Doctor of Nursing Practice
The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree provides a foundation for leadership development and refinement of clinical management skills for practicing registered nurses. UIW offers two tracks in the DNP program: the MSN to DNP for the nurse who has a master’s degree, and the BSN to DNP track for the registered nurse with a baccalaureate degree in nursing who wishes to become a Family Nurse Practitioner or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
MSN to DNP program
The MSN to DNP program prepares currently practicing Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) to extend their practice to the system and population level. Students identify a vulnerable population of interest at the beginning of coursework. Each subsequent course allows for exploration of the population from differing perspectives and builds on the students’ empirical knowledge base. The population of interest also serves as the focus for clinical skill development. The degree program is offered primarily in an asynchronous online format augmented by synchronous online teaching. The program consists of a 32-credit-hour online curriculum requiring 10 courses and 528 clinical practicum/residency hours, building on the preparation of certified APRNs.
BSN to DNP program with FNP or PMHNP Concentrations
Students completing the Bachelor of Science in Nursing to Doctor of Nursing Practice program will have attained the knowledge and skills to be eligible for the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) certification exam. Graduates of both concentrations can assume an active role in a variety of settings. BSN to DNP coursework allows the FNP, as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), to address populations in the primary care setting across the lifespan. PMHNP graduates are prepared to work in a variety of mental health settings with individuals of all ages. Nurse practitioners who graduate from the DNP program are skilled in interdisciplinary practice, culturally competent, and have instilled in their practice the core values of faith, service, innovation, truth and education. The concentration consists of an 77 credit hour curriculum (FNP) with 1,152 supervised clinical/practicum hours, or 76 credit hour curriculum (PMHNP), with 1,216 supervised clinical/practicum hours.
BSN to DNP program with Nurse Anesthesiology Specialization
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) with a Specialization in Nurse Anesthesiology is an entry level, practice-focused doctoral program. Registered nurses with a baccalaureate or graduate degree in nursing, a minimum of one year of critical care experience, and a strong science foundation are eligible to apply. Admission criteria include an unencumbered license as a registered professional nurse and or an APRN in the United States or its territories or protectorates. Qualified applicants must have developed as an independent decision maker, capable of using and interpreting advanced monitoring techniques based on knowledge of physiological and pharmacological principles. This lockstep curriculum includes ninety-seven (97) credit hours of didactic preparation and a minimum of 2,000 clinical hours in a variety of patient care settings, serving individuals across the lifespan. Semesters 1 and 2 are offered via distance learning technology. A weekend orientation is required on campus at the start of semester 1. During these semesters (1-2), students can work a reduced schedule as an RN. Semester 3 begins a full-time, on-campus format with an introductory principles of anesthesia practice course.
Program Domains in Accordance with the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education (COA)
- Patient Safety
- Peri-anesthesia
- Critical Thinking
- Communication
- Leadership
- Professional Role
Program Goals:
Prepare culturally diverse graduates who:
1. Utilize current knowledge and evidence in professional practice.
2. Participate in service experiences that address social inequities and justice.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the interconnection between health/wellness and quality of life.
4. Integrate core values into professional practice that build upon the heritage of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word.
5. Programmatically facilitate educational value outcomes.
6. Develop, share, and actualize the knowledge of specific health disciplines and the art and science of teaching.
7. Incorporate university core values which build on the heritage of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word within faculty, staff, and administrative practice.
The addition of the nurse anesthesiology concentration is aligned with the other APRN specialty concentrations included in the UIW DNP education (e.g., family nurse practitioner, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner).
Program Outcomes:
Upon the completion of the Doctor of Nursing Practice program, the graduate will be able to:
1. Integrate nursing and medical sciences with ethical, biophysical, psychosocial, analytical, and organizational sciences to plan, implement, and evaluate anesthesiology nursing practice at the doctoral level. (COA Graduate Standards Domains: Patient Safety, Perianesthesia, Critical Thinking, Communication, Leadership, Professional Role; AACN Essentials - Domain 1: Knowledge for Nursing Practice)
2. Design, implement, and evaluate evidence-based interventions and interrelationships using advanced levels of nursing practice and systems thinking. (COA Graduate Standards Domains – Patient Safety, Perianesthesia, Critical Thinking; AACN Essentials - Domain 2: Person-Centered Care)
3. Synthesize concepts from epidemiological, biostatistical, environmental, and medical sciences related to clinical prevention, perianesthesia care, and population health to develop, implement, and evaluate interventions that improve access to health promotion, acute care, and disease prevention efforts for culturally diverse and vulnerable populations.
