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.
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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 |
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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.