Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)


There are six Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree programs available to Registered Nurses who want to expand their practice as practitioners, specialists, and leaders.

Students who earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing will pursue the post-baccalaureate DNP (BSN-DNP) program. Those who have a master’s degree in nursing will pursue the Post-Master's DNP degree.

View plans of study for the BSN-DNP and Post-Master's DNP programs below.


Writing Requirement


Regardless of which DNP degree you select, you’ll have the opportunity to complete an extensive writing project.

Develop your expertise in clinical practice to enhance the quality of care and patient outcomes through the DNP Clinical Scholarship Practice Project.

Whereas BSN-DNP students can complete this project with a small group of peers or individually, Post-Master's DNP students must complete this project with a small group.

Before you start, we recommend you review our project guidelines (PDF).

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) DNP


If you want to care for adult patients with acute, critical, or chronic illnesses, then the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) DNP program may be the best fit for you.

You'll learn differential diagnosis, disease management, therapeutic interventions, and more.

Here’s what else you need to know about the AGACNP BSN-DNP degree:

  • Comprises 74 credits and 1,260 clinical hours
  • Can be completed in six semesters and two summer sessions
  • Costs approximately $83,000

Visit the course catalog for more info on the specific courses you will take in the BSN-DNP program and the Post-Master's DNP program.

Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AGCNS) DNP


Are you driven to give direct care to adult patients and work with nursing systems and organization? Check out the Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AGCNS) DNP program.

Here’s what else you need to know about the AGCNS BSN-DNP degree:

  • Comprises 72 credits and 1,140 clinical hours
  • Can be completed in six semesters and two summer sessions
  • Costs approximately $81,000

Visit the course catalog for more info on the specific courses you will take in the BSN-DNP program and the Post-Master's DNP program.

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) DNP


If you enjoy working with people of all walks of life and ages, look no further than the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) DNP program.

Here’s what else you need to know about the FNP BSN-DNP degree:

  • Comprises 74 credits and 1,080 clinical hours
  • Can be completed in six semesters and two summer sessions
  • Costs approximately $84,000

Visit the course catalog for more info on the specific courses you will take in the BSN-DNP program and the Post-Master's DNP program.

Nursing & Organizational Leadership (NOL) DNP


Want to be a leader or administrator in the healthcare field? Dive into the Nursing and Organizational Leadership (NOL) DNP program.

Here’s what else you need to know about the NOL BSN-DNP degree:

  • Comprises 72 credits and 1,020 clinical hours
  • Can be completed in four semesters
  • Costs approximately $81,000

Visit the course catalog for more info on the specific courses you will take in the BSN-DNP program and the Post-Master's DNP program.

Practice & Leadership Innovations (PLI) DNP


If you envision yourself improving patient care by coming up with new ideas, methods, and devices in healthcare practice, check out the Practice and Leadership Innovations (PLI) DNP program.

Here’s what else you need to know about the PLI BSN-DNP degree:

  • Comprises 72 credits and 1,020 clinical hours
  • Can be completed in six semesters and one summer session
  • Costs approximately $81,000

Visit the course catalog for more info on the specific courses you will take in the BSN-DNP program and the Post-Master's DNP program.

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) DNP


Are you passionate about helping others of all ages who have behavioral and mental health problems and disorders? The Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) DNP program may be right up your alley.

Here’s what else you need to know about the PMHNP BSN-DNP degree:

  • Comprises 74 credits and 1,260 clinical hours
  • Can be completed in six semesters and three summer sessions
  • Costs approximately $84,000

Visit the course catalog for more info on the specific courses you will take in the BSN-DNP program and the Post-Master's DNP program.

RN-Graduate Nursing Pathway


If you’re a registered nurse, have a two-year nursing degree, and are currently enrolled in WSU’s undergraduate RN-BS Completion Program, then you're eligible to apply for this pathway to admission to any of WSU’s Graduate Nursing master’s or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degrees.

Learn more about the RN-Graduate Nursing Pathway.

Degree Seeking Student


Not yet accepted into WSU or the Department of Graduate Nursing but want to start taking classes now?

You can earn up to 12 credits that count toward graduation requirements and some of our programs as a Degree Seeking Student.

Credit by Portfolio


Credit by Portfolio allows students to receive their degree in less time by submitting a portfolio that proves their prior learning and/or professional experiences fulfill program requirements.

Students can then earn credit for specific Graduate Nursing courses without formally enrolling in and completing those courses.

Master’s- and DNP degree-seeking students may earn up to 15% of their program credits through Credit by Portfolio. Post-Graduate Certificate students may earn no more than half of their program credits through Credit by Portfolio.

Interested students should work with their academic adviser to initiate this process. Portfolio submissions occur one semester before students would normally take the course(s) they want to substitute.

Application Deadline


For the Fall 2022 term:

  • AGACNP, FNP, and PMHNP program applications are due Oct. 1.
  • AGCNS, NOL, and PLI program applications are due Feb. 1.

Interested applicants should apply through NursingCAS, our online application system.

Plans of study for our DNP degree programs in Graduate Nursing provide detailed outlines of courses students will take.


