Nursing Practice

Outcomes

Offered at Savannah, Tampa, and Online Programs.

Note: Not all Online Program offerings are available to residents of all U.S. states. Please contact an admissions representative for further information.

Program Description

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program in the College of Nursing and Public Health is designed as the highest degree for advanced nurses who wish to maintain nursing practice as their area of professional emphasis. The DNP program provides options for current nurse practitioners and other advanced practice nurses to incorporate progressive and thoughtful clinical practice, inquiry, and leadership competencies into their clinical practice repertoire.

The DNP program is offered as a post-master's program, providing a pathway for master's prepared nurses to achieve doctoral level competencies consistent with a clinical program of study. Coursework in the program emphasizes current topics in nursing, experiences, and scholarship. The program is offered in an online format that supports ongoing education for working nurses. Courses are provided online or in a blended format with the practice component (i.e., advanced nursing field experiences which are guided by agency mentors) provided located in the students' geographical regions.

In 2004 the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) endorsed the DNP degree and proposed that the DNP is the terminal degree for nursing practice. The Essentials for Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice (AACN, 2006) outlines the eight competencies that are the foundation for all DNP graduates, regardless of specialty. The South University College of Nursing is uniquely qualified to provide the framework for this practice doctorate degree. As an integrated, national system of higher education, the exposure to outstanding faculty, coupled with state-of-the-art online coursework and industry-standard practice opportunities in the student's geographical area provides a dynamic environment for DNP students to grow into new leadership roles and clinical arenas.

For more information about the Doctor of Nursing Practice within the nursing profession, please visit the American Association of Colleges of Nursing website at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/DNP/index.htm.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates should be able to:

1. Provide the highest level of nursing practice through integration of advanced competencies in leadership, ethics and the practice sciences, including biophysical, psychosocial, analytical, organizational, and public health sciences.
2. Demonstrate organizational and care systems leadership for quality improvement through advancing nursing practice.
3. Use contemporary healthcare science to advocate through policy change for resolution of complex healthcare problems and disparities.
4. Evaluate scientific findings for health promotion and disease prevention and impact on transformative care and outcomes.
5. Integrate information technology and informatics to provide scalable solutions for real-world systems problems.

Comments and Concerns

All Fields Are Required

The purpose of this form is to provide a process for the general public to submit comments, concerns, or complaints regarding their interaction with the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing, Post Graduate Certificate, or Doctor of Nursing Practice program. A record of all complaints will be maintained and secured by campus administration. If you are a South University student, please submit your comments, concerns, or complaints according to the process outlined in the University Catalog or programmatic handbook. Please contact your Program Director or Academic Counselor if you need additional guidance.

Career Outlook

These are some of the career options* you can explore when you have earned your degree:

• Nurse Practitioner, Graduate Nurse Education

_{*South University does not promise or guarantee licensure, employment, or salary amounts.}