BSN to DNP Pathway
The BSN to DNP pathway allows RNs with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing to enter directly into the DNP program without first earning an MSN degree. This allows for a seamless progression from the completion of a baccalaureate degree to advanced nursing practice. The BSN to DNP pathway includes two specialty tracks: Advanced Practice Registered Nursing (APRN)–Adult Geronotology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) or Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), and Health Systems Leadership. The pathway meets the program learning outcomes for the DNP degree at APU and is aligned with The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education (AACN, 2021)1.
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American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2021). The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Education. AACN.
APRN-AGPCNP or FNP Options
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| APRN Core Courses | 10 | |
| GNRS 610 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 |
| GNRS 611 | Advanced Pharmacology | 3 |
| GNRS 612 | Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning 1 | 4 (3/1) |
| FNP and AGPCNP Common Core | 26 | |
| GNRS 600 | Nurse Practitioner Clinical Experience 2 | 2-6 |
| GNRS 601 | Primary Healthcare I: Adult and Aging | 3 |
| GNRS 602 | Primary Healthcare II: Population-based Health Interventions | 3 |
| GNRS 603 | Primary Healthcare III: Restorative and Palliative Interventions | 3 |
| APRN-FNP Specialty Courses 3 | 2-3 | |
| GNRS 590D | Primary Health Care of the Young Family | 2-3 |
| or GNRS 580 | Gerontology | |
| APRN Intensives | 4 | |
| GNRS 615 | APRN Intensive I | 1 |
| GNRS 616 | APRN Intensive II | 1 |
| GNRS 617 | APRN Intensive III | 1 |
| GNRS 618 | APRN Intensive IV | 1 |
| Role-Specific Total Units | 42-43 | |
| Additional DNP Courses | 21 | |
| GNRS 703 | Spirituality and Health | 3 |
| GNRS 705 | Social Ethics and Health Policy | 3 |
| GNRS 712 | Healthcare Quality Improvement, Program Planning, and Evaluation | 3 |
| GNRS 713 | Advanced Statistical Analysis I | 3 |
| GNRS 716 | Translation of Research to Practice | 3 |
| GNRS 717 | Health Technology and Informatics | 3 |
| GNRS 718 | Organizational Leadership and Strategic Planning | 3 |
| GNRS 732 | DNP Clinical Residency 4 | 0 |
| Intensives | 4 | |
| GNRS 791 | Doctor of Nursing Practice Intensive I | 1 |
| GNRS 792 | Doctor of Nursing Practice Intensive II | 1 |
| GNRS 793 | Doctor of Nursing Practice Intensive III | 1 |
| GNRS 794 | Doctor of Nursing Practice Intensive IV | 1 |
| Doctoral Seminars | 5 | |
| GNRS 780 | Doctoral Seminar I: Elements of a Proposal and IRB Application | 3 |
| GNRS 736 | DNP Scholarly Project Seminar: Evaluation and Dissemination | 2 |
| TOTAL BSN to DNP PATHWAY UNITS | 72-73 | |
| DNP Clinical Residency Hours 4 | ||
| NFLP Options 5 | ||
| GNRS 660 | Theories of Teaching and Instruction | 3 |
| GNRS 661 | Leadership and Role Development in Nursing Education | 3 |
| GNRS 662 | Assessment, Curriculum, Development, and Outcomes | 3 |
| GNRS 663 | Clinical Practicum in Nursing Education | 3 |
| GNRS 664 | Teaching and Learning Strategies for Nursing Education | 3 |
Health Systems Leadership Option
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Leadership Courses | ||
| GNRS 613 | Graduate Statistics | 3 |
| LDRS 512 | EQ I: Self-Leadership | 3 |
| MGMT 502 | Developing Management Skills | 3 |
| GNRS 560 | Strategic Leadership in Health Care | 3 |
| GNRS 568 | Healthcare Finance | 4 |
| GNRS XXX Elective Course | 3 | |
| MGMT 516 | High-Performance People Management | 3 |
| MGMT 561 | Managing Teams and Conflict | 3 |
| MHA 571 | Integrative Theories of Innovation in Health Care (Total Units) | 3 |
| Leadership Total Units | 28 | |
| DNP Courses | ||
| GNRS 703 | Spirituality and Health | 3 |
| GNRS 705 | Social Ethics and Health Policy | 3 |