(COA Graduate Standards Domains – Safety, Perianesthesia, Critical Thinking, Professional Role; AACN Essentials - Domain 3: Population Health)
4. Lead initiatives to develop and implement best practices to improve the quality of care within the continuum of the individual, organizational, and/or community levels.
(COA Graduate Standards Domains - Patient Safety, Perianesthesia, Critical Thinking; AACN Essentials - Domain 4: Scholarship for the Nursing Discipline)
5. Design and implement processes to translate evidence and improve outcomes of practice by national standards.
(COA Graduate Standards Domains – Perianesthesia, Critical Thinking, Professional Role; AACN Essentials - Domain 5: Quality and Safety)
6. Use information technology and research methods to promote safe, timely, effective, efficient, equitable, and patient centered care.
(COA Graduate Standards Domains – Patient Safety, Critical Thinking, Communication, Professional Role; AACN Essentials - Domain 8: Informatics and Healthcare Technologies)
7. Develop, evaluate, and provide leadership for health care policies related to health care financing, resource management, practice regulation, access, safety, quality, efficacy, equity, and social justice.
(COA Graduate Standards Domains - Patient Safety, Leadership, Professional Role; AACN Essentials - Domain 5: Quality and Safety & Domain 7: Systems-Based Practice)
8. Lead interprofessional teams using effective communication, collaboration, and consultation skills in developing and implementing practice models, guidelines, and standards of care, peer review, health policy, and scholarly products.
(COA Graduate Standards Domains- Communication, Leadership, Professional Role; AACN Essentials - Domain 6: Interprofessional Partnerships)
9. Appreciate commitment to lifelong learning of self and peers that incorporates professional nursing standards and accountability.
(COA Graduate Standards Domains- Patient Safety, Professional Role; AACN Essentials - Domain 10: Personal, Professional, and Leadership Development)
Admission Requirements
Admission Criteria for the MSN to DNP Degree Track
Website: MSN—Doctor of Nursing Practice Admissions
Application to the Ila Faye Miller School of Nursing and Health Professions must include these items. Begin your application at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing NursingCAS website.
— Evidence of an earned Master of Science in Nursing degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum 3.0 GPA in graduate studies.
— Proof of a current unencumbered license to practice as a Registered Nurse. Additionally, for the MSN to DNP program, an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Certification in an AACN-recognized specialty (NP, CNS, CNM, CRNA) with recognition to practice as an APRN by the Board of Nursing in one’s state of residence/practice.
— Licensure in Texas or one of the compact states is required for clinical on non-Federal property.
— Documentation of supervised clinical practicum hours in a MSN program.
— Interview with UIW graduate faculty, as indicated.
— Acceptance to graduate study by the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) and the IFMSN DNP program.
— Three satisfactory professional references (academic, professional).
— Official transcripts sent from each college/university attended.
— No GRE or GMAT required.
Prerequisites
— Graduate-level course credit in Advanced Statistics and in Informatics within the last 5 years.
— Completion of “3 Ps” courses (Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Pharmacology, and Advanced Health Assessment).
Individual consideration will be given to those applicants who do not entirely meet specific requirements.
Upon acceptance into the MSN-DNP program, students will be required to submit the following:
CPR certification, exposure insurance, criminal background check, OSHA, HIPPA, PPE certification, and current immunizations. Throughout the duration of study, students are required to meet all clinical clearance requirements.
For Texas Residents
Licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse and an APRN in Texas.
For Non-Texas Residents
Licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse and an APRN in a compact state in which one resides or practices.
