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)–Family Nurse Practitioner, 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.
- 1
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2021). The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Education. AACN.
APRN-FNP Option
Code | Title | Units |
---|---|---|
APRN Core Courses | ||
GNRS 512 | Advanced Health Assessment and Health Promotion (3 units Lecture/1 unit Lab) | 4 |
GNRS 513 | Advanced Nursing Practice Role | 2 |
GNRS 515 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 |
GNRS 594 | Pharmacology in Advanced Practice Nursing | 3 |
APRN-FNP Specialty Courses | ||
GNRS 590A | Primary Health Care of the Young Family | 6 |
GNRS 591 | Primary Health Care of the Childbearing Family (2 units Lecture/2 units Practicum) | 4 |
GNRS 592A | Primary Health Care of the Adult and Aging Family (3 units Lecture/3 units Practicum) | 6 |
GNRS 592B | Primary Health Care Clinical Practicum | 2 |
GNRS 593 | Psychosocial Primary Health Care of the Adult and Aging Family (2 units Lecture/2 units Practicum ) | 4 |
or GNRS 589 | Adolescent Health Care | |
Other Courses | ||
GNRS 613 | Graduate Statistics | 3 |
Role-Specific Total Units | 37 | |
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 729 | Population Health and Epidemiology | 3 |
GNRS 732 | DNP Clinical Residency 1 | 0 |
GNRS XXX Elective Course | 3 | |
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 | 76 | |
DNP Clinical Residency Hours 1 | ||
NFLP Options 2 | ||
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 1 | ||
NFLP Courses 2 | ||
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 3 | ||
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 |
- 1
Total required DNP clinical hours = 1,000 hours.
- 2
12 units required if enrolled in Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP).
- 3
Electives may be taken in either pathway option.
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.