Prepare for the highest levels in leadership and practice
The DNP program at the UNMC College of Nursing will prepare graduates for nursing leadership and practice within organizations and systems, to improve health care delivery and patient care at all levels and for diverse populations. Graduates will be prepared to serve as faculty in nursing education programs and to translate research findings for clinical practice.
The DNP program is for nurses who want to:
- seek a terminal doctoral degree in nursing practice.
- focus their career goals on advanced clinical expertise, quality improvement, patient safety and health systems change.
- expand their career latitude, options and value to employers
The program is especially appropriate for Advanced Practice Nurses who are prepared as nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse administrators.
Graduate Assistantships may be available for incoming full-time PhD and DNP students. These assistantships may be focused upon research and/or teaching based upon individual student abilities/interests as well as CON needs. In return for working a minimum of 15 hours per week, tuition will be covered, and a monthly stipend paid to students. Please discuss your interests with your academic advisor or program director.
View core curriculum, course descriptions and example plans of study in the UNMC College of Nursing Catalog.
Read more about the advantages of UNMC for your DNP.
- A BSN degree from an institution with a nursing education program that was accredited through the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), or NLN Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA) at the time of graduation with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- BSN from a non-US college must be evaluated and be equivalent to a US nursing degree.
- Proof of current licensure to practice as a registered nurse in one of the 50 states in the U.S.
- Preference will be given to applicants who have completed at least one-year full-time work experience as a registered nurse. Experience with the specialty population is valuable.
Full details as to admission requirements according to the UNMC College of Nursing policy can be found at: Graduate Student Admission Policies for Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree Programs.
- A master's or doctoral degree from an institution with a nursing education program that was accredited through the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), or NLN Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA) at the time of graduation with a minimum GPA of 3.4 on a 4.0 scale.
- MSN degree obtained from a non-US college must be evaluated and be equivalent to a US nursing degree.
- The master’s degree specialty must be in nursing administration or a clinical specialization to prepare graduate as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) (Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, or Nurse Midwife).
- Proof of current license to practice as a registered nurse in one of the 50 states in the U.S.
Minimum GPA:
- MSN to DNP: 3.4 cumulative GPA in MSN program.
- BSN to DNP: 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE):
- No GRE exam score is required.
English Proficiency: Applicants from countries where English is not the primary language must present official TOEFL or IELTS scores at the time of application.
UNMC students in the MSN to DNP Program generally complete the program in two or three years and BSN to DNP students, generally complete the program in three or four years. This is based on having a full-time or part-time plan of study. A doctorate degree must be completed within seven years.
- Adult-Gerontology NP
- Adult-Gerontology Acute NP
- Family NP
- Pediatric Primary Care NP
- Pediatric Primary & Acute Care (Dual) NP
- Women's Health NP
- Psychiatric Mental Health NP
- Nurse Leader/Executive
Read about specialities.
Contact a student services representative to email your questions or schedule an appointment to discuss your educational and career goals. A visit with a faculty member in your area of interest can be arranged.
APPLY TO ONE PROGRAM ONLY
Application due date. Read full admission details before applying.
UNMC processes applications to its nursing program through NursingCAS, the centralized application service for nursing. Visit the Add Program page on the NursingCAS website to start an application by selecting our program and completing the steps to fill out and submit your application. Full details are provided on the application.