Nursing

Doctor of Nursing Practice (Post-MSN DNP)

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32-38 Credit Hours

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Up To 12 Hours

Transfer Credit*
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$702

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EKU Online > Online Nursing Degrees & Certificates > Doctor of Nursing Practice (Post-MSN DNP)

Become an Innovative Leader in the Nursing Field

EKU’s online doctor of nursing practice (DNP) with a concentration in Organizational Leadership prepares students to innovate, lead change, and improve health outcomes for patients and populations. Unlike a research focused degree, EKU’s respected program is practice focused. It equips students with the tools they need and guides them through real-world implementation and evaluation of evidence-based practice improvements.

*Contact an enrollment advisor to determine eligibility

Career Outlook

Employment of nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists and nurse midwives is projected to grow 45 percent before 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations.

— U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Career Info

The EKU DNP Degree prepares nurses for the highest levels of practice. Practice, as defined by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), may include, but is not limited to, direct patient care, organizational leadership, policy development, and other essential nursing roles. Career opportunities include nurse executive, clinical nursing management, health systems leadership, quality improvement coordinator, nursing care coordination, nurse practitioner and health systems policy development.

> Learn More About Nurse Practitioner Career Opportunities

EKU Online Career Services

The EKU Office of Academic and Career Services is a one-stop shop for all of your career and professional development needs.

Services include:

  • Creating/Updating Your Resume and Cover Letter
  • Interviewing Tips and Coaching
  • Career Documents Review
  • Job Search

Learn More About Career Services

 

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Benefits
Prep for Success
Benefits of EKU Online

EKU’s DNP curriculum is nationally-accredited and centered on evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and organizational leadership. It meets the needs of nurses in a variety of settings who desire to practice at the highest level. The program culminates in a DNP project in which students address a specific healthcare problem and implement practice changes that improve health care delivery and outcomes.

  • Free textbooks through EKU BookSmart
  • Accelerated 8-week terms
  • No campus visits required
  • Individualized mentorship for your DNP project and your future career success
  • Personalized advising from application through graduation
  • DNP projects that can be completed in your organization or community
  • Faculty trained in evidence-based practice who follow nationally-recognized standards for best practices in online learning
  • Ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the top 50 best online graduate nursing programs in the country
Preparing You for Success

EKU online nursing programs provide an engaging learning environment and accessible collaborative faculty. For detailed information about our programs, please review the DNP Student Handbook.

Curriculum

EKU’s curriculum blends academic and professional preparation through engaging, evidence-based practice.

Degree Requirements

A total of 32-38 credits are required to graduate.

View the DNP program degree requirements:

Please review the admissions requirements before applying for this or any program. If you have questions about the program or are planning to register for classes, please speak to the program advisor.

Transfer Credits

Students may transfer up to 12 hours of credit from accredited institutions.

Previously earned credits must be reviewed upon admittance to EKU for appropriate articulation. Learn more about transferring to EKU.

Sample Courses

For a full list of course descriptions please see section 7 of the University graduate catalog.

DNP Curriculum Progress Plans

NCS 940 – Theory Application for Doctor of Nursing Practice (3)
Theoretical perspectives, integration of nursing science, and the interrelationships among theory, research, and evidence-based nursing practice will be explored, emphasizing strategies for knowledge and theory development, evaluation, and application.

NCS 942 – Informatics in Healthcare Delivery (3)
Focuses on theoretical basis of information systems in healthcare, impact of informatics on clinical practice and administrative decision-making, and strategies to evaluate and improve use of information technology in health care.

NCS 960 – Management of Healthcare Resources (3)
Examines healthcare economics and business practices and their relationship on health policy and clinical practice. Economic concepts and tools will be utilized to examine issues and solve problems/issues pertaining to healthcare delivery.

NCS 992 – Implementation Methods for the DNP (3)
Translate scientific multi-disciplinary knowledge into complex interventions to improve practice and health outcomes in the development of a proposal to enhance evidence-based practice.

Enrollment

EKU Online Advisor Hayley Anders

Hayley Anders

Enrollment Advisor

Call or email Enrollment Advisor Hayley Anders for information about the EKU Online Doctor of Nursing Practice program.

