Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.)

Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.)

Purpose

The Doctor of Nursing Practice program prepares nurses for advance practice roles with a commitment to Christian ethical standards to transform healthcare through leadership and clinical practice.

Accreditation

The Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Liberty University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education:

655 K Street NW
Suite 750
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 887-6791

Program Specific Admission Requirements

Admission to the Doctor of Nursing Practice program is a competitive process. The applicants who meet the admission requirements are not guaranteed acceptance. The program offers a Post-BSN DNP with Family Nurse Practitioner specialization and Post-MSN DNP. The DNP program also offers a Post-MSN DNP Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program and a Post-Graduate Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate (PMHNP) program for MSN or doctoral prepared licensed and certified nurse practitioners in addition to a Post BSN DNP with PMHNP program. 

Admission standards for Post - BSN DNP Family Nurse Practitioner include:

  1. Complete a Graduate School Application form.
  2. Graduate of a nationally accredited school of nursing (National League of Nursing Accrediting Commission) (NLNAC) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
  3. Earned Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing or Master of Science Degree in Nursing, if applicable (for students seeking DNP with Family Nurse Practitioner specialty certification.)
  4. Current, unencumbered RN license issued in approved states. Please submit a copy of your RN license to luoverify@liberty.edu.
  5. (If applicable) Advanced practice license and associated certification. Advanced practice licenses must be current and unencumbered and issued in approved states. A copy of certification must be also provided in addition to license. If applicable, please submit a copy of your APRN license and certification to luoverify@liberty.edu.
  6. If past sanction or disciplinary action exists on a professional license, the applicant may be contacted by the Nursing Admissions Review Committee for further explanation.
  7. If student has an advanced practice certification: Verification of professional certification as an advanced practice nurse (Nurse Practitioner, Nurse, Clinical Nurse Specialist). Nurse Leaders may hold national certification in Nursing Administration, not required but preferred.
  8. GPA 3.0 or above in most current nursing program completed (BSN or MSN).
  9. Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions.
  10. Contact information for three recommendations: Academic-professor, Professional-physician or nurse manager, Personal-pastor, colleague or friend.
  11. Curriculum Vitae.
  12. One year professional nursing experience prior to enrollment in the practicum course (NURS 740 ) for the DNP/FNP program.
  13. Undergraduate statistics course.
  14. Undergraduate research methods course.
  15. Undergraduate health assessment course.
  16. Writing Sample (not to exceed 3,000) words – A document discussing introduction and world view, professional experience/ goals, and vision for professional practice including scholarly project.
  17. TOEFL if applicable. 
  18. CPR Certification American Heart Association BLS for Health Care Providers with AED.
  19. Interview with nursing faculty (in person, telephone or electronic).
  20. Background check and drug screen.
  21. Immunization/Physical Exam Form.
  22. Ability to meet Essential Attributes Requirements.

Admission standards for Post - BSN DNP Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) include:

  1. Complete a Graduate School Application form.
  2. Graduate of a nationally accredited school of nursing (National League of Nursing Accrediting Commission) (NLNAC) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
  3. Earned Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing or Master of Science Degree in Nursing, if applicable (for students seeking DNP with Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification.)
  4. Current, unencumbered RN license issued in approved states. Please submit a copy of your RN license to luoverify@liberty.edu.
  5. (If applicable) Advanced practice license and associated certification. Advanced practice licenses must be current and unencumbered and issued in approved states. A copy of certification must be also provided in addition to license. If applicable, please submit a copy of your APRN license and certification to luoverify@liberty.edu.
  6. If past sanction or disciplinary action exists on a professional license, the applicant may be contacted by the Nursing Admissions Review Committee for further explanation.
  7. If student has an advanced practice certification: Verification of professional certification as an advanced practice nurse (Nurse Practitioner, Nurse, Clinical Nurse Specialist). Nurse Leaders may hold national certification in Nursing Administration, not required but preferred.
  8. GPA 3.0 or above in most current nursing program completed (BSN or MSN).
  9. Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions.
  10. Contact information for three recommendations: Academic-professor, Professional-physician or nurse manager, Personal-pastor or colleague.
  11. Curriculum Vitae.
  12. One year professional nursing experience prior to enrollment in the practicum course (NURS 768 or NURS 769) for the DNP/PMHNP program.
  13. Undergraduate statistics course.
  14. Undergraduate research methods course.
  15. Undergraduate health assessment course.
  16. Writing Sample (not to exceed 3,000) words – A document discussing introduction and world view, professional experience/ goals, and vision for professional practice including scholarly project.
  17. TOEFL if applicable. 
  18. CPR Certification American Heart Association BLS for Health Care Providers with AED.
  19. Interview with nursing faculty (in person, telephone or electronic).
  20. Background check and drug screen.
  21. Immunization/Physical Exam Form.
  22. Ability to meet Essential Attributes Requirements.

