Post-Baccalaureate Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Nurse Anesthesia Track Admission Requirements

Approved admission to the Nurse Anesthesia Post-Baccalaureate Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree program requires the following of all students:

  1. Completion of a baccalaureate degree or higher from an accredited program of nursing

  2. Current U.S. licensure unencumbered and in good standing as a Registered Nurse (upload Nursys verification report in application)

  3. Minimum of one year of critical care nursing experience within the U.S., its territories or a U.S. military hospital outside of the U.S. required 

  4. A minimum Grade Point Average of 3.0. This includes a minimum GPA of 3.0 in undergraduate science coursework

  5. Evidence of a completed statistics course (undergraduate or graduate)

  6. Evidence of a completed Organic Chemistry I or upper division Biochemistry course

  7. Typed personal statement that is no more than two pages in length and addresses the following three areas:

    1. Describe why you have chosen the Nurse Anesthesia specialization

    2. Describe your professional goals

    3. Describe why you feel the University of North Dakota program is best suited to help you meet your professional goals

  8. Three letters of recommendation, preferably from a manager or supervisor, a healthcare provider, or nursing faculty member. Letters should speak to applicant's ability to be successful in the DNP program, addressing items such as clinical skills, critical thinking, independent decision making, and collaborative skills with other health professionals, nursing leadership, etc

  9. Professional resume or curriculum vitae

  10. Satisfy the School of Graduate Studies' English Language Proficiency requirements as published in the graduate catalog.

  11. Interview required 

  12. Successful passage of criminal background check and drug screen will be required upon offer of admission

  13. Satisfaction of current health and immunization policy of the Department of Nursing will be required upon offer of admission

Nurse Anesthesia Track (94 credits)

NURS 505Advanced Pharmacology3
NURS 510Adv Physiology/Pathophysiology I3
NURS 515Basic Principles of Anesthesia Practice I4
PSYC 541Advanced Univariate Statistics3
NURS 612Integrated Leadership DNP Core Concepts3
NURS 511Adv Physiology/Pathophys II3
NURS 516Basic Principles of Anesthesia Practice II4
NURS 518Pharmacotherapeutics for Nurse Anesthesia2
NURS 524Anatomy for Nurse Anesthetists1
NURS 551Advanced Health Assessment for Nurse Anesthetists3
NURS 528Advanced Principles of Anesthesia Practice I5
NURS 604Health Informatics3
NURS 605Health Policy2
NURS 529Advanced Principles of Anesthesia Practice II7
NURS 602Evidence Based Research I3
NURS 542Professional Aspects of Nurse Anesthesia Practice4
NURS 560Clinical Anesthesia Practicum I6
NURS 603Evidence-Based Research II3
NURS 561Clinical Anesthesia Practicum II4
NURS 609DNP Project Teams (I)2
NURS 562Clinical Anesthesia Practicum III5
NURS 608Healthcare Economics, Finance and Leadership3
NURS 609DNP Project Teams (II)2
NURS 563Clinical Anesthesia Practicum IV6
NURS 609DNP Project Teams (III)2
NURS 610DNP Capstone2
NURS 508Nurse Anesthesia Review Course1
NURS 576Clinical Anesthesia Practicum V5
Total Credits94

Family Nurse Practitioner Track Admission Requirements

Approved admission to the Family Nurse Practitioner Post-Baccalaureate Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree program requires the following of all students:

  1. Completion of a baccalaureate degree or higher from an accredited program of nursing

  2. Current U.S. licensure unencumbered and in good standing as a Registered Nurse (upload Nursys verification report in application)

  3. Minimum of one year of work experience as an R.N. within the U.S., its territories or a U.S. military hospital outside of the U.S. required 

  4. Achieve a minimum undergraduate nursing GPA of 3.0.  Applications will not be considered for GPA below 3.0

  5. Evidence of a completed statistics course (undergraduate or graduate)

  6. Official transcripts from every institution attended

  7. Typed personal statement that is no more than two pages in length and addresses the following areas:

    1. Describe why you have chosen the FNP specialization

    2. Describe your professional goals

  8. Three letters of recommendation, preferably from a manager or supervisor, a healthcare provider, or nursing faculty member. Letters should speak to applicant's ability to be successful in the DNP program, addressing items such as clinical skills, critical thinking, independent decision making, and collaborative skills with other health professionals, nursing leadership, etc

  9. Professional resume or curriculum vitae

  10. Satisfy the School of Graduate Studies' English Language Proficiency requirements as published in the graduate catalog.

