Doctor of Nursing Practice

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) program at Kentucky State University is a 72-credit hour option designed to prepare the baccalaureate registered nurse to function as an expert adult-gerontological primary care practitioner. The D.N.P. program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).  The Doctoral program has full approval status from the Kentucky Board of Nursing based on the letter of accreditation from the ACEN.

The program offers a three-year (9 semester) plan of study. The plan of study requires didactic and clock hours of precepted practicum to fulfill the D.N.P. degree requirements. Courses are completed asynchronously via distance education technology with limited asynchronous face-to-face assemblies. Clinical and residency hours are typically completed within the student’s region of residence with an approved preceptor.

All students must satisfactorily complete the minimum semester hours delineated in the D.N.P.  plan of study, as well as any other requirements established by the School of Nursing.  Students must also meet established School of Nursing grade requirements in all major courses for progression in the program. Information on admission, retention, progression, dismissal, or readmission can be found in the Graduate Student Handbook on the School of Nursing website. The School of Nursing is responsible for all components of the D.N.P.  program, including but not limited to, the selection, supervision, and evaluation of nursing students, and the curriculum. As such, The School of Nursing reserves the right to modify any academic provisions or academic requirements when such action will serve the interest of the client/patient, the nursing program, or its students.

Terminal Learning Outcomes

The doctoral degree terminal learning outcomes provide clear statements of expected results, derived directly from the nursing framework, and reflect the school’s mission and core values. Using core knowledge graduates from the doctor of nursing practice program are able to:

1. Utilize Epidemiologic, scientific findings from nursing and other clinical disciplines, as well as organizational, political, and economic sciences, to develop practice initiatives that will improve the quality of care delivery.
2. Assume organizational and system leadership in the analysis, delivery, and management of nursing care.
3. Provide organizational and systems leadership to develop care delivery models that are fiscally responsible and demonstrate sensitivity to diverse
   organizational cultures.
4. Engage in clinical scholarship to evaluate the effectiveness of evidence-based efforts in the planning and practice of health care program delivery to
   individuals and communities.
5. Utilize theories, concepts, and analytic methodologies to design, implement, and evaluate practice by applying evidence to transform nursing system.
6. Collaborate with healthcare professionals, consumers, and other stakeholders to influence health policy and health promotion/disease prevention endeavors
   at the local, state, federal, and/or international levels that improve patient and population health outcomes.
7. Implement the highest level of advanced nursing care to produce high quality, cost-effective outcomes for diverse patient populations.
8. Contribute to the knowledge of best-practices nursing interventions and the dissemination of outcomes through professional writing and presentations.
9. Develop practice standards based on the integration of ethics and evidence based nursing care.