| GNRS 712 | Healthcare Quality Improvement, Program Planning, and Evaluation | 3 |
| GNRS 713 | Advanced Statistical Analysis I | 3 |
| GNRS 716 | Translation of Research to Practice | 3 |
| GNRS 717 | Health Technology and Informatics | 3 |
| GNRS 718 | Organizational Leadership and Strategic Planning | 3 |
| GNRS 720 | Wellness Promotion and Health Maintenance | 3 |
| GNRS 721 | Health Disparities and Vulnerable Populations | 3 |
| GNRS 729 | Population Health and Epidemiology | 3 |
| GNRS 732 | DNP Clinical Residency | 0 |
| Intensives | ||
| GNRS 791 | Doctor of Nursing Practice Intensive I | 1 |
| GNRS 792 | Doctor of Nursing Practice Intensive II | 1 |
| GNRS 793 | Doctor of Nursing Practice Intensive III | 1 |
| GNRS 794 | Doctor of Nursing Practice Intensive IV | 1 |
| Doctoral Seminars | ||
| GNRS 780 | Doctoral Seminar I: Elements of a Proposal and IRB Application | 3 |
| GNRS 736 | DNP Scholarly Project Seminar: Evaluation and Dissemination | 2 |
| DNP Total Units | 39 | |
| TOTAL BSN to DNP PATHWAY UNITS | 67 | |
| DNP Clinical Residency Hours 4 | ||
| NFLP Courses 5 | ||
| GNRS 660 | Theories of Teaching and Instruction | 3 |
| GNRS 661 | Leadership and Role Development in Nursing Education | 3 |
| GNRS 662 | Assessment, Curriculum, Development, and Outcomes | 3 |
| GNRS 663 | Clinical Practicum in Nursing Education | 3 |
| GNRS 664 | Teaching and Learning Strategies for Nursing Education | 3 |
| Elective Options 6 | ||
| GNRS 650 | History of Professional Nursing: From Origins to Nursing in Transition | 3 |
| GNRS 651 | History of Professional Nursing: From Colonial Times to Present Day | 3 |
| GNRS 704 | Faith Integration and Nursing Scholarship | 3 |
| GNRS 715 | Psychosocial Issues of Older Adults | 3 |
| GNRS 722 | Research in Nursing and Health | 3 |
| GNRS 730 | Comparative Health Care Systems | 3 |
| GNRS 781 | Doctoral Seminar II: Developing a Grant Proposal | 3 |
| GNRS 782 | Doctoral Seminar III: Writing for Publication | 3 |
| GNRS 783 | Doctoral Seminar IV: Developing Professional Presentations | 3 |
| GNRS 795 | Special Topics | 1-4 |
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Units in parentheses are classroom/clinical units.
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Students may enroll in 2-6 clinical units per semester with faculty approval, with a total of 17 units for the program.
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Students in the FNP track must take GNRS 590D. Students in the AGPCNP track must take GNRS 580.
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Total required DNP clinical hours = 1,000 hours.
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12 units required if enrolled in Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP).
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Electives may be taken in either pathway option where appropriate.
Program Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this program shall be able to:- Utilize nursing, bioethical, physical, spiritual, psychosocial, and organizational sciences in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of advanced clinical nursing practice.
- Provide transformative and collaborative leadership in the organization and management of health care delivery systems for ethnically and culturally diverse populations to improve patient and population outcomes.
- Critically examine, develop and translate research and other evidence as a basis for developing, implementing, and evaluating advanced clinical nursing practice and health care delivery.
- Employ current technological and informational advances from health care and other disciplines to promote the highest level of health care delivery.
- Actively participate in evaluating, formulating and implementing health care policies that address health disparities and health care from a social justice and ethical framework.
- Integrate faith traditions and Christian values in the development of professional and advanced nursing practice.