Nursing Practice
Kent State’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program offers advanced, practice-focused training for nurses aiming to become leaders in clinical practice and healthcare systems. This online program emphasizes evidence-based practice, healthcare policy, and systems leadership, preparing graduates to drive innovation and improve patient outcomes in various healthcare settings. The DNP is ideal for those looking to reach the pinnacle of nursing practice and impact healthcare at a systems level.
Nursing Practice Doctoral Degree Program Overview
The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree in Nursing is the terminal degree for nurses who want to advance their knowledge of nursing practice, gain leadership and technology skills and become clinical scholars. Students develop leadership skills to affect health outcomes for individuals and populations by translating scientific evidence into clinical interventions, managing healthcare systems and collaborating with other health care providers.
The Nursing major comprises the following concentrations:
- The Executive Nurse concentration prepares nurse leaders for the role of nurse executive at the highest level of healthcare administration.
- The Systems Leadership concentration prepares advanced practice and clinical experts to lead interprofessional teams focused on evidence-based practice, quality improvement and translational research.
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Develop and implement systems-focused care and innovative strategies to promote positive, sustainable health and fiscal outcomes across the healthcare continuum.
- Provide population-focused, advanced nursing care to diverse populations within a variety of settings based on evidence, ethics, theory and professional standards.
- Provide leadership and interprofessional collaboration to plan, implement and evaluate programs of care delivery to improve outcomes for individuals, populations and aggregates.
- Synthesize and translate evidence for implementation and dissemination for equitable, evidence-based and inclusive healthcare outcomes.
Accreditation
The D.N.P. degree in Nursing at Kent State University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
Nursing Practice Doctoral Degree Program Admissions Requirements
For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.
- Previous degree:
- Executive Nurse concentration – master’s degree in nursing or a related field
- Systems Leadership concentration – one of the following: (1) bachelor’s degree in nursing1 or (2) master’s degree in nursing
- Minimum overall 3.000 GPA on a 4.000-point scale
- Official transcript(s)
- Completion of an undergraduate- or graduate-level statistics course with a minimum C grade
- Active, unrestricted registered nurse license in the state in which the student’s practica will be completed
- Résumé or curriculum vitae that demonstrates professional experience in nursing
- Essay (300 words) describing professional goals and reasons for seeking the professional practice doctorate
- Three letters of reference from healthcare professionals or academic faculty who can speak to the applicant’s professional and academic abilities
- Pre-admission interview
- English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:2
- Minimum 79 TOEFL iBT score
- Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
- Minimum 58 PTE score
- Minimum 110 DET score
Students selected for admission to the nursing program must meet the College of Nursing’s Clinical Compliance Policy. Priority admission to the Nurse Executive concentration will be given to candidates who hold American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) certification or American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) Nurse Executive certification or who have experience in nursing management or administration.
1Post-baccalaureate students admitted to the System’s Leadership concentration also will be admitted to the M.S.N. degree in one of the advanced practice registered nurses concentrations. This dual admit will allow students to complete M.S.N. coursework and enroll in some D.N.P. coursework after successfully completing their first two full-time semesters of graduate study. Students must first complete M.S.N. coursework, earn the M.S.N. degree and obtain APRN national certification before they can continue with D.N.P. coursework and earn the D.N.P. degree.
2International applicants who do not meet the above test scores may be considered for conditional admission.
Important Dates
Program Courses
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements (min B grade in all courses) | ||
| HI 80411 | CLINICAL ANALYTICS | 3 |
| NURS 70016 | ADVANCED ASSESSMENT, PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY FOR THE NURSE LEADER 1 | 0-3 |
| NURS 70620 | DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE SEMINAR | 3 |
| NURS 70630 | RESEARCH METHODS FOR EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE | 3 |
| NURS 70635 | APPLICATION OF EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE | 3 |
| NURS 70670 | QUALITY IMPROVEMENT IN HEALTHCARE DELIVERY | 3 |
| NURS 70680 | POPULATION HEALTH | 3 |
| Culminating Requirement | ||
| NURS 70592 | DOCTORAL NURSING PRACTICE PRACTICUM 2 | 7 |
| Concentrations | ||
| Choose from the following: | 9 | |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 34-37 | |
1NURS 70016 is required for students who have not completed graduate coursework in advanced assessment, advanced pharmacology and advanced physiology. Students who have previously completed the course will be waived the requirement and may graduate with 34 credit hours.
