University General Course Catalog 2024-2025 
    
    Nov 24, 2024  
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University General Course Catalog 2024-2025

Nursing, D.N.P (from B.S.N.)

The Doctor of Nursing Practice is a terminal professional practice degree. The goal of the University of Nevada Reno, D.N.P. program is to prepare nurses to assume leadership roles in clinical practice, administration, clinical teaching, and clinical research. The D.N.P. differs from the Ph.D. in Nursing or Doctor of Nursing Science degrees, by emphasizing advanced clinical practice, implementation of best practices, and evaluation of practice and care delivery models rather than individually initiated research.

The post BSN to DNP program entry option prepares graduates for advanced clinical practice roles to serve the healthcare needs of the people of Nevada, the nation, and the professional community. D.N.P. graduates may function as specialists in their advanced practice clinical roles, as nursing faculty, or as healthcare executives, program and policy analysts.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

  • create a systematic approach to clinical reasoning based on best evidence, research, and knowledge from nursing and other disciplines to make decisions which optimize the health of populations and the delivery of care across a range of sociocultural settings.
  • role model communication strategies and teamwork to intentionally collaborate with interprofessional teams, individuals, groups, and populations across a range of sociocultural settings to advocate for diverse, equitable, and inclusive care in professional environments.
  • assume innovative leadership roles in the analysis, delivery and management of nursing practice and the micro through macro levels of health care systems.
  • evaluate quality improvement principles, standards, methods, and strategies to identify health and systems problems and translate evidence-based change in practice settings.
  • analyze systematic processes across settings using evidenced-based strategies and standards, to promote a just culture of safety, and to prevent or minimize risk to self, patients, and environment.
  • appraise health care technology, data, and information literacy, while considering risks and ethical requirements, to plan, implement, and evaluate person and population-centered care and assist in system-wide best practice decisions in a variety of settings.
  • integrate person and population centered care that is respectful of differing sociocultural needs based on best evidence, clinical judgment, and sound legal/ethical principles to maximize health for diverse individuals, groups and populations.
  • expand professional identity through leadership and advocacy that promotes the needs of self, individuals, groups and populations and the nursing profession while improving the healthcare system.

Contact Information

Stephanie S. DeBoor, PhD, APRN, CCRN
Associate Director of Graduate Programs
Assistant Professor
(775) 682-7156
deboors2@unr.edu

Mailing Address:
University of Nevada, Reno
Orvis School of Nursing
1664 N. Virginia Street MS 0134
Reno, NV 89557

Graduate Handbook

Admission Requirements

The applicant must meet the University’s Graduate School requirements and the Orvis School of Nursing’s B.S.N. to D.N.P. requirements. All application materials must be submitted to the Graduate School on or before March 1 for consideration for the fall semester.

  • Have an overall undergraduate grade-point average of at least a 3.0.
  • Complete a baccalaureate degree with an upper-division major in nursing from an NLNAC or CCNE accredited nursing school.
    • The baccalaureate degree curriculum must include the following specific course work: statistics, growth and development (must cover lifespan), basic research, and health assessment.
  • Have verification of current, unencumbered licensure to practice as a registered nurse in the United States. Students must be eligible to practice as a registered nurse in Nevada.
  • Submit a statement of intent including graduate-study goals.
  • Provide three letters of recommendation.
  • A current resume.
  • Successful completion of a graduate level applied statistics course prior to fall admission. EDRS 640  at UNR is recommended.
  • An interview may be required.

The total number of units required to complete the degree varies between 68 and 72 based on the specialization the student selects. With graduate advisor approval, M.S.N. students may apply more than 3 S/U units to the units required.

Applicants may petition to use graduate-level credit earned at another university to satisfy specific course requirements in the nursing program. Applicants must provide specific course information for review to determine if the transferred courses are equivalent to University and Nursing program requirements. If approved, such courses may be included in the official program of study.

I. Program Requirements

Choose a specialization from the following:

A. Adult Gerontology and Acute Care Specialization (full-time)

Program of Study and Schedule

First Year, Fall Semester (9 units)

First Year, Spring Semester (9-12 units)

First Year, Summer Semester (6-8 units)

Second Year, Fall Semester (9-12 units)

Second Year, Spring Semester (9 units)

Second Year, Summer Semester (5 units)

Third Year, Fall Semester (9-10 units)

Third Year, Spring Semester (6 units)

B. Adult Gerontology and Acute Care Specialization (part-time)

Program of Study and Schedule

First Year, Fall Semester (6 units)

First Year, Spring Semester (8 units)

First Year, Summer Semester (4-8 units)

Second Year, Fall Semester (10 units)

Second Year, Spring Semester (6 units)

Second Year, Summer Semester (3 units)

Third Year, Fall Semester (7-8 units)

Third Year, Spring Semester (7 units)

Third Year, Summer Semester (5 units)

Fourth Year, Fall Semester (8 units)

Fourth Year, Spring Semester (6 units)

C. Family Nurse Practitioner Specialization (full-time)

Program of Study and Schedule

First Year, Fall Semester (12 units)

First Year, Spring Semester (12 units)

First Year, Summer Semester (6-8 units)

Second Year, Fall Semester (9-12 units)

Second Year, Spring Semester (9 units)

Second Year, Summer Semester (4 units)