Four-Year Post-Baccalaureate DNP Plans of Study:


Three-Year Post-Baccalaureate DNP Plans of Study:


Three-Year Post-Master's DNP Plans of Study:


Two-Year Post-Master’s DNP Plans of Study:


Advanced Standing DNP Plans of Study:

An elective used to complete any Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree is any graduate-level course (preferably three credits) that a student's graduate adviser approves.

View the Tentative Schedule of DNP Electives (PDF) for course titles and terms. 

Effective Aug. 2022

The DNP programs are designed so that each student will be able to:

  1. Apply evidence-based practice and person-centered care when planning, implementing, and evaluating health care for individuals, families, communities, populations, systems, and/or organizations.
  2. Integrate theory, research, ethics, and information science from nursing and related disciplines into the design and delivery of individual, family, community, and/or population health care spanning the healthcare delivery continuum.
  3. Lead inter-professional teams in the design, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based, person-centered, systems-based interventions that improve the quality and safety of health care for individuals, families, and populations.
  4. Utilize principles of leadership, professionalism, scholarship, quality, safety, informatics, and information technologies when leading professional nursing practice within an advanced nursing role.
  5. Demonstrate standards of professionalism and professional development of self and others consistent with advanced nursing role competencies.

Approved by the Curriculum Committee on Oct. 3, 2021, and by the Department of Graduate Nursing on Nov. 8, 2021.


Effective Aug. 2011 – Aug. 2022

The DNP programs are designed so that each student will be able to:

  1. Appraise evidence-based practice when planning, implementing, and evaluating health care for individuals, families, aggregates, systems, and organizations.
  2. Integrate nursing theory, research, ethics, and related sciences into the delivery of culturally competent advanced nursing care for diverse populations and healthcare systems.
  3. Assert professionalism within an advanced nursing role.
  4. Design leadership strategies for effective inter-professional teams.
  5. Synthesize knowledge and skills to enhance the quality and safety of health care in a variety of settings and for a variety of populations.
  6. Justify advanced levels of clinical judgment and systems thinking to improve outcomes for individuals, systems, and populations.

Approved Oct. 28, 2019, and implemented Aug. 2020.

The following information complies with Regulation 34 CFR 668.43 (a) (5) (v) through the U.S. Department of Education:


Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

  • WSU’s Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program curriculum meets state educational requirements for APRN licensure or certification in the states/jurisdictions of: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Island, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
  • WSU’s Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program curriculum doesn’t meet state educational requirements for APRN licensure or certification in the states/jurisdictions of:
    • New York: Meets degree requirements to apply for nurse practitioner license in New York. However, an individual must also complete instruction specific to New York and federal laws to apply for a nurse practitioner license.
    • Maryland: The Maryland Board of Nursing must review and approve all Nurse Practitioner Programs before certifying applicants as Advanced Practice Nurses.

Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist

  • WSU’s Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist program curriculum meets state educational requirements for APRN licensure or certification in the states/jurisdictions of: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Island, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
  • WSU’s Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist program curriculum doesn’t meet state educational requirements for APRN licensure or certification in the states/jurisdictions of:
    • New York: Meets degree requirements to apply for nurse practitioner license in New York. However, an individual must also complete instruction specific to New York and federal laws to apply for a nurse practitioner license.
    • Maryland: The Maryland Board of Nursing must review and approve all Nurse Practitioner Programs before certifying applicants as Advanced Practice Nurses.

Family Nurse Practitioner

  • WSU’s Family Nurse Practitioner program curriculum meets state educational requirements for APRN licensure or certification in the states/jurisdictions of: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Island, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
  • WSU’s Family Nurse Practitioner program curriculum doesn’t meet state educational requirements for APRN licensure or certification in the states/jurisdictions of:
    • New York: Meets degree requirements to apply for nurse practitioner license in New York. However, an individual must also complete instruction specific to New York and federal laws to apply for a nurse practitioner license.
    • Maryland: The Maryland Board of Nursing must review and approve all Nurse Practitioner Programs before certifying applicants as Advanced Practice Nurses.
  • WSU’s Family Nurse Practitioner program curriculum hasn’t been determined to meet state educational requirements for APRN licensure or certification in the states/jurisdictions of: American Samoa, Iowa (supervision of fluoroscopy only).

Nursing & Organizational Leadership

WSU’s Nursing & Organizational Leadership and Practice & Leadership Innovations program emphasis curriculums meet state educational requirements for APRN licensure or certification in the states/jurisdictions of: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and District of Columbia.


Practice & Leadership Innovations

WSU’s Nursing & Organizational Leadership and Practice & Leadership Innovations program emphasis curriculums meet state educational requirements for APRN licensure or certification in the states/jurisdictions of: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and District of Columbia.


Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

  • WSU’s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program curriculum meets state educational requirements for APRN licensure or certification in the states/jurisdictions of: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and District of Columbia.
  • WSU’s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program curriculum doesn’t meet state educational requirements for APRN licensure or certification in the states/jurisdictions of:
    • New York: Meets degree requirements to apply for nurse practitioner license in New York. However, an individual must also complete instruction specific to New York and federal laws to apply for a nurse practitioner license.
    • Maryland: The Maryland Board of Nursing must review and approve all Nurse Practitioner Programs before certifying applicants as Advanced Practice Nurses.

Last updated on July 1, 2021.


Disclaimer

This information has been gathered from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) website and will be updated annually on July 1.

WSU assumes no liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in the information contained in this resource.