Doctor of Nursing Practice

Excellence and Innovation in Nursing

College of Nursing

Image of Nursing StudentsThe Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a doctoral degree focused on rural clinical practice in Primary Care settings. ETSU College of Nursing's DNP program prepares advanced practice nurses and executive nurse leaders to assess and evaluate evidence from research and translate or use the findings to affect practice change to enhance and promote quality of care. 


 

Program Details

  • Admissions Criteria

    Admissions Criteria

    Applicants seeking admission to the DNP program must fulfill all requirements for admission to both the ETSU Graduate School and the ETSU College of Nursing.

    Admission to the program will be based on competitive selection from the pool of applicants who meet the admission requirements. All applications will be reviewed by the College of Nursing Graduate Admissions Committee. 

    The Graduate School requires that all students submit the following materials:

    • Completed application with payment of nonrefundable application fee
    • Official transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate coursework
    • A written essay - instructions will be provided within the application


    College of Nursing Admission Requirements:

    Refer to the Graduate Catalog for the most current specific College of Nursing admission requirements [Available by clicking here] 

     

  • Application Details

     

    • Out of State Applications

      • Students who reside outside of the state of Tennessee are responsible to contact their State Board of Nursing to confirm whether the course or program meets online degree program requirements in their state of residence prior to application.

      • Continuation in the Graduate Nursing Program for students who relocate outside the state of Tennessee is dependent on the State Board of Nursing where the student is physically present.

      • It is the student’s responsibility to notify ETSU College of Nursing and ETSU records office with a change in physical residence.  

      • The College of Nursing has determined that its Doctor of Nursing Practice program curriculum meets the educational requirements for licensure and/or certification for the the states listed on our Home page, in the drop-down for this program. (You may open the Home page by clicking here.)
    • Application Deadlines

      Application Deadlines:

      Application deadlines (dates for all materials to be received by the Graduate School) will become effective:

       
      Semester Regular Deadline

      Fall

      March 1 - Preferred

      June 1 - Final

      (BSN to DNP)

      Summer

      March 1

      (MSN to DNP)

      • BSN to DNP will admit in Fall semester only
      • MSN to DNP will admit in Summer semester only

      Click here to apply for ETSU admission

  • Contact Us

    Office of Student Services

    423-439-4578 / nursing@etsu.edu
    Nicks Hall Room 2-230

    ETSU Office of Admissions

    423-439-4221 / gradadmissions@etsu.edu 
    Burgin-Dossett Hall Room 309

Apply Now

 

  • Before Applying for a DNP Program
  • DNP and PhD Role Comparison

     

    DNP

    PhD

    Focus

    - Clinical Practice

    - Scholarship

    - Nursing Research

    - Scholarship

    Goal

    Create leaders in nursing and health care practice who use evidence-based research to improve  patient  outcomes

    Create nurse research scientists who conduct research projects aimed to enhance nursing knowledge or practice

    Objective

    Translate evidence-based research findings to improve patient outcomes for healthcare systems, populations,  and communities

    Design, conduct and disseminate research findings that will advance nursing practice and health care system

    Course Focus

    Advanced knowledge of science and related disciplines to practice, leadership, patient care and safety, health care delivery systems, health policy, applied research methods, advance practice nursing

    Nursing science, theoretical and conceptual foundations, research methods, data analysis, individualized courses that support research interests

    Program Entry BSN

    -- BSN from accredited school of nursing with 2 years of RN experience

    -- Current unencumbered RN license

    -- GPA of at least 3.0

     

    Not available at this time

    Program Entry MSN

    -- Master’s Degree in Nursing from a nationally accredited nursing program

     -- GPA of at least 3.0

    -- Master’s Degree in Nursing from a nationally accredited nursing program

    -- At least two years of full-time nursing experience

    -- GPA of at least 3.0

    Program Entry MSN w/ NP certification

    -- Master’s Degree in Nursing from a nationally accredited nursing program

     -- GPA of at least 3.0

    -- National certification in selected nursing specialty

    -- Minimum 500 clinical hour completion verification from Master’s program

    -- Master’s Degree in Nursing from a nationally accredited nursing program

    -- At least two years of full-time nursing experience

    -- GPA of at least 3.0

    Program Entry for Executive Leadership

    At least one year of experience in a nursing administration role

    None

    GRE Required

    Required if cumulative GPA less than 3.2 from BSN or MSN program

    Submission of GRE required in admission process

    Credits
    Required

    -- BSN-DNP 82-86 credit hours( depending on concentration)

    -- MSN-DNP  40 credit hours

    -- Nurse Exec. Leadership: 79 credit hours

    -- 59 credit hours

    -- Research Residency 300 clock hours

    Clinical Hours

    -- 500 minimum  relating to DNP Project (all concentrations; BSN to DNP and MSN to DNP)

    -- Total 1000 clinical hours with minimum 500 hours related to concentration specialty

    None

    Program Hallmarks

    A clinical practice immersion with completion of an applied practice project (DNP Project) culminating is a scholarly product

    An intense research immersion mentored by faculty who are nurse scientists, culminating in an independent research project (dissertation) and publishable scholarly works.

    Employment Opportunities

    Nurse Practitioner, Healthcare Administrator, Health Care system Leader, Faculty Member

    Nurse Scientist, Health Policy, Health Care Organization Leadership, Faculty Member

    Final Outcome Product

    DNP Project

    Dissertation

    Online/Blended Distance Learning

    Yes

    Yes

    Part-time Study

    Yes

    Yes

    Full-time Study

    Yes

    Yes

    Financial Aid Options

    Yes

    Yes

NOTICE: Regulatory requirements governing student clinical vary by state and are subject to change. Clinical placement outside of Tennessee is contingent upon approval by the appropriate regulatory bodies and will be evaluated on an individual basis upon admission to the program.