2Students must complete a minimum of 7 credit hours (525 clock hours) of NURS 70592 in a clinical setting. Students who are unable to complete and successfully defend their scholarly project after being enrolled for 7 credit hours (525 clock hours) must continuously enroll in 1 credit hour of NURS 70592 each semester, for up to three semesters, until the scholarly project is successfully defended. The In-Progress (IP) administrative mark will be assigned to the course until the scholarly project is successfully defended, at which time all IP marks will be changed to the Satisfactory (S) grade.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements (min B grade in all courses) | ||
| NURS 70641 | EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP IN NURSING | 3 |
| NURS 70651 | ADVANCED LEGAL, REGULATORY AND POLICY CONSIDERATIONS FOR NURSE | 3 |
| NURS 70686 | APPLIED ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL PRINCIPLES FOR THE NURSE EXECUTIVE | 3 |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 9 | |
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements (min B grade in all courses) | ||
| NURS 70640 | ADVANCED LEADERSHIP IN HEALTHCARE | 3 |
| NURS 70650 | ORGANIZATIONAL SYSTEMS | 3 |
| NURS 70685 | HEALTHCARE FINANCE AND ECONOMIC POLICY | 3 |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 9 | |
Progression Requirements
Student who do not earn a minimum B grade in a course must repeat it and cannot take other courses that require that course as a prerequisite until the course is successfully repeated. Students who do not earn a minimum B grade in the second attempt may be dismissed from the D.N.P. degree.
Graduation Requirements
| Minimum Major GPA | Minimum Overall GPA |
|---|---|
| - | 3.000 |
- Minimum B grade in all courses
- Completion of minimum 500 practicum hours for post-master’s students. Post-baccalaureate students are required to complete additional hours based upon their selected concentration.
- Submission and defense of a scholarly project to a committee that includes, at minimum, the student’s academic advisor and two other doctoral-prepared members. The project must result in a manuscript suitable for publication.
Nursing Practice Doctoral Degree Program Tuition and Fees
Ohio Residents
| Per Credit Hour | Per 3-Credit Course | Approximate Tuition Cost |
| $594.78 | $1,784.34 | $20,200 part-time1 $13,100 full-time2 |
Non-Ohio Residents
| Per Credit Hour | Per 3-Credit Course | Approximate Tuition Cost |
| $604.78 | $1,814.34 | $20,600 part-time3 $13,400 full-time4 |
1The $594.78 per-credit-hour tuition rate applies to part-time Ohio resident graduate students taking fewer than 11 credit hours per semester.
2The flat-rate semester fee of $6,528.50 applies to full-time Ohio resident graduate students taking between 11-18 credit hours per semester. The amount is based on the program being completed in 2 semesters.
3The $604.78 per-credit-hour tuition rate applies to part-time non-Ohio resident graduate students enrolled in a fully online degree program and taking fewer than 11 credit hours per semester, PLUS a surcharge of $10 per credit hour.
4The flat-rate semester fee of $6,528.50 applies to full-time non-Ohio resident graduate students enrolled in a fully online degree program and taking between 11-18 credit hours, PLUS a surcharge of $10 per credit hour of actual credits taken (between 11-18 semester credits or $110-$180). The amount is calculated at students completing the program in 2 semesters plus the surcharge of $340.
There is a $45 application fee for the program, which will be reimbursed for eligible Kent State preceptors. Contact gradnurse@kent.edu for more information. Program fees/semester figured on an actual cost basis.
An additional Distance Learning fee for all students enrolled in a distance learning course is $15 per credit hour. Program tuition and costs are estimated and subject to change.
Actual tuition costs may vary based on a student’s chosen academic plan. For a complete listing of tuition rates for approved online programs, please contact Kent State’s Financial, Billing & Enrollment Center at 330-672-6000 or via our website Contact Us link.
The total program costs are estimates and are not final or binding. Program costs are based on standard fees, but fees may vary based on the actual classes taken. Kent State University disclaims any liability arising from the use of or reliance upon these program cost estimates by any person. Program costs are subject to change without notice.
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