Doctor of Nursing Practice

Serving as leaders in health care reform, Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) graduates are able to shape the future of health care, making revisions with purpose and efficiency. The D.N.P. program at Salisbury University addresses the growing need for nurses in advanced-practice nurse roles with special skills in managing complex health needs in a cost-effective and collaborative manner. The curriculum emphasizes the use of evidence-based practice and technology to guide administrative and clinical decisions, as well as policy development.

Application Deadline
The following deadline is for admission into the Doctor of Nursing Practice.
- Fall Priority Deadline: March 1st
- Fall Final Deadline: May 1st

What Can I Do with a Doctor of Nursing Practice?

The D.N.P. is designed for registered nurses seeking terminal degrees in nursing practice and offers an alternative to research-focused doctoral programs. Our graduates practice at the highest level, whether working with individuals, groups or organizations, and serve as leaders in health care. D.N.P. graduates will also be able to move into clinical faculty roles, helping to ease the shortage of RNs in the area by serving as faculty for institutions of higher education. The D.N.P. program is for nurses in advanced practice roles, including:

Clinical Nurse Specialists
Nurse Anesthetists
Nurse Educators

Nurse Executives
Nurse Midwives
Nurse Practitioners

Why Choose a Doctor of Nursing Practice at Salisbury University?

The D.N.P program at SU is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), providing objective validation of the quality of our curriculum. This quality is also evident in the consistently high NCLEX-RN pass rates of undergraduate students and the excellent certification rates for Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) graduates throughout the history of the program.

Students of SU’s D.N.P. program also benefit from:

Close interaction with faculty who are engaged in local health care systems
Small classes with a high level of faculty interaction
Courses delivered in distance-accessible format
Individualized coursework tailored to each student’s experience
Competitive pricing in both tuition and fees

The D.N.P. curriculum is designed to maximize nurses’ abilities to translate evidence into practice and to use new knowledge about health care systems, quality improvement and information technology to improve health care outcomes in the region and beyond. D.N.P. graduates are experts in the region’s health care systems, able to lead organizations and agencies as they revise their policies and procedures to meet the new demands of health care reform.

Meet Jordan – D.N.P. Student

Find out how Jordan is using all of the skills that make him a great nurse to solve problems in the healthcare industry and better his community.

Programs for Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Holders

Post-Bachelor’s to D.N.P

This program is for professionals with a B.S. in nursing who wish to complete a D.N.P. and become family nurse practitioners. The program allows students to enter directly into doctoral study while completing course work for eligibility to take the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) certification exam.

The 80-credit curriculum spans four years – full time during fall and spring semesters with a lighter academic load during the summer. All students complete a comprehensive D.N.P. project and 1,000 clinical practice hours. Course work includes quantitative and qualitative research, evidence-based practice, epidemiology, applied statistics, advanced human physiology, advanced health assessment, advanced pharmacotherapeutics, family nursing, adult health care management, women’s and children’s health care management, issues in advanced nursing practice, health care systems, finance, informatics, quality improvement, health promotion and clinical prevention, genetics and genomics.

Graduates are eligible to take the certification exams offered by the American Nurses’ Credentialing Center and the American Academy of Nurses Practitioners.
Post-Master’s to D.N.P. – FNP Focus

This 68 minimum credit program allows D.N.P candidates to concurrently earn the doctoral degree and complete the requirements for the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) certification as well. Designed for working professionals and available in a distance accessible format, candidates may complete their degree in three to four years, taking approximately six credits per semester.

Coursework includes evidence-based practice, health policy and health care systems, health care management, finance, informatics, quality improvement, health promotion and clinical prevention, genetics and genomics. A three-credit graduate elective chosen by the student with the approval of their advisor is used to supplement the core of required courses and is tailored to student interests. All students complete a comprehensive D.N.P. project and 1,000 clinical hours between their master’s degree and the D.N.P. program. At least 400 clinical hours must be completed at SU while enrolled in the program.
Post-Master’s to D.N.P. – Leadership Focus

This curriculum is a 38 minimum credit option for individuals in advanced practice roles, including nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists, nurse administrators and nurse educators. Designed for working professionals and available in a distance accessible format, candidates may complete their degree in three years, taking approximately six credits per semester. Any students who do not already hold national certification as an advanced practice RN may need to take additional credits.

Coursework includes evidence-based practice, health policy and health care systems, health care management, finance, informatics, quality improvement, health promotion and clinical prevention, genetics and genomics. A three-credit graduate elective chosen by the student with the approval of their advisor is used to supplement the core of required courses and is tailored to student interests. All students complete a comprehensive D.N.P. project and 1,000 clinical hours between their master’s degree and the D.N.P. program. At least 400 clinical hours must be completed at SU while enrolled in the program.

Program Overview

For details on admission, program policies as well as the program requirements, visit the University's catalog:

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Faculty with Real-World Experience

The faculty at SU is dedicated to the education and growth of their students, using their expertise in the field to prepare students for their career goals.

We nurses traditionally work closely with patients. Aren’t we especially well-suited to guide and lead positive changes focusing on improving patient care?

Lisa Seldomridge, Ph.D., RN School of Nursing Faculty

Learn More About Our Doctor of Nursing Practice Program

Our School and Faculty
Nursing Initiatives

The Eastern Shore Faculty Academy and Mentorship Initiative (ES-FAMI) prepares experienced registered nurses for new roles as part-time clinical nursing faculty.

The Eastern Shore-Western Shore Faculty Initiative (ES-WSFI) builds on the success of ES-FAMI and undertakes a needs assessment to identify issues related to the statewide shortage of undergraduate and graduate clinical nursing faculty and provide direction for planning/modifying programs like ES-FAMI for implementation across the state.
Guidelines
Review these guides to help with application and understanding the program:
- Handbook for Graduate Nursing Students
- Health Professions Student Behavior Policy
Graduates of the D.N.P. program will:
- use scientific knowledge and evidence-based practice
- provide leadership in evaluating organizations
- translate research and use evidence-based practice
- evaluate information technology
- design, influence and implement health care policy to meet the needs of individuals and populations
- practice interprofessional collaboration
- promote health, reduce risk and prevent illness for individuals and populations
- demonstrate competency in advanced nursing practice as a Family Nurse Practitioner or as a leader with individuals or populations
For a full list of outcomes, search for your program in SU's Academic Program Student Learning Outcomes database.