  11. Online application and $35 nonrefundable application fee
  12. Successful completion of an interview with program faculty
  13. Reside in a state in which the University of North Dakota is approved to deliver the graduate nursing program at the time of admission and throughout duration of the nursing program
  14. If enrolled in a previous graduate nursing program, a letter of good standing from program director, unless a degree was conferred

  15. Successful passage of criminal background check and drug screen will be required upon offer of admission

  16. Satisfaction of current health and immunization policy of the Department of Nursing will be required upon offer of admission 

Family Nurse Practitioner Track (83 credits)

NURS 505Advanced Pharmacology3
NURS 510Adv Physiology/Pathophysiology I3
NURS 511Adv Physiology/Pathophys II3
NURS 523Health Promotion3
NURS 532Family Centered Advanced Practice Nursing3
NURS 534Management of Health Conditions in Primary Care I3
NURS 540Management of Health Conditions in Primary Care II3
NURS 544Pharmacotherapeutics for Primary Care2
NURS 553Role Development of the Nurse Practitioner2
NURS 559Maternal and Child Health in Primary Care2
NURS 585Advanced Health Assessment3
NURS 587Population Health2
NURS 597Advanced Clinical Practicum: FNP (Course will be taken six times at a credit value of 1-4 credits each time)1-4
NURS 602Evidence Based Research I3
NURS 603Evidence-Based Research II3
NURS 604Health Informatics3
NURS 605Health Policy2
NURS 608Healthcare Economics, Finance and Leadership3
NURS 609DNP Project Teams1-6
NURS 610DNP Capstone2
NURS 612Integrated Leadership DNP Core Concepts3
NURS 613DNP Organizational Systems Focused Practice3
NURS 614Culture of Safety and Ethics3
PSYC 541Advanced Univariate Statistics3
Total Credits83

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Track Admission Requirements

Approved admission to the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post-Baccalaureate Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree program requires the following of all students:

  1. Completion of a baccalaureate degree or higher from an accredited program of nursing

  2. Current U.S. licensure unencumbered and in good standing as a Registered Nurse (upload Nursys verification report in application)

  3. Minimum of one year of work experience as an R.N. in an inpatient psychiatric unit within the U.S., its territories or a U.S. military hospital outside of the U.S. required 

  4. Achieve a minimum undergraduate nursing GPA of 3.0. Applications will not be considered for GPA below 3.0

  5. Evidence of a completed statistics course (undergraduate or graduate)

  6. Official transcripts from every institution attended

  7. Typed personal statement that is no more than two pages in length and addresses the following areas:

    1. Describe why you have chosen the PMHNP specialization

    2. Describe your professional goals

  8. Three letters of recommendation, preferably from a manager or supervisor, a healthcare provider, or nursing faculty member. Letters should speak to applicant's ability to be successful in the DNP program, addressing items such as clinical skills, critical thinking, independent decision making, and collaborative skills with other health professionals, nursing leadership, etc

  9. Professional resume or curriculum vitae

  10. Satisfy the School of Graduate Studies' English Language Proficiency requirements as published in the graduate catalog.

  11. Online application and $35 nonrefundable application fee
  12. Successful completion of an interview with program faculty
  13. Reside in a state in which the University of North Dakota is approved to deliver the graduate nursing program at the time of admission and throughout duration of the nursing program
  14. If enrolled in a previous graduate nursing program, a letter of good standing from program director, unless a degree was conferred

  15. Successful passage of criminal background check and drug screen will be required upon offer of admission

  16. Satisfaction of current health and immunization policy of the Department of Nursing will be required upon offer of admission 

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Track (85 credits)

NURS 505Advanced Pharmacology3
NURS 510Adv Physiology/Pathophysiology I3
NURS 511Adv Physiology/Pathophys II3
NURS 523Health Promotion3
NURS 538Psych Diagnostic Reasoning2
NURS 553Role Development of the Nurse Practitioner2
NURS 564Psychopharmacology2
NURS 583Individual Therapy2
NURS 584Group and Family Therapies3
NURS 585Advanced Health Assessment3
NURS 587Population Health2
NURS 588Management of Psychopathology I2
NURS 589Management of Psychopathology II2
NURS 598Advanced Clinical Practicum: PMHNP (Course will be taken six times at a credit value of 1-5 credits each time)1-5
NURS 602Evidence Based Research I3
NURS 603Evidence-Based Research II3
NURS 604Health Informatics3
NURS 605Health Policy2
NURS 608Healthcare Economics, Finance and Leadership3
NURS 609DNP Project Teams1-6
NURS 610DNP Capstone2
NURS 612Integrated Leadership DNP Core Concepts3
NURS 613DNP Organizational Systems Focused Practice3
NURS 614Culture of Safety and Ethics3
PSYC 541Advanced Univariate Statistics3
Total Credits85

Degree Requirements

Students seeking the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree at the University of North Dakota must satisfy all general requirements set forth by the School of Graduate Studies as well as particular requirements set forth by the Nursing Department.

  1. Completion of all course work with GPA of at least 3.0.

  2. Satisfactory completion of all designated clinical hours.

  3. Satisfactory completion of a DNP project.

  4. Satisfactory completion of the DNP project paper.

  5. Satisfactory completion of an on-campus oral presentation and defense of the DNP Project.

  6. Compose a scholarly product (i.e. abstract/manuscript/poster) for presentation and/or publication.

  7. Courses in the Post-Baccalaureate DNP program tracks are as listed above.