Third Year, Fall Semester (10 units)

Third Year, Spring Semester (11 units)

D. Family Nurse Practitioner Specialization (part-time)

Program of Study and Schedule

First Year, Fall Semester (6 units)

First Year, Spring Semester (6 units)

First Year, Summer Semester (6 units)

Second Year, Fall Semester (7 units)

Second Year, Spring Semester (7 units)

Second Year, Summer Semester (7 units)

Third Year, Fall Semester (6 units)

Third Year, Spring Semester (6 units)

Third Year, Summer Semester (4 units)

Fourth Year, Fall Semester (10 units)

Fourth Year, Spring Semester (7 units)

E. Psychiatric Mental Health Specialization (full-time)

Program of Study and Schedule

First Year, Fall Semester (12 units)

First Year, Spring Semester (12 units)

First Year, Summer Semester (10 units)

Second Year, Fall Semester (11 units)

Second Year, Spring Semester (8 units)

Second Year, Summer Semester (7 units)

Third Year, Fall Semester (12 units)

F. Psychiatric Mental Health Specialization (part-time)

Program of Study and Schedule

First Year, Fall Semester (6 units)

First Year, Spring Semester (6 units)

First Year, Summer Semester (3 units)

Second Year, Fall Semester (5 units)

Second Year, Spring Semester (6 units)

Second Year, Summer Semester (4 units)

Third Year, Fall Semester (7 units)

Third Year, Spring Semester (6 units)

Third Year, Summer Semester (3 units)

Fourth Year, Fall Semester (6 units)

Fourth Year, Spring Semester (6 units)

Fourth Year, Summer Semester (7 units)

Fifth Year, Fall Semester (7 units)

G. Adult Gerontology Primary Care Specialization (full-time)

Program of Study and Schedule

First Year, Fall Semester (12 units)

First Year, Spring Semester (10 units)

First Year, Summer Semester (8 units)

Second Year, Fall Semester (11 units)

Second Year, Spring Semester (6 units)

Second Year, Summer Semester (5 units)

Third Year, Fall Semester (8 units)

Third Year, Spring Semester (7 units)

H. Adult Gerontology Primary Care Specialization (part-time)

Program of Study and Schedule

First Year, Fall Semester (6 units)

First Year, Spring Semester (7 units)

First Year, Summer Semester (6 units)

Second Year, Fall Semester (7 units)

Second Year, Spring Semester (7 units)

Second Year, Summer Semester (4 units)

Third Year, Fall Semester (7 units)

Third Year, Spring Semester (3 units)

Third Year, Summer Semester (5 units)

Fourth Year, Fall Semester (8 units)

Fourth Year, Spring Semester (7 units)

I. Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Specialization (Full-Time)

Program of Study and Schedule

First Year, Fall Semester (12 units)

First Year, Spring Semester (12 units)

First Year, Summer Semester (7 units)

Second year, Fall Semester (11 units)

Second Year, Spring Semester (9 units)

Second Year, Summer Semester (4 units)

Third Year, Fall Semester (7 Units)

Third Year, Spring Semester (7 units)

J. Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Specialization (Part-Time)

First Year, Fall Semester (6 units)

First Year, Spring Semester (5 units)

First Year, Summer Semester (6 units)

Second Year, Fall Semester (7 units)

Second Year, Spring Semester (7 units)

Second Year, Summer Semester (5 units)

Third Year, Fall Semester (7 units)

Third Year, Spring Semester (7 units)

Third Year, Summer Semester (4 units)

Fourth Year, Fall Semester (7 units)

Fourth Year, Spring Semester (7 units)

K. Nurse Executive/Clinical Nurse Leadership (Full-Time)

First Year, Fall Semester (9 units)

First Year, Spring Semester (10 units)

First Year, Summer Semester (8 units)

Second Year, Fall Semester (10 units)

Second Year, Spring Semester (9 units)

Second Year, Summer Semester (8 units)

Third Year, Fall Semester (9 units)

L. Nurse Executive/Clinical Nurse Leadership (Part-Time)

First Year, Fall Semester (6 units)

First Year, Spring Semester (8 units)

First Year, Summer Semester (6 units)

Second Year, Fall semester (8 units)

Second Year, Spring Semester (8 units)

Second Year, Summer Semester (6 units)

Third Year, Fall Semester (7 units)

Third Year, Spring Semester (6 units)

Third Year, Summer Semester (8 units)

M. Clinical Education Leadership (Full-Time)

First Year, Fall Semester (12 units)

First Year, Spring Semester (10 units)

First Year, Summer Semester (8 units)

Second Year, Fall Semester (10 units)

Second Year, Spring Semester (9 units)

Second Year, Summer Semester (8 units)

Third Year, Fall Semester (12 units)

N. Clinical Education Leadership (Part-Time)

First Year, Fall Semester (6 units)

First Year, Spring Semester (8 units)

First Year, Summer Semester (6 units)

Second Year, Fall Semester (8 units)

Second Year, Spring Semester (8 units)

Second Year, Summer Semester (6 units)

Third Year, Fall Semester (7 units)

Third Year, Spring Semester (6 units)

Third Year, Summer Semester (8 units)

Fourth Year, Fall Semester (6 units)

II. Total Units (63-72 units)

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