Post-Bachelor's Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Cathy R. Taylor, Dean, College of Health Sciences
Martha Buckner, Associate Dean, School of Nursing
Leslie J. Higgins, Director, Graduate Studies in Nursing
Faculty: Loretta Bond, Ruby Dunlap, Carrie Harvey, BJ Hutchins, Erin Shankel, Linda Wofford, Dave Wyant.
Post-Bachelor’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
BSN-prepared RNs can continue their education for advanced practice with the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree at Belmont University School of Nursing. Belmont University’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program prepares nurses for advanced practice roles with the highest level of clinical nursing competence. The DNP is a clinical doctorate serving as a terminal professional degree for nurses in advanced practice and nursing administration.
The program will develop nursing leaders skilled in measurement of patient and population outcomes, education of diverse populations, leadership in health policy development and implementation, translation of evidence into clinical practice, and advocacy for safe and quality care within complex health care delivery systems. Graduates will attain clinical, organizational and leadership expertise designed to meet the changing demands of the present and future health care system.
The Belmont DNP meets the professional standards for the practice doctorate ("Doctoral Essentials") developed by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).
Graduates of Belmont’s Post-Bachelor’s DNP program will be able to:
1. Integrate knowledge from nursing, biophysical, social, analytical, and organizational sciences to develop and transform advanced practice nursing.
2. Translate nursing, biophysical, social, analytical, and organizational knowledge to improve patient and population health outcomes.
3. Manage increasingly complex health care system demands by incorporating knowledge of current and emerging health technologies.
4. Provide leadership and advocacy for social justice, equity, and ethical policies in health care.
5. Develop, implement and evaluate effective and sustainable educational programs for varying populations.
6. Demonstrate intra- and inter-professional collaboration to improve healthcare quality and outcomes across diverse populations and to address health disparities.
Minimum Admission Requirements
1. Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from a nationally accredited baccalaureate-granting institution with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA from all undergraduate coursework. A student may transfer up to six graduate hours from another institution upon the recommendation of the Graduate Admissions and Progression Committee. Transfer courses taken more than 5 years prior to application are not acceptable.
2. Proof of a current RN license from the student's state of residence and/or practice. A Tennessee RN license or a license from a state that is in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) is required for clinical experiences in Tennessee. This requirement may be completed after admissions consideration, but must be completed prior to first-time enrollment in the fall.
3. Graduate Record Examination taken within the last five years. Note: The GRE may be waived for applicants with a cumulative GPA of 3.4 or better in all undergraduate coursework (3.2 or better for applicants who have completed a BSN from Belmont), once all transcripts have been verified by Nursing CAS.
4. A completed application file (per the Application Steps below). Applications will be received until a class is filled and will be open until at least May 1 for fall entry. Candidates are encouraged to begin the application process as soon as possible, as it may take 6 or more weeks to complete the application and for all credentials to be received and verified through the centralized application service (NursingCAS).
Application Steps for BSN-to-DNP Applicants
The School of Nursing receives applications for admission and most applicant credentials for the BSN-to-DNP program exclusively through the Nursing Central Application Service (NursingCAS), provided by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). Applicants must submit a separate supplemental application form and processing fee directly to Belmont.
The application steps are as follows:
1. Click the “Apply” link at www.nursingcas.org.
2. Create an account and login to your secure NursingCAS online application. When creating your account, be sure to click “Yes” to the question, “Are you applying to a graduate level program in nursing?”
3. When logged in, complete all “Required” items on the Application Checklist as directed by NursingCAS. This includes data entering all coursework information and arranging for official transcripts to be sent to NursingCAS.
4. In addition, Belmont University School of Nursing requires the following items also be submitted through NursingCAS (these items are indicated as “Optional” in NursingCAS):
a. In the Professional Experience Section, submit information regarding nursing
licensure by selecting “Certifications” from the drop-down menu and completing
information requested.
b. In the References Section, submit two (2) letters of recommendation. One should be
from a faculty member who is familiar with your undergraduate nursing work, and
one should be from a current nursing supervisor who evaluates you clinically.
c. In the Personal Statement Section, complete an essay of 1-2 pages in length
describing your education goals and career goals. Additional writing samples
may be requested.
