The DNP degree will prepare graduates to provide the most advanced level of health care based on evidence-based scientific, medical, and nursing research and practice guidelines. As a graduate of USF’s DNP program, you will be a doctorally-prepared nurse of the highest caliber, fully prepared to have a prominent leadership role in healthcare settings.
Online
$830/credit hour
24 Months
Classes run in eight-week cycles, with a new cohort beginning every fall semester. The DNP program is a natural outgrowth of the university’s highly acclaimed graduate nursing programs. Faculty prepare you to lead at the highest level of nursing practice and to transform the practice setting. As the demands of healthcare continue, you will be prepared to practice at the highest level of knowledge and expertise and translating it into evidence-based practice to improve patient outcomes. Due to State Board of Nursing requirements and a shortage of clinical placement sites, students who wish to enroll in USF’s FNP, PMHNP or DNP programs must reside in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa and New Mexico.
This degree can be used to advance your career as a health care leader, advanced practice nurse or educator!
Translate theoretical, scientific, and contemporary practice knowledge and other disciplines into clinical practice and advance scholarship through evaluating outcomes of evidence-based improvement strategies.
Interpret and synthesize outcome data of personalized delivery of healthcare with respect to the cultural and spiritual beliefs of patients from diverse cultures.
Advance quality improvement practice through activities of modeling, tutoring, and disseminating outcomes within complex systems of health care.
Evaluate the risks to population health and policies addressing inequities and lead a collaborative approach to achieve equitable health through activities of advocacy and scholarship incorporating ethical principles.
Lead team-based change initiatives through the thoughtful use of outcome metrics.
Enhance personal, collegial, and collaborative approaches which protect population health and enhance the effectiveness of patient-centered care.
Evaluate the use of technologies in health care and promote its ethical and safe use to support patient-centered care and equity in digital access to information.
Advance the profession through engaging in ongoing self-reflection, interdisciplinary peer and systems review, and leadership roles.
The University of St. Francis is accredited by both the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org) and the Illinois Board of Higher Education (ibhe.org). Leach College of Nursing programs are further accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (aacnnursing.org/ccne-accreditation).
Our programs are top-ranked! In addition to the university being recognized for excellence, U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review have both placed USF nursing programs on their lists of outstanding online nursing programs for several years.
“I am so honored to be a graduate of USF’s DNP program. The kind of support, mentorship and coaching that I received during my educational journey was second-to-none. I will always remain grateful to USF for reaching out and giving me encouragement to return to the program.”
DNP Program Graduate
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