The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a practice doctorate that prepares advanced practice nurses, nurse executives, and nurses working in informatics to be clinical scholars and nurse executives recognized for translational science, outstanding innovative evidence-based patient/population care and leadership in nursing practice and health care delivery. The post-master’s DNP admits nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, nurse executives, and nurses working in informatics. Students are admitted twice a year in the fall and spring. The DNP curriculum is comprehensive, with flexibility in the course scheduling. The program includes a minimum of 34 to 50 semester credit hours, depending on specific track.

In order to meet the needs of working advanced practice nurses, nurse executives, and nurse informatics specialists, classes are offered in a hybrid format of synchronous and asynchronous classes to minimize travel and impact on work schedules. Students can complete the program in six to eight semesters. Individualized immersion experiences are planned to support the student’s goals and achievement of the national DNP competencies.

Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Nurse Specialist Option

The dynamic healthcare environment and opportunities for nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists to lead translation of evidence into practice, to design new models of care and practice at the individual and population level requires doctoral-prepared clinical scholars to assume these positions. The DNP program provides preparation in translational science, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, systems leadership, innovation, and research application methods to support high-level quality and safety health outcomes for patients, populations, and organizations.

Nurse Anesthetist Option

The changing demands of the healthcare environment require that nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) have the highest level of scientific knowledge and practice expertise currently available. Nurse anesthetists are an integral part of healthcare delivery and provide critical access services to tertiary medical centers, community hospitals, and rural areas. The DNP program provides education in evidence-based practice, quality improvement, systems leadership, and research application methods that lead to improved clinical anesthesia outcomes in complex systems.

Nurse Leadership and Administration Option

Leadership is critical to the redesign and execution of a new healthcare system to meet societal needs. The DNP program prepares nurse executives to shape and influence the preferred future in health care. Graduates of the nurse executive program are prepared for high-level executive leadership positions in organizations and systems to advance the quality and cost effectiveness of care and outcomes for populations and communities through innovative evidence-based practices and resource management.

Nurse Informatics Option

The post-masters DNP program and UTHealth Houston School of Biomedical Informatics collaborate to offer an option in informatics. Nursing informatics integrates nursing science with multiple information and analytical sciences to identify, define, manage and communicate data, information, knowledge and wisdom in nursing practice. This field of practice makes a major contribution in achieving patient-centered care and delivering quality health care to the public. The DNP program provides preparation in translational science, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, systems leadership, innovation, and research application methods to support high-level quality and safety health outcomes for patients, populations, and organizations to prepare nurses for the information needs in health care.

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the DNP program graduates will be prepared to:

1. Demonstrate person-centered care at the highest level of nursing practice.
2. Translate evidence-based knowledge into practice to improve health and health care.
3. Incorporate leadership principles, change management strategies, and interprofessional collaboration into practice-based quality improvement activities.
4. Utilize technology and data analysis to drive practice-based decision-making.
5. Integrate resource stewardship, policy, and advocacy to promote equitable care for diverse populations.

Transfer of Credits

A student may request transfer of graduate course credits earned at other universities for application toward the Cizik School of Nursing DNP program. Guidelines for transfer of credits are as follows:

1. The course must clearly relate to the student’s approved program of study and match course content.
2. A total of nine semester hours taken prior to admission may be eligible for transfer from accredited institutions outside The University of Texas System. After the student is enrolled in the program, eligibility will be assessed. An unlimited number of hours may be transferred from institutions within The University of Texas System, but the student must complete a minimum of 25 hours in residency at the CSON.
3. Substitution for a required course in Cizik School of Nursing graduate programs must be approved by the student’s faculty advisor and Coordinator of the DNP program.
4. A course grade of B or higher must have been earned to be eligible for transfer into the DNP program.
5. The course may not be transferred if it was used to apply to another completed degree program.
6. All courses must be graduate level courses for eligibility for transfer.

