Post-Baccalaureate DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) Program

Barry University Division of Nursing is pleased to offer the post-baccalaureate DNP (Doctorate of Nursing Practice) degree to nurses who currently hold a BSN or an RN with a bachelor’s degree in another field. Upon completion of the entire program, students will be awarded a Master in Science in Nursing (MSN) degree and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, as well as be eligible for the Family Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam (ANCC and AANP) or the Adult Acute Care Practitioner Certification Exam (ANCC, AANP, and the American Association of Critical Care Nurses). Students will attain the highest level of educational preparation and excellence in advanced nursing practice, as well as expertise in areas that support clinical practice such as management and policymaking.

This program is an alternative MSN degree, which Barry University Division of Nursing will still continue to offer for the next few years. In the near future, the national trend will be for all advanced practice nurses to have a DNP degree. This practice-focused terminal nursing degree with its focus on direct practice and healthcare leadership will not only fill the growing need for expert clinical teachers and clinicians, but will also address informational/technological shifts and the growing disparities in healthcare delivery, access, and outcomes. The program is built upon the Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice as ratified by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

The 80 credit post-baccalaureate DNP program may be completed in 4 years of part-time study over 12 continuous semesters. (The current part-time MSN degree is generally completed in 3 years.) Although all students will be enrolled in the same courses, each post-baccalaureate DNP student will choose a scholarly project (the Capstone Project) which is designed by the student in collaboration with a faculty committee to improve the quality and delivery of a selected aspect of health care practices.

All post-baccalaureate DNP graduates will be required to complete a Residency of 1000 clinical hours in conjunction with their scholarly project. At least 1000 hours of precepted clinical experience post-baccalaureate in the student’s specialty area (FNP or Adult Acute Care) is mandated by The American Academy of Colleges of Nursing – at least 500 hours as a part of advanced practice experiences and another 500 hours in the DNP phase of their studies. The post-baccalaureate DNP student will develop, implement, and evaluate their selected project during their Residency and Capstone courses. The faculty advisor will assist the student in creating an individualized plan to meet the objectives of Residency as well as of the Capstone.