The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is an academic partnership offered by Southeastern Louisiana University and the University of Louisiana Lafayette. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a terminal professional degree that focuses on the clinical aspects of nursing rather than academic research. The curriculum for the DNP program is consistent with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education. The post-master’s DNP with Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certificate program consists of an aggregate degree for Post-MSN students who want to obtain a DNP degree and the Post Masters’ Certificate for Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. These applicants must currently hold a master’s degree from a nationally accredited graduate nursing program and a national certification as an Adult Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Geriatric Nurse Practitioner, Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, or Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner. This option consists of 39 credit hours towards the DNP degree and 20 credit hours towards the Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certificate. All of the courses required in the DNP programs are delivered in distance accessible formats. Courses are designed to comply with the recommendations in the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s Essentials of Doctoral Education.

Purposes

The purposes of the DNP program are to prepare graduate students at the highest level of nursing practice to:

1. Provide complex hospital and community-based care for patients and families.

2. Redesign and evaluate nursing and health care systems.

3. Address shortages of clinical nursing faculty to mentor and educate nurses.

Admission Procedures:

Applicants to the Post MSN DNP program must apply to the University and the Southeastern Graduate Nursing Program at the same time. See Admissions to the University section for application deadlines and fees.

Admission Requirements:

Students are admitted as a cohort into the Post master’s DNP program in the fall semester. Didactic courses are offered online; however, students will be required to participate in on-campus activities immediately prior to the start of the program and at the conclusion of the program when presenting synthesis projects. In addition, there are several courses in the curriculum (i.e., Residency I-III) with practicum requirements. 

Requirements for admission to the Post MSN DNP Program include:

1. A completed application form and payment of the application fee submitted on or prior to the application date.

2. Receipt of official transcripts from each degree-granting college or university previously attended. Applicants must be in satisfactory academic standing and eligible to re-enroll at all former graduate institutions. 

3. An earned master’s degree in one of the following areas of advanced nursing practice:

   • Nurse Practitioner

   • Clinical Nurse Specialist

   • Nurse Midwife

   • Registered Nurse Anesthetist

4. Cumulative GPA of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale for all master’s level course work including courses repeated as indicated by transcripts. 

5. Evidence of valid, unencumbered Louisiana Registered Nurse licensure 

6. Evidence of valid, unencumbered APRN license if applicable

7. Three recommendations from individuals who can attest to the applicant’s capacity for doctoral study.

• One recommendation must be from a former faculty member in a nursing program, a current or former nursing supervisor, or nursing leader.

• One recommendation must be from someone who can attest to the competencies and expertise of the applicant at the advanced practice level.

• The third recommendation may be from an individual of the applicant’s choice; however, it should address the applicant’s ability to successfully complete a doctoral education in nursing

1. Current resume’ or vitae.

2. A document, prepared by the applicant, which addresses the applicant’s:

• Goals for doctoral study which are congruent with the DNP program (See the Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice, which can be accessed at https://www.aacnnursing.org/essential.) 

• Focused area of interest for synthesis project.

• Expression of how acquiring the DNP degree is important to fulfilling their career goals. The document must be typewritten, double-spaced, in 12 point, Times New Roman font and should be no longer than three pages in length.

1. Completion of a telephone interview with the DNP program coordinator.
2. Upon enrollment, students will be required to submit to background checks, drug and alcohol screening, and must meet program health requirements. These screenings will be conducted at the student’s expense.
3. Students should be proficient with methodologies utilized in distance education and must possess computer equipment and technology which is compatible with University learning management systems such as Canvas.
4. Prior to enrolling in Nursing 8010 Biostatistics, students must provide evidence of completion of a graduate level statistics course with a grade of ‘B’ or better. The graduate level statistics course must be approved by the DNP Program Coordinator. 

Retention and Progression Requirements

• A graduate nursing student must earn a ‘B’ in each course in the program to be eligible for progression

• A graduate nursing student who earns a grade below a ‘B’ will be placed on probation and must repeat the course within two regular semesters and earn at least a ‘B’ in the repeated course. If a grade below a ‘B’ is earned in the repeated course, the student will be dismissed from the program.

• A graduate nursing student who earns more than two grades of ‘C’ in any graduate nursing course is not eligible for progression.

• A graduate nursing student who earns more than two grades of ‘W’ in the program is not eligible for progression.

• A graduate nursing student who makes a grade of ‘D’ or ‘F’ in any course taken for graduate credit will be dismissed from the program.

• Graduate nursing students with extenuating circumstances who are not permitted to progress in the program or who are dismissed, may appeal for readmission.

• Prior to beginning any clinical/practicum course, the student must have evidence of one year of clinical practice experience in an area appropriate to the specialty concentration as an R.N. 

• The school of nursing reserves the right to investigate situations which may affect the student’s ability to function. In addition, a physician or provider’s release may be required. Students who have health conditions that may prevent their meeting the objectives of the program or a course in the program or that may cause potential injury to that student or the clients for whom they care, will be required to have a personal interview with the Department Head or Dean or with an appropriate School of Nursing Committee.

• Drug testing will be required.

• Students enrolled in a practicum graduate course are required to maintain current certification in CPR and meet other agency requirements

• Any student who does not enroll in graduate nursing course toward a degree for 2 consecutive regular semesters must reapply to the program. For reconsideration, students must submit any transcripts reflecting course work elsewhere during that time. 

Residency Requirements

Core courses taken at either school in the collaborative are applicable to requirements of each member institution. NURS 8090 ADVANCED DIRECTED STUDIES and practicum hours required in Residencies I, II, and III can only be taken at the home institution.

Registration Procedures

• Registration for core and role courses will be held according to their published dates and procedures. An advisor is available to assist students. Information and downloadable forms are available from the School of Nursing webpage, www.southeastern.edu/graduatenursing.

• A Professional Degree fee will be assessed each semester of coursework. Students will also be assessed fees for proctored testing of online courses.

• All courses offered are subject to resources availability and sufficient student enrollment.

• Full-time degree plans require from 7-10 credit hours per semester; part-time degree plans require 6 credit hours per semester.

• For limited course slots, preference will be given to regular admission status.

Requirements for Degree

To receive the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, the student must complete all requirements of the degree plan including a minimum of 39 credit hours, achieve a grade of ‘B’ or better in each course, and completion of a DNP Synthesis Project.