Admission Criteria for the BSN to DNP Degree Track
Website: BSN—Doctor of Nursing Practice Admissions
Application to the Ila Faye Miller School of Nursing and Health Professions. The application is available here: NursingCas website.
— A baccalaureate degree with a major in nursing from a program accredited by the National League for Nursing or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
— A license to practice nursing in the State of Texas or one of the compact states recognized by the State of Texas.
— A minimum of one year of relevant experience in professional nursing is preferred, but not required.
— A course in basic statistics with a grade of “C” or better and a nursing course in basic physical assessment skills.
— A grade point average of 2.75 in all undergraduate work and an average of 3.0 in upper-division nursing courses that serve as the foundation for the graduate major.
— Three satisfactory references (academic, professional).
— Official transcripts sent from each college/university attended (including hospital school of nursing, if appropriate).
— An in-person interview will be arranged as needed.
* No GRE or GMAT required
Upon admittance into the program, students must submit a confirmation fee, which serves as acceptance of the seat in the UIW DNP program. The $500 deposit is required within the time frame designated by the acceptance letter in order to hold and confirm the spot in the entering class. The full fee is non-refundable if a student decides not to attend UIW. Upon confirmed entry into the program and two weeks after the first day of class, $400 will be applied to the student’s UIW account.
Upon acceptance into the BSN-DNP program, students will be required to submit the following:
CPR certification, exposure insurance, criminal background check, OSHA, HIPPA, PPE certification, and current immunizations.
For Texas Residents
Licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of Texas.
For Non-Texas Residents
Multi-state compact license to practice as a Registered Nurse.
Admission Criteria for the BSN to DNP with Specialization in Anesthesiology
Admission requirements are consistent with current requirements for the DNP program and those set forth by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs (COA). The requirements include:
- A baccalaureate or graduate degree in nursing granted by a regionally accredited or internationally accredited college or university. Official transcripts must be submitted
- An unencumbered license as a registered professional nurse and/or an APRN in the United States or its territories or protectorates
- A minimum of 1-year full-time work experience, as a registered nurse in a critical care setting within the last three years. The applicant must have developed as an independent decision maker capable of using and interpreting advanced monitoring techniques based on knowledge of physiological and pharmacological principles
- Critical Care Certification for Registered Nurses (CCRN)
- Current certification in Basic Life Support, Advanced Life Support and Pediatric Life Support
- A minimum grade point (GPA) of 3.2 on a scale of 4.0. Deference is given to the last sixty hours of undergraduate work.
- Successful completion (Grade B or better) of one graduate level chemistry course with a laboratory component. The course (not the laboratory component) must have been taken within the last five years of beginning the program. Organic chemistry or biochemistry is strongly preferred.
- Two professional references from health care providers who are knowledgeable of the applicant's academic potential and clinical aptitude.
- Applicants are required to arrange an observation (shadowing) experience with a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) and provide documentation of this experience.
- Documentation of the understanding of the role of a CRNA with an essay submission is required (personal statement)
- International applicants must meet all requirements for international applicants listed in the general admissions of the graduate catalog
- Attendance at a personal interview at the invitation of the Program's Admission Committee is required.
- Attendance at the program's mandatory orientation is required for matriculation
- Applicants must be required to fulfill specific pre-requisites or other conditions of admission prior to the admission decision
- Upon acceptance to the program, a program fee is required to hold a seat in the program for enrollment (Program fee TBA).
Bachelor of Science in Nursing to Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree Plan
BSN to DNP with FNP or PMHNP Concentrations
Students completing the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program will have attained the knowledge and skills to be eligible for the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) certification exam. Graduates of both concentrations can assume an active role in a variety of settings. BSN to DNP coursework allows the FNP, as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), to address populations in the primary care setting across the lifespan. PMHNP graduates are prepared to work in a variety of mental health settings with individuals of all ages. Nurse practitioners who graduate from the DNP program are skilled in interdisciplinary practice, culturally competent, and have instilled in their practice the core values of faith, service, innovation, truth and education.
The BSN to DNP is a full-time doctoral degree program in which students take 6 to 12 credits each semester. It is offered in a blended format with classes using both on-ground and online modalities.
