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:
- Program for individuals with a bachelor's degree in nursing and a current Registered Nurse license.
- Program for individuals with an advanced practice master's degree in nursing and a current Registered Nurse license.
- Program for individuals with a master of nursing (or equivalent) degree and a current Registered Nurse license.
Part-time study is also an option. Students may be admitted for the Fall or Spring semester. Students complete a specialization in one of the following areas:
- Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS): population focus in Adult/Gerontology, Maternal/Infant/Women’s Health, or Pediatrics
- Community/Public Health
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Nursing System Leadership (Executive or Informatics)
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
Transcript Designated Concentrations:
- Clinical Nurse Specialist: Adult/Gerontology
- Clinical Nurse Specialist:Maternal/Infant
- Clinical Nurse Specialist: Pediatrics
- Community/Public Health
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Leadership/Systems: Nurse Executive
- Leadership/Systems: Nursing Informatics
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
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 Requirements
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 College of Nursing:
- A bachelor's degree in Nursing from a professionally accredited program, with a minimum undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.75 (4.0 scale) for the post baccalaureate DNP option.
- A master's degree in Nursing with an advanced practice focus from a professionally accredited program, with a minimum grade point average of 3.2 (4.0 scale) for the post master's DNP option.
- Completion with a grade of B or higher of an upper-level undergraduate course in statistics within the last five years.
- Current registration as a professional nurse.
- Completion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) if the previous GPA calculated by the Graduate School is less than 3.2.
- 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.
- Completion of an autobiographical sketch.
- Submission of two writing samples.
- Personal interview with a faculty member may be requested.
These data are used by the Admissions Subcommittee as indicators of academic potential.
The student is expected to satisfy deficiency requirements within three enrolled semesters. The deficiencies are monitored by the Graduate School and the individual graduate program unit. No course credits earned in making up deficiencies may be counted as program credits required for the degree.
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 (12 credits), a research core (9 credits) a systems core (9 credits), 27 credits hours of specialty theory and practicum courses, and 8 credits in the DNP Project Core.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Theoretical Coursework | 30 | |
| Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice Core | ||
| Advanced Perspectives on Cultural Diversity and Disparities in Health Care | ||
| Epidemiological Principles for Population Health | ||
| Theory for Advanced Practice | ||
| Evidence Based Practice Core | ||
| Biostatistics and Applications for Nursing Practice | ||
| Evidence Based Practice in Healthcare | ||
| Translational and Implementation Science | ||
| Systems Core | ||
| Outcomes and Quality Management | ||
| Information Systems to Support Clinical Decision-Making | ||
| Health Policy | ||
| Healthcare Organization and Systems Leadership for Advanced Practice | ||
| Specialty Theory and Practicum | 27 | |
| Project Core | 8 | |
| DNP Project I: Plan | ||
| DNP Project II: Proposal | ||
| DNP Project III: Leadership Practice Immersion 1 | ||
| Total Credits | 65 | |
| 1 | May be completed over 1 or 2 semesters. |
Post-Master’s Curriculum Entry Points
1. Post Advanced Practice Master’s Curriculum
The Post Advanced Practice Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a 26- to 32-credit, Post-Master’s program, which builds upon the required entry point of advanced practice specialization in nursing. The variable credits reflect the credit intensive load of traditional Master’s programs preparing Advanced Practice Nurses (generally greater than 40 credits). Up to six credits from the previous Advanced Practice Master’s program may be recognized based on review of the previous Master’s Program coursework and transcript if courses are duplicative of required courses.
The program includes 32 credit hours of core theoretical courses, including the advanced nursing practice core (6 credits), an evidence-based practice core (9 credits), a systems core (9 credits), and 8 credits of the DNP Project Core.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Theoretical Coursework | 24 | |
| Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice Core | ||
| Epidemiological Principles for Population Health | ||
| Healthcare Organization and Systems Leadership for Advanced Practice | ||
| Evidence Based Practice Core | ||
| Biostatistics and Applications for Nursing Practice | ||
| Evidence Based Practice in Healthcare | ||
| Translational and Implementation Science | ||
| Systems Core | ||
| Outcomes and Quality Management | ||
| Information Systems to Support Clinical Decision-Making | ||
| Health Policy | ||
| Project Core | 8 | |
| DNP Project I: Plan | ||
| DNP Project II: Proposal | ||
| DNP Project III: Leadership Practice Immersion 1 | ||
| Total Credits | 32 | |
| 1 | May be completed over 1 or 2 semesters. |
2. Post Generalist Master's Curriculum (MN or equivalent)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundations of Advanced Practice Core | 9 | |
| Advanced Perspectives on Cultural Diversity and Disparities in Health Care | ||
| Theory for Advanced Practice | ||
| Healthcare Organization and Systems Leadership for Advanced Practice | ||
| Evidence Based Practice Core | 3 | |
| Translational and Implementation Science | ||
| Specialty Theory and Practicum | 18 | |
| Project Core | 8 | |
| DNP Project I: Plan | ||
| DNP Project II: Proposal | ||
| DNP Project III: Leadership Practice Immersion 1 | ||
| Total Credits | 38 | |
| 1 | May be completed over 1 or 2 semesters. |
3. 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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Practice Specialty Core | 9 | |
| Advanced Pharmacology: Application to Advanced Nursing Practice | ||
| Pathophysiologic Basis of Advanced Nursing Practice | ||
| Comprehensive Assessment of Health: Implications for Clinical Decision-Making | ||
| Specialty Theory Electives | 12 | |
| Instructional Strategies for Patient Education | ||
| Processes of Aging | ||
| Family Theory and Intervention Strategies for Advanced Nursing Practice | ||
| Issues in Women's Health and Development | ||
| Changing Health Behaviors | ||
| Trauma Counseling I: Theory and Research | ||
| Trauma Counseling II: Diagnosis and Treatment | ||
| Special Topics Seminar: (Advanced Practice Nursing I: Health Promotion of Women and Childbearing Families) | ||
| Special Topics Seminar: (Advanced Practice Nursing II: Women and Childbearing Families with Acute and Chronic Health Conditions) | ||
| Special Topics Seminar: (Advanced Practice Nursing: Theoretical Foundations for Child Health) | ||
| Special Topics Seminar: (Advanced Practice Nursing: Health Promotion and Acute Illnesses in Children) | ||
| Special Topics Seminar: (Advanced Practice Nursing: Care of the Child with Chronic Health Conditions) | ||
| Special Topics Seminar: (Advanced Practice Nursing: Adult-Gerontology: Chronic Illness) | ||
| Special Topics Seminar: (Advanced Practice Nursing: Adult-Gerontology: Acute Illness) | ||
| Special Topics Seminar: (Special Topics: Palliative Care) | ||
| Counseling: Theory and Issues | ||
| Essentials of Counseling Practice | ||
| Human Development: Study of Infancy and Early Childhood | ||
| Human Development: Study of the Adolescent | ||
| Practicum | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Clinical Nurse Specialist: Adult/Gerontology Practicum
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Practicum Courses | ||
| NURS 832 | Clinical Nurse Specialist Practicum I-Adult/Gerontology | 3 |
| NURS 833 | Clinical Nurse Specialist Practicum II-Adult/Gerontology | 3 |
| NURS 834 | Clinical Nurse Specialist Practicum III-Adult/Gerontology | 3 |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
Program 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.