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 program

- Requires 79-82 credit hours

- Concentrations available in Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (pending approval, new for Fall 2013)

• 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 program is taught in a distance-learning (online) format with minimal campus visits required approximately once per semester (less for MSN to DNP students.  In addition, practicum courses require clinical site visits that are determined by the clinical instructor.

• 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.

• The DNP program provides a great value as compared to most other DNP programs in the state of Michigan.

Results:

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

• UM-Flint’s DNP program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

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.

2013 Scholarship for Disadvantaged Students (SDS)

The Scholarship for Disadvantaged Students is funded by the federal government administered through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HRSA) to the University of Michigan – Flint (UM-Flint) Nursing Department.  Grants are awarded to eligible institutions to provide financial support for students enrolled in the Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) program.  The Department of Nursing, UM-Flint, sought this grant to increase the number of economically disadvantaged students enrolled full-time in the DNP program.  The Scholarship for Disadvantaged Students is designed to recognize outstanding students in financial need by defraying the cost of their reasonable living expenses.  The scholarship will be awarded graduate nursing students.  The tenure of the appointment covered by this award is April 15, 2013 through June 30, 2014.*

Award Eligibility & Selection Criteria

ElIgibility

To qualify for SDS support, an individual must:

1. Be a United States citizen or a foreign national with permanent residency status in the United States (Green Card holder).
2. Not be claimed as a dependent on someone else's 2012 tax return.
3. DNP students will be required to visit the UM-Flint campus several times per year for clinical practice evaluation, seminar, and laboratory exposure.
4. Maintain a 5.0 graduate GPA to remain in the DNP program and to remain eligible for the grant.
   

Selection Criteria

Within the context of the above eligibility conditions, the following criteria established by the Department of Nursing will be taken into consideration as applications are reviewed and awards are made:

1. The applicant must demonstrate financial need and must submit a 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA).
2. If there are special financial circumstances (e.g. loss of job, reduced working hours – indicate reason for reduction), provide documentation for consideration.
3. Must be able to describe and elaborate financial need in detail. You may be required to file a tax transcript.
4. Applicants must have potential to contribute to society as a Nurse Practitioner.
5. Applicants should demonstrate academic excellence.

Application Procedures

• Applicants must complete the SDS application form and provide a 500-750 word typewritten statement as described above.  Both application and written financial statement should be submitted together online through this website.
• All completed applications will be reviewed by the UM-Flint Department of Nursing Graduate Student Awards Committee.
• Applicants must submit the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 FAFSA.

Application Deadline:  April 15, 2013

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Cindi Lada, Administrative Assistant at (810) 424-5379 or email ladacyn@umflint.edu.

*Grant awardees must be enrolled for the entire tenure of the award:  Spring semester 2013 through Winter semester 2014.

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 3.2 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, you must 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       
         -reasons for wanting to study at UM-Flint        
         -research interests        
         -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         
         -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/graduateprograms/admissions/international-students.page 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.

Catalog Description:

Kristina Yaklin

Graduation Year: 2013

Hometown: Owosso, MI

For me, UM-Flint was the only university close to home that offered the Doctor of Nursing Practice program.  The online format of the DNP has allowed me to continue working while continuing my education on a schedule that fits my life. This degree also prepares me to continue with specialty certifications if desired, conduct research, and teach at a university level. The number of clinical hours required for this degree will prepare me in the best way possible for entry into practice as a nurse practitioner.   In our first semester we had to submit one of our papers for publication.  Much to my surprise, my paper was published in the Nephrology Nursing Journal.  I would have never thought of submitting an assigned paper for publication.  I am glad this program pushes us to do things that are “firsts” for many of us, such as submitting an article for publication.