Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program Requirements for 2023-2024

Doctor of Nursing Practice: Post-Master's Entry Program

Post-master's candidates are required to successfully complete a minimum of 33 credit hours, 1,000 hours of advanced practice clinical hours, and a DNP project.

Requirements

Credit hours for each course are indicated in parentheses after the course title.

Scholarship Core - 24 credits

  • GNUR 701 - State of Nursing Science (3)
  • GNUR 702 - Foundations of Evidence-Based Practice & Applications in Advanced Practice Nursing (3)
  • GNUR 704 - Advanced Technology in support of Clinical Management (3)
  • GNUR 706 - Healthcare Systems, Policy & Law (3)
  • GNUR 707 - Biostatistics and Epidemiology (3)
  • GNUR 708 - Complex Systems & Leadership (3)
  • GNUR 710 - Complex Population Health (3)
  • GNUR 712 - Advanced Research Methods for Outcomes Evaluation & Policy Development (3)

DNP Clinical Core - 9 credits

  • GNUR 709 - Nursing Practice Role Development (3)
  • GNUR 713 - Clinical Program Development (3)
  • GNUR 714 - Clinical Scholarship/Residency/Professional Seminar (3)

Total: 33 credits

Doctor of Nursing Practice: Post-Baccalaureate Entry Program

Post-baccalaureate candidates are required to successfully complete a minimum of 62-72 credit hours. Candidates meet with their academic faculty advisor to discuss specific degree requirements. Credit hours include courses in one of the following advanced practice roles: adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner, adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner, adult-gerontology clinical nurse specialist, primary care family nurse practitioner, or psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. Candidates must also successfully complete 1,000 hours of advanced practice clinical hours and a DNP project.

Requirements

Credit hours for each course are indicated in parentheses after the course title.

Scholarship Core - 30-31 credits

  • GNUR 503 - Nursing Research (3)
  • GNUR 558 - Capstone Development (2)
  • Choose ONE:
    • GNUR 559 - Capstone Implementation (2) CNS students only
    • GNUR 695 - NP Comprehensive Exam (1)
  • GNUR 701 - State of Nursing Science (3)
  • GNUR 702 - Foundations of Evidence-Based Practice & Applications in Advanced Practice Nursing (3)
  • GNUR 704 - Advanced Technology in support of Clinical Management (3)
  • GNUR 706 - Healthcare Systems, Policy & Law (3)
  • GNUR 707 - Biostatistics and Epidemiology (3)
  • GNUR 708 - Complex Systems & Leadership (3)
  • GNUR 710 - Complex Population Health (3)
  • GNUR 712 - Advanced Research Methods for Outcomes Evaluation & Policy Development (3)

DNP Clinical Core - 9 credits

  • GNUR 709 - Nursing Practice Role Development (3)
  • GNUR 713 - Clinical Program Development (3)
  • GNUR 714 - Clinical Scholarship/Residency/Professional Seminar (3)

Direct Care Core - 9 credits

  • GNUR 543 - Advanced Pathophysiology (3)
  • GNUR 570 - Pharmacology (3)
  • GNUR 571 - Diagnostic Reasoning (3)

Functional Role Courses - 13-23 credits

Choose ONE functional role from the options below.