East Tennessee State University offers many programs of study which lead to the ability to be licensed or certified in a profession by individual states. Each program is listed below with information whether the program's curriculum meets a state's educational requirements for licensure or certification.

  • Bachelor’s in Science in Nursing (BSN)

    The College of Nursing has determined that its Bachelor’s in Science in Nursing (BSN) program curriculum meets the educational requirements for licensure and/or certification for the following states:



    Alaska
    Arkansas
    Connecticut
    Delaware
    Florida
    Georgia
    Hawaii
    Indiana
    Kansas
    Maine
    Maryland
    Massachusetts
    Michigan
    Mississippi
    Missouri
    Nebraska
    New Jersey
    New Mexico
    North Carolina
    North Dakota
    Rhode Island
    South Dakota
    Tennessee
    Virginia
    Wisconsin

     


    For all other states, the college has not yet made a determination whether the Bachelor’s in Science in Nursing (BSN) program curriculum meets state specific requirements for licensure and/or certification.
    These states include:

    Alabama
    Kentucky
    New York
    Texas
    Arizona
    Louisiana
    Ohio
    Utah
    California
    Minnesota
    Oklahoma
    Vermont
    Colorado
    Montana
    Oregon
    Washington
    Illinois
    Nevada
    Pennsylvania
    West Virginia
    Iowa
    New Hampshire
    South Carolina
    Wyoming
    Idaho


    Students with questions about licensure or certification should contact the appropriate licensing agency in the state of interest.

    Each State Board of Nursing can be found on the website for the National Council of State Boards of
    Nursing (www.ncsbn.org).

  • Master of Science in Nursing

    The College of Nursing has determined that its Master of Science in Nursing program curriculum meets the educational requirements for licensure and/or certification for the following states:



    Alaska
    Arkansas
    Connecticut
    Delaware
    Florida
    Georgia
    Hawaii
    Indiana
    Kansas
    Maine
    Maryland
    Massachusetts
    Michigan
    Mississippi
    Missouri
    Nebraska
    New Jersey
    New Mexico
    North Carolina
    North Dakota
    Rhode Island
    South Dakota
    Tennessee
    Virginia
    Wisconsin

     

     For all other states, the college has not yet made a determination whether the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program curriculum meets state specific requirements for licensure and/or certification.
    These states include:

    Alabama
    Kentucky
    New York
    Texas
    Arizona
    Louisiana
    Ohio
    Utah
    California
    Minnesota
    Oklahoma
    Vermont
    Colorado
    Montana
    Oregon
    Washington
    Illinois
    Nevada
    Pennsylvania
    West Virginia
    Iowa
    New Hampshire
    South Carolina
    Wyoming
    Idaho

    Students with questions about licensure or certification should contact the appropriate licensing agency in the state of interest.

    Each State Board of Nursing can be found on the website for the National Council of State Boards of
    Nursing (www.ncsbn.org).

  • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

    The College of Nursing has determined that its Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program curriculum meets the educational requirements for licensure and/or certification for the following states:


    Alaska
    Arkansas
    Connecticut
    Delaware
    Florida
    Georgia
    Hawaii
    Indiana
    Kansas
    Maine
    Massachusetts
    Michigan
    Mississippi
    Missouri
    Nebraska
    New Jersey
    New Mexico
    North Carolina
    North Dakota
    Rhode Island
    South Dakota
    Tennessee
    Virginia
    Wisconsin

     

    For all other states, the college has not yet made a determination whether the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program curriculum meets state specific requirements for licensure and/or certification for the following states:


    Alabama
    Kentucky
    New York
    Texas
    Arizona
    Louisiana
    Ohio
    Utah
    California
    Minnesota
    Oklahoma
    Vermont
    Colorado
    Montana
    Oregon
    Washington
    Illinois
    Nevada
    Pennsylvania
    West Virginia
    Iowa
    New Hampshire
    South Carolina
    Wyoming
    Idaho

    Students with questions about licensure or certification should contact the appropriate licensing agency in the state of interest.

    Each State Board of Nursing can be found on the website for the National Council of State Boards of
    Nursing (www.ncsbn.org).

  • Tennessee Joint Doctor of Nursing Practice (TN Jt DNP)

    The College of Nursing and their partner, Tennessee Tech University Whitson-Hester School of Nursing, has determined that its Tennessee Joint Doctor of Nursing Practice (TN Jt DNP) program curriculum meets the educational requirements for licensure and/or certification for the following states:



    Alaska
    Arkansas
    Connecticut
    Delaware
    Florida
    Georgia
    Hawaii
    Indiana
    Kansas
    Maine
    Massachusetts
    Michigan
    Mississippi
    Missouri
    Nebraska
    New Jersey
    New Mexico
    North Carolina
    North Dakota
    Rhode Island
    South Dakota
    Tennessee
    Virginia
    Wisconsin

     

    For all other states, the college has not yet made a determination whether the Tennessee Joint Doctor of Nursing Practice (TN Jt DNP) program curriculum meets state specific requirements for licensure and/or certification for the following states:

    Alabama
    Kentucky
    New York
    Texas
    Arizona
    Louisiana
    Ohio
    Utah
    California
    Minnesota
    Oklahoma
    Vermont
    Colorado
    Montana
    Oregon
    Washington
    Illinois
    Nevada
    Pennsylvania
    West Virginia
    Iowa
    New Hampshire
    South Carolina
    Wyoming
    Idaho


    Students with questions about licensure or certification should contact the appropriate licensing agency in the state of interest.

    Each State Board of Nursing can be found on the website for the National Council of State Boards of
    Nursing (www.ncsbn.org).

2023.08.29.01 v. 212 | Associate Dean of Graduate Programs