5. Be sure to designate (by checkmark) Belmont University Doctor of Nursing Practice (BSN to DNP) in the Designations Section of the application and to link your Belmont essay. NursingCAS charges $65 for your application to be sent to the first program designation and $35 for each additional designation.
6. In addition to submitting your application to NursingCAS, you must submit two additional items directly to Belmont University:
a. GRE scores must be submitted directly to the University's Admissions Office.
The Institution Code for Belmont is 1058 and the Department Code for
Nursing is 0610.
b. Belmont University requires a supplemental application fee ($50). Please download
the supplemental fee form and submit it soon after completing the NursingCAS
application.
7. Following a preliminary review of the completed application file, the Admissions Committee will invite selected applicants to interview prior to final admission decisions.
Pre-enrollment Checklist
Once accepted, candidates must complete the following requirements before enrolling:
1. $500 non-refundable enrollment deposit by a specified deadline after acceptance,
applied to first semester tuition
2. Final official transcript of BSN degree sent directly to Belmont University
3. A background check, as directed by the School of Nursing, with favorable results
4. Required immunizations
5. Proof of health insurance coverage
If any of these requirements are not satisfied, admission to the program may be rescinded.
International Applicants
1. International applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate proficiency in the English language by submitting official TOEFL scores (required minimum of 550 PBT or 80 iBT) or by successful completion of ELS Language Center Level 112.
2. International applicants with college level course work from foreign institutions must have their transcripts evaluated by a credential evaluation service such as World Education Services (www.wes.org) or Joseph Silny & Associates (www.jsilny.com).
3. In order to be issued an I-20 for the desired entry term, international applicants must be admitted no later than June 1 in order to begin enrollment in the fall.
The BSN-to-DNP curriculum is based upon the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice. The BSN-to-DNP curriculum will comply with accreditation standards set by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) which ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate and graduate programs in nursing
Program of Study
Post-Bachelor's DNP Program of Study |
| Doctor of Nursing Practice | 75 Hours | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall - 1st Year | |||
| NUR 6100, Population Health & Epidemiology | 3 | ||
| NUR 5020, Theoretical Foundations of Graduate Nursing Practice | 3 | ||
| NUR 5050, Statistics in Health Care Research | 3 | ||
| NUR 5100, Transitions to Graduate Nursing Practice | 2 | ||
| TOTAL | 11 | ||
| Spring - 1st Year | |||
| NUR 5040, Advanced Nursing Research | 3 | ||
| NUR 6140, Health Care Finance | 3 | ||
| NUR 6220, Health Care Policy | 3 | ||
| NUR 5010, Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 | ||
| TOTAL | 12 | ||
| Summer - 1st Year | |||
| NUR 5710, Clinical Information Systems | 3 | ||
| TOTAL | 3 | ||
| Fall - 2nd Year | |||
| NUR 6120, Foundations of Clinical Scholarship | 3 | ||
| NUR 5300, Advanced Health Assessment | 3 | ||
| NUR 5140, Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 | ||
| NUR 6110, Biostatistics | 3 | ||
| TOTAL | 12 | ||
| Spring - 2nd Year | |||
| NUR 5610/5612, Primary Health Care 1 | 4 | ||
| NUR 6150, Evaluation of Health Care Outcomes 1 | 4 | ||
| NUR 6130, Scholarly Project 1 | 2 | ||
| NUR 6132, Scholarly Project 1 Clinical | 1 | ||
| TOTAL | 11 | ||
| Summer - 2nd Year | |||
| IRB Approvals (if needed) | |||
| NUR 5630/5632, Primary Health Care 2 | 4 | ||
| TOTAL | 4 | ||
| Fall Semester - 3rd Year | |||
| NUR 6200, Evaluation of Health Care Outcomes 2 | 3 | ||
| NUR 6230, Scholarly Project 2 | 2 | ||
| NUR 6232, Scholarly Project 2 Clinical | 4 | ||
| NUR 6210, Leadership & Management of Health Care Organizations & Systems | 3 | ||
| TOTAL | 12 | ||
| Spring Semester - 3rd Year | |||
| NUR 6252, Scholarly Project 3 Clinical | 3 | ||
| NUR 5680/5682, Family Nurse Practitioner Intensive Practicum | 4 | ||
| NUR 6240, Health Care Education of Diverse Populations | 3 | ||
| TOTAL | 10 | ||
| Total Required for graduation | 75 | ||
| Back to Top |