course catalog/ 2019-2020 Catalog

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.

Approved DNP Practice Experience Categories by Course

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. Once your online application is complete, please submit all required application documents (listed below) to:

Chatham University
Berry Hall/SCPS Admission
Woodland Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15232

Requirements:

  • Online application submitted directly to Chatham University at https://apply.chatham.edu.
  • 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:
      1. Course syllabi that demonstrate the number of practice experience hours required in each course,
      2. Official practice experience logs which record the practice experience hours in each course,
      3. An official letter from the Master's program director, and
      4. 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 Admission
412-365-1825
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

+Degree Requirements

27 Credits

NUR700 Structure & App of Contemporary Nursing Knowledge

This course introduces the advanced practice nurse to the world of contemporary nursing knowledge, as formalized in conceptual models of nursing and nursing theories applied to clinical practice. There is emphasis on the metaparadigm, philosophies, conceptual models, theories, and empirical indicators linking them to clinical practice.

 3
NUR702 Developing Evidence-Based Practice

This course prepares students with skills and competencies needed to build and assimilate knowledge for establishing a scholarly trajectory at a high level of complexity. This clinical course consists of 125 clinical hours and is the foundation for the culminating Capstone project focusing on improving practice.

 3
NUR703 Ethics and Public Policy in Healthcare Delivery

This course focuses on ethical issues and public policy in healthcare. Students develop strategies to manage ethical dilemmas and analyze health policy to educate, advocate and provide leadership in shaping healthcare policy.

 3
NUR704 Quality Improvement in Health Care

This course focuses on quality improvement initiatives, including the protection of human subjects. The emphasis is on skills and competencies needed to provide leadership in quality and systems change. This course includes 125 clinical hours and is the foundation for the culminating Capstone project focusing on improved practice and outcomes.

 3
NUR705 Advancing Practice: Scholarship and Grant Writing

This course provides further investigation of evidence-based practice advancing nursing leadership and clinical outcomes. Students will develop skills for clinical scholarship including manuscript development and grant writing.

 3
NUR706 Communication and Collaboration for Health Care Leadership

This course focuses on strategies to improve professional communication with peers, subordinates, and patients in the health care environment.

 3
NUR707 Information Technology and Data-Driven Decision Making

This course provides students with an opportunity to examine the value of technology and information systems to support evidence-based practice, guidelines and policy across various health settings. Various methods for gathering, managing, and synthesizing data will be introduced in order to conduct analyses for quality improvement, financial and outcome evaluations.

 3
NUR799 Capstone Experience

This course provides an opportunity for the student to implement and evaluate a planned evidence-based practice change project. This project lays the groundwork for future scholarship. This course culminates in a tangible and deliverable academic product derived from the practice immersion experience. A total of 250 clinical hours are included in the course.

 6

+Practice Experience Requirements

DNP students are required to complete 500 practice experience hours during the DNP program (NUR 702 - 125 hours, NUR 704 - 125 hours and NUR 799 - 250 hours). The DNP practice experience is an advanced immersion experience that allows DNP students an opportunity that includes, but is not limited to: gaining and applying advanced skills in the clinical setting; linking policy making within clinical systems, or local, regional, or national organizations; translation of evidence-based research into practice through policy or practice innovation; and to serve as change agents in health care delivery settings. Qualified preceptor and program experience site are identified and approved during the first semester of coursework. A signed affiliation agreement with the identified agency and an approved preceptor must be in place with the practice experience agency prior to engaging in practice experiences. It is the responsibility of the student to comply with agency requirements.

+Transfer Credits

Given the integrated nature of the courses, all 27 credits of the DNP program must be completed at Chatham University.

+Protection of Human Subjects

To ensure for the protection of the rights and welfare of human subjects, all students enrolled in the doctor of nursing practice (DNP) program at Chatham are required to submit their proposed evidence-based practice change project plan to an Institutional Review Board (IRB), or faculty approval substitute, for review and decision prior to implementing any aspect of the project.

+BSN to DNP Executive Track

BSN to DNP Executive Track

Contact

Diane Hunker

Program Director

dhunker@chatham.edu

(412) 365 - 1738