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DOCTORATE

Doctor of Nursing Practice (Post-Master's) · DNP

Online | 16 Months
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Curriculum

Our curriculum is designed to prepare you for an exceptional career as a nurse with a Doctor of Nursing Practice. Offer the care your patients need while opening yourself up to new leadership and clinical opportunities.

Leadership, Health Promotion, & Policy

Take courses in organizational behavior management, health promotion, and leadership in healthcare. A focus on quality improvement, healthcare economics, and ethics will effectively equip you with the foresight and tools to pursue a meaningful future.

Scholarly Project

Complete an evidence-based scholarly project. Become a content expert in an area of your choice. The scholarly project is the culminating learning experience in the DNP programーand gives you the opportunity to apply what you’ve learned to your personal work.

Evidence-Based Practice

Our rigorous DNP program develops healthcare professionals and leaders with advanced skills when it comes to evidence-based practice. You’ll learn to critically review literature, transform system processes at the point of care, and advance knowledge through publications and presentations.

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Core Courses (12 courses, 38 credits required)

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Course

Credits

This course will provide an introduction to epidemiology that will prepare the advanced practice nurse with an understanding of epidemiological concepts as they relate to health and healthcare. Concepts that pertain to clinical practice and population health as well as implications for screening, prevention and disease control will be included.

This course will focus on evaluating available literature for inclusion in Evidence-based Practice (EBP) within the healthcare system with emphasis on Evidence-based Management (EBM) in clinical and management decision making. The student will also understand and interpret statistics within current research and quality improvement projects to determine their application to practice.

This course is the first of a 3-course series designed to assist students in the development of an evidence-based project. The scholarly project is the culminating learning experience in the DNP program. Learning focuses on project planning including emphasis on project management, gathering evidence, developing vision/goals/outcomes for the project, and applying theories/frameworks to structure the overall process. The IRB process will be independent of the SP courses.

This course explores the theoretical foundations of practice, the conceptual models to implementation research, and strategies to implement evidence- based approaches to practice. Learning focuses on the application of theory-directed design, implementation, and evaluation while applying evidence to transform healthcare systems.

This course is the second of a 3-course series designed to integrate all previous course work and experiences into the development of an evidence-based practice (EBP) project. In addition, this course will provide key information about the Institutional Review Board process so that the student will be able to assure a safe and ethical environment for the project participants.

This course is the third of a 3-course series to prepare and defend a system change project incorporating classwork from throughout the program. Students will demonstrate the knowledge of the DNP essentials through the planning, development and implementation of the scholarly project.

This course is the third of a three series course to prepare and defend a system change project incorporating classwork from throughout the program. Students will demonstrate the knowledge of the DNP essentials through the planning, development and implementation of the scholarly project. (Course can be repeated as A, B, C, etc. until completion)

This course will explore the principles of healthcare policy and finance for the advanced practice nurse. Healthcare policy includes the impact of politics and legislative advocacy on healthcare and its delivery as it relates to access to care and diversity in populations in the US and globally. The course will also explore the principal ways US healthcare is structured and financed at the national, state, and local levels. Current and emerging issues and principles of business finance related to clinical care delivery will be analyzed using case studies and participative learning experiences. Implications for advanced practice leaders will be explored.

This course will focus on theory, methods and tools necessary for advanced practice leaders to facilitate quality improvement (QI) in the healthcare setting. Emphasis on the role of Evidence-based Practice (EBP) and Evidence-based Management (EBM) in clinical and management decision making within quality improvement programs will be included. Analysis of economic, social and political issues that affect quality in today’s healthcare setting will be examined.

Health professionals operate within various formal and informal organizations. In order to develop and support initiatives that improve the nation’s health, professionals must utilize a broad set of organizational, leadership, and business skills. This course will focus on concepts from organizational behavior and management that are essentials in meeting such initiatives. This course is also designed as a survey course for the advanced practice nurse to explore major existing and emerging technologies and their potential impact. Systems are addressed that support patient centered, safe, effective, timely, efficient and equitable care. An emphasis is placed on the role that information technology supports these systems and on development and use of technologies in 21st century healthcare. Electronic medical records (EMRs), patient safety systems and web-based patient and professional education are among the topics explored.

This course will direct the student in the examination of published guidelines designed to integrate and institute evidence-based clinical prevention and health services for individuals, aggregates, and populations across the lifespan.

This course examines principles of leadership and role development of the advanced practice nurse and incorporates ethical decision-making, interprofessional collaboration, and navigating evidence-based system changes. The exploration of leadership models, styles, strategies, and roles will provide a foundation for establishing professional leadership goals. Examining practice regulations; professionalism and ethical practices; and interprofessional collaborations will provide a multi-dimensional view of the role and contributions of the advanced practice nurse to safe, high-quality, and cost-effective healthcare.

*Courses included in RMU MSN program, may carry over from that program, or be transferred in
from other institutions
**Non-required course, only if needed for scholarly project residency.

Concentrations (students choose one focus, 3 courses, 9 credits/60-120 hours required)

Lead hospitals and other institutions to provide consistent patient care through sophisticated practice. Position yourself to impact overall healthcare delivery strategies for medical organizations.

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Course

Credits

This course is designed to build on Advanced Pharmacology with a focus on clinical applications of pharmacotherapeutics for special and vulnerable populations, including social, legal, and ethical considerations. Students will also explore the impact of pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics on prescribing in clinical practice, including concepts of genetics and application of genomics to individualizing pharmacotherapeutics.

This course explores the process of clinical leadership within the context of evaluating evidence-based practice, system processes, evaluating outcome measurements, interprofessional communication, and evaluation of patient outcomes. Students will participate in a practicum to investigate advanced levels of systems thinking, clinical judgement, healthcare deliverance, and improving patient outcomes. This course includes a 60 hours clinical leadership immersion residency designed to prepare the students for a career in clinical leadership.

(60 practicum hours)

This course explores the process of clinical leadership within the context of applying evidence-based practice, implementing practice change, evaluating outcome measurements, interprofessional collaboration, disseminating practice based scholarship, systems change, and patient outcome improvement’. Students will participate in a practicum to perform advanced levels of systems thinking, clinical judgement, healthcare deliverance, and improving patient outcomes. This course includes a 60 hours clinical leadership immersion residency designed to prepare the students for a career in clinical leadership.

(60 practicum hours)

Learn how to lead healthcare organizations into the future through advanced business practices and administrative strategies. Understand the link between practice and legislation to become a nuanced advocate within the industry.

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Course

Credits

This course is designed to provide the advanced practice nurse with an understanding of state and federal political advocacy and its impact on practice regulation and healthcare delivery. Innovation and leadership are incorporated into the examination of the policy-making processes to influence state and federal regulatory changes. Students will explore state and federal legislative agendas; legislative bill interpretation and drafting; legislative monitoring and lobbying; and providing testimony for regulatory issues related to practice and healthcare delivery. Students will discuss the future of political advocacy for the advanced practice nurse through an examination of current issues that impact practice and healthcare both nationally and globally.

This course explores the art and science of leadership. Each student will explore their current leadership skills and apply current theories. Through the coursework, the student will be exposed to multiple styles of leadership used within the healthcare setting and reframe their leadership style based on what fits into their value system and system structure.

This course provides a 60 hour immersion residency with emphasis on advancing the knowledge, skills, and expertise required for the executive leader to influence change in complex healthcare systems and regulatory settings. This course further refines competencies related to evidence based practice, leadership, and advocacy to prepare students for executive leadership roles.

(60 practicum hours)

Program Accreditation

The Doctor of Nursing Practice programs and post-graduate APRN certificate programs at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.