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Student ID:__________________________ Student Name:_______________________ Adviser Name:_______________________ Bulletin: 2024-2025 Graduate Bulletin Program: Doctor of Nursing Practice, Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner, Acute (BSN to DNP) Minimum Credits Required:__________________

Doctor of Nursing Practice, Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner, Acute (BSN to DNP)

Graduate Study at USI >> College of Nursing and Health Professions 

78 hours; B or better required in all courses

Doctor of Nursing Practice (BSN to DNP)

To be eligible for the BSN to DNP option of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, an applicant must have a baccalaureate degree in nursing from a nationally accredited school of nursing. Students in the BSN to DNP option will proceed directly from the BSN degree to a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree without being awarded an MSN degree. 

Students with a master’s degree in nursing from a nationally accredited nursing program who wish to complete the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree can pursue one of two Post MSN options of the DNP program: Doctor of Nursing Practice, Advanced Nursing Practice (DNP) or Doctor of Nursing Practice, Organizational and Systems Leadership (DNP).

Program Objectives

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) prepares experts in advanced nursing with emphasis placed on innovative, evidence-based practice that reflects the application of credible research findings. The expanded knowledge base in nursing will broaden the DNP graduate’s ability to translate that knowledge quickly and effectively to benefit patients, to improve outcomes, and to contribute to the profession.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the University of Southern Indiana is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.ccneaccreditation.org).

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements for the BSN to DNP option of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program are as follows:

  • A baccalaureate degree in nursing (BSN) from a nationally accredited school earned prior to applying to the BSN to DNP program.
  • ALL APPLICANTS MUST HAVE a minimum cumulative baccalaureate grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale. GPAs are reviewed based upon the total BSN GPA. This includes transfer courses in RN Completion programs.
  • Satisfactory completion of a course in undergraduate statistics (grade C or better) at the time of application.
  • An unencumbered U.S. RN license in all states of practice.
  • Recommended but not required: one year full-time or two thousand hours of clinical practice as an RN within the last five years.

Curriculum (78 credits)

To earn the DNP degree, students must complete all courses with a grade of B or better.

BSN to DNP Nursing Courses (48 credits)

Course NameCredits:Term TakenGradeGen Ed
NURS 601 - Roles for Advanced Nursing Practice
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer		 Credits: 1
NURS 602 - Evidence-based Practice for Advanced Nursing
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer		 Credits: 4
NURS 603 - Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Practice Nursing
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer		 Credits: 3
NURS 713 - Theory and Practice
Term(s) Offered: Spring		 Credits: 3
NURS 715 - Analytical Methods for Population-Based Care
Term(s) Offered: Fall		 Credits: 4
NURS 717 - Cultural Diversity
Term(s) Offered: Fall		 Credits: 2
NURS 721 - Systems Leadership and Interprofessional Collaboration
Term(s) Offered: Fall		 Credits: 5
NURS 724 - Healthcare Policy and Strategic Planning
Term(s) Offered: Summer		 Credits: 3
NURS 725 - Resource Utilization in Healthcare
Term(s) Offered: Spring		 Credits: 4
NURS 727 - Healthcare Technology and Informatics
Term(s) Offered: Summer		 Credits: 3
NURS 732 - Wellness Promotion
Term(s) Offered: Spring		 Credits: 2
NURS 734 - Patient Management Clinical Application Seminar
Term(s) Offered: Spring		 Credits: 1
NURS 736 - Clinical Application of Pharmacotherapeutics
Term(s) Offered: Spring		 Credits: 2
NURS 741 - Application of Assessment with Differential Diagnoses
Term(s) Offered: Summer		 Credits: 1
NURS 772 - Clinical Education
Term(s) Offered: 		Credits: 4
NURS 854 - Critical Appraisal of Practice
Term(s) Offered: Fall		 Credits: 3
NURS 855 - Synthesis of Nursing Practice
Term(s) Offered: Spring, Summer		 Credits: 3

BSN to DNP Project Courses (6 credits)

Course NameCredits:Term TakenGradeGen Ed
NURS 866 - DNP Project Proposal
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring		 Credits: 1
NURS 874 - DNP Project I
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring		 Credits: 3
NURS 875 - DNP Project II
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring		 Credits: 2

BSN to DNP Clinical Core Courses (9 credits)

Course NameCredits:Term TakenGradeGen Ed
NURS 617 - Advanced Concepts of Pathophysiology
Term(s) Offered: Fall		 Credits: 3
NURS 618 - Advanced Health Assessment
Term(s) Offered: Summer		 Credits: 3
NURS 622 - Clinical Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nurses
Term(s) Offered: Spring		 Credits: 3

Specialty Courses (15 credits, 665 clinical hours)

Course NameCredits:Term TakenGradeGen Ed
NURS 774 - Management of the Acutely Ill Adult – Geriatric Patients I for BSN to DNP
Term(s) Offered: Fall		 Credits: 5
NURS 775 - Management of the Acutely Ill Adult II for BSN to DNP
Term(s) Offered: Spring		 Credits: 5
NURS 776 - Management of the Acutely Ill Adult III for BSN to DNP
Term(s) Offered: Summer		 Credits: 5
Notes:





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