Admission standards for Post – MSN DNP Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program include:

  1. Complete a Graduate School Admission Application form.
  2. Graduate of a nationally accredited school of nursing (National League of Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
  3. Earned Master of Science Degree in Nursing with specialty as nurse practitioner: population foci such as family, pediatrics, acute, and adult/geriatrics.
  4. Current, unencumbered RN license issued in an approved state. Please submit a copy of you RN license to luoverify@liberty.edu.
  5. Current, unencumbered APRN Nurse Practitioner license issued in an approved state. Please submit a copy of your APRN license to luoverify@liberty.edu.
  6. If a past sanction or disciplinary action exists on a professional license, the applicant may be contacted by the Nursing Admissions Review Committee for further explanation.
  7. Verification of professional certification as an advanced practice nurse (Nurse Practitioner); submit to luoverify@liberty.edu.
  8. GPA 3.0 or above in all previous graduate course work.
  9. Official Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions.
  10. Contact information for one recommendation: Academic-professor, Professional-physician or nurse manager, Personal-pastor or colleague.
  11. Must have completed a graduate-level health assessment course, graduate-level pathophysiology course and graduate-level pharmacology course, all taught across the life span.
  12. Writing Sample (not to exceed 3000) words – A document discussing introduction world-view, professional experience goals and vision and scholarly project.
  13. TOEFL if applicable.
  14. CPR Certification American Heart Association BLS for Health Care Providers with AED
  15. Background check and drug screen.
  16. Immunization/Physical Exam Form
  17. Ability to meet Essential Attributes Requirements.

Admission standards for Post – MSN DNP include:

  1. Complete a Graduate School Admission Application form.
  2. Official transcript for MSN degree from a nationally accredited school of nursing: (National League of Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
  3. Earned Master of Science Degree in Nursing, specialty in an advanced practice role-Family Nurse Practitioner or Clinical Nurse Specialist, or Nurse Leader.
  4. Current, unencumbered RN license issued in an approved state. Please submits a copy of you RN license to luoverify@liberty.edu.
  5. Current, unencumbered APRN Nurse Practitioner license issued in an approved state.  Please submit a copy of your APRN license to luoverify@liberty.edu.
  6. If a past sanction or disciplinary action exists on a professional license, the applicant may be contacted by the Nursing Admissions Review Committee for further explanation.
  7. Verification of professional certification as an advanced practice nurse (Nurse Practitioner, Nurse, Clinical Nurse Specialist) Nurse Leaders may hold national certification in Nursing Administration, not required but preferred.
  8. GPA 3.0 or above in all previous graduate course work.
  9. Writing Sample (not to exceed 3000) words – A document discussing introduction world view, professional experience goals and vision for personal practice including scholarly project.
  10. Verification of practicum hours from graduate program director.
  11. TOEFL if applicable.
  12. CPR Certification American Heart Association BLS for Health Care Providers with AED.
  13. Background check and drug screen.
  14. Immunization/Physical Exam Form.
  15. Ability to meet Essential Attributes Requirements.

Note: All students enrolled in both pathways must also hold current American Heart Association CPR certification, and complete a background check, physical examination and immunizations, OSHA training and HIPPA training and/or other requirements as designed by specific practicum sites.

Fast Track

Admission criteria for Fast Track Post – MSN DNP include:

  1. Graduate School Application (waive fee).
  2. Graduate from the Liberty University MSN program within the past one year.
  3. Writing Sample.
  4. Supplemental admission requirements – maintain compliance in CastleBranch.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.)

Program Learning Outcomes

The student will be able to:

  • Integrate nursing science, theory research and scholarship into advanced nursing practice.
  • Design effective health care environments to improve quality, cost-effectiveness and outcomes.
  • Apply evidence and clinical scholarship to support clinical/systems decision making, policy and advocacy.
  • Utilize information systems and technology to support decision-making and improve outcomes.
  • Extend knowledge of clinical prevention, population health, and policy through application of evidence and collaboration with stakeholders and professionals.
  • Apply evidence-based advanced clinical decision-making and culturally competent care to individuals, families and populations.
  • Integrate the Christian World view into the delivery of care of diverse populations.

Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration

Program Learning Outcomes

The student will be able to:

  • Integrate advanced-level nursing, biological, psycho-social, and population health knowledge in delivering primary care to individuals and families across the lifespan.

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Cognate (Post-M.S.N.)

Program Learning Outcomes

The student will be able to:

  • Apply evidence-based advanced clinical decision-making and culturally competent mental health care to individuals, families and populations.
  • Integrate advanced-level nursing, biological, psycho-social, and population health knowledge in delivering behavioral health care to individuals and families across the lifespan.

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Concentration (Post-B.S.N.)

Program Learning Outcomes

The student will be able to:

  • Apply evidence-based advanced clinical decision-making and culturally competent mental health care to individuals, families and populations.
  • Integrate advanced-level nursing, biological, psycho-social, and population health knowledge in delivering behavioral health care to individuals and families across the lifespan.

Program Dismissal

Automatic dismissal without the options for extensions, to repeat courses, or to reapply to the D.N.P. program occurs when students:

  • Earn more than three (3) graduate grades of C+ or lower.
  • Earn more than one (1) graduate grade of D+ or lower.
  • Earn a GPA lower than 3.0 for two consecutive semesters.
  • Fail to report any changes, sanctions, or other updates to their RN license to the DNP program Chair.
  • Are in violation of the Liberty University Online Honor Code.

Delivery Format: Online Only

Students who are interested in teaching nursing are encouraged to take the Nurse Educator Elective Sequence.

  • Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
  • Nurse Manager
  • Nurse Leader
  • Clinical Researcher 
  • Nurse Advocate
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