Courses Taken in Other University of Texas System Institutions

All students who have been admitted to the DNP program and who plan to take courses applicable to a nursing degree in a University of Texas System component other than the Cizik School of Nursing must obtain approval from their advisor prior to taking such courses. A transcript must be sent to the Registrar’s Office immediately upon the completion of the course(s).

The Clinical Scholarship Portfolio (CSP), is a collection of required components that demonstrates a student’s scholarship as a clinical scholar practicing at the highest level of advanced practice or nursing administration; it provides evidence of competency in all domains of DNP practice. The CSP includes a major quality improvement project, comprehensive case studies, and other examples of scholarly work related to the competencies outlined in the DNP Essentials.

Approval of Clinical Scholarship Portfolio (CSP)

An acceptable CSP is a requirement for completion of the DNP program and graduation. The DNP Council will make the final decision regarding acceptance of the CSP by a 2/3 majority vote.

Clinical Scholarship Portfolio Advisement

There are three scheduled NURS 6830 Clinical Scholarship Portfolio Advisement credits scheduled in the post-masters degree plan. However, a student will enroll in NURS 6830 Clinical Scholarship Portfolio Advisement, as needed to work on components of the CSP until completed.

The student will submit a completed CSP within the 5-year timeframe for completion of the program. To maintain student status after all required course work is completed, the student will register for one credit of CSP for each semester thereafter until the CSP is completed and approved. (*CSP requirements are for students who enrolled in 2021 or before)

Doctor of Nursing Practice Program Degree Plans

The post-master’s DNP program admits nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, nurse executives, and nurse informatics specialists. Students may choose from the following four options;

• DNP Nurse Anesthetists
• DNP Nurse Informatics Program
• DNP Nurse Leadership and Administration Program
• DNP Nurse Practitioners and Clinical Nurse Specialist

Advisement

All DNP students are advised by a DNP faculty member throughout the program. The student is assigned an advisor upon admission to the program. The advisor provides advisement assistance in the transition into the DNP program, and completion of the CSP. The advisor serves as the DNP Project advisor. Selection of the advisor is based on a match between the student’s clinical interest and that of the faculty member’s expertise. (CSP requirements are for students who enrolled in program in 2021 or before.)

Degree Plan

The student and the advisor will complete a degree plan to specify which courses are to be taken to complete the degree requirements. Both student and advisor will sign the completed plan, and submit it electronically to the Senior Administrative Coordinator for the DNP program, who will file in the CSON Student Affairs Office. Any changes must be approved by the faculty advisor.

Graduation Policy

The following outlines requirements for eligibility to graduate:

• Complete the required courses as outlined for the DNP program
• Earn a grade of “B” or higher in all required courses;
• Submit an approved Clinical Scholarship Portfolio according to the established timeline and contents;
• Apply for graduation on myUTH prior to the deadline established each term;
• Be enrolled during the term of graduation;
• Pay required graduation fee of $150;
• Clear all designated services on the clearance form; and
• Complete the DNP curriculum within five years from admission or have been granted an extension.

Academic Requirements for DNP Progression Withdrawing from Courses

Students may withdraw from a course with the approval of the instructor at any time up to and including the last day of class in any semester. The symbol “W” is recorded to indicate a drop without prejudice and penalty. See the “Schedule of Classes for deadline date. If a graduate student with a grade less than “B” chooses to withdraw after the deadline for “W” grade, a grade of “WF” will be recorded. WF is considered a failing grade and is used in calculating the GPA value. See the “Schedule of Classes” for deadline dates.

On the recommendation of the instructor and with approval of the Dean, a student may be required to drop a course at any time because of neglect or for lack of preparation. Under such circumstances, the symbol “W” will be recorded.

Withdrawal Requiring Application for Readmission

Students withdrawing from the Cizik School of Nursing who wish to be considered for readmission must submit a written request to the CSON Student Affairs Office. (This excludes taking a semester off for Inactive Status.)

Student Responsibility

The student is held responsible for knowing degree requirements and enrolling in courses that fulfill the degree program. Students are also held responsible for knowing the Cizik School of Nursing’s policies for continuance in the DNP Program.

The policies and procedures for the DNP program can be found here.