• Earned baccalaureate degree in nursing (BSN) from a program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• GPA 3.00 or above on a 4.00 scale
• Candidates without 3.00 GPA MUST have 2 years of successful nursing experience (Minimum acceptable GPA is 2.80 to meet this criteria)
• Candidates without 3.00 GPA MUST have outstanding references and maintain a 3.00 GPA in the first semester of nursing graduate studies to remain in the program
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae
• Unencumbered, active registered nurse (RN) license in any state where licensed
• Strongly Recommend Graduate Research and Statistics Courses
• Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions
• Three letters of recommendation pertaining to academic ability, professional competency, nursing leadership potential and personal character
• Personal statement/philosophy

Exams such as GRE, MAT are not required.

To apply for the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Doctor of Nursing Practice Program go to www.nursingCAS.org and select Kentucky State University. NursingCAS is a service that allows applicants to use a single online application and one set of materials to apply to multiple programs at participating schools.

A graduate nursing student from a nationally accredited program and regionally accredited institution who is applying for graduate nursing admission at Kentucky State University School of Nursing and intending or seeking to transfer graduate credits from the other accredited institution must submit all graduate application forms through NursingCAS and fulfill all graduate nursing admissions requirements. The policies regarding “Transfer Credits” apply.

After any interruption of studies at Kentucky State University, a DNP student may be required to apply for readmission to the program. Students, who have an interruption in the course sequence, will be considered on a space-available basis and must meet the current academic qualifications for readmission. Students have 7 years to complete the DNP program from the initial start date in the program.

Kentucky Board of Nursing (KBN) requires all misdemeanor and felony convictions occurring in Kentucky or any other states as well as federal and military convictions be reported to the KBN. Conviction of certain felonies will cause a “Notice to Deny Licensure” to be issued to applicants seeking to write the nursing licensure examination in accordance with this policy. The School of Nursing requires that each student submit a criminal background check to the School of Nursing prior to admission to the program.

Upon admission to the program the student must complete the requirements as set forth by the School of Nursing for the BSN-DNP Program in CastleBranch [e.g., background check, drug screening, license verification, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), immunizations including the influenza vaccine, TB skin test, health insurance, health physical, HIPPA, Graduate Nursing Handbook Attestation, etc.]. All requirements must be current throughout the duration of enrollment in the BSN-DNP Program. CPR training must be from an approved American Heart Association curriculum. All students who are accepted in the BSN-DNP program are admitted pending submission of the CastleBranch requirements. Admission will be withdrawn for students who do not comply with CastleBranch requirements.

CastleBranch’s mission is to empower the School of Nursing and Graduate Nursing Program to make safe and informed decisions through fully customizable screening and clinical experience solutions. Requirements for CastleBranch must be completed upon admission to the BSN-DNP Program. CastleBranch can be reached at https://discover.castlebranch.com/, https://www.castlebranch.com/online_submission/package_code.php, customerservice@castlebranch.com or (888) 723-4263.

Before entering the clinical or residency setting, students and preceptors must be credentialed in Project Concert. Project Concert credentialing should be completed upon enrollment in clinical and residency courses by the course faculty. All Project Concert requirements must be current throughout the duration of enrollment in clinical and residency courses in the BSN-DNP or post-MSN DNP Program.

Project Concert is a robust student tracking system that focuses on education, not paperwork. Project Concert is instrumental in assisting the clinical faculty and the Scholarly Project Chair in tracking student clinical and residency hours and activities, SOAP Notes, evaluations, etc.

Faculty and students see the Clinical Policies and Appendix D (the Preceptor Orientation Manual, Clinical Practicum Guidelines, and Scholarly Project Guidelines) in the Graduate Nursing Handbook.

Graduate nursing students pay the same general fees and tuition as do other students at the University. However, students in the Graduate Nursing Program may incur additional expenses for lab jackets, name badge, nursing emblem, stethoscope, bandage scissors, wristwatch with secondhand, otoscope, ophthalmoscope, tuning fork, hammer, travel fees, multiple criminal background checks if indicated, CastleBranch requirements, formative/summative testing program, etc.