Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing 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 6200 | Biostatistics and Epidemiology | 3 |
| NURS 6420 | Health Promotion Theory and Population Health | 3 |
| NURS 6523 | Foundations of Scholarly Writing and Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
Term 2:
| NURS 6500 | Leadership and Collaboration for Quality and Safety | 3 |
| NURS 6325 | Healthcare Informatics, Economics, and Financial Principles | 3 |
| NURS 6327 | Health Systems Policy | 3 |
Term 3:
Term 3 Focuses on Program Specific Course Work or Electives
Term 4:
| NURS 6240 | Systems-Based Practice and DNP Project I | 3 |
Term 5:
| NURS 6245 | Systems-Based Practice and DNP Project II | 3 |
Term 6:
| NURS 6250 | Systems-Based Practice and DNP Project III | 3 |
Term 7:
**NURS6250X DNP Project (optional if project not completed, total credit hours 28 if taken)
| NURS 6250x | Systems-Based Practice and DNP Project III Extension | 1 |
Total Credit Hours: 27
Steps to Applying for Admission
Apply online at https://www.barnesjewishcollege.edu/apply
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:
Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing
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.