Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College offers the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree for MSN-prepared registered nurses interested in pursuing advanced leadership roles in nursing practice. The goal of the Post-Master’s DNP Program is to prepare graduates who provide quality healthcare to patients, families, and communities by assuming a leadership role in the healthcare system and are able to propose, implement, and evaluate evidence-based changes.
The program requires 30 credit hours of DNP coursework. All courses are offered online. Students are required to complete a minimum of 1,000 clinical contact hours. This may include clinical hours taken during the student’s master’s program not to exceed 500 hours. Clinical practice hours are individualized to assist the Post-Master’s DNP student in meeting doctoral competencies. Hours may be completed at the student’s place of employment as long as the experiences differ from their work assignments and they do not receive any monetary compensation.
The planning, implementation, and evaluation components of evidence-based research in clinical practice are the scientific underpinnings of clinical scholarship. Clinical significance is as important in guiding practice as statistical significance is in evaluating research. The DNP project is designed as an evidenced-based experience and meets the criteria of the AACN Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice.
Admissions Requirements
MSN and APRN certification as either an NP, CNM, CNS or CRNA
Completion of a master’s degree in nursing from a nationally accredited institution
One transcript from each post-secondary institution attended.
Minimum 3.0 on a 4.0 cumulative GPA for graduate work is required
An unencumbered Registered Nurse license
An APRN licensure in your home state, if required
APRN national board certification as a CNS, NP, CNM or CRNA in your area of specialty as appropriate. Applicants without national certification will be individually evaluated.
Strong professional references from two (2) persons who can address academic skills including oral and written communication or clinical competence
An essay, one to two pages, of an example of a frequent occurrence in clinical practice that the applicant would like to see improved.
Curriculum vitae or resume
NOTE: All course grades will be included in the cumulative GPA calculation. The Admissions Department may provide 10-year forgiveness for cumulative GPA calculation. The student must submit a petition for forgiveness of prior grades to the Admissions Department. This letter will be placed in the student’s file. The GPA will then be appropriately calculated.
Sample Course Sequence
Term 1:
| NURS 6505 | Biostatistics for Advanced Practice | 3 |
| NURS 6420 | Promoting Health Equities and Population Health in Advanced Practice | 3 |
| NURS 6327 | Nursing Influence in Shaping Health Policy | 3 |
Term 2:
Term 3:
| NURS 6325 | Healthcare Informatics and Economics | 3 |
| NURS 6720 | Promoting Evidence-based Practice I | 3 |
Term 4:
| NURS 6730 | Promoting Evidence-based Practice II | 3 |
Term 5:
| NURS 6740 | Promoting Evidence-based Practice III | 3 |
Term 6:
Total Credit Hours: 30
Steps to Applying for Admission
Apply online at BarnesJewishCollege.edu/ApplyNow
After applying online, please submit the following to the Admissions Office:
One transcript from each post-secondary institution attended
A copy of a current unencumbered Registered Nurse license
A copy of an APRN license if required in your home state
A copy of APRN national board certification as a CNS, NP, CNM or CRNA
Two references from persons who can address academic skills or clinical competence. Preferably one reference from a doctorally prepared nurse.
One two-page essay
Curriculum vitae or resume
All required information must be received before an application file can be reviewed for admission.
Please send all application materials to:
Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College
Attn: Admissions Office
4483 Duncan Avenue
Mailstop 90-36-697
St. Louis, MO 63110
For more information about the program, contact us at gson-admissions@barnesjewishcollege.edu or call 1-800-832-9009 or 314-454-7055, or visit us at barnesjewishcollege.edu.