The Doctor of Nursing Practice program at UWM prepares nurses for the highest academic preparation in clinical nursing. The DNP will prepare practitioners who are able to use their education and expertise in evidence-based practice in providing outstanding care and collaborative leadership to improve clinical care delivery, patient outcomes, and system management.

There are three entry options for the Doctor of Nursing (DNP) Practice Program:

1. Program for individuals with a bachelor's degree in nursing and a current Registered Nurse license.
2. Program for individuals with an advanced practice master's degree in nursing and a current Registered Nurse license.
3. Program for individuals with a master of nursing (or equivalent) degree and a current Registered Nurse license.

Students may be admitted for the Fall or Spring semester, on a part-time or full-time plan of study.

Students entering with a bachelor's degree in nursing or a master of nursing degree and a current RN license choose a specialization in one of the following areas:

• Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG ACNP)
• Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
• Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS): Population focus in Adult-Gerontology, or Pediatrics. 
• Nursing System Leadership (Nurse Executive) 

The online Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice is for Advanced Practice Nurses (NP, CNS, CNM, CRNA) with a master’s degree.

Transcript Designated Concentrations:

• Family Nurse Practitioner 
• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• Clinical Nurse Specialist- Adult-Gerontology
• Clinical Nurse Specialist-Pediatrics 
• Nursing System Leadership-Nurse Executive 

Admission Requirements 

Application Deadlines

Application deadlines vary by program, please review the application deadline chart for specific programs. Other important dates and deadlines can be found by using the One Stop calendars.

Admission 

The admission requirements of the DNP program in Nursing are consistent with those requirements specified by the Graduate School of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In addition, students must also meet the following requirements for the School of Nursing:

1. A bachelor's degree or a master's in Nursing from a professionally accredited program, with a minimum undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 (4.0 scale).
2. One year of RN experience.
3. Completion with a grade of B or higher of an upper-level undergraduate course in statistics within the last five years.
4. A current unencumbered Registered Nurse license.
5. Three (3) letters of recommendation for graduate study in nursing, two (2) of which are from persons most knowledgeable about the applicant's recent academic and work experiences.
6. Completion of a personal statement.
7. Current CV or resume.
8. Submission of one writing sample.
9. Personal interview with a faculty member may be requested.

Reapplication

A student who receives a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee must formally reapply for admission to the Graduate School before continuing studies toward the DNP. 

Credits and Courses

Post Baccalaureate Curriculum

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a three-year, full time, 65-credit post-baccalaureate program, which includes 30 credit hours of core theoretical courses, an advanced nursing practice core (9 credits), a research core (9 credits) a systems core (12 credits), 27 credits hours of specialty theory and practicum courses, and 8 credits in the DNP Project Core.

¹

 May be completed over 1 or 2 semesters.

Post Generalist Master's Curriculum (MN or equivalent)

¹

 May be completed over 1 or 2 semesters.

Post-Master’s Curriculum (Other Nursing Master’s Degrees)

The Post-Master’s Curriculum includes Nursing Master’s Degrees that are not Advanced Practice or a Generalist Master’s (MN or equivalent). Examples may include a Master’s in Nursing Education or Nursing Leadership. An individual plan of study will be developed based on review of the previous Master’s Program coursework and transcript.

Clinical Nurse Specialist Requirements

The theory courses vary by population focus and must provide content across the continuum from wellness through acute care for the selected population. The plan for theory course work must be approved by the CNS option coordinator. The following courses under the Specialty Theory Electives heading are examples of those that can be included as specialty support credits. Other courses can be included with advisor approval.

Clinical Nurse Specialist: Adult-Gerontology Practicum

Additional Requirements

Faculty Advisor

The student must have a Faculty Advisor to advise and supervise the student’s studies as specified in Graduate School regulations. The student is assigned to a Faculty Advisor at the time of admission.

Leadership Practice Immersion

Both the post baccalaureate and post master’s curriculum include a 4-credit DNP Project III, an experience that will include the required DNP project. This residency experience will include 460 additional clinical hours in the student’s specialty focus area and will include an emphasis on the evidence-based practice, leadership and system competencies of the DNP prepared graduate.

Time Limit

Students in the post baccalaureate DNP program must complete all degree requirements within seven years of the first enrollment semester as a degree student. Students in the post master’s DNP program must complete all degree requirements within five years of the first enrollment semester as a degree student.

Minimum Grade Requirement

For continuation in the program, in addition to general Graduate School requirements, students must achieve a minimum grade of B- in all required nursing courses. However, an overall GPA of 3.00 is still required for the degree.

Residence

The student must meet minimum Graduate School residence requirements.

DNP Project II: Proposal/Doctoral Preliminary Examination

The student must pass a doctoral preliminary examination to qualify for formal admission to candidacy for degree. The doctoral examination comprises a written portfolio and an oral component, taken in that sequence, with each component requiring a passing grade for successful completion. The examination is an integrative experience that is designed to validate the student’s mastery of the content of the DNP curriculum and must be completed prior to beginning the residency experience.

DNP Project III: Leadership Practice Immersion

The candidate will complete a final comprehensive clinical project as part of the Leadership Practice Immersion experience which demonstrates the ability to implement the principles of evidence-based practice and translation under the direction of the faculty advisor.

The candidate must, as the final step toward the degree, pass an oral examination in defense of the clinical project. A candidate who does not pass this examination may apply for reexamination within one year from the initial examination date. This reexamination may occur only one time. A candidate who does not pass this examination within program time limits may be required to undergo another comprehensive preliminary examination and be readmitted to the program and/or candidacy.

Nursing Practice DNP Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from the Nursing Practice, DNP program will be able to: 

1. Lead, translate and integrate knowledge from nursing and other disciplines, including a foundation in liberal arts, natural and social sciences at the advanced nursing practice specialty level. 
2. Design, lead, coordinate and evaluate person-centered care that is evidence-based, inclusive and respects patients as full partners in providing compassionate, developmentally appropriate, and culturally safe care at the advanced nursing practice specialty level. 
3. Lead and evaluate initiatives that advocate for equitable population health outcomes across the healthcare delivery continuum, through engagement with partners, communities, public health, industry, academia, health care, local government entities, and others. 
4. Generate, synthesize, translate, and disseminate nursing knowledge using a spirit of inquiry to improve health and transform complex health care systems. 
5. Design, lead, implement, and disseminate quality and safety initiatives using improvement science to enhance outcomes and minimize risk of harm to patients and providers through both system effectiveness and individual performance. 
6. Lead interprofessional care teams to facilitate intentional collaboration with patients, families, and community partners, fostering a climate of mutual respect and shared values to enhance the healthcare experience and improve outcomes. 
7. Direct transformation within complex healthcare system to use resources effectively and provide safe, quality, cost-effective, and equitable care within the advanced nursing practice specialty. 
8. Use and evaluate healthcare, information, and communication technologies to gather data, inform decision making, provide and document safe care, and drive improvement that aligns with best practice and professional and regulatory standards. 
9. Cultivate and model a professional identity in alignment with the school of nursing’s mission, vision, and values, demonstrating wisdom and ethics for the advanced nursing role and leadership practice. 
10. Cultivate personal health and resilience, to expand professional identity and leadership competencies through reflective practice and lifelong learning within the advanced nursing practice specialty role.