Adult/Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AGCNS)
  • GNUR 566 - Advanced Concepts in the Care of Older Adults (3)
  • GNUR 567 - Advanced Concepts in the Care of Adults (3)
  • GNUR 632 - Adult Applications of the Spheres of Influence CNS  I (1)
  • GNUR 639 - Older Adult Applications of the Spheres of Influence CNS II (1)
  • GNUR 688 - Synthesis of the Spheres of Influence II  (1)
  • GNUR 689 - Synthesis of the Spheres of Influence CNS Seminar I (1)
  • GNUR 699 - Issues in Acute Care (3)
Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner (PCFNP)
  • GNUR 566 - Advanced Concepts in the Care of Older Adults (3)
  • GNUR 567 - Advanced Concepts in the Care of Adults (3)
  • GNUR 576 - Advanced Concepts in the Care of Women (3)
  • GNUR 577 - Advanced Concepts in the Care of Children (3)
  • GNUR 584 -  FNP Diagnosis & Management of Adults  Seminar (1)
  • GNUR 585 -  FNP Diagnosis & Management of Older Adults Seminar (1)
  • GNUR 586 -  FNP Diagnosis & Management for Women Seminar (1)
  • GNUR 587 -  FNP  Diagnosis & Management of Children Seminar (1)
  • GNUR 699 - Issues in Acute Care (3) (Elective)
Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)
  • GNUR 566 - Advanced Concepts in the Care of Older Adults (3)
  • GNUR 567 - Advanced Concepts in the Care of Adults (3)
  • GNUR 642 - AGPCNP Primary Care Diagnosis & Management Seminar II (1)
  • GNUR 644 - AGPCNP Primary Care Diagnosis & Management Seminar I (1)
  • GNUR 646 - AGPCNP Primary Care Diagnosis & Management Seminar III (1)
  • GNUR 648 - AGPCNP Primary Care Diagnosis & Management Seminar IV (1)
  • GNUR 669 - Complex Care of the Chronically Ill across Adulthood (3)
  • GNUR 699 - Issues in Acute Care (3)
Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
  • GNUR 566 - Advanced Concepts in the Care of Older Adults (3)
  • GNUR 567 - Advanced Concepts in the Care of Adults (3)
  • GNUR 641 - AGACNP Acute Care Diagnosis & Management Seminar I (1)
  • GNUR 643 - AGACNP Acute Care Diagnosis & Management Seminar II (1)
  • GNUR 645 - AGACNP Acute Care Diagnosis & Management Seminar III (1)
  • GNUR 647 - AGACNP Acute Care Diagnosis & Management Seminar IV (1)
  • GNUR 669 - Complex Care of the Chronically Ill (3)
  • GNUR 699 - Issues in Acute Care (3)
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
  • GNUR 513 - PMHNP Clinical Practicum I:  (1)
  • GNUR 514 - PMHNP Clinical Practicum II: (1)
  • GNUR 515 - PMHNP Clinical Practicum III:  (1)
  • GNUR 516 - PMHNP Clinical Practicum IV: (1)
  • GNUR 520 - Foundations of Advanced Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Practice (3)
  • GNUR 521 - Advanced Neuropsychiatric Assessment & Intervention (2)
  • GNUR 522 - Advanced Psychopharmacology (2)
  • GNUR 523 - Advanced Concepts in Psychotherapy with Individuals, Groups & Families (3)
  • GNUR 524 - Advanced Concepts in Health Integration (3)
  • GNUR 544 - Psychopathology & Differential Diagnosis (3)
  • GNUR 545 - Advanced Concepts in Child & Adolescent Mental Health (3)

Total: 62-72 credits

Progression Policy

All students matriculating into the Wegmans School of Nursing program are required to maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 (B) in the graduate program for progression.

If a student does not achieve a grade of “B” on the first attempt of any graduate and/or DNP course, the student may retake the course once. If the student does not achieve a grade of “B” or higher on the second attempt, the student will not be allowed to progress and will be dismissed from the program.

Failing two GNUR courses or two GNUR/GMHC courses for PMHNP students, or one GNUR or GMHC course twice will result in dismissal from the program. (A grade of “U” or a grade less than a B in courses noted above is equivalent to a course failure).

For post-baccalaureate student progression, students must meet the above requirements for progression in addition to the policies below:

Post-baccalaureate students must achieve a grade of B (84-86) or higher in the following: Scholarship Core courses (GNUR 503 and GNUR 702), all Direct Care courses (GNUR 543, GNUR 570, GNUR 571) and all clinical Functional Courses specific to the students program of study.

Clinical Seminar Progression

Clinical Seminars are graded Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory (S/U). For clinical seminar courses, students must earn a satisfactory grade based on clinical preceptor and faculty site visitor evaluations in order to be successful in the course.

A grade of “S” in the clinical seminar courses reflects the successful demonstration of APRN competencies noted on the clinical evaluation tool and is required in order to progress in the nursing curriculum. A grade of “U” is considered a failure in the course. If a student does not achieve a grade of “S” on the first attempt, the student may retake the course once to achieve an “S.”

Clinical Learning Experiences

The graduate student completes all clinical courses as precepted practicum experiences. The NP programs have a total of 600 clinical hours; the CNS program has a total of 500 clinical hours. Due to the demand for preceptors, the Wegmans School of Nursing cannot permit students to take more than one clinical course/semester. It is the policy of the graduate nursing program that the student's clinical learning experiences are separate and apart from his or her position of employment. Precepted clinical experiences are in a wide variety of health care agencies. Students are required to sign a formal attestation form that communicates their understanding of the clinical placement process.

In each clinical course, students must be rated as “competent” by the clinical preceptor and faculty site visitor in order to successfully complete the course. Failure to be rated “competent” at the final clinical evaluation will result in a grade of “U” for the course. Clinical failure can be due to unsatisfactory professional behavior or lack of clinical competence.

Note: At least 50 percent of the clinical hours for primary care program students must be in primary care settings.

Grading Scale for Nursing Programs

  • A (95–100)
  • A- (90–94)
  • B+ (87–89)
  • B (84–86)*
  • B- (80–83)
  • C+ (77–79)
  • C (74–76)
  • C- (72–74)
  • F (73 and below)
  • FA- (failure due to absence)

Note: Graduate students are expected to maintain a “B” average overall. Failure to do so will result in being placed on academic probation.

Note: The program requirements listed are for the current academic year. Past and future program requirements may differ. Visit the catalog website to access current and past catalogs.