General Program Information
Dr. Lisa Haddad, Ph.D., RN, Associate Dean of Graduate Programs
207 Roy S. Nicks Hall
Box 70629
(423) 439-5626
e-mail: HaddadL@etsu.edu
Dr. Bernita Armstrong, DNP, APN- BC, MN, DNP Program Director
Roy S. Nicks Hall
Box 70629
(423) 439-5892
e-mail: armstrongb@etsu.edu
Dr. Nancy Cameron, DNP, MSN, RN, Graduate Coordinator
209 Roy S. Nicks Hall
Faculty: Bernita Armstrong; Sharon Bigger; Nancy Cameron; Teresa Carnevale; Myra Carew; Kimberly Ferguson; Lisa Haddad; Christine Hall; Jean Hemphill; Kim Hudson-Gallogly; Sharon Loury; Dru Malcolm; Jo-Ann S. Marrs; Ernie Maupin; Carolyn Merriman; Kristen Montgomery; April Morrison; Christine Mullins; Victoria Pope; Judith Rice; Arshak Sargsyan; Terri Schreiner; Candice Short; Jennie Walls; Holly Wei; Florence Weierbach; Kathryn Wilhoit; Mary Ellen Wright; PiMing Yeh
The Doctor of Nursing Practice program offers a terminal professional degree for those who wish to pursue or further their career as an advanced practice nurse focusing on healthcare needs of specific populations. The College of Nursing currently offers four concentrations within the degree: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Nursing and Healthcare Leadership, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
The focus of the Nursing and Healthcare Leadership concentration prepares the advanced nurse for multidimensional leadership within today’s complex healthcare system. Coursework focuses on leadership theory and practices, legal aspects, fiscal and strategic management, quality, and policy.
For application terms and deadlines please refer to the College of Nursing website.
Degree Requirements
BSN to DNP
| FNP concentration: |
83 credits/1000 clock hours |
| ANP/GNP concentration: |
85 credits/1000 clock hours |
| PMHNP concentration: |
80 credits/1000 clock hours |
| Executive Leadership concentration: |
77 credits/1000 clock hours |
MSN to DNP
| All concentrations: |
32 credits/500 clock hours |
Specific courses are required of students who plan to take a national certification examination. All students are required to complete a Capstone Project.
PhD to DNP Degree or DNP to PhD Degree
A student holding an earned doctoral degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution may qualify for a second doctoral degree and may have a program of study that is up to 15 credit hours shorter depending on coursework taken in the prior doctoral program and approved by the student’s ETSU advisory committee and DNP or PhD Coordinator. All specific program requirements, with the possible exception of elective courses or duplicative courses, must be met for the second degree. Degree requirements that must be met include the candidacy examination and dissertation for the PhD, or the Capstone project for the DNP. In warranted circumstances credit used to satisfy approved ETSU graduate certificate requirements may be applied toward the second doctoral degree. Please consult the PhD and DNP curricula and concentrations for specific program requirements and sample programs of study.
Nursing D.N.P.
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) is designed to produce leaders in nursing and health care practice. Specific objectives for the program are to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and values to:
- Integrate specialized knowledge, theories, and research from nursing science and related disciplines for application to nursing practice;
- Assume leadership roles as advanced clinicians, nurse educators, and/or administrators;
- Demonstrate accountability in nursing practice according to accepted standards of patient care and safety;
- Use information technology to translate research findings into evidence-based practice at the individual and health system levels;
- Affect desired change by developing and implementing policies at different levels of the health care system and with different constituencies;
- Provide multidisciplinary leadership through analysis of critical indicators within health care systems to provide optimal client care and safety; and
- Demonstrate advanced knowledge and skill in planning and delivery of health management.
Program Admission Requirements
Applicants seeking admission to the DNP program must fulfill all the requirements for admission to both the Graduate College and the College of Nursing.
There are different levels of admission depending upon prior credentials of applicants and whether or not they hold a BSN, MSN, or a masters in another discipline. Additional requirements for admission to the DNP Program include:
1. BSN-DNP applicants:
a. A bachelor’s degree in nursing is required;
b. For international applicants, a bachelor’s degree in nursing or equivalency (for BSN-DNP applicants), from a nationally accredited nursing program or comparably recognized non-U.S. institution, with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4-point scale.
c. BSN and a Masters in a non-nursing field (MBA, MPH, MHA, MMCH, etc.) or MSN in a non-nursing administration or equivalent concentration
NOTE: Students with a masters in a content area other than nursing will start with a BSN-DNP program plan but may be granted a reduction in coursework in the following areas: Leadership, Finance, Quality Improvement, clinical hours, and other content areas based on a transcript review. Coursework must be at the graduate level.
2. MSN-DNP applicants
a. completed MS in Nursing (MSN) with a concentration in nursing administration or equivalent
- Unencumbered licensure as a Registered Nurse in the United States and eligibility for licensure in Tennessee or equivalency for international students;
- Three professional letters of recommendation;
- All applicants will participate in an interview;
- All applicants will be required to complete a personal statement with the application addressing why you want to go to graduate school and why this program would be a good fit with your career goals. The personal statement must also address the following questions: What current trend(s) in healthcare do you find the most concerning or compelling? What in your education and/or professional practice has prepared you to address the identified trend(s)? How do you think you will be able to impact the trend(s) you identified, in your new role when you have completed your graduate study? Use at least two scholarly references and write the essay in American Psychological Association (APA) format. The writing must be your own work; and
- A current resume or vita.
The completed application form and fee, transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate work, personal statement, documentation of nursing licensure in the United States, MSN certification (where applicable), letters of recommendation and resume or vita must be submitted to the Graduate College. International students must also forward the additionally required documentation to the Graduate College.
Factors given consideration in the admission decision include: previous grade point average (GPA), clarity of the applicant’s selected problem as stated in the personal statement and during the interview, writing ability, professional work experience and achievements, professional honors and awards, interest in rural and underserved population groups, and quality of references/recommendations.
Criminal Background Checks
To progress clinically, students will be required to complete a Criminal Background Check at his or her own expense from a specified vendor. Unfavorable results may result in a student’s inability to continue in clinical courses; review of the contents of the background check and the determination for eligibility for participation at a clinical site will be conducted by affiliated clinical agencies. Although the College of Nursing does not receive the contents of the background check, documentation of completion is kept with the student’s Clinical Course Health Requirement file.
Requirements for Completion of Degree
Students in the D.N.P. program must comply with all policies of the ETSU School of Graduate Studies regarding retention, progression, and graduation. In addition, before entrance into clinical courses, students must
- be licensed or authorized to practice in Tennessee or a compact state,
- demonstrate evidence of professional malpractice insurance in the amount of $1,000,000/$3,000,000 coverage (as a nurse practitioner student),
- have current CPR certification and knowledge of universal precautions,
- comply with the clinical requirements of the College of Nursing, and
- complete a criminal background check per College of Nursing policy.
A student may be asked to present evidence of physical or mental health at any time during the nursing program, and continuance in the program may be contingent upon this evidence. Additionally, students are required to provide their own transportation to clinical sites.
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