To qualify for the DNP degree with the FNP concentration, a candidate must complete 77 credit hours and 1,152 clinical practicum hours.
The DNP degree with the PMHNP concentration requires 76 credit hours and 1,216 clinical practicum hours.
Candidates in both concentrations must successfully complete and present a Doctoral Project.
BSN to DNP with Specialization in Nurse Anesthesiology
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) with a Specialization in Nurse Anesthesiology is a full-time, 36-month, practice-focused doctoral program. Designed for registered nurses with a baccalaureate or graduate degree in nursing, a strong science foundation, and critical care experience, the program prepares graduates for advanced practice in the field of anesthesiology. The curriculum follows the 2021 “New Essentials” guidelines set by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), which define the required content, competencies, and sub-competencies for DNP graduates. The program is fully accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA), located at 10275 W. Higgins Rd., Suite 906, Rosemont, IL 60018-5603. Students engage in both in-person and web-based coursework and complete an intensive, residency-style training that integrates didactic instruction with clinical practice. The lockstep curriculum includes 97 credit hours and a minimum of 2,000 clinical hours in a variety of patient care settings, serving individuals across the lifespan. Graduates who meet all program requirements and the eligibility criteria set by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA) are qualified to take the National Certification Examination (NCE) to become Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists/Anesthesiologists (CRNAs).
Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration Course Requirements
Year 1 Courses
Year 2 Courses
| NURS 7440 | Epidemiology and Vulnerable Populations for Advanced Nursing Practice | 4 |
| NURS 7450 | Integrated Behavioral Health and Family Systems | 4 |
| NURS 7345 | The Foundations for Doctor of Nursing Practice: Scientific Underpinnings of Practice | 3 |
| NURS 7480 | Family Nurse Practitioner I: Primary Care of Adults (Diagnosis and Management) with Chronic and Acute Conditions | 4 |
| NURS 7320 | Principles of Evidence-based Practice | 3 |
| NURS 7359 | Doctor of Nursing Practice—Project I | 3 |
| NURS 7482 | Family Nurse Practitioner II: Primary Care of Adults (Diagnosis and Management) with Chronic and Acute Conditions | 4 |
| NURS 7309 | Informatics in HealthCare | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 28 |
Year 3 Courses
| NURS 7225 | Concepts of Evaluation and Dissemination | 2 |
| NURS 7380 | Doctor of Nursing Practice—Project II | 3 |
| NURS 7484 | Family Nurse Practitioner III: Primary Care of Women (Diagnosis and Management) with Chronic and Acute Conditions | 4 |
| NURS 7486 | Family Nurse Practitioner IV: Primary Care of Children and Adolescents (Diagnosis and Management) with Chronic and Acute Conditions | 4 |
| NURS 7393 | Doctor of Nursing Practice—Project III | 3 |
| NURS 7488 | Family Nurse Practitioner Residency | 4 |
| NURS 7315 | Resource Management for Nurse Leaders | 3 |
| NURS 7288 | Clinical Skills Seminar | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 25 |
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Concentration Course Requirements
Year 1 Courses
Year 2 Courses
| NURS 7440 | Epidemiology and Vulnerable Populations for Advanced Nursing Practice | 4 |
| NURS 7333 | Advanced Psychopharmacology for the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner | 3 |
| NURS 7345 | The Foundations for Doctor of Nursing Practice: Scientific Underpinnings of Practice | 3 |
| NURS 7447 | Individual, Family, and Group Psychotherapy | 4 |
| NURS 7320 | Principles of Evidence-based Practice | 3 |
| NURS 7359 | Doctor of Nursing Practice—Project I | 3 |
| NURS 7410 | Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practice I: Advanced Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing across the Lifespan (Diagnosis and Management) | 4 |
