Nursing Practice
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Doctor of Nursing Practice
South University’s DNP program is for advanced nurses who wish to maintain nursing practice as their professional emphasis*. Students can enroll through the Tampa campus, while having online coursework with in person practicums**. The Doctor of Nursing Practice program provides options for advanced nurses and nurse practitioners to expand their repertoire of skills and knowledge and provide guidance for their patients. South University’s DNP program is offered as a post-master’s program, providing a pathway for master’s prepared nurses to achieve doctoral level competencies consistent with a clinical program of study. Ultimately, the DNP degree is designed to provide practicing clinicians with the depth and breadth of clinical skill, leadership, and clinical inquiry competencies essential to achieving the highest level of clinical excellence.
*South University does not promise or guarantee licensure, employment, or salary amounts.
**Ground program may offer online courses. Material does not refer to our online program.
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing, the Master of Science in Nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice Programs at South University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
Admission Requirements
Procedure for Admission to the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program
Note: Not all Online Program offerings are available to residents of all U.S. states. Please contact an admissions representative for further information.
The criteria used to determine admission to the Doctor of Nursing Practice program include:
- Completion of an application for admission.
- Completion of a master's degree in nursing (MSN) from an accredited institution.
- A cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
- Completion of graduate-level courses with a grade of "B" or better in Advanced Pharmacology, Advanced Health Assessment, and Advanced Pathophysiology.
- A single comprehensive course that integrates all three core components may be substituted if it demonstrates equivalent depth and breadth of content. If students who do not meet this admissions requirement, NSG6104 Pharmacology, Pathophysiology, & Physical Assessment for the Nurse Educator fulfills this requirement.
- Submission of official documentation of the actual number of verified clinical hours completed during the post-baccalaureate program of study within 5 weeks after the initial start date. This requirement may come in the form of the credentialing documents used to verify the hours for certification examination or a statement from the graduate degree-granting institution verifying the actual number of hours completed during the master's program.
- Submission of official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended within 5 weeks of the class start date (refer to Conditional Acceptance).
- A valid unencumbered single-state and/or a valid unencumbered Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) multistate license as a registered nurse in all U.S. states or territory in which the student is licensed, including the state in which the student completes all assignments for the program. (Note that military, federal, and foreign educated nurses must meet this state requirement for nursing licensure). An unencumbered license(s) must be maintained throughout the program.
- All applicants must meet English Language Proficiency as stated in the academic catalog.
Once all required admissions documents and information are submitted, the application will be reviewed and evaluated for an admission decision.
For additional admissions information please see the admissions section here.
Career Outlook
These are some of the career options* you can explore when you have earned your degree:
- Nurse Practitioner
- Graduate Nurse Education
*South University does not promise or guarantee licensure, employment, or salary amounts.
Course Requirements
(51 credit hours for students who have a Nurse Practitioner degree)
Program credits are determined based on evaluation of MSN program of study and clinical/practicum hour attainment.
*Practice Immersion Experience courses are eligible for PLA (Prior Learning Assessment) based on post-baccalaureate clinical experiences. Students are required to have a minimum of 1000 documented hours of post baccalaureate clinical experience to earn the DNP degree.
Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:
Students will model the knowledge and skills required to deliver quality nursing care given the student's scope of practice.
Students will integrate leadership skills into all aspects of advanced practice nursing.
Students will incorporate contemporary healthcare science and emerging research into practice to improve outcomes across the healthcare continuum.
Students will propose forward thinking quality improvement methods through health promotion to positively impact patient outcomes.
Students will integrate information technology and informatics in healthcare delivery to provide scalable solutions for real-world systems problems.
Comments and Concerns
All Fields Are Required
The purpose of this form is to provide a process for the general public to submit comments, concerns, or complaints regarding their interaction with the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing, or Doctor of Nursing Practice program. A record of all complaints will be maintained and secured by campus administration. If you are a South University student, please submit your comments, concerns, or complaints according to the process outlined in the University Catalog or programmatic handbook. Please contact your Program Director or Academic Counselor if you need additional guidance.
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Campuses offer flexible learning formats* including: on-campus, virtual instructions, and online courses.
*Clinical, practicum, and externship requirements exist in certain programs and require field experiences. Learning formats may not be flexible.
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Outstanding Education for Remarkable Careers
We're committed to helping our graduates make impact in their professional and personal lives. We applaud our nursing alumni and the difference they make. Check out what some of our nursing graduates have to say.
