into practice, improve systems of care, and measure health outcomes in diverse settings. Graduates of the DNP program are prepared for culturally competent, evidence-based, system-based care, interprofessional collaboration and leadership. DNP graduates are distinguished by their abilities to:

  • Affect practice
  • Design and implement programs that improve health and healthcare delivery
  • Apply data management and informatics skills to evaluate programs, outcomes, and care systems
  • Influence health policy

Requirements for the Online Doctorate of Nursing Practice degree include:

  • 8 core courses and 3 doctoral seminars completed at the level of B-­ or better;
  • verification of 1,000 advanced practice clinical hours (includes up to 500 clinical hours earned in master's program);
  • a publishable scholarly paper;
  • successful oral defense of your DNP Project; and
  • acceptance of the DNP Project Final Report by your DNP Team.

All courses are offered 100% online. Students are required to attend two on-campus residencies:

  • the first 2-3 day residency is early in the program to meet with peers and nursing faculty, and identify ideas for the DNP project; and
  • the second residency is at the end of the program, for the oral presentation and defense of the DNP Project. 

Cohorts are admitted twice a year, with starts in January and August.

The DNP program builds upon the experience of master's-­prepared nurses. Registered nurses who have obtained an MS in nursing (NP, CRNA, CNMW, CNL, CNS, Nurse Executive, Health Systems Management, Health Informatics) or equivalent degree (MBA, MHA, MPH) are welcome to apply.

The online Doctor of Nursing Practice degree requires students complete 21-33 credits via 11 courses.  The online DNP program aims to produce graduates prepared to improve health and care outcomes through coursework in organizational and systems leadership, quality improvement processes, and translation of evidence into practice, to name a few.

Degree Requirements

ADMN 912Managing Yourself & Leading Others3
ADMN 952Organizations, Leadership, and Environments3
MATH 837Statistical Methods for Quality Improvement and Design3
NURS 963Advanced Clinical Epidemiology3
NURS 964Technology and Health Care3
NURS 967Evidence Synthesis3
NURS 969Health Policy and Finance3
NURS 973Health Care Quality3
NURS 980Doctoral Scholarly Project I3
NURS 981Doctoral Scholarly Project II3
NURS 982Doctoral Scholarly Project III3

Students are required to successfully complete DNP coursework, have 1,000 documented advanced practice clinical hours (includes up to 500 clinical hours earned in master's program), produce a publishable scholarly paper, and successfully defend their DNP Project.

If a student completed fewer than 500 clinical hours in their Master’s program, the student must enroll in NURS 970 Clinical Practicum for Advanced Practice Nurse, under the supervision of the DNP director.  NURS 970 is a 2-credit course and allows the student to complete up to 250 clinical practicum hours; this course may be repeated once. 

Explore Program Details

Along with completing 33 credits, DNP students can develop real and meaningful connections with their professors and fellow students through two required visits to our Durham, NH campus. The first required campus visit consists of a 2-day intensive residency early in the program. This also allows nursing faculty to offer enrichment and learning activities and to discuss the expectations for the end-of-program deliverables. The second required 2-day campus visit occurs during the final term of the program, when students present and defend their final scholarly DNP Project.

Residency agendas will be sent to students in advance. Students will be responsible for making their own local accommodations for both of these residency requirements. A listing of local accommodations can be found at here.

While in the online Doctor of Nursing Practice program, students are required to successfully complete all DNP coursework, have 1,000 documented advanced practice clinical hours (includes up to 500 clinical hours earned in master's program), produce a publishable scholarly paper, and successfully present their DNP Project.

DNP projects are designed in consultation with faculty and content experts during the student’s first residency. This allows DNP students to develop knowledge, skills, and strategies for a quality improvement project.  Students assume the role of leader of their DNP project team in interdisciplinary collaboration, consultation, and partnership as they plan and implement their project. The DNP project proposal is approved in NURS 980, Doctoral Scholarly Project I. The project is then implemented during NURS 981, Doctoral Scholarly Project II; and evaluated and disseminated during their final course, NURS 982, Doctoral Scholarly Project III.

Admissions Requirements

The department encourages applications from those who:

  • Have an unencumbered registered nurse license in the United States (must be documented at the time of application);

  • Nurses who have obtained an M.S. in Nursing or equivalent degree (MBA, MHA, MPH) are welcome to apply. Plans of study will be individualized for students without a master’s in nursing on a case-by-case basis. Students without a master’s in nursing will be required to complete the full 1,000 clinical hours in the Online DNP program and may need to complete additional graduate level courses.

  • Three letters of reference pertaining to academic ability, professional competency, and personal character are required.
  • Have completed satisfactorily a personal statement essay of interest in pursuing graduate education.

GRADUATE SCHOOL ADMISSIONS INFORMATION 
 

Application Deadlines

The Graduate School accepts new students into this program two times per year. Priority consideration is given to students whose applications and required materials are received by the following deadlines:

  • Fall/August Admission (e-Term 1): Applications due May 1st 
  • Spring/January Admission (e-Term 3): Applications due December 1st

Tuition & Fees:

Tuition for 2018-19 Academic Year:

  • $770 per credit for New Hampshire (NH) residents
  • $845 per credit for non-NH residents                                                                  

Program Total Number of Credits: 21-33

Technology Fee per Semester:

  • 1-4 credits $26.00
  • 5-8 credits $56.25
  • 9-16 credits $102.50

ADDITIONAL TUITION & FEES INFORMATION 

Financial Aid

Federal Unsubsidized Direct Loans is the form of federal financial aid available to Graduate Students. To apply, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The UNH priority deadline is March 1. This is the date by which the FAFSA must be received by the federal processor, however, if your application is received after March 1st you will still be considered for the Federal Direct Loan, which is not subject to the priority deadline.

The basic eligibility requirements to be considered for Financial Aid include:

  • Attend classes at least half-time (5 or more credits per semester).
  • Enrollment in a degree program.
  • Documentation of United States citizenship or eligible non-citizen status.
  • Must maintain satisfactory academic progress.

ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION

Nine of the 11 online Doctor of Nursing Practice courses are delivered in an 8-week term, including Doctoral Scholarly Project I. These courses are condensed and move at a faster pace than traditional full semester courses. Doctoral Scholarly Project II is delivered over a 13-week timeframe followed by a one week break.  Doctoral Scholarly Project III is delivered over a 17-week timeframe.

Sample Schedule - Starting in Fall/August

Sample Schedule - Starting in Spring/January