Nursing DNP, Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Emphasis
The UMSL College of Nursing is committed to admitting a diverse group of students who will become nurse leaders responsive to the specific needs of the communities and populations we serve. We value diversity, intellectual discourse and rigor, caring, professionalism, mutual respect and support, innovation, collaboration, and transparency. Applicants will be selected using inclusive and balanced admission criteria that measure their potential in nursing practice, education, research, and scholarship. We measure our success by graduates who become lifelong learners and leaders in their communities and in the profession of nursing.
Applicants to the DNP program will be holistically reviewed using criteria such as GPA, a personal statement, an essay, work/volunteer experiences, professional activities, leadership roles, honors, award recognitions, etc.
Due to higher education regulation changes, the University of Missouri–St. Louis cannot admit students from all states for online programs. Information concerning state authorizations for this program can be found at the University of Missouri - System Academic Technologies website.
Admission Criteria
General BSN to DNP Option
The post-baccalaureate entry point is designed for registered nurses who have completed a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree and desire to obtain a doctoral degree in nursing practice. The student will develop the knowledge, skills, and expertise to become clinical experts.
General Admission Criteria
- A completed University of Missouri-St. Louis Nursing CAS application
- BSN from a nationally accredited nursing program
- BSN 3.0 GPA (calculated on the last 60 hours of BSN coursework)
- Current professional licensure
- Completion of an undergraduate or graduate general statistics course
- Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP-AC) track requires at least one (1) year of inpatient pediatric nursing experience
- Dual Acute Care/Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP-AC/PC) track requires at least one (1) year of inpatient pediatric nursing experience
Direct Admit BSN to DNP Option
Direct admission to the BSN to DNP program is selective and open to students who have earned a BSN from UMSL or completed the UMSL CON Externship in Nursing Summer program and earned a BSN degree from a nationally accredited nursing program. This option is not available for PNP-AC and PNP-AC/PC emphasis areas.
Clinical Practice Requirement
Students admitted via the Direct Admit Option in the BSN to DNP Program, who do not have previous clinical experience as a Registered Nurse (RN), will be required to maintain clinical practice as a Registered Nurse throughout the duration of their tenure as an UMSL DNP student.
Direct Admit Admission Criteria:
- A completed University of Missouri-St. Louis Nursing CAS application
- BSN from UMSL OR completed the UMSL CON Externship in Nursing Summer Program and earned a BSN degree from a nationally accredited nursing program
- 3.75 GPA in the last 60 hours of BSN coursework
- Essay which meets expectations and attributes listed in the essay portion of the application
- Current professional licensure
- Completion of an undergraduate or graduate general statistics course
Once admitted, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA.
Spaces in the BSN to DNP program are limited and are first awarded to guaranteed applicants. Based on space availability, applications will be accepted until the class is full.
Degree Requirements
Core Content for BSN to DNP program
Completion of the BSN to DNP program has seven Nurse Practitioner emphasis areas. All programs include coursework in Foundational Concepts, Clinical Expertise, and Integration of Practice.
Foundational Concepts
| Course Number | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NURSE 6111 | Healthcare Systems | 3 |
| NURSE 6130 | Research, Interventions and Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
| NURSE 6424 | Social Determinants of Health for Underserved Populations | 3 |
| NURSE 7211 | Biostatistics I | 3 |
| NURSE 7215 | Evidence-Based Practice for the DNP | 3 |
| NURSE 7220 | Leadership in Practice | 3 |
| NURSE 7230 | Epidemiology | 3 |
| NURSE 7240 | Health Informatics | 3 |
| NURSE 7260 | Program Evaluation and Quality Management in Healthcare | 3 |
| NURSE 7443 | Healthcare Policy and Economics | 3 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Clinical Expertise
| Course Number | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NURSE 6518 | Pathophysiology for Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NURSE 6520 | Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NURSE 6524 | Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NURSE 6530 | Introduction to Diagnostic Reasoning | 3 |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
Integration of Practice
| Course Number | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NURSE 6954 | Advanced Practice Nursing: Practicum I 1 | 1-4 |
| NURSE 6955 | Advanced Practice Nursing: Practicum II 1 | 1-4 |
| NURSE 7954 | Advanced Practice Nursing: Practicum III 1 | 1-4 |
| NURSE 7291 | DNP Clinical Scholarship Project I | 2 |
| NURSE 7292 | DNP Clinical Scholarship Project II | 2 |
| NURSE 7293 | DNP Clinical Scholarship Project III | 2 |
| Total Hours | 9-18 | |
- 1
All students must complete a minimum of 8 hours of residency. One credit hour is equivalent to 75 residency hours.
Prior to completion of the DNP program, students will complete a clinical scholarship project that satisfies the graduate school requirement.
Specific Requirements for the Emphasis Area
For all Nurse Practitioner emphasis areas, a student must complete both focus content above and specialty courses based on area of specialty as listed below.
| Course Number | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnosis and Management Foundations | ||
| NURSE 6723 | Foundations of Pediatric Health | 3 |
| Diagnosis and Management I | ||
| NURSE 6743 | Pediatric Health I: Acute and Chronic Care | 4 |
| Diagnosis and Management II | ||
| NURSE 6745 | Pediatric Health II: Complex Acute Care | 4 |
| Total Hours | 11 | |
Total credit hours in degree program: 70
Learning Outcomes
A successful graduate should, upon completion, be able to:
- Integrates evidence-based concepts from advanced practice nursing, the arts, sciences, and humanities to provide comprehensive, competent, holistic, and patient-centered care promoting healthy outcomes and health equity for diverse individuals, families, communities, and populations.
- Demonstrates clinical decision-making and actions based on ethical and legal obligations, standards of practice, economics, health equity, and nursing values.
- Applies knowledge of health care policies in their regulatory environment and their influence on health care access and quality.
- Generates, synthesizes, translates, applies, and disseminates research to improve health outcomes, quality of care, and minimize risk of harm.
- Evaluates approaches to practice utilizing information and communication technologies to promote, safe, high-quality care, and efficient health delivery services according to best practice, professional, and regulatory standards.
- Demonstrates responsibility and accountability for decisions and actions based on professional intrapersonal values, ethical and legal obligations, standards of practice, social justice, and economics.
- Demonstrates mastery of specialized nurse practitioner competencies, as outlined by the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) Population-Focused Nurse Practitioner Competencies.