| 2019-2020 Course Catalog
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a clinical doctorate that prepares nurses to practice as clinical leaders in the health care delivery system. Graduates of the DNP program have a skill set and competencies to function in clinical leadership roles depending on student interest and career trajectory.
The DNP program at Chatham University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001 (202) 463-6930.
Program Structure:
The DNP program is a low-residency, writing intensive, online program. Students can complete the 27 credit DNP program in 12 months of full time study, including 500 supervised practice experience hours. Part-time study also is available. The program includes a mandatory on-campus residency and culminates in an evidence- based practice clinical immersion capstone experience. Practice experiences are completed at approved practice experience sites with the guidance of an approved preceptor. Cohorts are admitted each Fall and Spring.
Admission Requirements
We evaluate all DNP applications on a rolling basis, however we recommend that interested applicants apply as early as possible. A limited number of seats are available and the cohort typically fills each semester.
Submit your online application directly to Chatham University at https://apply.chatham.edu/ccps. Once your online application is complete, please submit all required application documents (listed below) to:
Chatham UniversityBerry Hall/SCPS Admission
Woodland Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15232
Requirements:
- Online application submitted directly to Chatham University at https://apply.chatham.edu/ccps.
- Official academic transcripts from all colleges or universities previously attended.
- Applicant must have completed Master of Science in Nursing degree - cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 or greater
- Copy of Resume or Curriculum Vitae
- Copy of current RN license
- Two letters of professional recommendation addressing the candidate's strengths, and ability to succeed in the program. Click here to download the recommendation form
- In approximately 500 words, describe your area of interest (e.g. advanced clinical practice, administration, education, etc.); potential clinical problem that you plan to focus on as your identified topic in the DNP program; why you are interested in this clinical problem; why it is relevant for the current society; why it potentially warrants evidenced-based practice change; how it is relevant to the role of the DNP-prepared nurse and the implementation of evidence-based practice.
- Documentation of Clinical Experience:
- As the DNP degree is a clinical doctorate, the 1000 post-baccalaureate practice experience hour requirement as stated in The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice (AACN, 2006) must be strictly adhered to and the hours must be completed in a healthcare setting prior to degree conferral. Since Chatham's program is a post-masters DNP program, Chatham requires that each applicant provides sufficient and accurate evidence of the completion of 500 supervised hours achieved post-baccalaureate, and already completed upon entering into Chatham's DNP program. While enrolled in the DNP program, the remaining 500 supervised hours will be completed. Applicants that have earned an advanced practice certification (e.g. NP, CRNA*, CNS, and CNM) must provide a copy of their current national certification as evidence of having completed 500 supervised practice experience hours since completing a baccalaureate nursing education program. *NBCRNA certificate holders must submit a copy of their NBCRNA transcript as provided by NBCRNA. This transcript will specifically reference the number of practice hours in the applicant's program.
- Applicants who have not yet earned an advanced practice certification must provide a thorough description of the supervised practice experience hours completed while enrolled in an NP, CRNA, CNS, or CNM program as validated by an official transcript.
Acceptable descriptions include:- Course syllabi that demonstrate the number of practice experience hours required in each course,
- Official practice experience logs which record the practice experience hours in each course,
- An official letter from the Master's program director, and
- An official letter from the mentor who supervised the required practice experience hours.
- Students who have not completed a master's curriculum inclusive of 500 academically supervised practice experience hours may apply to Chatham as a Non-Degree Seeking student to pursue these hours. Chatham offers the course NUR697 Nursing Practice Experience. This course is designed for those planning admission to Chatham University’s DNP program and lack the required practice experience hours. There is a one credit, 90-hour, two credit, 170-hour, and three credit, 250 version of the course is available. Students may not take the course twice within the same semester. Students may begin the process of applying for formal DNP admission while enrolled in NUR697. It is important to note that Non-Degree completion of NUR697 does not guarantee or imply automatic admission to the Chatham DNP program. If you have additional questions about registration in this course, please contact the Admission Office at (412) 365-1498.
State Restrictions for Online Learning
Chatham University requires state authorization to provide distance education in states other than their own. Please follow the link below to see if Chatham is authorized to deliver instruction in your state. Also, this program has a required practice experience component. Please check the information in the Practice Experience and Special requirements column to see if the state you plan on completing your practice experience hours is approved or has special restrictions.
State Authorization for Distance Education and Practical Experiences
Contact
If you have any questions please contact:
Graduate Admission412-365-1825
GradAdmission@chatham.edu
Learning Outcomes
The graduate:
- Applies interprofessional collaboration concepts for improving patient and population health outcomes.
- Synthesizes nursing research and integration of best practice for change in professional practice based on scientific underpinnings for practice.
- Integrates clinical scholarship and analytical methods for evidence-based practice.
- Impacts health care outcomes through clinical prevention and population health for improving the nation’s health.
- Integrates nursing science as the basis for the highest level of nursing practice.
- Develops and evaluates new practice approaches based on nursing theory and theories borrowed from other disciplines.
- Provides clinical nursing change through organizational and systems leadership for quality improvement and systems thinking.
- Utilizes information systems/technology and patient care technology to improve and transform health care.
- Integrates health policy and ethics to improve health care outcomes through advocacy roles.
Curriculum
Contact
Dianne Hunker
Program Director
dhunker@chatham.edu
(412) 365 - 1738
