I. Overview of Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Today’s quickly evolving health care environment demands professionals who have the knowledge and skills to get the job done. The DNP program is designed to prepare clinicians with the knowledge and skills to provide the highest standard of care for individuals, families and communities and navigate today’s complex health care systems. Nurse Managers and administrators will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to develop, implement and monitor programs of care and policies in complex organizations. The purpose and vision of the DNP program in Iowa is to:

• Prepare the next generation of nursing leaders
• Position graduates to be national leaders in the translation of nursing knowledge into practice
• Engage in strategic partnerships with the nursing and health care communities in Iowa, nationally and globally

The post-BSN to DNP program is 73-83 semester hours depending on the specialization/focus area. The post-master’s DNP program is 29-55 semester hours depending on the focus area of your master’s degree as well as the focus area of the post-master’s DNP. Dual certification programs are also available and range from 91 – 102 semester hours depending on the specialization/focus areas combined. The plans of study reflect the national educational standards developed by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF), and the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE). The courses will deepen the knowledge and skills of persons preparing for an advanced practice role with an emphasis on evidenced-based practice and the evaluation of practice to improve health care outcomes and cultivate expertise in health policy and organizational and systems leadership.

The only pre-req is an upper-level stats course. This pre-req only applies to the BSN-DNP program. Information can be found on the DNP – Admission Information webpage.