Doctor of Nursing Practice
The 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
-
-
Contact Us
Office of Student Services
423-439-4578 / nursing@etsu.edu
Nicks Hall Room 2-230ETSU Office of Admissions
423-439-4221 / gradadmissions@etsu.edu
Burgin-Dossett Hall Room 309
-
Format & Plans
Format
The program is offered in an Online/Blended format in which students complete most coursework online with required intensive sessions 1-2 times per semester.
Concentrations
- Executive Leadership/Nursing and Healthcare Leadership
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Practicum
The College of Nursing has determined that its Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nursing 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.)
Students in all concentrations of the ETSU College of Nursing DNP programs are required to complete a minimum of 40 hours of practicum in an interprofessional experience, as part of the overall practicum for their program. The interprofessional experience can be part of a formal interprofessional clinic or can be organized by the student specifically for this practicum requirement, in collaboration with the student’s course faculty, academic advisor and partners from the proposed organization.
BSN to DNP Program Plans By Concentration
Full Time
Part Time
Family Nurse Practitioner (Full Time)
Family Nurse Practitioner (Part Time)
Psych/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Full Time)
Psych/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Part Time)
MSN to DNP Program Plans By Concentration
Full Time
Part Time
AGNP Concentration (Full Time)
AGNP Concentration (Part Time)
FNP Concentration (Full Time)
FNP Concentration (Part Time)
PMHNP Concentration (Full Time)
PMHNP Concentration (Part Time)
-
Outcomes
Program Outcomes:
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree program is designed to produce leaders in nursing and healthcare 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.
- Integrate specialized knowledge, theories, and research from nursing science and related
disciplines for application to nursing practice;
-
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
WisconsinFor 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
IdahoStudents 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
WisconsinFor 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
IdahoStudents 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
WisconsinFor 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).
2023.11.21.01 v. 214 | Associate Dean of Graduate Programs