| NURS 7309 | Informatics in HealthCare | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 27 |
Year 3 Courses
| NURS 7225 | Concepts of Evaluation and Dissemination | 2 |
| NURS 7380 | Doctor of Nursing Practice—Project II | 3 |
| NURS 7414 | Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practice II: Advanced Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing across the Lifespan (Diagnosis and Management) | 4 |
| NURS 7418 | Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practice III: Advanced Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing across the Lifespan (Diagnosis and Management) | 4 |
| NURS 7393 | Doctor of Nursing Practice—Project III | 3 |
| NURS 7487 | Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Residency | 4 |
| NURS 7315 | Resource Management for Nurse Leaders | 3 |
| NURS 7287 | Psychiatric Clinical Seminar | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 25 |
DNP Specialization in Nurse Anesthesiology
Year 1 Courses
| NURS 7321/NURS 6321 | Nursing Theory for Advanced Practice | 3 |
| NURS 7302 | Adv Physiology & Pathophysiology | 3 |
| NURS 7301 | Physical Sciences in Nurse Anesthesiology | 3 |
| NURS 7102 | Critical Concepts in Practice: Wellness | 1 |
| NURS 7355 | Research for Evidence Based Practice | 3 |
| NURS 7202 | Professional Role Development in Anesthesia Practice | 2 |
| NURS 7401 | Advanced Pathophysiology and Pharmacotherapeutics I | 4 |
| NURS 7101 | Principles of Advanced Pharmacology | 1 |
| NURS 7201 | Advanced Pharmacology for Anesthesiology I | 2 |
| NURS 7323/NURS 6323 | Advanced Health Assessment | 3 |
| NURS 7203 | Quality and Outcome Measures: Building an Evidence-based Anesthesia Practice | 2 |
| NURS 7304 | Systems Leadership and Policy Analysis in Anesthesia Practice | 3 |
| NURS 7207 | Advanced Pathophysiology and Pharmacotherapeutics II | 2 |
| NURS 7208 | Advanced Pharmacology for Anesthesiology II | 2 |
| NURS 7211 | Basic Principles of Anesthesia Practice and Simulation I | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 36 |
Year 2 Courses
| NURS 7309 | Informatics in HealthCare | 3 |
| NURS 7440 | Epidemiology and Vulnerable Populations for Advanced Nursing Practice | 4 |
| NURS 7103 | Statistics and Data Management for Evidence-based Practice | 1 |
| NURS 7214 | Advanced Pathophysiology and Pharmacotherapeutics III | 2 |
| NURS 7209 | Basic Principles of Anesthesia Practice and Simulation II | 2 |
| NURS 7110 | Clinical Residency I | 1 |
| NURS 7405 | Advanced Principles of Anesthesia Practice I | 4 |
| NURS 7215 | Critical Concepts in Practice: Acute and Chronic Pain Management | 2 |
| NURS 7212 | DNP Scholarly Project A: Conceptualization and Planning | 2 |
| NURS 7306 | Clinical Residency II | 3 |
| NURS 7305 | DNP Project B: Proposal Development | 3 |
| NURS 7406 | Advanced Principles of Anesthesia Practice II | 4 |
| NURS 7307 | Clinical Residency III | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 34 |
Semester 4 (Spring): Professional Writing Workshop (no credits; prep for project courses)
Semester 5 (Summer): Advanced Airway Management Workshop (Weekend, open to outsiders, no credits)
Semester 6 (Fall): Imaging and Ultrasound Guided Techniques Workshop (Weekend, open to outsiders, no credits)
Year 3 Courses
| NURS 7308 | DNP Scholarly Project C: Project Implementation | 3 |
| NURS 7213 | Critical Concepts in Practice: Risk Reduction and Crisis Resource Management | 2 |
| NURS 7404 | Clinical Residency IV | 4 |
| NURS 7204 | DNP Scholarly Project D: Completion and Dissemination | 2 |
| NURS 7205 | Advanced Seminar in Anesthesiology I | 2 |
| NURS 7104 | Transition to Professional Nurse Anesthesiology | 1 |
| NURS 7402 | Clinical Residency V | 4 |
| NURS NURS 7303 | Anesthesiology Practice Management | 3 |
| NURS 7206 | Advanced Seminar in Anesthesiology II | 2 |
| NURS 7403 | Clinical Residency VI | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 27 |
Semester 8 (Summer): Substance Use Disorder Workshop (weekend, no credits, open to outsides)