Accelerated MSN Family Nurse Practitioner to Doctor of Nursing Practice Option

This option provides Wilmington University MSN Family Nurse Practitioner students the opportunity to take two selected DNP courses to fulfil the requirements of the MSN Family Nurse Practitioner program:

DNP 7000 Bioethics for Advanced Nursing Practice
DNP 7106 Healthcare Informatics

Students, therefore, accelerate completion of the DNP program following successful completion of the MSN Family Nurse Practitioner program. By participating in this option and completing the two selected courses and the two required DNP courses in the MSN Family NP curriculum (DNP 7101: Epidemiology for Advanced Nursing Practice and DNP 7104: Politics and Policy in the Healthcare System), the number of credits required to complete the DNP program at Wilmington University, following graduation from the MSN program, is 21 and will take 20 months to complete, as opposed to the traditional 33 credits over 28 months.

Eligibility Criteria:

1. Completion of all MSN Family Nurse Practitioner courses with the exception of MSN 8223: Practicum III, MSN 8330: Practicum IV, and MSN 8343: Practicum V courses

2. GPA of 3.0 or greater

3. Letter of recommendation from a doctorally prepared professional (i.e. EdD, PhD, DNP, MD, etc.)

4. Goals statement (see page four of intent form for instructions)

The MSN Family Nurse Practitioner to DNP Accelerated Option Intent Form is located in the College of Health Professions MSN NP Student Organization site. Upon submission of the intent to enroll form, the MSN NP and DNP Program Chairs will ensure that the eligibility criteria are met. If the eligibility criteria are met, students will be contacted by the DNP Program Chair to assist with appropriate course sequencing, advisement, and preparation for doctoral study.

PHASE 1:

1. The above criteria are met.

2. The Intent Form is submitted.

NOTE: Students are not obligated to earn the DNP degree at Wilmington University. Graduate level courses may be used in transfer, if accepted by other institutions.

3. A decision is made, and the student is informed.

4. If student wishes to be accepted into our DNP program, he/she may begin the formal DNP application process at this time (application, recommendations, goal statement, transcript submission, and interview).

5. Student should seek advisement from the Graduate Program Chair (MSN-NP and DNP) regarding schedule and courses.

6. Student completes up to two selected DNP courses.

PHASE 2:

1. Student must earn at least B in the doctoral level courses for the credits to be applicable to the DNP degree.
2. Student must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.
3. Student completes the formal application process, as described in Phase 1.
4. Official DNP acceptance after completing the requirements for the MSN-NP degree, with above criteria met.
5. If a student does not meet the above criteria, he/she may graduate with an MSN-NP degree upon successful completion of the required graduate course of study. That student may then apply to the DNP program through the regular process for admission.