Contact Info:
859-622-8222
Hayley.Anders@eku.edu

 

Admission Deadlines

Term Application Deadline Classes Begin
Fall A July 1 August
Fall B August 15 October
Spring November 1 January
Summer March 15 May

Admission Requirements

  1. Master’s degree in nursing from a nationally accredited program.
  2. RN license from an approved state that is free and unrestricted, meaning that it has not been subject to reprimand, revocation, probation, suspension, restriction, limitation, disciplinary action, discretionary review/hearing or encumbrance nor had any type of complaint filed against it.
  3. Graduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
  4. If applicable, APRN license from an approved state that is free and unrestricted, meaning that it has not been subject to reprimand, revocation, probation, suspension, restriction, limitation, disciplinary action, discretionary review/hearing or encumbrance nor had any type of complaint filed against it.

Admission is competitive. Selection is based on careful consideration of all application materials, including but not limited to academic transcripts, the applicant’s Doctor of Nursing Practice Professional Statement, three required professional references and professional work experience. In addition to the criteria listed, an interview may be requested. The Doctor of Nursing Practice Professional Statement will be evaluated for writing skills and content, both of which are heavily weighted in the admission process.  

Application Process

Part I: Apply to EKU

  1. Start your EKU Graduate School Application.
  2. Complete the supporting documents:
    Professional References – Within the application, you will be prompted to enter email addresses for three professional references. An electronic reference form will be emailed to each reference upon entry.
    Resume – Provide a copy of your resume or curriculum vitae
    Doctor of Nursing Practice Professional Statement – Write a statement that is no more than 750 words in length and addresses the following points:
    • Discuss your professional goals as a DNP graduate.
    • Describe your understanding of the role of the DNP-prepared nurse.
    • Discuss your experience with online learning and how you will assure that you are successful in the online DNP program.
    • Brief description of a health or health care delivery problem with a proposed improvement project.

Once your resume and professional statement are complete, you can submit them within the online application or e-mail them to the EKU Graduate School at graduateschool@eku.edu.

Part II: Send Documents

  1. Send verification of your current RN license and, if applicable, your APRN license to the EKU Graduate School at:

EKU Graduate School
310 Whitlock Building CPO 68
521 Lancaster Avenue
Richmond, KY 40475
E-mail: graduateschool@eku.edu

  1. Contact any and all colleges or universities that you have attended and request that your transcripts be sent directly to EKU at the address below. Most schools have an online request form for this service. Transcripts sent to a student and then delivered to EKU will not be accepted. Each transcript must bear the original signature of the authorized official, along with the seal of the institution, and must be sent to EKU directly from the issuing institutionTranscripts are not required for courses taken at EKU.

All transcripts should be sent to:
EKU Graduate School
310 Whitlock Building CPO 68
521 Lancaster Avenue
Richmond, KY 40475
Email: graduateschool@eku.edu

Questions? Contact Hayley Anders at hayley.anders@eku.edu or 859-622-8222.

**State authorization restrictions may apply, please visit EKU’s state authorization map for current information.**

Additional Contact Information

Admissions: 859-622-2106
Academic Testing: 859-622-1281
Big E Central (Financial Aid & Student Account Services): 859-622-2361
Military & Veterans Affairs Office: 859-622-2345

Student Success

Vicky Turner DNP Graduate

EKU has such a great reputation for both the quality of nurses their programs produce and their board passage rates. The people who came from EKU were always strong.

Vicky TurnerEKU Online DNP Graduate

EKU Online DNP Program

The EKU Online DNP program focuses on organizational leadership, positioning you for the highest level of practice. EKU sets the standard with personalized advising from application through graduation, individualized support for your DNP project and mentoring for your future career success.

  • “I can confidently say that — as someone who doesn’t even live in the United States — EKU’s online program has been extremely accommodating and flexible. I can discuss advising appointments over email, and I can have my textbooks shipped to my address overseas.” – Sydney Garner Lewis
  • “After the birth of our first child, I knew I needed to go back and finish what I started,” said McKenzie. “I was happy that I could pick up where I left off at EKU even though I lived in a different state.” – EKU Online student and mom
  • “I chose EKU because I am a unique student with unique needs, and EKU provides an avenue for students like me to succeed.” – EKU Online Psychology student Jason Tate
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