Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Leadership for Population Health, Post-Masters

100% Online Course Content Delivery

Degree Purpose

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a practice-focused terminal degree designed to prepare experts in advanced nursing practice. The Lourdes Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Leadership for Population Health Program is designed as a post- master’s degree program. The DNP graduate is prepared to apply current research to influence patient outcomes and lead at micro and macro system levels. This program also provides foundational knowledge of population health needed for improving patient outcomes in complex settings.

Program Overview

The Lourdes Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Leadership for Population Health Program offers core courses that provide a foundational knowledge of both Population Health and Advanced Leadership principles and two concentration options for nurses to customize their learning to meet their career goals.  Concentration courses will further the student’s knowledge and competence in Leadership or Population Health.  The plan of study requires 37 credit hours which include online asynchronous courses, experiential learning, DNP project completion, and competency validation.

Flexibility in the program completion is provided through two options.  For students who wish to complete courses in six consecutive semesters, the program can be completed in two years.  This option is admitted in the Fall Semester.  Students desiring to have summers off will be admitted during the Spring Semester and will complete the program in three years. Students admitted together will progress through the program in a cohort manner.

Additionally, time is dedicated to experiential learning and each student may customize this time to work with leaders and experts in the practice setting of their choice while meeting the experience and competency requirements of specific courses. DNP students may achieve course requirements and program outcomes through direct or indirect care in practice settings with populations of interest to the student.  Note, the academic setting (teaching) is not an appropriate experiential setting for the DNP student unless the population of interest is students as a care-related group.

Each DNP student will select, develop, implement, and evaluate a DNP Project based on a practice-related need.  The project will be developed from an EBP or QI perspective.  This project will occur over three semesters under the guidance of a Faculty Project Advisor and a Practice Project Mentor.  Detailed information will be provided in a Project Guide and course syllabus.  Proposed projects must be approved (according to the established timeline) by the Project Mentor and then by the Project Review Panel, which consists of the Program Director, the Faculty Project Advisor and at least one additional DNP faculty member.