What Sets UM-Flint's Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program Apart?

Focus:

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) will equip you with the skills necessary for advanced nursing practice in primary health care. It is available in two degree tracks: BSN to DNP, and MSN to DNP:

• BSN to DNP

- Intended for Bachelor-prepared RN’s who wish to pursue the DNP

- 4-year, part-time program

- Requires 79-82 credit hours

- Concentrations available in Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

• MSN to DNP

- Intended for Master’s-prepared nurses who are already Certified Nurse Practitioners, Nurse Midwives, Clinical Nurse Specialists, or Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists

- 2-4 year, part-time program

- Requires 31-33 credit hours

Flexibility:

• This part-time program is taught in a distance-learning (online) format with minimal campus visits required (approximately one per year).

• Clinical courses are arranged in your area, so it is convenient for you to gain practical experience.

• UM-Flint Nursing faculty make themselves available to students outside the normal class schedule, with flexible office hours and online availability.

Resources:

• In the DNP program, you will receive practical instruction from faculty who are experts in the field of nursing.

• As part of the world-renowned University of Michigan system, UM-Flint can tap additional resources, expertise, and contacts at our sister campuses in Dearborn and Ann Arbor to assist our students and their research.

Results:

• 95-100% first-time Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam pass rate for past three years.

In-Depth: The Nurse Practitioner

As a nurse practitioner you become a unique licensed independent practitioner within the constellation of advanced practice nurses. Nurse practitioners assess and manage both medical and nursing problems in a variety of specialty areas such as family, adult, pediatric, geriatric, women’s health, school health, occupational health, mental health, emergency, and acute care.  You will serve as the primary care provider and consult and collaborate with other health care professionals to provide quality comprehensive care for individuals, families, and communities in a variety of ambulatory and inpatient settings.

Your responsibilities as a nurse practitioner include: taking histories; conducting physical examinations; ordering, performing, and interpreting appropriate diagnostic and laboratory tests; and prescribing pharmacological agents, treatments, and non-pharmacological therapies for the management of the conditions you diagnose.

Admission Requirements

The number of individuals admitted into the Doctor of Nursing Practice program is limited. Admission is to the fall semester only. You must meet the following requirements to be eligible for admission:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing* or Master of Science in Nursing (with certification) from an accredited college or university with an overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale  (3.5 for graduate work)

• BSN to DNP Applicants: Current RN license in the United States

• MSN to DNP Applicants: Current license as advanced practice nurse

• College-level Chemistry with grade of “C” or better

• College-level Statistics with grade of “C” or better

• At least one year RN experience is preferred

*Admission is also possible for Registered Nurses with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field. In addition to the requirements above, those RNs seeking admission to the Doctor of Nursing Practice program who do not already hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing but have a bachelor’s degree in another area of study must complete the following coursework or their equivalents:

- ENG 112 English Composition II
- NUR 202 Health Assessment (or Credit by Exam)
- NUR 308 Nursing Research
- NSC 168 Bioethics (or PHL 162 or HCR 304)
- NSC 209 Nutrition (NSC 208 if credit for NUR 205; or NSC 209 Credit by Exam)
- NUR 300 Transition to Professional Nursing
- NUR 407 Issues & Trends
- NUR 410 Community Health Nursing (includes clinical component; 6  clinical hours per week)

NOTE: Prerequisite coursework must be completed prior to starting DNP courses. If you have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree and need to complete the prerequisite coursework listed above, please contact the Nursing Department for advising before applying to the DNP program.

Application Process

To be considered for admission, submit the following to the Office of Graduate Programs, 251 Thompson Library:

• Application for Graduate Admission

• $55 application fee (non-refundable)

• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended

• Curriculum vitae or resume

• Copy of current Nursing License (submit either a license verification printout or a photocopy of your license)

• For those applicants with an MSN: Copy of certification in the applicant’s advanced practice nursing specialty

• Professional Goal Statement describing your career objectives and areas of clinical interest. The statement should be a 500-word typewritten document that describes your reasons for pursuing a doctor of nursing practice degree and should reflect a strong sense of career direction. The statement should relate past experiences to advancing a career in nursing. Include your purpose for undertaking or continuing graduate study, your reasons for wanting to study at UM-Flint, your research interests, and your professional plans and career goals. Please describe any past achievements in nursing including any professional organization memberships or positions, awards, scholarships, nominations, certifications, committee/project work, or other accomplishments you wish to include. You also may  explain any special circumstances applicable to your background and elaborate on any scholarly publications, achievements, abilities, and/or professional history

• Three recommendations, including one from a doctorally-prepared academician, a supervisor in an employment setting, and a practicing RN or APN, all familiar with your intellectual ability, academic achievement, and professional commitment

• International students must submit additional documentation. Visit www.umflint.edu/international for details

Application Deadlines

To be considered for admission, submit all application materials to the Office of Graduate Programs by 5pm on the day of the application deadline:

• BSN to DNP: Final Deadline – March 1
• MSN to DNP: Early Admission – December 1. Final Deadline – March 1.

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