All doctoral degrees share the commitment to advancing the profession of nursing and adding to the scholarly body of nursing knowledge with the ultimate intent to improve the health care of the nation. The DNP graduate will focus on integrating research and evidence based knowledge into practice. The DNP graduate will serve as a leader in the dissemination and integration of advanced practice and leadership knowledge into health care organizations and in the care of individuals.

The DNP has a total of 78 credit hours. Forty two credit hours from the MSN degree may be utilized for the DNP degree leaving 36 credit hours that must be completed. The 36 hours may be completed in 5 semesters of full time study (9 hrs per semester) or 8 semesters of part time (4 to 5 hours per semester).

A maximum of 42 credit hours may be transferred from an MSN degree. Post- masters work may be used to meet the 42 hour limit but will not be applied to the 36 credit hours for the DNP.

A total of 1000 practice hours are required for the DNP degree and to meet the AACN (American Association of Colleges of Nursing) standards. Practice hours from the graduate nursing program will be applied to the required 1000 hours. The remaining practice hours will be completed while enrolled in the DNP courses.

The capstone project is a culmination of the knowledge gained in the DNP courses to identify a healthcare or practice issue. The primary objective of these projects is the improvement of healthcare outcomes in the practice setting. These evidence based projects may include changes in the healthcare delivery system, organizational changes that impact healthcare at the local, regional and national level and legislation and health care policies that reduce healthcare disparities. Students will fully identify their project during the first semester capstone course (see curriculum) and continue to develop it through subsequent capstone courses. The project must be completed before graduation.

The tuition for the DNP courses is approximately $270 per credit hour for the 2010 academic year, plus additional project and distance education fees. As the DNP program is an online distance education program the cost is calculated as in-state graduate level tuition.

The DNP courses will use a hybrid method of course delivery with on-campus education intensives combined with distance education delivery using the Blackboard course management system. Students must have a computer with Internet access that supports video streaming. Students will be required to attend an on-campus intensive each semester. Each intensive will be approximately 2-3 days dedicated to class time, presentations, student projects, and meeting with faculty on the capstone project. The tentative dates for the 2010-2011 on campus intensives are August 18 - 20, 2010 and April 18 - 20, 2011.

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Each DNP student will have a faculty capstone advisor. The student will be responsible for identifying and arranging to have a capstone project practice mentor. The finalization of the appointment of the advisors will take place prior to the second capstone course (spring semester of the first year).

A thesis or dissertation is not required, the DNP program requires a capstone project. This project will require a total of four semesters to complete. If the capstone project does not meet requirements, the student will be required to enroll in capstone courses until the project is satisfactorily completed.

In past years, there has been federal funding for graduate nursing traineeships. USI has submitted a grant proposal for the 2010-2011 academic year. If approved, there may be federal money to provide funding for full time DNP study.